A Governor, a King, & a Messiah
September 22, 2023
Luke 23:1-25 | James 3:2-13
It’s not the most important thing we’ll consider in the gospels, but do you think Pilate was fair with Jesus? Ultimately, he was wrong, but can you be fair and wrong? (Pilate got bad information.) Just a thought.
But the heart of the scene is difficult here. Jesus has reshaped our understanding of authority (from God). Yet here he stands, in chains, while a governor and a king toss him back and forth, dressing him like a doll and exchanging him for a murderous rioter. (Again, Jesus stands silently before Herod - not a word as people lie about him.)
What would it have done? To this point in Luke, Jesus has shown great wisdom and power with his words. Couldn’t we imagine he’d do the same with Pilate and maybe even Herod?
These are moot questions. There are a lot of things Jesus could have done.
But he didn’t.
The point of this story is tbe salvation to come, but perhaps there’s a lesson in the midst in regard to how Jesus handled himself in these situations.
Luke 23:1-25
The whole assembly got up and led Jesus to Pilate and began to accuse him. They said, “We have found this man misleading our people, opposing the payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming that he is the Christ, a king.”
Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “That’s what you say.”
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no legal basis for action against this man.”
But they objected strenuously, saying, “He agitates the people with his teaching throughout Judea—starting from Galilee all the way here.”
Hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was from Herod’s district, Pilate sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus, for he had heard about Jesus and had wanted to see him for quite some time. He was hoping to see Jesus perform some sign. Herod questioned Jesus at length, but Jesus didn’t respond to him. The chief priests and the legal experts were there, fiercely accusing Jesus. Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt. Herod mocked him by dressing Jesus in elegant clothes and sent him back to Pilate. Pilate and Herod became friends with each other that day. Before this, they had been enemies.
Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. He said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who was misleading the people. I have questioned him in your presence and found nothing in this man’s conduct that provides a legal basis for the charges you have brought against him. Neither did Herod, because Herod returned him to us. He’s done nothing that deserves death. Therefore, I’ll have him whipped, then let him go.”
But with one voice they shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison because of a riot that had occurred in the city, and for murder.)
Pilate addressed them again because he wanted to release Jesus.
They kept shouting out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
For the third time, Pilate said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I’ve found no legal basis for the death penalty in his case. Therefore, I will have him whipped, then let him go.”
But they were adamant, shouting their demand that Jesus be crucified. Their voices won out. Pilate issued his decision to grant their request. He released the one they asked for, who had been thrown into prison because of a riot and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.
James 3:2-13
We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.
Consider ships: They are so large that strong winds are needed to drive them. But pilots direct their ships wherever they want with a little rudder. In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly.
Think about this: A small flame can set a whole forest on fire. The tongue is a small flame of fire, a world of evil at work in us. It contaminates our entire lives. Because of it, the circle of life is set on fire. The tongue itself is set on fire by the flames of hell.
People can tame and already have tamed every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish. No one can tame the tongue, though. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human beings made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it just shouldn’t be this way!
Both fresh water and salt water don’t come from the same spring, do they? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? Of course not, and fresh water doesn’t flow from a saltwater spring either.
Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom.
Prayer
God,
Give me wisdom to know what to say, if anything at all.
Amen.