Page 44 - Living Light 88

PRAYER FOR TODAY
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Wednesday April 16 - Darkness reigns
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” ...Peter followed at a distance. Luke 22:48,54
Jesus’ betrayal (22:47-62) continues to unfold in rich detail – too much to cover here. Note the mob that came with Judas to the garden; different, no doubt, from the crowds that had been following Jesus until now. Note the sign of love, a kiss, being upended into a sign of hate. Note that Jesus continues to call himself ‘the Son of Man’, a complex title which entwines the idea of humanity and authority with suffering. Note the compassion of Jesus in healing the servant’s severed ear, after the disciples so stubbornly misunderstood God’s way of working. Note the evocative statement that “This is the hour when darkness reigns” (v 53).
At the heart of the story, however, lie two betrayals: the open betrayal by Judas and the private betrayal by Peter. Both had been foreseen in different ways. We might have expected Judas to betray Jesus. It fits what we know of him. But Peter? Shortly before, he’d foolishly been protesting his loyalty to Jesus. But now cowardice takes over and, keeping his distance from Jesus, in the inner circle of the high priest’s courtyard, he denies ever knowing him. The reign of darkness is surely complete.
There’s more than one way to betray Jesus. Few Christians are likely to do it as theatrically as Judas. But keeping silent when we should be identifying with our Lord, and our failure to give praise to God when it’s due, is also betrayal.
Loving Jesus, may I truly be faithful to you today and always. Amen.
Thursday April 17 - The trials
“If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”...Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you
the king of the Jews?” Luke 22:67, 23:3
It was a total miscarriage of justice. A web of powerful authorities conspired with the mob to dispose of Jesus. First Jesus was interrogated by the Jewish religious authorities, who queried his identity. Was he the Messiah, the anointed, expected deliverer of Israel, or perhaps ‘the Son of God’? He replied using Daniel’s prophetic words (Daniel 7:13-14) saying he was ‘the Son of Man’, a person with divine authority to establish God’s everlasting kingdom.
They couldn’t sentence people to death, so Jesus is sent to Pilate. Pilate isn’t interested in their theology, only in political realism. So, they translate the charge into one of political sedition: “He's a king, out to usurp Rome’s rule and authority.” Pilate tries all ways to wriggle out of coming to a judgment. Learning he’s a Galilean, from a separate jurisdiction, Pilate sends Jesus to Herod for trial. Fascinated by him, Herod longs for some miraculous sign from Jesus. But Jesus isn’t playing ball. After cruel mockery, he’s sent back to Pilate, who weakly succumbs to the baying crowd and sentences Jesus to death, even though he knows he’s innocent. He does so at the expense of releasing a proven terrorist called Barabbas.
Ironically, everyone in the story is guilty except the one condemned, Jesus. We all find ourselves in the story somewhere. ‘In my place condemned he stood, sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah, what a Saviour!’
Today, Lord, I stand not with the enemies, the indecisive, or those merely fascinated about Jesus; but with his forgiven followers. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY