He troubles me, this Nazarene,
His humble words do not accord
with anarchy or insurrection
yet these others call him Lord.
He speaks no hate for Caesar's Rome,
Yet Jews would have me crucify
This man who's calm serenity
Does Judas' calumny belie
Were't not for the Sanhedrin's ire
My Prefecture would stay it's hand
and send this strange but gentle man
to exile in Judaic land
But yet they bay and thirst for blood
With blasphemy as their defense
These Jews hold no respect for Rome
Their hatred for Him makes no sense
I thought their anger would appease
Once I had sent Him to be scourged
But with His bloody body shown
"He must be crucified" they urged.
I think myself a humane man
I view their bloodlust with distaste
I wash my hands of local laws
But bitterly decry this waste ...
~ ~ ~
And now my days are numbered short
I wander, and my eyes grow dim
I pray to Pluto, as I should ...
And yet my thoughts are fixed on Him
~ ~ ~
Author notes
Pontius Pilate was the Governor of Judea, appointed by emperor Tiberius. In the majority of biblical and historical accounts, Jesus was presented to him as a political and militant leader, rather than a religious one. Pilate did not find Jesus to be a political threat, but at the insistence of the Sanhedrin, committed him for execution by crucifixion, while ceremoniously washing his hands of the act.
John 19:15-16 "But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away."
"Luke 23:1-2 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."
A contest entry
- Close Encounters with Jesus by MassMan.
1000 points, ended August 4, 14 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Congratulations on winning silver, though you should have won gold. This is a masterfully written poem.
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Thanks for the kind comments! I seldom write rhyming poems, haven't written anything in months, and I'm agnostic - so it was somewhat of a challenge!
I read your piece on the feeding of the multitudes, and found it superbly written, compelling, and, told through the innocent voice of a child, endearing.
PJ
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Amazing to write about Pontius Pilate, clever, a refreshing rendition of how he would have spoke.He had the hardest task and decision to make, quite literally had His blood on his hands. Excellent. Blessings.
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Delightful!
You did a wonderful and masterful job in portraying the thoughts of Pilate in context to his very difficult situation, in having to deal with the innocent Jesus and the malicous Jewish crowd clammoring for his execution.
Thanks also for the good comments and scripture refences supplied in the Authors notes.
You gave me just what I was asking for! THANK YOU!
David
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You do a grand job in your term as Pilate. The final stanza as an addendum, seems very fitting.
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PJ, this is a thought provoking poem with some interesting questions raised. Your last stanza rounds this poem off beautifully. There is much to ponder about this life. Well done
Mariana
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