The Gospel of Luke

This devotional is written by Alex Iddin. Alex is married to Jessie and is an excellent drummer.

Luke 23:1-25

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king."

3 So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"You have said so," Jesus replied.

4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."

5 But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."

6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

22 For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.



Reflection

I felt God highlight two aspects of this story to me.

The first is the mob, the angry, blood-thirsty assembly who dragged Jesus to Pilate. Luke 22 tells us that this assembly consisted of the Pharisees and leaders of the Jewish faith, those who Jesus so often rebuked. Their long-held desire to have Jesus arrested has become a reality, and now they have to face Pilate, who basically says they've got it wrong (v4). How humiliating.
Why don't they see Jesus for who He truly is? For who Mary, the disciples, the woman at the well, the countless others see Him? Instead they see a dangerous man who wants to overturn their way of life.

For those of us who have accepted Jesus, we have let Him overturn our lives in some way. We have confronted our own mistakes and have been met only with God's forgiveness and love.
But it's also true to say that there have been times (and I'm sure there will be more in the future) where I haven't let Jesus deal with my shortcomings and change some aspect of me. Just like the mob.

The second is Barabbas. The mob want him released and for Jesus to take his place (v18).
Barabbas literally means son of the Father. As Barabbas is released and Jesus is led away to His death (v25), He makes no protest and dies on the cross for Barabbas, just as He died for us and bore the weight of our sin.

We are all Barabbas. We are all sons and daughters of the Father who have been saved by the blameless Jesus taking our place.
 
Prayer

Father God, thank you for giving Jesus for our salvation. Forgive us for where we lay the blame on you, and help us to know you more each day.



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