But this man has done nothing criminal
Is 50,4-7; Ps 21; Phil 2,5-11; Lk 22,14-23,56
14 APRIL
To condemn a man to death, it is necessary that there is a serious fault, that is, a violation of the law either of men or of God that inflict capital punishment for certain types of crimes. Reading the history of Jesus’ death sentence we know that it is based on a false accusation of blasphemy, which has no value with the Governor of Rome, cleverly transformed into a political accusation. Jesus was handed over to Pilate as an agitator of the people. But there is no historical evidence of this accusation. It is a pure invention of the accusers. Since Pilate does not accept the accusations as historically or really founded, they must pass to screams. People must cry out to force the Governor to decree the death of Jesus. Not just death. They want death by crucifixion. Pilate takes the decision that precisely then he considers, in his opinion, less damaging for both the Jewish people and the Empire. At that moment, he thought it was not necessary to react with force. It was enough to hand Jesus over to them and everything would have calmed down. Nevertheless, he has his guilt, because the innocent must always be protected from all punishment, both light and harsh. He worked very awfully on this day.
Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” (Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished. As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”] They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
First of all, on the cross, Jesus reveals his holiness, the true one. He does not ask for justice from the Father and not even that he descends to release him. He and the cross are one. Being the wood and the flesh, the body and the cross one thing for him – forgive me the theological hazard – almost as if it were in all similar to the hypostatic union, even if the modalities are very different, he will have to remain forever the Crucifix, as in eternity he will be the God – man. Separating Christ from the cross and the cross from Christ would have been destroying this unity necessary for the humanity of Christ in view of its redemption. But, his “incorporation” to the cross is not the result of sin. The Holy Spirit is the one that thinks of proclaiming the innocence of Jesus. This uses a crucifix that is on Golgotha with him. For this man Jesus is the Different, because He is the Just One. His cross is not the fruit of his sin, but of the sin of those who crucified him. This difference is substantial. Jesus is the Suffering Just for love.
Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that our cross is by righteousness and never by sin.