April 4, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 25 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.49 through 5.52 (pages 175-179)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Don’t like reading these chapters. But it had to be done. Pilate try’s a few different ways to get away from this trial. Send Jesus to Herod. Have him flogged. Barabbas. So he washes his hands. The soldiers go way beyond the normal flogging, why? Hate for Jews? Hate for God? 19/7. The truth comes out. The meatheads said Jesus was causing a rebellion against Rome. Now they say blasphemy. Wishy washy to say the least. Can’t imagine what Pilate thought You have no power over me unless it was given to you from above! Crucify barabbas. !! We have no king but Caesar. Are you kidding me!?! And that day Pilate and Herod became friends!! This makes me sick to my stomach. But it had to be.
Jesus goes before Pilate and Herod. Neither of them can find any wrong in Him. The Jewish leaders are desperate to find something wrong about Jesus. They wanted him killed on the cross. They couldn`t do it themselves because of Roman law. This was a fulfillment of scripture. The Jewish leaders thought they could eliminate their problem by getting rid of Jesus. Little did they know that they were following God`s plan for Jesus to die on the cross and rise again after three days conquering death and sin. So we might have eternal life through Him. Also noted that before this both Pilate and Herod were enemies and then became friends. The forces of evil against Jesus. Of course Satan thought he was destroying Jesus and thereby winning. But we know how God allowed this. In Genesis 3; 15 the scripture refers to this. [ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.] The book of Isaiah 52;13–53;12 tells of the death of One who will die as a offering for sin for many. He would die among the transgressors [ sinners]. He was so bruised and beaten that he was marred more than any man. He did this for you and me. This is how much He loves us. This is a God that wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us. If only we would come to Him and spend time with Him and seek His counsel. We make it so hard on ourselves when we fail to come to Him. In Jeremiah 29;11 [ For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil ,to give you an expected end.] Also verses 12 and 13. [ Then shall ye call upon me , and find me, and ye shall go and pray unto me , and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me , and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. ]
What an absolute circus and travesty of justice! It is interesting that the man who had not seen what Jesus did and had little knowledge of Him found nothing wrong in Him (I would even say Pilate found Jesus compelling), and those who knew all He did wanted to kill Him. And yet what we see most in this passage is God orchestrating a plan and using human free will to do it. The Jewish leaders contradict themselves and do things their own laws and standards would not allow, but all because they are so convinced Jesus needs to die, they will do anything to make it happen. And Pilate is caught between a rock and a hard place…not wanting to kill a man he believed was innocent and yet wanting to keep the people in control. And in the midst of it is the wise, honest, cool headed Jesus, who answers when it is fitting, asks questions when it is fitting and is silent when it is fitting.. “What is truth?” Pilate asks. Jesus doesn’t answer because it is standing right in from of him. And some of the scariest words in scripture are uttered here…lets His death be on our heads and even on our children….talk about not realizing what you are saying..
Day 25
5.49-5.52
“Jesus said, ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish leaders. No my kingdom is not an earthly one.'”
This part of the passage struck me. It reminded me that as a believer I am under the sovereignty of Christ and the dynamics of my life should revolve around that truth. The fact that I am a believer should permeate every aspect of my life. These passages also illustrate the play between politics and religion.
Pilate is in such a terrible spot. It is obvious that even without seeing firsthand the miraculous things Jesus has done that he knows even if He isn’t who He says He is, He is certainly innocent and does not deserve to die. In stark contrast to the Jewish leaders who are very aware of all Jesus had done and in their own fear and pride they are calling for and orchestrating His death!
So hard to read our Savior treated like this but also a reminder that He was going through all this because of me and my sin. I was not out there shouting to crucify Him but my own sin played a part in His death and that is a terribly sobering thought!
On lent 2023 day 27
Pilate, a neutral Gentile, saw nothing wrong with Jesus to permit him to give him the death penalty. The Jewish leaders, devoutly religious people, were so very determined to have him killed that they refused to back down. So Jesus, an innocent man, took the place of Barabbas, a murderer. And God allowed this to happen so that Jesus could follow through with the redemption plan of taking the penalty for our sin so that all those who believe in him would be set free from eternal punishment. And this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. -John 3:16
It is hard to think of a man being found guilty and sentenced to death (or even imprisonment) based on lies, deceit and political corruption. The mob determines Jesus’ fate, not a Roman court or a Jewish court.
I shudder to think of how corruption and “mob rule” have infiltrated our own country. The guilty go free and continue to terrorize. The innocent remain in jail without a trial. Our country based it’s legal system on both Roman and Jewish law and it is a good system, until it is run by corrupt people and enforced unequally.