What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?

 

 Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you way."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 

 

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.   And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  

 

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  

 

- Matthew 27:11-23 

 

Yesterday we read that, when morning came, following Christ's trial by night, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.  And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.  Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."  And they said, "What is that to us?  You see to it!"  Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.  But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood."  And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.  Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me."

 

  Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you way."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.  My study Bible remarks that the chief priests hide their real charge against Jesus -- the claim of equality with God -- because this would not be persuasive to the governor, Pontius Pilate, to sentence Jesus to death.  So instead they present a charge of treason:  they claim that Jesus called Himself the King of the Jews.  such a crime would carry the death penalty, as it was a challenge to Roman rule.  

 

 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.   And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  My study Bible comments that Jesus is the true Son of the Father, and yet the name Barabbas means "son of the father."  Ironically, the crowds must choose between one Son of the Father and the other.  By influencing the crowds to choose Barabbas (see verse 20), the chief priests will indicate to which father they belong -- the devil, as Jesus has indicated (John 8:44).

 

 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  My study Bible comments that three times Pilate attempts to release Jesus but the religious leaders incite the people to demand that Jesus be put to death (this is made more explicit in St. Luke's Gospel, see Luke 23:13-25).  In the end, my study Bible says, they incite the crowd to release a rebel like themselves.  (Again, see John 8:44.)  

 

My study Bible explicitly notes for us the choices at stake here, and the ways the religious leaders, in seeking the death of Christ in any way they can, repeatedly choose for the cosmic rebel, the devil who rebelled against God.  It repeatedly cites John 8:44, in which Jesus stated this in particular about those leaders.   The Gospels present these choices to us in stark contrast, and reminding us of the spiritual battle that is continuing within our world and integrated into our choices.  It is something that is most frequently hidden from us, many people dismissing it out of hand as significant -- or even real -- and most, one imagines, not considering it at all.  But again, we're reminded that the Gospels don't tell that story at all.  The reality of spiritual life is not presented as separate from our worldly lives, but in actuality a part and parcel of it, seen or unseen as it most often is.  So we are invited to consider whether or not the people in the crowds understand this, understand what they are doing and choosing. Do they understand the significance of their persuasion and following of the religious leaders to kill Jesus, to put Him to death on the Cross?  He is clearly already famous by this time, well-known as a Teacher.  Even Pilate's wife, who is neither Jewish nor a follower of Christ, has a sense that this Man is innocent, that it is unwise to rule against Him.  In the telling of her dream, we also get a sense of the truth of the spiritual reality that exists concurrently with us in what we perceive as a material world.  This story, told so explicitly this way, invites us to consider what may be happening in our own lives at any given time, the choices we are asked to make.  Noticeably, the people inciting the crowd to call for the crucifixion of Jesus are supposed to be religious leaders, leading the people in the appropriate worship of their God.  So, on the surface, appearances defy the truth and present the world with a lie.  We don't know what the perspective of everyone in the crowd was, but, as my study Bible has remarked in another note, "the crowd follows the crowd."  This is another aspect of our own spiritual battles, where there are times when we will have to take issue with the crowd and turn to our prayers and worship for guidance.  Perhaps, indeed, there is nothing more misleading then "the crowd" at significant times in life, and in observable history.  For, as in today's scene described in the Gospel, crowds are easily manipulated, perhaps especially to zealous persecutions.  We live in an age when this can happen more easily in the past through the use of modern media of all kinds.  This tells us that our vigilance is all the more important, our steadfastness in watchfulness and prayer (Matthew 26:41).  At this time in the story of Christ, the disciples are scattered and in hiding.  Let us remember His commands, even at times of great temptation and fear.

 

 

 

 

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak

 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

'I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered.'

"But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."  Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."  Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"  And they all said likewise.

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray."  And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  Stay here and watch."  He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.  And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.  Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."  Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping?  Could you not watch one hour?  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words.  And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.  Then He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting?  It is enough!  The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us be going.  See, My betrayer is at hand."

