Daily Scripture: Luke 3:1 In the fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius’ rule; when Pontius Pilate was governor of Y’hudah, Herod ruler of the Galil, his brother Philip ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 with ‘Anan and Kayafa being the cohanim g’dolim; the word of God came to Yochanan Ben-Z’kharyah in the desert. 3 He went all through the Yarden region proclaiming an immersion involving turning to God from sin in order to be forgiven.
Matthew 27:1 Early in the morning, all the head cohanim and elders met to plan how to bring about Yeshua’s death. 2 Then they put him in chains, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
11 Meanwhile, Yeshua was brought before the governor, and the governor put this question to him: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Yeshua answered, “The words are yours.” 12 But when he was accused by the head cohanim and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear all these charges they are making against you?” 14 But to the governor’s great amazement, he did not say a single word in reply to the accusations.
15 It was the governor’s custom during a festival to set free one prisoner, whomever the crowd asked for. 16 There was at that time a notorious prisoner being held, named Yeshua Bar-Abba. 17 So when a crowd had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to set free for you? Bar-Abba? or Yeshua, called ‘the Messiah’?” 18 For he understood that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting in court, his wife sent him a message, “Leave that innocent man alone. Today in a dream I suffered terribly because of him.” 20 But the head cohanim persuaded the crowd to ask for Bar-Abba’s release and to have Yeshua executed on the stake. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to set free for you?” asked the governor. “Bar-Abba!” they answered. 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Yeshua, called ‘the Messiah’?” They all said, “Put him to death on the stake! Put him to death on the stake!” 23 When he asked, “Why? What crime has he committed?” they shouted all the louder, “Put him to death on the stake!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “My hands are clean of this man’s blood; it’s your responsibility.” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released to them Bar-Abba; but Yeshua, after having him whipped, he handed over to be executed on a stake.
Reflection Questions:
Pontius Pilate would be completely forgotten today if he hadn’t condemned Jesus. The Apostles’ Creed mentioned this man we might call a “political hack” because he helped locate Jesus’ story firmly in history. This really occurred, at a certain time and place. More than that, Pilate is a warning. He was “somebody”—Rome’s highest official in Jerusalem. Desperately trying to remain a somebody, Pilate carried out a gross injustice, saying, “I find no legal basis for action against this man” (Luke 23:4) yet sending him to the cross.
- What a scene: on one side Pontius Pilate, Roman procurator, seeing Jesus’ innocence clearly yet lacking the moral courage to do justice. On the other, religious leaders, afraid of Jesus’ challenge to their status and system, shouting, "Crucify him!" Jesus in their midst. Scholar N. T. Wright asked, “What would it look like for us to fully side with Jesus—silent in the middle, continuing to reflect the love of God into his muddled and tragic world—as opposed to the political maneuverings of those like Pilate and the chief priests in our world”?
- Jesus answered Pilate’s questions unlike anyone Pilate had ever questioned: “My kingdom doesn’t originate from this world ….I came into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth” (John 18:36, 37). C. S. Lewis wrote that a man who made such claims falsely “would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell.” Pilate ignored Jesus’ answer; the religious leaders called him a blasphemer. How does your heart respond to Jesus’ claims: lunatic, liar, or Lord and God?
Lord Jesus, I wasn’t part of that awful kangaroo trial. But prejudice or fear can blind me, too. Forgive me, cleanse me and show me more clearly how I can choose to heal rather than harm. Amen.
Insights from Wendy Connelly
Wendy Connelly, wife to Mark and mom to Lorelei & Gryffin, is Community Outreach Director at the Leawood campus, a graduate student at Saint Paul School of Theology, Faith Walk columnist for the Kansas City Star, and co-leads the “Live and Let Think” dialogues at Resurrection Downtown.
Pontius Pilate would have done well to listen to his wife, who sent him a warning that rings through history: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night, I suffered much on account of him.” –Matthew 27:19
Pilate didn’t heed her prophetic warning, but instead, sent Jesus to the cross. And yet, as Pilate presented the scourged Messiah to the crowds—“Behold, the man!”—and affixed upon the cross a sign proclaiming Jesus as “King of the Jews,” he failed in his mission to squelch an uprising. Rather, in a deliciously subversive twist, Pilate unwittingly—even through the means of his gross tortures and taunts—became one of history’s great evangelists!
“Behold, the man!” “King of the Jews!”
Could it be that God uses even the Pilates of this world to reveal, in the end, God’s greater glory? Let this be an encouragement to you. Whatever injustice you’re up against—whatever Pontius Pilate you face, scourging and taunting your soul—trust that God upholds the righteous and, in the end, uses all situations to reveal his glory.
Behold, the man, King of the Jews!
Behold, your God!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Pontius Pilate would have done well to listen to his wife, who sent him a warning that rings through history: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night, I suffered much on account of him.” –Matthew 27:19
Pilate didn’t heed her prophetic warning, but instead, sent Jesus to the cross. And yet, as Pilate presented the scourged Messiah to the crowds—“Behold, the man!”—and affixed upon the cross a sign proclaiming Jesus as “King of the Jews,” he failed in his mission to squelch an uprising. Rather, in a deliciously subversive twist, Pilate unwittingly—even through the means of his gross tortures and taunts—became one of history’s great evangelists!
“Behold, the man!” “King of the Jews!”
Could it be that God uses even the Pilates of this world to reveal, in the end, God’s greater glory? Let this be an encouragement to you. Whatever injustice you’re up against—whatever Pontius Pilate you face, scourging and taunting your soul—trust that God upholds the righteous and, in the end, uses all situations to reveal his glory.
Behold, the man, King of the Jews!
Behold, your God!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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