Wednesday April 4, 2012

Read Mark 15:1-5; John 18:28-32

 

There’s much happening behind the scenes in the gospels than we realise or care to admit. Think about what transpires in these few short verses. To help you, think about courts of law in today’s setting and see how strange the events really are.

 

We read initially that the whole counsel of Elders and Leaders, the Sanhedrin, had reached a decision to put Jesus to death. But they met very early in the morning. We are not talking about the usual start of business at 9:00am but very early, possibly as early as 5:00am. No formal court sits at 5:00am! No formal court gathers before that to hear evidence, to sift the pros and cons of a major decision, especially one where the desired penalty is execution. We know that Judas had earlier met with the Chief Priests and had agreed to look for an opportune time to hand Him over to them. As the Feast drew near the anxiety and desire of the Chief Priests to get rid of this rabble-rouser would have spiked dramatically. They couldn't do it during the feast for multitudes would be in the city. It was now or never.

 

As Judas went out at night to betray Jesus (John 13:30) he would have gone straight to the High Priest’s house. This would have precipitated an urgent late night or early morning meeting with at least some of the Sanhedrin and possibly Pilate as well. During this meeting, one would assume that it was agreed that the death penalty would be metered out.

 

When Pilate finally came out to see the Chief Priests at the palace with the bloodied Jesus, Pilate asks a very natural and understandable question. He is following protocol. For him to have handed down the death penalty without hearing the alleged crime(s) would be tantamount to gross injustice. Now read John 18:30 very carefully. It reeks of anger and disapproval. One wonders why the Jews would be so vehemently angry at Pilate for simply asking about Jesus’ crimes. Again, we can only surmise that they expected the death penalty to be metered out. And they could only expect that had assurance already been granted by the one in authority to grant the death penalty.

 

Pilate though, is wavering in his commitment. He tells the Jews to take Jesus and to punish Him by their own law. Again, read their response in vs 31 and think about what it suggests. Why would the Chief Priests snap back immediately that they have no power to execute anyone unless they had all agreed that Jesus was to be executed? If a trial had been done legally and in a fitting order, they would not have already come to the final judgement of execution.

What is clear is that behind the scenes, plans had already been made to do away with Jesus. That much is clear, even if we’ll never know what actually transpired in the hallowed corridors of power.

 

Prayer:

¥ Pray that our Easter services will be powerful testimony to the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus and the love that God has for the world. Pray that God would move ahead of us bringing people to Church and preparing them to hear about the message of the cross. Pray for many conversions to Christ throughout this special weekend.

¥ Pray for the people/families you are inviting to Church this weekend. Pray that we would see them come along and that God would grant them faith and repentance.

¥ Easter time is a dangerous time for many believers around the world. Pray that God would give them courage and perseverance. Pray that churches throughout the persecuted lands would grow and see conversions as the love of Christ is clearly and fearlessly proclaimed.