If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you will also live.

John 14:15-19John 14:15-19
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Holy Spirit Is Promised ¹⁵ Ws . Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will do as I command. ¹⁶ Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help s help: The Greek word may mean “comfort,” “encourage,” or “defend.” you and always be with you. ¹⁷ The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don't see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. ¹⁸ I won't leave you like orphans. I will come back to you. ¹⁹ In a little while the people of this world won't be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live.

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This was the promise: another counselor to be with you forever—the spirit of truth. What would it look like? How would he come? And what would he do? Those questions surely floated through the minds of the disciples. But they were unaware of just how much they would need this counselor. They had not seen Jesus betrayed, crucified, and resurrected. So, this promise at this time probably did not seem as important as it would in just a little while. Thankfully, God always gives us all we need before we know we need it. The disciples had this provision; too, in the promise he made them. What would it look like in reality?

Jesus made reference again to the gift of the Holy Spirit right before he ascended into heaven. At that time he promised that the spirit was to give them the power to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8Acts 1:8
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
8 ; ; But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”

WP-Bible plugin) Still, the disciples did not know when this gift would be given. Then, on the day of Pentecost, when they were al together, a violent wind came from heaven and filled the house they were in. Tongues of fire rested on each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They spoke in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them, and Jews from every nation were able to hear the wonders of God in their own tongue. Peter addressed the group, and 3000 men were baptized and added to their number that day. (Acts 2) That is what it looked like for the disciples to learn about, look forward to, and receive God’s Holy Spirit.

What does it look like in our lives? Well, to begin with, we do not have to wait for a special event to receive the Holy Spirit. He enters our hearts when we accept Christ’s payment for our sins, and exchange our sinful life for his righteousness. Ephesians 1:13, 14Ephesians 1:13, 14
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
13 Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. ¹⁴ The Spirit also makes us sure that we will be given what God has stored up for his people. Then we will be set free, and God will be honored and praised.

WP-Bible plugin says “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.” What a promise! We are marked as his, and sealed by the Holy Spirit as a permanent sign that we belong to God. Not only does the Spirit put his mark on us, but he also lives inside of us, giving us power to live the Christian life, power to witness for him, and helping us to understand the things of God. We carry this treasure within us at all times, but too often we just ignore this precious gift.

It reminds me of a story about an older couple who dreamed of taking a cruise to see exotic lands. They were poor, but they saved their money and finally were able to book passage on a cruise ship. They packed their clothes and also brought a large supply of cheese and crackers to eat on their trip. Finally they set sail, and each day at meal time, the couple returned to their room to eat their cheese and crackers, while the rest of the passengers enjoyed lavish meals. After watching the old couple for a while, a steward followed them to their cabin, and asked them why they never attended the meals in the dining room. The old man explained that they had spent all the money they had on buying the tickets, and had none left over for the food. The shocked steward replied, “Don’t you know that when you paid for the ticket, all your meals were included in the price?!” How often we walk through life, with our “tickets” paid for by the blood of Christ, yet we are surviving on crackers and cheese rather than feasting on all he has provided for us through the Holy Spirit.

At Pentecost, God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit to accomplish many things in our lives. Take time to read the following list, and look up the verses this week. Ask God to help you learn who his Holy Spirit is, and what he wants to do in your life.

The Holy Spirit came:

1. To glorify Christ (John 16:14John 16:14
   English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
   14 The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you.
   
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2. To lead you into all truth (John 16:13John 16:13
   English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
   13 Ws . The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen.
   
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3. To dwell in you (Romans 8:9Romans 8:9
   English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
   9 You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him.
   
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4. To convict the world of sin and justice (John 16:8John 16:8
   English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
   8 The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God's justice and the judgment.
   
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5. To equip you to be a witness (Acts 1:8Acts 1:8
   English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
   8 ; ; But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”
   
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6. To produce fruit in your life (Galatians 5:22,23Galatians 5:22,23
   English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
   22 God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, ²³ gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.
   
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Ask God to make his spirit real in your life, and to make you aware of his presence everyday. He can give you the power to live a victorious Christian life as you rest in him and allow him to live in and through you.

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Dear Father, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit and all he wants to accomplish in my life. I know that at times I do not acknowledge his existence in my life, or ask him for help. Help me to be aware of the presence of your spirit in my life, and to allow that spirit to direct and empower my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit as you commanded in your word for me to do. Allow me to walk by faith and be pleasing to you in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time and proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. On these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

In one of these meetings as he was eating a meal with them, he told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

When the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, are you going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?”

“The Father sets those dates,” he replied, “and they are not for you to know. But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

It was not long after he said this that he was taken up into the sky while they were watching, and he disappeared into a cloud. As they were straining their eyes to see him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!”

The apostles were at the Mount of Olives when this happened, so they walked the half mile back to Jerusalem. Then they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here is the list of those who were present:

Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James).

They all met together continually for prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

Acts 1:3-14Acts 1:3-14
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
3 For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God's kingdom. ⁴ . While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. ⁵ ; ; ; . John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus Is Taken to Heaven ⁶ While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?” b are you now going to give Israel its own king again?: Or “Are you now going to rule Israel as its king?” ⁷ Jesus said to them, “You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. ⁸ ; ; But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” ⁹ ; After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, ¹⁰ but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them. ¹¹ They said, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go.” Someone To Take the Place of Judas ¹²-¹³ ; ; . The Mount of Olives was about half a mile from Jerusalem. The apostles who had gone there were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, known as the Eager One, c known as the Eager One: The Greek text has “Zealot,” a name later given to the members of a Jewish group that resisted and fought against the Romans. and Judas the son of James. After the apostles returned to the city, they went upstairs to the room where they had been staying. ¹⁴ The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. d met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind: Or “met together in a special place for prayer.” The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers.

