March 27, 2026
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:
Lent 2026 – Day 23 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.49 through 5.51 (pages 175-177)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told 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.
Pilate does not know what to do with Jesus as he believes He is innocent or at least not deserving death and yet desires not to upset the Jews. He tries to deflect making a decision by sending him to Herod, but he won’t make a decision either but wants Jesus to give him a show. It is interesting to see the questions Jesus answers and the ones He doesn’t. He wants to make clear to Pilate who He is and how He sees what is happening to him, and yet He doesn’t defend Himself because He knows the course this needs to take and the role Pilate has to fill. Pilate then thinks of another way to avoid condemning Jesus to death…and that is to get the people to free Him. And yet they choose Barabbas. Talk about man’s evil will and God’s will happening at the same time.
I think Pilate had a pretty good idea what was going on. It was obvious that the religious leaders hated Jesus and they wanted pilot to be his executioner. Jesus became a pawn and a political power struggle between Pilate and the Pharisees. It also seems that Pilate believed that Jesus was speaking the truth, and was innocent of any crime. He asks a direct question: what is truth? Truth was looking at him right in the face and he rejected it. To him truth was probably whatever the majority of people agreed with or whatever helped him in political goals. Pretty good picture of today, when there’s no standard or acknowledgment of the truth there’s no basis for moral right and wrong. Justice becomes whatever works or whatever helps people in power, but for Christian believer, truth is in Jesus and His holy word that is a standard for truth and standard for moral behavior.
Lent Day 23 What struck me was that the Jewish leaders would not enter the house of Pilate because they didn’t want to become unclean at Passover! They saw nothing wrong with putting Jesus to death. Oh, the irony!
Psalm 98; Jeremiah 52; The Life of Jesus 5.49-5.51
Lent 2026 – Day 23
Lent 2026 Day 23
Lent 2026 – Day 22 & 23
Lent 2026 day 23
Lent day 23
Lent day 22 – 24
The frustration and conviction Pilate must have faced in this situation. To have this man stand before him, clearly innocent, and to have such pressure from the crowd to convict, and sentence to death! Nothing about this trial has been lawful or fair and he knnows that as well. Even his wife weighs in and tells him not to do this. Pilate is unknowingly part of God’s plan and while he tried and tried to find ways to set Jesus free it just gets put back in his lap to decide the fate of Jesus.
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.” The Jewish leaders begin their lie fest when they accuse Jesus. He doesn’t say to them that he is the Messiah, instead he says “You say that I am so.” And he didn’t oppose payment of taxes to Ceaser, he said “give to Ceaser what is Ceasers.” They tell Pilate he stirs up the people….to praise God perhaps. But even when Pilate tells them he doesn’t deserve death, the people shout even louder to crucify him. As Pastor described on Sunday, there were so many injustices that happened during Jesus’ trial. When we find ourselves in despair and discouraged because of the unfairness going on in our lives, we can know that Jesus suffered under it at the highest level, such that it resulted in a horrible death. But God, who is a God of Justice, has something awesome waiting on the other side despite it all!