Jesus was condemned because of the silence of good people?

[Kenny_Kamel]

I regularly pray the Pro-Life Meditations of the Rosary created by Fr. Frank Pavone. I have difficulty understanding one of them:

The Carrying of the Cross

Jesus was not condemned by the power of wicked people. **He was condemned because of the silence of good people. **Silence always helps the oppressor, never the victim. Let us pray that we may never be silent about abortion, but rather will clearly speak up to save babies from death.

Could anyone give me their thoughts on this? I don’t know if it relates specifically to Jesus and Pilate ordering Him to be crucified or Jesus being condemned because the silence of people regarding sin throughout what we perceive as time. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated

 

[Sirach2]

I regularly pray the Pro-Life Meditations of the Rosary created by Fr. Frank Pavone. I have difficulty understanding one of them:

Could anyone give me their thoughts on this? I don’t know if it relates specifically to Jesus and Pilate ordering Him to be crucified or Jesus being condemned because the silence of people regarding sin throughout what we perceive as time. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated

As the saying goes, consider the source. Father Pavone is well-known for his Priests for Life organization and his continuing fight against abortion. So any reflections coming from him would tend to coincide with his main focus.

Actually, if you remember our dialog gospel during Palm Sunday, it was the crowds that also cried “Crucify Him!” Nobody was silent, even when Pilate asked if they would prefer to hand over Christ or Barrabus, but they demanded the release of this criminal instead. No silence there, IMO. It’s a good example of how contagion can spread quickly through a crowd so that reason is blinded.

 

[spiderweb]

"And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. But no man spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews. (John 7:12-13)

“But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” (Matt 27:20) Why did they have to be "persuaded’? They kept silence of the truth and instead spoke the lie.

Pilate also had the authority not to crucify an innocent man. But he did it anyway knowing that this was an unjust ruling.

And here is a really provocative quote: “But Jesus kept silent” (Matt 26:63).

I think that’s an accurate statement by Fr. Pavone. Especially that Jesus was not condemned by the power of wicked people. No matter how powerful wicked people are, they don’t have power over God, which is why Jesus willingly had to give his life (John 10:18), and part of that was keeping silent and not defending himself before his accusers.

So while I think Fr. Pavone’s statement makes sense, it’s also important not to take that particular aspect of it and go overboard. Something like saying “if the good people had spoke up, they could have changed God’s mind”. No, he was on a mission and nothing was going to change that.

 

[Sirach2]

"And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. But no man spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews. (John 7:12-13)

This earlier incident in John 7 did not pertain to the silence of the crowd just before the crucifixion. Scripture later states that it was the crowd who demanded his crucifixion. In that particular case, they were NOT silent. Mark Chapter 15 states:

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13. And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14. And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15. So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

 

[porthos11]

I regularly pray the Pro-Life Meditations of the Rosary created by Fr. Frank Pavone. I have difficulty understanding one of them:

Could anyone give me their thoughts on this? I don’t know if it relates specifically to Jesus and Pilate ordering Him to be crucified or Jesus being condemned because the silence of people regarding sin throughout what we perceive as time. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated

No, he was condemned by the power of wicked people. There was no silence on the part of good people, at least one. Claudia Procula sent a message to Pilate asking for his release.

 

[Frankenfurter]

Wasn’t Peter also silent when asked to defend the Lord?

 

[Kenny_Kamel]

Wasn’t Peter also silent when asked to defend the Lord?

I don’t think Peter was to defend Jesus as much as he was questioned about being associated with Jesus. The crowd was attempting to find him guilty by association and Peter denied, three times, that he even knew Jesus and then the cock crowed.

 

[fred_conty]

From the human point of view, Jesus died because Pilot was afraid of a riot breaking out because the people were shouting for his death influenced by their leaders. And in this sense, if enough people today shouted to our leaders to stop the murder of unborn innocents, they too would have to listen.

From the divine point of view, Jesus died as the lamb of atonement according to the will of the Father and his love for us. And in this sense, he died for the unborn innocents as well as for the sins of those who are responsible.

 

[Frankenfurter]

I don’t think Peter was to defend Jesus as much as he was questioned about being associated with Jesus. The crowd was attempting to find him guilty by association and Peter denied, three times, that he even knew Jesus and then the cock crowed.

But Peter could have been also chosen by the mob instead of Barabbas. I mean, they had to crucify somebody that day. Anybody. Could have been Peter or the other apostles had they all stood up for Jesus.

And all the people that Jesus cured could have stood up too. In fact, the whole place could have stood up to fight the Romans. But the Romans used the public executions to keep people scared and quiet and unwilling to organize against them.

That is the same tactic used by pro-abortionists. Make people afraid of standing up publicly in defense of the unborn for fear of being called out as a right-wing wacko, etc.

When people don’t like the message, discredit the messenger, is the usual tactic.

 

[Sirach2]

But Peter could have been also chosen by the mob instead of Barabbas. I mean, they had to crucify somebody that day. Anybody. Could have been Peter or the other apostles had they all stood up for Jesus.

Not so, since the very reason Jesus was being crucified was because He made Himself to be God. John 5:18 Peter made no such claim, and had not been imprisoned for criminal behavior, as was Barabbas.

 

[Frankenfurter]

Not so, since the very reason Jesus was being crucified was because He made Himself to be God. John 5:18 Peter made no such claim, and had not been imprisoned for criminal behavior, as was Barabbas.

Then why deny Christ? Isn’t the reason that Peter denies Christ at least partly due to fear? Fear of being accused of being a follower of Christ and swept up in the wrath. That was how the Romans kept things under control in those days - fear and intimidation.

But perhaps that is a whole other question: Why did Peter deny Christ? I always thought it was because he was afraid of being arrested along with Jesus.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Peter denied Christ for the same reason the others except John. They abandoned him when he was arrested and went into hiding.

They were afraid, but also their immature faith in Jesus was shaken.

They must’ve questioned, had followed a man who was not the Messiah ? He didn’t restore Israel, as they had thought the Messiah was suppose to. He was rejected by the leaders of their religion and arrested only to be tortured to death.

At that point Jesus didn’t not fully reveal who He was. That wouldn’t come until after His resurrection and His revelation to the Apostles. At that point, they had “post resurrection awareness.”

The strength of their faith would only be fortified until Pentecost, and was the strength which lead all of them to die for their faith, except John, who was exiled.

Jesus didn’t die because of silence, but because of the ego driven power structure which was threatened by Him.

At Jesus arrest, the apostles where wondering who He was, and the mobs certainly had no idea.

Jim