It had been a rough night. Everyone had possessed an opinion about what should be done, with few of the opinions agreeing. Now he was ready to pass judgment in the harsh glare of the early morning light, sleepless and having consumed too much wine. It had been hard to reach a decision but he had reached it. Why did he have the oddest feeling that he had already done this before?
“Release the prisoner. He has committed no offense against the laws of Rome. Such is the judgment of the Senate and the People of Rome.”
Pilate glanced over at the accused. He expected to see relief and joy. Instead, in the man’s face Pilate read infinite sadness, with perhaps a touch of irritation. Then everything went dark.
“Procurator, Caiaphas is outside with a prisoner.”, said his aide Tribune Marcellus.
Pilate grimaced. “Just what this gods’ forsaken day needs.” He had more than half a mind to tell Caiaphas to get lost. That is what he decided to do. “Marcellus, tell the old rat I am occupied and I will remain occupied until next week. If he really wants to see me, he can wait that long.”
Then everything went dark.
“Procurator, Caiaphas is outside with a prisoner.”, said his aide Tribune Marcellus. Pilate sighed, Yes and he has that young rabble rousing carpenter from Nazareth with him. My spies have earned their pay at the Temple this week. Pilate heard Caiaphas out and refused to judge the case. He ordered Yeshua to be scourged and expelled from Jerusalem. Whatever game Caiaphas was playing, Pilate was not going to take part. Then everything went dark.
“Procurator, Caiaphas is outside with a prisoner.”, said his aide Tribune Marcellus. Pilate heard Caiaphas and then said that this seemed to be a quarrel over the religion of the Jews. He announced that as this was the case, Caiaphas could execute Yeshua by stoning if he wished, but Rome was not going to be involved. Then everything went dark.
“Procurator, Caiaphas is outside with a prisoner.”, said his aide Tribune Marcellus. Pilate listened to Caiaphas and took the case under advisement. Three weeks later, after Jerusalem had calmed down, Pilate ordered the release of Yeshua, Pilate’s wife asking this of him after having a series of dreams involving Yeshua. Then everything went dark.
“Procurator, Joseph of Arimathea is outside.”, said his aide Tribune Marcellus. Joseph knew the rich merchant slightly but was only too happy to receive a substantial bribe from him to release the carpenter rabbi, Yeshua, from the clutches of Caiaphas. Then everything went dark.
“Procurator, Caiaphas is outside with a prisoner.”, said his aide Tribune Marcellus. Pilate heard Caiaphas present his case, questioned Jesus, and the next day ordered Yeshua to be crucified. The sentence was not carried out when the Zealots of Barabbas decided to liberate the fellow prisoner of their released leader. Then everything went dark.
Pilate condemned Yeshua to be crucified. This whole business had been mysterious and wearisome to Pilate, who felt as if he were an actor reading lines he had read many times before. However, the oddest moment was when he glanced at the face of Yeshua. The usual pain and anguish of a man just condemned to a gruesome death was slightly there, but Pilate had never seen before the faintest hint of a smile.
I have been fortunate to see Antonio Ciseri’s magnificent painting, Ecce Homo, in the Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy. It evokes so many emotions.
Don, did you write this piece? It is very intriguing. It reminds of the short story, “All the Myriad Ways” by Larry Niven.
I wrote it George. I always do something like this on April 1. I will have to look up the Niven story.
Thank you, Don. That was beautiful. There are SF alternative histories in which Jesus is not crucified and Christianity does not rise. See this article, The Theology of Science-Fiction, Part I:
https://catholicstand.com/theology-science-fiction-part-speculative-fiction-gospels/
Excellent post Bob!
Don, “All the Myriad Ways” appeared in a collection that contained, “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex.” You probably have heard of that one since you have an interest in comics. It was the reason I bought the book. Anyway, “All the Myriad Ways” was my first exposure to the concept of parallel worlds. That’s why your piece reminded me of it.