In the Passion, the usual villains — the Temple leaders, Judas and others — are unambiguously wicked and display their sinfulness openly. But it can also be helpful to examine the problems associated with the more moderate personalities involved.

Their struggles and neglect are more subtle, yet no less real. It is in examining these figures that we can learn a great deal about ourselves, who, though we may not openly shout, “Crucify him,” are often not as unambiguously holy and heroic as Jesus’ persecutors are wicked and bold.

There are at least five problems that emerge. They spring from failing to trust Jesus’ vision that the Messiah must suffer and die.

Jesus has spoken this to them on numerous occasions. For example: “The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life” (Matthew 20:18-19).

But they still do not understand. And so:

1. They become drowsy. A common human technique for dealing with stress and the hardships of life is to become numb and drowsy; we can just drift off into a sort of moral slumber. The Lord asks Peter, James and John to pray with him. But they doze off, unwilling or unable to deal with the stress of the situation.

2. They seek to destroy. When Peter finally awakens, he lashes out with a sword and wounds Malchus, the servant of the high priest. We, too, can often lash out and even seek to destroy our opponents. But if we are already certain of our victory, as the Lord has promised, why do we fear? Why do we need to suppress our opponents and enemies ruthlessly?

3. They deny. Confronted with the fearful prospect of being condemned along with Jesus, Peter denies being one of his followers or even knowing him at all. He dissociates himself from Christ. And we, confronted with the possibility of far milder things such as ridicule, often deny a connection with the Lord or the Church.

4. They dodge. When Jesus is arrested, all the disciples except John “get the heck out of Dodge.” They are nowhere to be found. We, too, can run away. Sometimes it’s because of persecution by the world. But sometimes it’s our fear that following Our Lord is too hard and involves sacrifices that we are just not willing to make.

5. They deflect. Pilate has a choice to make: accept what Jesus is saying as true, or give in to fear and commit a terrible sin of injustice. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. But because he feared the crowds, he handed Jesus over and took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility” (Matthew 27:24). And though he wanted to do what was right and was sympathetic with Jesus, merely wanting to do what is right is not enough. So, too, for us. We also often favor our career or our pride over doing what is right.

And all this is done out of fear. We forget “what the end shall be” and focus on the fearful present. We lack the vision that Jesus is trying to give us: that we will rise with him. We stay blind to that and only see the threat of the here and now.