Monday Morning Devotion
Luke 23:18–25
18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
Reflection
Jesus knows not a fair trial. His fate instead vacillates between an angry mob and a weak governor. Three times Pilate maintains Jesus’ innocence (v.22), but in the end acquiesces, handing Jesus over to the wolves. As his verdict sounds (“Crucify him!” v.21), and he’s delivered up (v.25), we wonder why, “like a lamb led to the slaughter” (Isa 57:3), he’s silent?
Don’t hear his silence as defeat or weakness. Jesus’ trial is no battle of will between him and his accusers. Jesus’ battle of will occurred the night before in Gethsemane when he surrendered his to God’s. Nor does his quiet acceptance of condemnation want for strength. Rather, in his trial and sentencing, Jesus begins to walk out a decision he’s already made with awe-inspiring determination: “not my will, Father, but yours, be done” (Lk. 22:42).
This is not to say the moment wasn’t scary. As he undergoes a frightful loss of freedom and reputation and faces a terrifying ensuing torture, we might wonder where his feet searched for stability. My guess is that as Jesus began the Via Dolorosa (“Way of Suffering”), he drew courage from the only sure thing he had left, his Father’s character and will. May it be true of His followers: “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done” (Lk. 22:42, KJV).
Prayer
O Lord, we who would take up our cross and follow your son, enable us to surrender our will completely to yours. Reshape our hearts according to yours, and give us such a resolve for your will and ways, and such safety in your care, that we might face with determination whatever path you call us to walk, just as our Lord faced the Way of the Cross.
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Artwork: Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) by Antonio Ciseri, Pilate Washing His Hands by Hendrick ter Brugghen, and Jesus Praying in the Garden by Gustave Doré.