Word@Work Luke341 - Luke 23:1-12
Published: Fri, 04/22/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
PLAYING WITH FIRE ON GOOD FRIDAY
Luke 23:1-12
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 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 Christ, a king." So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." 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." On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 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 some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends--before this they had been enemies. (NIV)
Pilate did not have a good track record. He was a heavy-handed, brutish Roman Governor whose management of Israel had already got him into trouble with Caesar. Upsetting local religions was not considered a good way to extend 'Roman Peace'. So Pilate did not really want to have anything to do with Jesus, and he passed the problem on to Herod.
King Herod had little interest in law, morality or God (he had John the Baptist executed although he enjoyed theological discussions with him). So he thought he could do the same with Jesus. But Jesus did not answer questions of curiosity. Like so many who play with Christianity, if they cannot get their way they ridicule Jesus; so Herod resorted to mocking the King of kings.
They were both playing with fire. They became friends, because they would not accept who Jesus was and submit to Him.
Jesus cannot be ignored because He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Nor can He be used to entertain us for our amusement, and His name must not be used in vain because He is the judge of all human beings; including Pilate and Herod. Yet so many continue to despise the Saviour, reject His love, spurn His grace, resist His mercy and provoke His wrath. They are playing with fire and need to know that without welcoming the Friend of Sinners they can never see God. So we must pray for them, explain the gospel to them (www.crosscheck.org.uk), excite them with His love and warn them of His wrath. It will only be 'Good' Friday if they repent and receive the mercy which flows from the cross. Otherwise as Hebrews 10:26-27 says, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God."
Prayer: Holy God. As I consider the way in which the Son of God was treated, I am shocked. Yet I remember my own past attitudes to Jesus: I am amazed that He wanted to save me and in awe of His loving grace to me. Please help me to worship Him with a renewed commitment today. May I also see my responsibility to share the gospel with my friends and colleagues who are playing with fire by ignoring or despising Jesus. May they come to faith in the Son of God and receive eternal life before it is too late. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Pilate did not have a good track record. He was a heavy-handed, brutish Roman Governor whose management of Israel had already got him into trouble with Caesar. Upsetting local religions was not considered a good way to extend 'Roman Peace'. So Pilate did not really want to have anything to do with Jesus, and he passed the problem on to Herod.
King Herod had little interest in law, morality or God (he had John the Baptist executed although he enjoyed theological discussions with him). So he thought he could do the same with Jesus. But Jesus did not answer questions of curiosity. Like so many who play with Christianity, if they cannot get their way they ridicule Jesus; so Herod resorted to mocking the King of kings.
They were both playing with fire. They became friends, because they would not accept who Jesus was and submit to Him.
Jesus cannot be ignored because He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Nor can He be used to entertain us for our amusement, and His name must not be used in vain because He is the judge of all human beings; including Pilate and Herod. Yet so many continue to despise the Saviour, reject His love, spurn His grace, resist His mercy and provoke His wrath. They are playing with fire and need to know that without welcoming the Friend of Sinners they can never see God. So we must pray for them, explain the gospel to them (www.crosscheck.org.uk), excite them with His love and warn them of His wrath. It will only be 'Good' Friday if they repent and receive the mercy which flows from the cross. Otherwise as Hebrews 10:26-27 says, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God."
Prayer: Holy God. As I consider the way in which the Son of God was treated, I am shocked. Yet I remember my own past attitudes to Jesus: I am amazed that He wanted to save me and in awe of His loving grace to me. Please help me to worship Him with a renewed commitment today. May I also see my responsibility to share the gospel with my friends and colleagues who are playing with fire by ignoring or despising Jesus. May they come to faith in the Son of God and receive eternal life before it is too late. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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