WATCHWORD:
6 At sight of him the chief priests and Jewish officials began yelling, “Crucify! Crucify!” “You crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.” 7 They replied, “By our laws he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. 9 He took Jesus back into the palace again and asked him, “Where are you from?” but Jesus gave no answer. 10 “You won’t talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or to crucify you?” 11 Then Jesus said, “You would have no power at all over me unless it were given to you from above. So those who brought me to you have the greater sin.” John 19:6-11
19 Just then, as he was presiding over the court, Pilate’s wife sent him this message: “Leave that good man alone; for I had a terrible nightmare concerning him last night.” Matthew 27:19
Meditation:
You Crucify Him!
It is clear from the scripture that Pilate wants nothing to do with the crucifixion of Jesus. He is afraid partly because of what the crowd had told him that Jesus called himself Son of God, and partly what his wife has warned him about in her dream. His wife believed in dreams and Pilate didn’t know what to believe.
Pilate was a weak man, an appointee by a favorite of Roman emperor Tiberius, who assigned him Perfect of Judea, far away from the glory of Rome. Yet it was a station that carried with it some status, and the Jewish leaders, who continued to force his hand, threatened him. In addition, he was beginning to believe there might be some truth in Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God, the Messiah. Try as he might, he can’t wiggle out of making a decision.
Of course, Pilate did not stick to his better thoughts, Jesus was crucified and Barabbas was pardoned. Events that followed, led to his disgrace, and eventually being ordered to kill himself by emperor Caligula, which he did, at age 36. A very loyal subject.
Have you ever been in a position where you were pressured to make a decision that you did not feel good about? Maybe the pressure came from peers and after you went along with the decision you were filled with regret. How about the pressure that comes from doing the right thing, even when that decision takes you far away from your comfort zone?
We have heard sermons or read devotionals that speak of our actions crucifying our Lord. I always thought that was a bit of a reach and certainly not in keeping with God’s blessed plan of resurrection. However, recently I listened to Dr. David Jeremiah recounting ways that we “grieve the Holy Spirit,” and I found myself agreeing that some of my actions or words were not in keeping with my dedication to Christ. At those times, I heard my conscience (the Holy Spirit) decrying what I had done… “Why did I say that?” “Why didn’t I act?” etc. Is grieving the Holy Spirit the same as inflicting injury on my Lord? Of course, the Holy Spirit IS my Lord.
Being a disciple of Jesus is not an easy path to follow. Practicing our faith in everyday life presents its own set of decisions that may be easy to see but not easy to follow. We have cancelled out our old life in favor of the Lord, and that sheds a new light on our lives. Lord, give us strength to do what You would have us do. Amen.
Today’s Lenten Passage to Ponder:
John 20:11-18: and by that time Mary had returned to the tomb and was standing outside crying. And as she wept, she stooped and looked in and saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
Request for Prayers:
I am certain that we all have lists of persons that need our prayers at any given time. I would like to request prayers for my son Eric and my two grandkids, Hazel and Walter, whose wife/step-mother, Jessica and her sister, Jamie, were shot and killed this past Saturday afternoon in St. Louis. Family ties stretch from California, to Texas, to Missouri, to Indiana, to Ohio. Prayers for support of the family, but also the end of domestic violence.
Lenten Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the deeper meaning of this day. Thank you that bunnies and colorful eggs are not all that this Easter is about — thank you that it’s all about so much more. Help us to shift our eyes from what the world says to celebrate, to what you have done for us. Help us to keep that focus all the way to that blessed Sunday. Amen.
