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Luke23: 1-23
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”[17]
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand.25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
Assume positive intent. Yet, in our broken world we always see the wolf. Situations arise and we see the selfish and evil lurking silently behind the motives of others. Motives ready to take down our freedom, our way of life, our hope in a future. This view comes from past pain and trauma that has tainted our perspective. A taste of bitterness fills our mouths.
Jesus was accused. Jesus was the wolf lurking. Jesus was the shadow which would rise up decent.
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
This man of God was claimed to have goals of destroying the order of Caesar. A man who wanted to be a King and take what was his to own, rightly. Pilate wanted to know how Jesus saw himself, so he asked. Yet, Jesus just called him and others out by allowing their perspective to shine through and let what He knew to be true remain silent. How could he not defend himself in this situation? He was right to prove them wrong. But, the sheep humbly put His own defense to rest.
Can you see? When tested in our faith, allow our grace to deflect.
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
As Jesus deflected, Pilate couldn’t see a reason to charge the King of Jews. So, he sent him on to Herod. This man, excited and joyful in his first meeting with someone he heard could communicate with God. To determine if this was true, he did what we all do, asked many questions seeking answers. But, in return Jesus didn’t answer. If He was so powerful and connected, why does He chose to remain silent?
Well, if Jesus chooses to remain silent then let the people around answer for Him. Jesus was drowned out by all those educated in the law. Knowledge winning the one sided battle.
As we pray and cry out, silence. Where is He? Why won’t He perform what He says He will deliver? Frustrated, we turn and seek out someone or something else to answer our prayers.
Herod saw weakness in this man, The King of Jews, since a defense wasn’t what was delivered. So, he dressed him in a robe to show his true identity, a wolf and brought him back to Pilate. What occurred next? These two unlikely fellows become friends. Once enemies fighting for their own power, now have a common goal, conquer this king.
As we seek for answers, who or what do we now cling to? A person we thought we couldn’t trust? A habit or behavior we once would never condone? Do we become our enemy when Jesus’s meekness and stillness isn’t powerful enough?
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”[17]
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Even though Pilate and Herod couldn’t accuse Him of any specific wrong doing, they seemed to only see an enemy. In the law, they knew death would be for those who committed to worse offenses. Jesus only committed one crime, He allowed the evil and brokenness to cloud His love and God’s mercy.
Both of the men decided to punish him and let him go. Why waste their time when this seemingly weak and defenseless man was nothing more than king without an army?
As these leaders announced their decree, the people who follow cried for justice. They wanted a murderer set free and this man to be crucified. An astounding trade.
Can we see evil as good and good as evil? Set lawless free and bind righteousness. Accept society and the push for gray moral lines but shun good and pure? Our world lives here and functions in blurred lines.
So, can we join this crowd in shouting, “Crucify Him!” ? We will get our way and the sheep will go to slaughter.
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand.25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
The crowd was insistent. They screamed louder than the obvious observations made by the Pilate and Herod. A criminal was sent to freedom and an innocent man was sent to death. A world upside down and tainted by the knowledge of good and evil.
In our time of celebration of the crucifixion of this beautiful gift from God, we remember that our lives mimic this crowd. We accuse, we act as judge and jury, we demand our freedom, we allow evil to walk among our precious treasures, and we cry out “Crucify Him”.
We cling to what we want and how we see all things playing out. Our true north and God’s will is replaced by our self serving nature. We allow Jesus to die again and again. Yet, we need to take His place.
Die to self. Take up our cross. Embrace Him and allow our true selves to become the sheep to be guided by our Sheppard.
faithful walk in progress 