Luke 23 -- Wasted Opportunities

“The trial and death of Jesus Christ revealed both the wicked heart of man and the gracious heart of God.  When men were doing their worst, God was giving His best,” my commentary said.  “Jesus was not crucified because evil men decided to get Him out of the way.  His crucifixion was ‘by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, an appointment made from eternity.”

After Jesus was interrogated by Pilate and Herod, my commentary says, “Three times during the trial, Pilate clearly affirmed the innocence of Jesus … Three other witnesses besides Pilate also said, ‘Not guilty!’:  King Herod, the thief on the cross, and a Roman centurion.”

We must not think that the general populace of the city was gathered before Pilate and crying out for the blood of Jesus … It was primarily the official religious leaders of the nation, the chief priests in particular, who shouted Pilate down and told him to crucify Jesus.”

“Pilate … openly said that Jesus was innocent, yet he permitted Him to be beaten and condemned Him to die.  He carefully questioned Jesus and even trembled at His answers, but the truth of the Word did not make a difference in his decisions.  He wanted to be popular and not right; he was more concerned about reputation that he was character … He had his opportunity and wasted it.”

Father, I pray for myself and for our church.  Please help us never to find ourselves acting like these men, unable to find guilt yet still condemning, seeing God moving yet being unmoved, being more concerned with reputation than character, having an opportunity and wasting it.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford