Matthew 27:11-31 11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. 22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Doug McCoy
First Christian Church
Observation: Father, You are showing me here that angry, jealous people often do the wrong thing even when given ample opportunity to do right. You have also shown me that they are held liable for their actions.
Action: I am going to consider the actions that I am in the midst of taking. I am going to evaluate my motives to see if any are angry and/or jealous. I will look at what is going on around these actions to see if I am being given any opportunity to stop these actions. If I find I am doing wrong and being given an opportunity to stop, I will. Father, make me aware of my motives and how they affect my behavior. Bombard me with clear opportunities to stop doing angry and jealous things, I pray.
Dear Lord,
I am struck that in the midst of what You were facing, You chose to let me make a choice. A choice to accuse, a choice to believe, a choice to deny, a choice to follow. I can follow You or not. I can believe You or not.
Even today Your Grace covers my poor choices.
Oh Lord,
I bow down to worship who You truly are.
Let my understanding rise with revelation.
Let my faith expand into Your greatness.
Entwine my choices with Yours.
Let me praise You for who You are, our life -giver.
The source of Breath, the source of Light, the source of Truth.
Thank You Lord.
Amen.
Thank you for sharing. This is beautifully said.
Observation: Father, I see the Silence of Your Lamb as He is on the precipice of suffering as the Lamb for me, the world. It is important to know when to speak, when not to speak; what to say and what not to say when charged, facing accusers or in difficult circumstances. When Jesus speaks later from the cross it is a prayer for them: “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing…”
Action: Father, I hear your heart and see the example of Your Son and see I’m not be a defender of self but one who releases and proclaims life and hope to people. Where ever I am and whatever I face, I will be silent unless what I speak is life giving, Christ honoring and people building.
Observation: I hear You saying, “Look, this is the best the world has to offer. The claim of kingship without love or loyalty. A crown that turns out to be thorns and applause that belongs to the false son only (Jesus, bar/son abba/father).
Action: I will clarify who my loyalty is to today. Whose applause I yield to will be weighed with the awareness that I am tempted to give the people “my own personal Jesus” the son of the father they want rather than the Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of the Father. Help me be loyal to you.
Observation: We humans tend to get so used to betrayal that we come to expect it. When someone incapable of betrayal comes along we crucify him. We push away the one who offers perfect love because the enemy wants to convince us that the only love out there is a selfish love that only leads to heartbreak and disappointment.
Action: I’ve been tempted many times to not engage at some level because of fear of betrayal/disappointment. But I know that your love does not/cannot disappoint. I’ll cling to that no matter what disappointment the world has to offer, and not disengage no matter what I fear may come. Your perfect love gives me the courage to do that.
Observation: Pilate had plenty of signs to pay attention to along the way. (Like listen to your wife)!!!!!!!! He chose instead to cave to the pressure of people and circumstances. He washed his hands of his responsibility.
Action: I’m going to be in agreement with the dreams of my wife and family as we hear God together for how we live as a family on mission.