Luke 23:1-7

Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.

Read Luke 23:1-7 as if you were witnessing this scene firsthand.

It is not enough for the religious authorities to persecute Jesus by themselves. They want him destroyed, and for that they need the Roman government to sentence him. But the Roman governor, Pilate (a man known for his cruelty and harshness), seems to see right through the false accusations that these “men of God” hurl at Jesus.

They claim that Jesus has instructed the Israelites to avoid paying taxes to Caesar, and they say that Jesus has declared that he is a king. If true, these charges would be enough for the Roman governor to sentence him to death as an insurrectionist on the spot. But it’s obvious to Pilate that the religious leaders are just blowing smoke.

Luke doesn’t tell us what Pilate’s tone is, but when he looks at the beaten, silent figure before him and asks, “Are you the king of the Jews?” there is probably a degree of sarcasm in his voice. This man does not look at all like a threat.

Stop to contemplate the fact that God, the Omnipotent Creator of the world, came to dwell among people in the ordinary, non-threatening human body of Jesus. Then meditate on John’s reaction to seeing a vision of Jesus after he ascended to God the Father:

“…standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.” – Revelation 1:17

Read Luke 23:1-7 again.

The uproar of the religious leaders against Jesus is so strong and insistent that Pilate is delighted to discover a way to pass the matter off. He knows Jesus is innocent - he says as much - but he does not have the courage or moral fortitude to put these “priests” in their place.

For the final moments of this time of reflection, contemplate Jesus’ teaching below on justice in the Kingdom of God. Then listen to hear what Jesus might have to say to you about this.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” – Luke 6:27-31

What might Jesus be inviting you to do today?

How do you plan to respond?

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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.