TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 23: 1-31
23Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” 3Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” 6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. 12That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
13Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” 18Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” 19(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” 23But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
26As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
Stirring is important. Stirring is an act that mixes things up; it agitates, it prevents the status quo from remaining in effect. When we cook, stirring up multiple ingredients enables a new and exciting mixture.
So it is in life. The Pharisees were happy with the existing mixture and they didn’t like people to come in and stir up crowds. For that matter, neither did Roman leaders. Stirred up people in Jesus’ day were people who might potentially be dangerous. Leaders who stirred up others needed to be put in place. They as the “straw” that stirs up the drink (if you will), needed to be trashed. That is what happens to Jesus. He is deemed too much of a threat and therefore, he is sent to be “trashed” on the cross. Yet, from the trash heap of the cross and the grave, Jesus will re-emerge and get back to work. The gift of the spirit (as we will see in the book of Acts)- Jesus’ spirit- will stir things up over and over and over again.
We have a lot of work in our world. We have a lot of people who have yet to hear or experience the saving love of Jesus. We have a lot of Christian people who are fairly comfortable with the status quo. I’m 41 now. I’m at the point where I feel a sense of urgency. I don’t want to a safe faith or be part of safe Christianity. I want Jesus to stir up a tsunami in my soul and a tsunami in the people of my church so that the world around us will never be the same. Status quo will not reach the world around us. Stirred up, charged, up , and re-energized people will if we let Jesus do the stirring!
Jesus, stir away. Stir up the Tsunami within us. Even though the world tried to throw you to the trash heap, we know that nothing can stop you.
Thanks for walking with me this Lent through Luke. I hope you will do a few things:
1) Join me for a daily walk through Acts starting on Monday, April 5—www.ripplingout.blogspot.com (note that this blog appears on my facebook page as well as “good shepherd Lutheran Gaithersburg “ facebook page.
2) I hope that you will provide me with some feedback on this experience. Click this link to provide me with feedback. Your comments can be anonymous.
https://goodshepherdlc.wufoo.com/forms/feedback-for-jesus-facebook-page-devotion-series/
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