Day 37 of Lent: Today’s reading is Luke 23:1-31. Click the blue link to read the passage online.
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We encounter a tense political scene in the opening passages of Luke 23. Tensions between Rome & Pilate and Herod &Pilate further muddy the waters of the already heated religious community. In reading about the tension between Herod and Pilate and the passing back and forth of the prisoner Jesus, one can almost taste the fear and the anger of the time period. And amazingly, it is here, in the midst of this volatile environment, that we see Jesus continue to minister to those who gathered around him.
Though it would be easy for us to turn and run from the prospect of death on a cross, Jesus continued to challenge the “authorities” in the Roman empire, as well as in the Jewish religious community. He also offered love and guidance to those who grieved for him as walked to his death.
Therefore, as we prepare for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, it is important that we ask ourselves, “What does it mean to belong to a God who loves us so selflessly?” and “What does faithfulness look like when the world challenges our beliefs and our morals?”
It is also interesting today to think about the role that Pilate played in the death of Jesus. Pilate is often labeled the villain, and while he should be held accountable for his actions, it is easy to see that Pilate was between a rock and a hard place – two sets of expectations were cornering him and making it extremely difficult for him to do the right thing. Have you ever been in such a situation? Have you ever felt that you needed to comprise the truth in order to save yourself? What would it look like if we dedicated ourselves solely to the Truth of Jesus Christ and did not worry about the personal consequences?
Filed under: Luke in Lent
Katy, your writing on this passage is deeply meaningful for me this week and is truly a Godsend. Thank you so very, very much for valuing us and taking the time to minister to us in this format with your written thoughts, questions, and inspirations. Thank you for stepping beyond simply directing us to these Scriptures, and for sharing yourself with us in how you encounter them and how you respond.