Christ Church Daily Devotion March 29 2024

Jesus is taken before Pilate and then Herod, but remains silent in the face of false accusations. Pilate tries to release him, but the crowd demands his crucifixion. Jesus endures suffering because he knows it is necessary to set the world free. The lesson is to pray for wisdom and consider practicing the discipline of silence when tempted to defend oneself or justify actions. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for March 29, 2024. Today we will be reading from Luke, chapter 23, verses 6 through 25. 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 the 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 a sign of some sort. 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, and sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends. Before this, they had been enemies. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 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. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. As you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him. But the whole crowd shouted, Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us! Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city and for murder. Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again, but they kept shouting, Crucify him! Crucify him! 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. But with loud shouts, they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 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. When I read this passage, I am always struck by how Jesus stood silently, not giving a response to his accusers. He was put on trial first before Pilate, then to Herod, who mocked him and sent him back to Pilate, who could not find any wrong in him. Pilate, trying to appease the crowd, had Jesus flogged and whipped, but that did not quell the crowd. So Pilate gave in to the pressure and released the criminal and executed an innocent man. The whole time Jesus stood silently, not saying a word to defend himself. I think about how quickly I jump to defend myself, especially when I feel backed into a corner. If anyone was backed into a corner, it was Jesus. False accusations flew all around him, and yet he just stood his ground and later prayed forgiveness for those who would take his life. Jesus knew that was his time. He knew he was the only one who could set the world free, but in order to do that, he had to endure all the suffering. Your personal worship option today is, when you are tempted to defend yourself or justify your actions, pray for God to give you wisdom and ask him if this be the time to practice the discipline of silence.