I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Luke 23-24.

    I am not sure that my post today is going to form a coherent whole as there are several points I want to talk about from this passage which are not, in my mind, completely related to each other. I will start by mentioning Jesus’ trial before Pilate. Pilate could find no basis under the laws for crucifying Jesus. Considering how Roman law worked by this time, that is saying something. All it would have required for Pilate to order Jesus’ crucifixion was some evidence suggesting that He was fomenting revolt, or even riots. The religious leaders knew that they did not have evidence to convict Jesus before Pilate. So, they stirred up the crowds to demand Jesus be crucified. The crowds did not know why Jesus should be crucified. They had just been convinced that He should be. When the crowds are screaming for something we should examine the evidence closely because oftentimes there isn’t any. Pilate did not have the courage to stand up to the crowd. Will we?

    When Jesus was on the cross, one of the two crucified beside Him lashed out at Him. That one said, “Oh yeah, you think you’re the Messiah. You’re just another one of those people who think you are too good for me. Well look at you now, up here dying just like I am. If you are all that, why don’t you save yourself, and me too?” The other one defended Jesus. He said, “Oh come on, we both did bad things. That’s why we are here, but this guy, He’s up here because He stood up for people like you and me. The people you’re angry with put Him up here just like they did to us, except we deserve it and He doesn’t.” The first one was angry at the world and wanted to make people pay, even as he was dying. The second recognized that he had done wrong and deserved death. He chose as his last act to defend someone who did not. Which of the two will we choose to be when our lives are on the line?

    When the two disciples on the way to Emmause met Jesus they did not know who He was. They revealed that they had thought that He was the Messiah, but concluded at His crucifixion that they must have been mistaken. Even though the women had come and reported that Jesus was risen they still did not believe it. They believed in resurrection of the dead in theory, but not really. How often do we find ourselves in the same situation? Our theology tells us to believe in some aspect of God’s power, but when it comes down to it, we can’t bring ourselves to do so.