Crucifixion is such a horrible way to die. Sometimes we forget. We wear crosses to signify our Christian heritage, but we are wearing a symbol of extreme torture. We can not forget what Jesus endured for us. The cross can be our reminder.
The ridicule, the mockery, the pain, and agony. This passage made me think of a song sung at our church in Parkersburg during Lent by one of my favorite vocalists! You can listen to Watch the Lamb HERE. The video is very powerful and helps us to see the story come to life through the eyes of Simon, the Cyrene. Continue reading “Luke 23:26-43 – Watch the Lamb”
Jesus is now on trial for his life. Those in authority, Pilate, the Roman governor, and Herod Antipas, king over the Galilean region, could find nothing wrong with Jesus. They would have been happy to have him flogged and released. They were at least of the right mind – Jesus was not a criminal deserving of death.
So in today’s reading we are witnesses to Jesus questioning by the council. This is an intermediary step we are not familiar with in our culture today. We are generally not questioned by the “church” before the “state.” But these are the disgruntled individuals who brought a claim against Jesus, the very claim that led to his arrest.
There are many people in the world that don’t know Jesus yet. It’s tragic to realize they don’t know the life giving promise Jesus means for us. Do we sometimes take Jesus’ love and protection for granted? What would we say if we were asked if we knew him?
It’s time for the power of darkness to reign. We have been talking about evil and how Satan has been in control here. God has allowed it all because it must happen for Jesus to be killed. For as popular as Jesus has been, it would be hard to imagine the people turning on him like they did in such a short period of time. As we know, Satan is crafty.
