Life confronts all of us with difficult decisions.
May 3, 2016
John 19:12
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
New International Version (NIV)
“How do you solve a problem like Maria?” Melanie and her mom, Jo introduced me to The Sound of Music when we were dating. I probably missed it on the journey to Germany, but I loved it from the moment I saw it. Remember the song? Maria really was a problem. Would she become a nun or not?
Pilate had a very different problem. “What do I do with Jesus?” To be fair, Pilate did not ask for this dilemma. Stuck in a remote outpost of the Roman world, he was probably trying to move up the ladder. The emperors of Rome did not like disruptions. “Keep things calm,” was the order of the day. Then the religious authorities brought Jesus to Pilate the secular authority demanding crucifixion. Apparently Pilate thought they might settle for a flogging of Jesus. Soldiers mocked the one whom others called King. The people still wanted to kill him. Pilate sought more information and realized at some point that Jesus just might be the King. So he tried to let him go but the crowd wanted Jesus to die. Eventually he succumbed to the crowd’s wishes and had him crucified.
Life confronts all of us with difficult decisions. How do we help our kids? What is the best way to love our parents as they age? One question still rises to the top for all of us. What will we do with Jesus? Will we become Christians or not? C. S. Lewis stated that we can call Jesus a liar and doubt what he said was true. Or we can call him a lunatic on the level of one who claims to be a poached egg. Or we can call him Lord of all. How did God solve a problem like me or you? He sent his only Son. Trust him today. Call him King. Live under his rule. The world is alive with the sound of his praise. Listen and worship.
Pray with me:
Father, we have seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder and felt it in the rain. You, Lord, are near us all the time. Lord of all, be Lord of our whole lives today we pray in the name of our only King, Jesus. Amen.
Scripture reading for today:
John 19
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