Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion

 

(Pilate said) "... Look, nothing deserving death has been
done by Him. I will therefore punish and release Him"
(Luke 23:15-16).

 

Read Luke 23:13-16.

 

In the first trial Pilate declared Jesus not guilty but failed
to enforce his ruling. Now he has a second chance. Pilate
reports that he examined Jesus in open court proceedings,
not in secret, and found that Jesus was not guilty of any of
the charges against Him. Moreover, Herod had tried
Jesus and did not condemn Him.

 

Herod had a better understanding of the Jewish religion
than the Roman Pilate. Yet even on religious grounds
Herod had not found Jesus guilty, and he certainly would
have punished Him if he had. Besides that, most of Jesus'
preaching and miracles had been done in Herod's
jurisdiction, yet not once over all those months had Herod
found a reason to arrest and try Jesus.

 

Two courts had reached the same verdict. He concludes,
"Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him."
Again at this point, Pilate should use his full authority as
Roman ruler to protect the innocent. But instead of freeing
Jesus, Pilate offers a compromise: he orders Jesus
scourged-a savage, crippling whipping. Surely, the Jewish
leaders will be satisfied that Jesus is no longer a threat, and
accept it in place of Jesus' death.

 

What a strange punishment when you have declared a man
innocent of all the charges leveled against Him. It is also odd
that Pilate shrinks from killing a Man he knows is innocent,
but can justify crippling Him. Jesus yields Himself to such
suffering and injustice to pay for your sins and mine. But He
knows God will not be satisfied with mere earthly punishment
and suffering, the Son of God will have to die to save us from
our sins.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, I marvel at Your loving sacrifice. Fill me with such
love and gratitude to You that I will sacrifice myself for others.
Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion

 

And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that
very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each
other (Luke 23:12).

 

Read Luke 23:12.

 

Jesus came to be the great Reconciler. In His death He
restores the relationship between God and sinner. But His
sacrifice also works to bring human enemies together. We
see this in the case of Pilate and Herod, whose enmity
toward each other ended with Jesus' trials.

 

Before this time they hated each another. For Herod it was
probably nothing personal. He wanted the territory that Pilate
ruled, seeking to add that jurisdiction to his own. But an
incident Luke relates in 13:1 might have had some bearing
on it. The verse references something that took place at an
earlier event. "There were some present at that very time who
told Him (Jesus) about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices." Some Galileans evidently
started an insurrection that Pilate had efficiently put down
with force and bloodshed. Since these were Herod's subjects,
he could have seen it as a grievous offense.

 

On Pilate's side, his hatred for Herod may well have stemmed
from Herod's plotting and scheming to drive him out and take
his jurisdiction. But in Jesus the two rulers find common
ground. Herod buries the hatchet with Pilate because Pilate
grants his wish to see Jesus. And Pilate is reconciled because
Herod did him the honor of returning the case to Pilate's court.
It was no small thing for a ruler to entrust the fate of one of his
subjects into someone else's hands.

 

Pilate was probably not happy to see the return of Jesus and
His accusers, but at least Herod would no longer be a nuisance
and a threat.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, in Your suffering and death You reunited us with
Your Heavenly Father. Unite us to one another through
forgiveness, peace and love. Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

"Silence That Speaks Volumes"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion

 

The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing
Him. And Herod with his soldiers treated Him with contempt and
mocked Him. Then, arraying Him in splendid clothing, he sent
Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:10-11).

 

Read Luke 23:10-11.

 

The Jewish leaders are not happy with Herod. They want him to
condemn Jesus, but he's not interested in a trial. He's holding an
audition for a court magician. The scribes are vehement, trying to
force his attention back to the trial at hand, but he totally ignores
them.

 

Jesus' silence speaks volumes. He won't even dignify Herod's
childish fascination with an answer. But the governor is deaf to
Jesus' silent message. He doesn't take a moment to think about
his behavior, his guilt in having John the Baptist beheaded. He
doesn't think of what he owes this Man who stands trial before
him-or what he owes the God to whom he will one day have to
answer.

 

Finally, Herod gives up on Jesus. Since Jesus is giving him the
silent treatment, he will return the favor. He begins mocking Him
and treating Him with contempt, and his soldiers quickly join in.
Since Jesus claims to be King of the Jews, He needs royal robes.
So Herod dresses Him in splendid clothing.

 

Why didn't Herod reach a verdict? He could certainly have scored
points with the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem if he condemned
Jesus. But he'd been down that road before. Back when he had
John the Baptist executed, he took a huge hit with his subjects
up in Galilee who held John to be a prophet (see Matthew 14:5).
There was no way he was going to order Jesus' execution too.
Instead, Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, You didn't come for my entertainment, but for my
eternal salvation. When I enter Your house for worship, give me a
heart that seeks Your grace, not my own selfish enjoyment. Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)