Posts Tagged ‘Pilate’

Posted on April 5, 2009 - by Tim L

Lent Week 7 - Palm Sunday

Today is celebrated as Palm Sunday in the Christian Church.  It’s when we remember Jesus travelling into Jerusalem knowing that the end point is near.  That he will face betrayal and death.  We are all sitting here thinking next week is Easter and thinking of all the extra things we may have to do or activities we’ve got planned.  We might be looking forward to and hoping for a whole mountain of chocolate or other presents to arrive in our homes next Sunday.  As the play suggests we need to make sure that in all of that preparation we don’t forget the events of the first Easter and the amazing love that Jesus showed to all of us.  His death on the cross shows us all that it is possible for each one of us to live in relationship with the God who made us both on this earth and in heaven.

Whenever there’s a big gathering such as the G20 summit

[The G-20 is an informal forum that promotes open and constructive discussion between industrial and emerging-market countries on key issues related to global economic stability. By contributing to the strengthening of the international financial architecture and providing opportunities for dialogue on national policies, international co-operation, and international financial institutions, the G-20 helps to support growth and development across the globe.]

There is also a protest opportunity as these pictures show.  When national leaders gather it’s a good time for organizations to try and get their message heard.  While the national leaders are flying into international airports and bringing their own security teams with them, then the counter procession also kicks into gear.  Banners are made, plans are organized, megaphones are dusted down.

It was no different in around 30AD.  As Jesus rides the donkey into Jerusalem this is a carefully orchestrated procession, not the mad cap impulsive move you might have thought.  Its carefully planned on two counts - first, Jesus knows his Old Testament very well and he knows that the prophets have spoken about the King, the one who saves God’s people, who will enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey.  It’s in a book called Zechariah if you want to check it out.  So Jesus plans this procession to coincide with the start of the Passover which is a very important week in the Jewish calendar.  So to all those who know the Jewish story Jesus is very carefully planning to say to anyone who wants to watch, “hey, that King you’re waiting for - well he’s here, I’m the one, it’s me!”.  Jesus also demonstrates that wry, ironic sense of fun that he has too, instead of riding a fully grown donkey, he rides a colt, a young donkey, you can imagine his feet brushing the floor as the procession makes it way into Jerusalem.

The second point in the story relates to the fact that this is the start of the Passover week.  The population of Jerusalem is going to swell from around 45,000 people to nearer 180,000 and so the Roman prefect (guy in charge!) made sure that he was in the city too, to keep order along with his garrison of troops.  So as Jesus is riding his donkey into town so too is Pontius Pilate on the other side of Jerusalem.  He is going to make sure that the Jewish people remembered who was really in charge.  Picture this procession though, rich deep red cloth, bright shining breastplates, polished leather, cavalrymen on horseback and the head of the procession full of pomp and ceremony would have been Pontius himself.

So now on the same day we have the civic and ceremonial and the protest gathering to make itself heard.  You can choose which you think is which!

Which one is the show of power, the show of authority?  Who was throwing down the gauntlet to who?

So on one side of the town you could be watching the soldiers, enjoying their show of power, admiring the good looking men, hoping to catch someone’s eye.  Would you be wishing you could join in, be one of the cavalry, part of the glamour and the prestige?  Would you be at the front, with a good view, or nervously casting around at the back, only getting a glimpse now and then?

Imagine for a moment that you were at the other side of the town watching Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem.  Would you get the irony, the send up?  Would you be puzzled, thinking what on earth is going on here?  Would you join in the party atmosphere, any excuse for a party is a good one?  Would you be looking to see if you were being watched?  You might get reported if you’re involved in the counter-procession to the civic ceremony on the other side of town! Or would you be joining in, any cause is a good cause if it stands against the Romans?

The crowds on both sides of the city were looking for someone with the power to make their lives safe and happy.  They were looking for something to believe in, something to follow, something that made sense of their lives.  Would it be the Romans or would it be Jesus?

If you were there and had the choice, which procession would you be watching?  The two processions sum up the daily choice we faced with.  Which side will you choose?  But before you decide - the benefit of hindsight - there is a health warning to be observed.

Those who thought Jesus was the answer, that he fulfilled the prophecies of the one who save God’s people had a shock coming.  They wanted a King, a leader who through control and physical power would overrun the Romans and give the Jewish people back their land and their freedom.  Jesus knew that for many of the people cheering at the side of the road that day, they were only prepared to acknowledge him as King if he fulfilled their picture of what that King should do and be - a warrior, a freedom fighter, a King who would beat off all challenge to his throne.

Jesus response to that was to offer his life.  His rallying call for his “army” was one of self-sacrifice, humility and obedience.  Not exactly the strong, controlling message of our champion that we might want to see or hear.

Reading

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!  Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death-and the worst kind of  death at that: a crucifixion.

