Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Taking the Responsibility for Us"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion 2016

 

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He
released the man who had been thrown into prison for
insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he
delivered Jesus over to their will (Luke 23:24-25).

 

Read Luke 23:24-25.

 

Pilate weighs out his options. He could defy the Jewish leaders
and the crowd, which grows more and more agitated every
moment. He could bring in his Roman troops to quell the rising
protest, but what would that mean for his career?
Then he looks at Jesus, standing silently by his side. No one
steps forward to defend Him and Jesus doesn't do anything to
defend Himself. If Pilate wants to save his career, he has to
sacrifice Jesus.

 

Luke tells us that Pilate "delivered Jesus over," using the exact
words he used of Judas' action. Both betrayed Jesus to those
Jewish authorities who sought His life. According to
Matthew 27:24, Pilate takes water, and in the sight of all the
court washes his hands and says, "I am innocent of this man's
blood. See to it yourselves."

 

But Pilate can't simply hand over his responsibility and shift the
blame for this miscarriage of justice. He will go down in history
as the one under whose authority God's innocent Son was
crucified.

 

But Jesus was no helpless victim in this whole process. He didn't
need Pilate's troops to protect Him. If He wanted, He could have
called upon His Father and He would have had vast angel armies
at His disposal (see Matthew 26:53). But He permitted this to
happen-even taking Pilate's guilt upon Himself and suffering God's
wrath in His place-as well as yours and mine.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, like Pilate I often try to shift the blame for my sins to
someone else, or find excuses for what I've done. Through Your
sacrifice I can stop and confess my guilt-knowing You already
paid the full price in my place. Receive my heartfelt thanks. Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

 

Lenten Devotion

 

A third time he (Pilate) said to them, "Why, what evil has
He done? I have found in Him no guilt deserving death. I
will therefore punish and release Him." But they were
urgent, demanding with loud cries that He should be
crucified. And their voices prevailed. (Luke 23:22-23).

 

Read Luke 23:18-23.

 

Pilate offers his compromise. Instead of condemning Jesus
to death, he will have Him scourged. But Jesus' bloody,
battered body isn't enough for the Jewish leaders. They
demand His death.

 

So Pilate tries another tactic, he offers the Jewish people
the choice of one of two prisoners he will release in honor
of the Passover: Jesus or Barabbas-the worst criminal he
has in custody. Matthew, Mark and John record that
Barabbas was a notorious prisoner who was guilty of
murder in an insurrection. To Pilate's astonishment the
Jewish leaders convince the crowds to call for Barabbas'
release and Jesus' execution. Ironically, Barabbas' crime
was insurrection and leading the people in revolt against
Rome-the very charge these Jewish leaders had falsely
leveled against Jesus. But now they demand the release
of the true insurrectionist, and the execution of the
Innocent One.

 

Desperately, Pilate addresses the crowd two more times,
demanding they give a valid reason Jesus should die. They
ignore him and keep shouting for Jesus' crucifixion. Pilate
knew Jesus was innocent and had said it over and over
again. Still, he let the crowds drown it out. Luke ends
today's reading with the chilling words, "And their voices
prevailed."

 

And what was Jesus doing this whole time? He was
standing by silently, accepting His Father's will that He be
crucified so that by His death He could give us life, pardon
and forgiveness.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, You willingly suffered such injustice and hate
from the creatures You came to save. Thank You for bearing
the punishment for my disobedience. Amen.

 

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

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)