Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Thursday, 17 April 2014 "They 'tried' Jesus—and condemned themselves"
Reflection Questions:
Throughout most of his public ministry, Jesus' enemies had dogged his footsteps, claiming that he was a false teacher, perhaps even demonic (cf. Luke 11:14-16). But when they had him in their power, the contrast was striking. Jesus remained calm and in control of himself. The leaders, who claimed great "righteousness," were frenzied, unfair and cruel, showing a spirit tragically filled with hatred and evil.
In verse 63, Luke said Jesus' guards taunted and beat him BEFORE the council met for the trial (Luke 22:66). This was a classic Alice in Wonderland "trial"—"verdict first, evidence later." Pontius Pilate, a tough Roman career politician, saw through their charges, saying, "I find no legal basis for action against this man." Have anyone ever treated you unfairly? In what ways can you grow toward having the spirit with which Jesus endured this mockery of a trial?
The religious leaders loathed tax collectors for working with Rome. Now they readily set aside that "principle" to demand that the Roman procurator help them kill Jesus. Have you ever seen (or been) a person who was willing to use bad means to achieve a desired purpose? From God's perspective, who was really on trial—Jesus, or Pilate and the religious leaders, who refused to acknowledge Jesus as their king?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I wasn't part of that awful kangaroo trial. But fear or prejudice can blind me, too. Forgive me, cleanse me and give me a clearer vision of how my actions can heal or harm. Amen.
Insight from Shawn Simpson
Shawn Simpson serves as the Director of Technical Arts and Operations at The Church of the Resurrection’s West campus in Olathe, KS.
They “tried” Jesus—and condemned themselves
Thursday, 17 April 21014 (Maundy (HOLY) Thursday) Scripture Luke 22:63 The men who held Jesus mocked him and beat him. 64 Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” 65 They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.
66 As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe, 68 and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go. 69 From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70 They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He said to them, “You say it, because I am.”
71 They said, “Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!”
23:1 The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
He answered him, “So you say.”
4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5 But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.” 6 But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11 Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.
As I read this GPS entry and contemplated what I would write for my blog post, one thing became clear: I’m absolutely no better than the ones who condemned Jesus, either by decree or by action. I’ve racked my brain for stories of when I cried out for justice, or stood resolutely in the face of persecution and refused to blink, but came up empty.
Like most people I know, I am pretty tech savvy and do well at navigating the torrent of information available at my fingertips. The downside is the feeling that I really KNOW what’s going on rather than recognizing that everything I read is what someone else wrote and may not be entirely truthful or accurate. The biggest shame here is that regardless of the truth, it’s all too possible for a story to be perpetuated that illustrates massive criminality where none may exist. What the Jewish leadership did to Jesus is what we see play out almost daily in the news media: character assassination.
Our community suffered a great tragedy just a few days ago, the effects of which are still resonating throughout the whole area. The man responsible is in jail and will likely never see freedom again. In MY heart, I truly feel like this man deserves punishment beyond anything our legal system could deal out. He is despicable and an awful blight on the face of this planet. Where I find God is in the statements of the families who lost loved ones.
Where I want to see him suffer, they are praying for healing. Where I want him to feel pain, they are refusing his hateful legacy and instead are focusing on the love-filled legacy of the ones they lost. Where I feel hatred, they are demonstrating love.
They “tried” Jesus and condemned themselves. By pushing for his execution, they ultimately set into motion a reformation of how civilization comes to know God: through Christ the King. Likewise, by showing love for their lost rather than hatred for the one who took them, these families are opening the door for even the most hard hearted (like me) to turn back to God in tragedy and not go the way of those who yelled “crucify him!”
The weeks and months to come will surely be filled with coverage of this man and his trial. My prayer would be to have the heart of the true victims and wish for justice based on what he did rather than how he is portrayed; that I would be able to pray for God to be in that man’s heart and for his true punishment to be in the knowledge that he let evil overcome his spirit…but that ultimately he may be cleansed and healed and a tool for God to use to stop his brand of hatred in the future.
Return to the GPS Guide to read today’s scripture and reflection questions.
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