Philippians 2: 5-8 (The Message)

Response

In any crowd, there are a number of different types of people. If you are part of or see the walk of witness next Friday you’ll see them all here in Hinckley!

wholehearted - tying their colours to the mast.

enquiring - what’s this all about?  What’s going on?

not involved - its nothing to do with me, I’ll make the best of whoever’s in charge

timid - want to do the right thing but full of fear

unworthy - I can’t be of any help, I’m useless

looking good - I don’t get it but I think I should be involved

unfriendly - I got involved once before and got hurt/let down

image-conscious - he’s ridiculous, I’m not associating with him

You might be able to think of others.

Take a few moments to put yourself in that crowd as Jesus rides his donkey, feet dragging on the ground, a motley crew of ordinary people following after him.  Hopes high, waiting for something new to happen.

Which one are you?  Which one would you like to be?  Take a few moments just to think about it?

Then as we sing the final song this evening, if you would like to respond to what God’s been saying to you this evening then come to the cross.

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS

Where I kneel in adoration,

And I lay my burdens down

I exchange all my sin

For the promise of salvation,

And Your name across my brow.

At the foot of the cross

I give up my vain ambition,

And I leave my selfish pride.

In the peace that is there

Will You restore my vision

In all the places I am blind?

I will wait here at the cross. (x4)

At the foot of the cross

There is healing for this nation,

There is rest for those who wait;

And the love that we find

Is the hope of all creation,

We are stunned by what You gave.

We will wait here at the cross. (x4)

We will wait at the cross,

A hungry generation,

With our broken hearts and lives.

Will You hear, will You come,

Will You fill our desperation?

O God, let this be the time.

We will wait here at the cross. (x4)

Tré Sheppard

Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music

Posted on March 15, 2009 - by Tim L

Lent week 4 - Sticks and stones

We watched a Youtube clip -called Hotel Rwanda about the film of the same name detailing the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 (Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQfZoUirCE&feature=related)

“Take a good look at my servant. I’m backing him to the hilt. He’s the one I chose, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him. I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He’ll set everything right among the nations.   He won’t call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades.   He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.  He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work-to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching.”
Isaiah 42: 1-4 (The Message)

Jesus was placed before the governor, who questioned him: “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?” Jesus said, “If you say so.”  But when the accusations rained down hot and heavy from the high priests and religious leaders, he said nothing.  Pilate asked him, “Do you hear that long list of accusations? Aren’t you going to say something?”  Jesus kept silence-not a word from his mouth. The governor was impressed, really impressed.  It was an old custom during the Feast for the governor to pardon a single prisoner named by the crowd.   At the time, they had the infamous Jesus Barabbas in prison.  With the crowd before him, Pilate said, “Which prisoner do you want me to pardon: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?  He knew it was through sheer spite that they had turned Jesus over to him.
Matthew 27:11-18 (The Message)

It is reported that between 15 and 20000 people are killed every year by unexploded landmines.  The global movement of people across borders and around counties is huge, the total of displaced people around the world is 25 million.  About 300 000 children under the age of 10 are directly involved in armed conflicts.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”
Have you ever said it yourself?  Why?  What was going on at the time?  Have you ever been able to keep quiet in the face of taunts and name calling, or even of accusations being made against you?
When is it right to keep silent, like Jesus did in front of Pilate?  When is it right to speak out, take your life into your own hands as the hotelier Paul Rusesabagina did in the 1994 during the Rwandan genocide when about a million people were murdered?
When to speak? when to keep quiet? Do you ever have that problem?
When we have just sung that we ask for the words of our mouths, the deeds of our day to speak of Jesus.  How do we do that?
The passage from Matthew is all about confrontation and conflict.  Jesus was in front of Pilate, the Roman Governor, because the Pharisees, the religious leaders, believed that Jesus disrespected the Law and the moral tradition they thought was vital for Jews to uphold.  The accusations came thick and fast but Jesus remained silent.
The irony is that if Jesus had kept his mouth shut he would never have been here in the first place. He would not have upset the Pharisees and wouldn’t have to be quiet in front of Pilate.
Pilate was impressed with Jesus’ silence.  It leaves me with a question Is Pilate the right man to impress?  Who was also impressed with Jesus?
I once stood in a car park waiting to pay for my ticket when two men came and joined the queue behind me.  One of them was smoking; there was a big sign on the wall asking people not to smoke.  What would you do?  What did I do?  I said something. I was greeted with a torrent of abuse.  I will now think twice, before speaking but should I?
Jesus meets the Pharisees’ intolerance and prejudice with courage and quiet determination.  He does the same with Pilate allowing him to wrestle with the question of his identity themselves.
Jesus promised persecution and conflict and equipped his disciples to respond as Isaiah states:

Don;t call attention to what you do with loud speeches or gaudy parades. Don’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and don’t disregard the small and insignificant, but steadily and firmly set things right. Don’t tire out and quit. Don’t be stopped until the work is finished -to set things right on earth.

Lets start today.