We are reading Luke 23 today. Here are a few notes and things to consider:
- This chapter opens with the religious leaders taking Jesus to a Roman Official named Pilate, who found no grounds for a charge against Jesus. The people insisted and so Pilate sent him to another official named Herod who again found no charge and sent Jesus back to Pilate.
- Finally as the people insistently demanded Jesus be crucified, Pilate gave Jesus over to be killed.
- The Roman soldiers crucified Jesus between two criminals while people, soldiers and religious leaders mocked him. But even one of the criminals hanging beside him declared Jesus’ innocence.
- After Jesus dies one of the soldiers attested that Jesus was “a righteous man.”
- Then one religious leader named Joseph (not the father of Jesus) asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and gave him a decent burial.
Did you notice that never during this horrific time did Jesus defend himself. He never acted violently or even scream out “but I’m innocent!” None of the Roman officials found fault in Jesus. It was the demands of the people and religious leaders that were the driving force behind his death. During his death a criminal defended him and after he died a soldier attested to his innocence. Even in dying Jesus acted in such a way that people were drawn to him. Jesus spoke respectfully, comforted women who were morning his pending death and asked for forgiveness of his murders. Jesus always acted in love even when people were literally killing him.
Does Jesus’ demonstration of love cause something to rise up inside of you and make you want to love others more? Does it make you love Jesus more?
No comments:
Post a Comment