- Mark 14:27-42

Yesterday, we read that on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?"  And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.  Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us."  So his disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.  In the evening He came with the twelve.  Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me."  And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?"  And another said, "Is it I?"  He answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish.  The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been good for that man if he had never been born."  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."  Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.  Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:  'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'  But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."  Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."  Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"  And they all said likewise.   Some ancient texts do not include "because of Me this night."  Jesus quotes here from Zechariah 13:7.  It's not just a time for one betrayal that is coming from Judas, but there are many other forms of the sword that strikes the Shepherd that are happening -- the disciples will stumble, Peter will deny Him.  Peter is vehement, he will never do so, even if he has to die with Christ.  So say all the rest.

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray."  And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  Stay here and watch."   John's Gospel says that Gethsemane is a place know to Judas; Jesus intentionally chooses this place knowing what is to happen.  They are on the Mount of Olives.  Gethsemane means "olive press."  It's important to understand the subtle ties here in the language.  In the Greek, the word for mercy ("eleos" - the root in Kyrie Eleison, "Lord have mercy") sounds the same as the word for olive oil.  Therefore oil, anointing, and the healing balm of the ancient world, all resonate in meaning and all are associated with the mercy and grace of Christ.  We can catch the understanding that here is the place of the press the provides the oil -- the time of deepest testing.  Jesus shares Himself with the disciples, as friends, saying, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death." 

He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.  And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.  Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."  Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping?  Could you not watch one hour?  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."   We see Christ's distress.  His relationship with the Father is such that He prays, "Abba" -- like "Papa."  In our deepest places, Christ shows us that it is God we can go to, as a child.  Jesus emphasizes the importance of prayer, particular in times of great testing and trial, and therefore temptation.   The spirit is truly willing, Peter's sincerity in swearing he would die with Christ is authentic.  But the flesh is weak -- we don't necessarily know our weaknesses, where we're vulnerable.  Prayer is the defense, the protection.

Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words.  And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.  Then He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting?  It is enough!  The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us be going.  See, My betrayer is at hand."  Three times He returns to the disciples to find them sleeping, but Christ spends the night in prayer.  He knows what is happening, He is the one who is truly "watchful" and "alert" to the reality of what is going on.  He goes voluntarily, strengthened in prayer, knowing it is the way.

There are times in life when we go through what feels like a really difficult period of testing.  Often these times involve hard choices, cutting to our core.  They take us to places where we really don't know what the right thing is to do:  all that we have learned and know seems to come together in some sort of contest -- pitting some things we think are right and true against others.  We look at the situation that Jesus is in.  He loves Judas, who has betrayed Him, one of His hand-picked apostles, one of the Twelve, who's been with Him through the ministry.  But He knows what is going to happen.  It will be a time when His sheep are scattered.  What will happen to them without His leadership?  And yet, here it comes, right down to the wire -- and there must still be prayer involved.  Each moment counts when we're in such a type of situation, no matter how much less significant we may feel it is than this one!  Jesus turns again and again -- as a child, with the word, "Abba" ("Papa") -- in prayer.  Which way is He truly to go?  His distress is plain.  He has evaded seizure and arrest until now; it wasn't His hour, not time.  He leaves it in the hands of God the Father:  "Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."   Prayer is the act of remaining with God, praying for enlightenment and understanding, clarity for the way to go.  It's a time when we may expose our desires to God, but we ask for affirmation.  Above all, we know He's been there before us and given us this example.  Times of testing and trial may come in many forms:  the illness of a loved one, a terrible public burden where no one else understands what God is asking of us in the heart, and like Christ also, being torn between those we love and their betrayal of us.  There is no limit to where we find ourselves in the  middle of crisis and dilemma, times for decisions we're not necessarily prepared to make, in waters deeper than we know of ourselves how to negotiate.  We're caught in that oil press where troubles will not let up, and burden us with a demand for a choice we don't want to make.  This is the place where we decide who we really are, and whose voice we're loyal to.  Often, there's no one else to help make the decision; even if we're blessed with friends and loved ones, we somehow find ourselves alone.  That's the time for faith, and the time for prayer.  We watch, we are alert, we must engage in dialogue with Abba, Papa.  It's our faith that gives us strength for the difficulties, and prayer to help shield against the weakness, so that we know where we're going and what for.   In the toughest times, it's the plan that makes the difference, our faith and covenant with Him.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore; for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

- Matthew 24:32-51

In yesterday's reading, Jesus was preparing His disciples for what is to come after His death and Resurrection in Jerusalem. On Thursday, we read of His disciples asking Him a question: "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" This was after He predicted the destruction of the temple. He warned them of the destruction to come in Jerusalem. In yesterday's reading, we read: "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." This refers to the Roman defiling and destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. His warnings are dire: don't return home, woe to the ones who are pregnant and who are nursing babies, pray that it not be in winter or on the Sabbath. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be." Moreover, He instructs them not to be fooled: "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you all beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is there the eagles will be gathered together.

