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| THE KILLING OF A KING |
| Arrest, trial, and execution. |
| "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" 27:22 |
| In spare, unadorned language the last three chapters of Matthew draw together the deep ironies of Jesus' life. From the first sentence, Matthew has stressed that Jesus is the Messiah, a true king. This Gospel is sometimes called the "royal" Gospel because it refers so many times to kingship. But at the end of his life, the man whom wise men had crossed a continent to worship was sold, like a slave, for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus got a royal robe and crown at last - but as a cruel, mocking joke. Blood from the wounds on his back clotted on the robe, and the crown of thorns streaked his face with more blood. A short time before, he had blistered the religious leaders with accusations. But when they put him on the stand and accused him, his strong voice stayed mostly silent. Jesus' Self-Defense Jesus' enemies asked him two chief questions: "Are you the king of the Jews?" and "Are you the Messiah?" He answered with a simple "Yes, it is as you say," confirming the major themes woven throughout Matthew's book (27:11). Finally he was executed, with his "crime" - being a king - posted above his sagging body. Jesus was indeed a king, but not the kind of king people expected. Even his disciples, who had known Jesus intimately for three years, slipped away in doubt. The story, however, doesn't end with the death scene in chapter 27. Good Friday would never have been called "good" without the miracle described next. The king came back! And the writer who opened his book by tracing |