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17 March 2008
John 19 v 1-8
Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and whipped. The soldiers made a crown from some thorny branches and put it on Jesus' head and put a purple robe around him. Then they came to him many times and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and hit him in the face.
Again Pilate came out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want you to know that I find nothing against him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"
When the leading priests and the guards saw Jesus, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
But Pilate answered, "Crucify him yourselves, because I find nothing against him."
The leaders answered, "We have a law that says he should die, because he said he is the Son of God."
When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid.
The events leading up to Easter are not only graphic in description but also they show very clearly for us how individuals and groups of people responded to this important event in the Christian calendar. Demonstrating for us both the strength and weakness of their character. Also the willingness to stand for truth while others tried to promote their own agendas.
In our world today we often see people expressing their feelings through public demonstrations. Walking through city centres carrying placard boards.
Our focus today centres upon the crowd of people who called out 'Crucify Him! Crucify Him!' Many of these people over the previous few years had witnessed the great acts of Jesus. They had not only listened to His teaching but also applied it to their lives. Others had witnessed the miracles of healing such as the lame man who walked and the blind man who was given sight. So why the sudden change from gratitude to what appears to be open hostility?
The religious leaders of that time saw Jesus as being a challenge to their authority and as a result saw this as being an excellent opportunity to incite the crowds. The chants of 'Crucify Him! Crucify Him! echoed in the area.
As we approach Easter there will be people who have different views on who Jesus is. Yet we need to resist being pressurised like many in the crowd but take time to discover for ourselves the relevance of His death.
Against the hostility of people even today the message of Easter is clear for it expresses the love of God for a sinful world of which we are part and that personal forgiveness can be found in the Saviour who was willing to die for us.
Lord as I approach Easter help me to appreciate that behind all the events that took place there is a Saviour who loved me and was willing to give His life so that I could know forgiveness in my life. Amen.
Written by David Morgan
John 19 v 1-8
Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and whipped. The soldiers made a crown from some thorny branches and put it on Jesus' head and put a purple robe around him. Then they came to him many times and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and hit him in the face.
Again Pilate came out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want you to know that I find nothing against him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"
When the leading priests and the guards saw Jesus, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
But Pilate answered, "Crucify him yourselves, because I find nothing against him."
The leaders answered, "We have a law that says he should die, because he said he is the Son of God."
When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid.
The events leading up to Easter are not only graphic in description but also they show very clearly for us how individuals and groups of people responded to this important event in the Christian calendar. Demonstrating for us both the strength and weakness of their character. Also the willingness to stand for truth while others tried to promote their own agendas.
In our world today we often see people expressing their feelings through public demonstrations. Walking through city centres carrying placard boards.
Our focus today centres upon the crowd of people who called out 'Crucify Him! Crucify Him!' Many of these people over the previous few years had witnessed the great acts of Jesus. They had not only listened to His teaching but also applied it to their lives. Others had witnessed the miracles of healing such as the lame man who walked and the blind man who was given sight. So why the sudden change from gratitude to what appears to be open hostility?
The religious leaders of that time saw Jesus as being a challenge to their authority and as a result saw this as being an excellent opportunity to incite the crowds. The chants of 'Crucify Him! Crucify Him! echoed in the area.
As we approach Easter there will be people who have different views on who Jesus is. Yet we need to resist being pressurised like many in the crowd but take time to discover for ourselves the relevance of His death.
Against the hostility of people even today the message of Easter is clear for it expresses the love of God for a sinful world of which we are part and that personal forgiveness can be found in the Saviour who was willing to die for us.
Lord as I approach Easter help me to appreciate that behind all the events that took place there is a Saviour who loved me and was willing to give His life so that I could know forgiveness in my life. Amen.
Written by David Morgan
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