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." We remember that Jesus has taught us about the times of the end in overlapping stages, starting with the destruction of the temple in the siege of Jerusalem, and the tribulation to come to the early Church and the believers, and also taught what His Second Coming would actually be like. Here He gives a warning that in some sense can be applied to all stages, but there's also a specific reference to the Second Coming - especially as we read the warnings in the verses to follow. And I think we read it appropriately in that sense of overlapping warnings for that generation and for future generations of the Church. The wars around and in Jerusalem would happen within that generation's lifespan. But my study bible adds: "This generation probably refers to the new race of Christians. The end is always near, just ahead of us."

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore; for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Here we are given several verses in a great deal of detailed images in order to pass on a warning. It is a warning that we must be prepared for this time to come. If we think about it, the end of the age will hit all those who have come since the Incarnation, and these words are not just a warning to those who live on earth now, to be prepared, but in effect they are the whole of the way that we are to live our lives in His faith. We are to be prepared as if this Day will come tomorrow, today, this afternoon. We must keep our awareness of it alive in ourselves. His first words are to tell us that even He doesn't know when this will happen, therefore giving us an exact time frame is out of the question, and beside the point! My study bible says, "The unexpected suddenness of Christ's coming will catch people unaware and engaged in earthly pursuits, just as in the days of Noah." We mustn't be like those invited to the wedding feast, who make light of this banquet, who go off to our own businesses or plans instead, who treat its messengers with spite and harm and harassment, or who fail to be properly dressed and ready for that banquet when it comes. One thing we are promised: it is coming at an hour we don't expect! It won't happen at the time it seems to us it will. Our watchword from Him is to be ready. In the Greek, this is in the plural. It applies to all of us. In an even more accurate sense, we could translate it as to "be becoming ready," to be preparing ourselves as a constant state of becoming, and implies growth and the passing of time in doing so.

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Jesus begins this section after His warning of the end of the age with a parable. My study bible says that Jesus' purpose here is not to make His disciples experts in prophecy, but rather, that they may "watch and be ready, continually engaged in virtuous action, obeying His commandments-- remembering that we cannot know the time of His coming. These warnings are illustrated by the parable of the household and the thief . . . [urging us] to watchfulness, faithful responsibility, preparedness, and use of our spiritual gifts." Here is a warning against lawlessness as we grow lazy in our work of preparation: abuse of one another, violence and greed, living in a way that defiles our lives rather than honors them as God-given. The main point here in this parable is that we don't know when the master will return, and we know that it's specifically directed to those who would be His disciples, His servants. We already know who the hypocrites are (see here, here and here) -- we shouldn't like to be numbered among them.

So, as we read today's passage, two things stand out very clearly, and they are inseparable from one another: In this time in which we now live, we must remember that (1) He's returning at a time when we don't expect it, and (2) that our work in this world as His servants is to be in a constant state of preparation for this to happen. We are to "be becoming prepared." That is, in these words there is an implication that this is a constant state of evolution, of growth. It is a state of becoming . . . we can't be too prepared. It is this work of preparation for that Day in which we must be constantly engaged. There is always work to be done, always something to keep in mind, to think about. We don't rest in what we did yesterday: today is here before us and there is always something to be done, there is always growth to be had. We must think of Him, and be ready for His return. So let's take a look at how we live, how our lives are led. What do we do today? Do we grow lazy and greedy, are we cultivating a little abuse here and there, a misuse of power in His absence? Let's remember the day will come whether we are alive on this earth or not; for all of us, at a time we don't expect. What does preparation mean to you, now, today? This minute?