Read Luke 23:1-49.
Whenever we hear this story, there are many voices. There’s the voice of Jesus, but he doesn’t say much. Pilate asks him if he’s a king, and he reflects back, “You have said so” (v 3). There’s the voice of Pilate, who has many questions to ask, many people to consult. There’s the voice of Herod, who treats Jesus like a clown, a piece of entertainment. But most chillingly, there are the voices of the crowd. The crowd ignores the reasoning for justice. They call for Jesus to die.
The country is not a democracy. It’s under the rule of the Roman Empire. But Pilate, the Roman governor, lets the people have their say. And he lets them have their way. He’s a politician. He doesn’t want trouble. Herod – the puppet controller of Galilee – doesn’t want trouble, either. He doesn’t want to be responsible for Jesus, so he plays a political game. Although his court mocked Jesus, Herod has him dressed in an elegant robe, and sends him back to Pilate (v 11). Pilate is pleased: Herod seems to agree that Jesus deserves respect.
But the voices of the crowd have their way: Jesus is condemned.
What other voices do we hear? The voices of women. They weep for Jesus (v 27). Jesus was known for his ministry with women. In Luke, we hear the voices of women a lot, right from the time when Elizabeth and Mary conceived (Lk 1:24-36). We remember his gentleness to both Mary the disciple and her busy, protesting sister, Martha (Lk 10:38-42). We recall how generous he was to the sinful woman who kissed and anointed his feet (Lk 7:36-50).
But today, Jesus refuses pity, and also offers no comfort. Women are the carriers of the next generation, and this dark day is a heavy one. It will have impact from generation to generation (Lk 23:28-30).
Jesus is crucified. Two thieves beside him show us two opposite ways to respond to Jesus. Mock, or repent.
Then Jesus dies. There are some cosmic signs. The sun darkens. There is no more chatter. Now those who mocked seem to repent. The centurion – the Roman military police officer – praises God and declares Jesus righteous (Lk 23:47). In Mark’s gospel (Mk 15:17) he even says he was the Son of God. People in the crowd beat their breasts. We can imagine loud moans of remorse, because they made the wrong call before. They have separated themselves from God; they have killed his Son.
The faithful, at this time, watch from a distance. They are enormously sad, but they are not beating their breasts. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told by Simeon that a sword would pierce her soul (Lk 2:35). And all that she learnt from the time of the angel Gabriel (Lk 1:29) and from Jesus’ birth, she kept and pondered (Lk 2:19).
This is today’s call for us. Remember who Jesus is. Decide if we are driven by politics or truth. Decide if we will make little of Jesus, and come to regret it, or to quietly trust in His saving power.
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