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Waiting. The lull between what has happened, and what comes next. Waiting comes in many varieties. Some waiting is full of expectation, like a child waiting for Christmas morning. You’re so excited that you can hardly sleep. Waiting can be informed of the future while still unaware of the end. Waiting for a love one to pass from this world, knowing the end is near. Waiting can be full of resolution; imagine the man on death-row, resolved to his fate. Nothing can stop the approaching moment. Nothing can speed it up, either.

I suppose saying that waiting is a lull is not entirely accurate. Waiting is filled with opportunities. Many are missed altogether, the focus elsewhere. Some are mishandled or squandered due to lack of vision. How many lives are squandered, waiting for something to happen before taking the next step? Never doing the ministry God has planted in your heart because you are waiting for perfect circumstances… Wrecking a relationship in hopes of that perfect job…

The disciples are at a loss in the beginning of Acts. They are waiting. What are they to do? Jesus is gone. He has been openly crucified. They put their hopes in this man. He has completely altered their expectations. How can they settle for the life of a tax collector… a fisherman… They have seen God act, have heard God’s call. But now what?

The first hours must have been hard. Not only are their expectations completely up-turned, they know that they have run as cowards from their master and teacher. Would he forsake them? Would they ever hear from him again? Were they without hope?

Jesus resolves the matter by interacting with his disciples. He begins the process of preparing them for a completely new life. But it involves more waiting. God is doing something. Why can’t it just happen? Why all the meetings with Jesus to look at the scriptures and explain the prophecies? Why all the discussions about what God is doing, what his kingdom is like? Couldn’t he just get to it? They keep asking, “Now? Is it now?”

“No.” they hear repeatedly. “Wait.” They cringe. “There’s more you don’t understand.”

Jesus takes his exit. They look on, stunned. Once again, now what? All they know is they’ve been told to stay in Jerusalem. The Spirit is coming. What are they waiting for? And why is Jesus leaving? Why doesn’t he just stay? Why must they wait for him, too? They are scanning the scriptures. They are praying. They are waiting.

We know some of the end of their questions. The spirit will come. He will completely alter the existence of this band of believers. He will empower them to send the message around the world. Literally to the ends of the earth. He will give them power to spread a new form of life, the Church. But we don’t know when Christ will come back. Soon, we hope. We don’t know all the details why, but we know that it is his grace, not wanting any to perish, that motivates the wait. It is his deep love for us today that kept him from returning earlier.

All this waiting! Are you tense with expectation? Are you sick of the stress? Are you taking advantage of the time you still have? Or have you given up? God wants this wait to be active. He has purpose for you. He has a plan. He is not sitting around waiting for the end. He is still actively pursuing the lost. So let’s keep up the pace.

prayer

God, thank you for sending your spirit. Help me to wait for Jesus’ return by actively seeking my friends, my neighbors, my family. Give me power to serve you, and patience to find the right opportunities; the moments you have prepared to work and move in a powerful way.
God thank you for being my sacrifice! I offer my failings to you. Do something with them, turn them into good that I cannot see. Keep on forming me in your image, in the image of your Son.

Jesus, come soon!

Amen

When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”

Mark 15:39Mark 15:39
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
39 A Roman army officer was standing in front of Jesus. When the officer saw how Jesus died, he said, “This man really was the Son of God!”

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In three of the four gospels, we are given a very brief glimpse of a man who was present while Jesus was hanging from the cross. This man was a Roman centurion who was commander of 100 soldiers in the Roman army. We don’t know very much at all about the man, except that he was probably a hardened soldier and that he was in charge of a detachment of probably Syrian-born soldiers. Most likely he had presided over the crucifixion of hundreds, if not thousands, of men and must have become desensitized to the agony of those he helped execute.

It is likely that this man was present from the time Jesus appeared before Pilate all the way through the crucifixion. He may have been present when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. He probably was the one who gave the order for his men to beat Jesus, caring little for who He was, knowing Him only to be another in a long line of people he was ordered to torture. He likely was nearby when his men put a robe on Jesus’ bleeding body, pressed the crown of thorns into His head, and walked him to Golgotha.

Having seen so many crucifixions, the officer surely knew what to expect from the prisoners. Most people who were sentenced to die were thieves, murderers, and guilty criminals. The centurion had undoubtedly heard countless men screaming in anguish as they were being beaten, pleading for their lives. From their crosses, he had heard them shout curses to the people below and to God above.

Surely, as this centurion witnessed first-hand the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, it became glaringly obvious to him that there was something distinctly different about this Man. When most men could be found cursing and swearing, Jesus, with His hands nailed to the cross, was crying out for forgiveness on behalf of His executioners!! The centurion probably overheard the compassion and mercy in Jesus’ voice as He spoke to the penitent thief beside Him that day on Golgotha, promising him that they would soon be in Paradise together. Perhaps he was astounded that during such suffering Jesus looked down from the cross and reassured His mother that her future would be secure when He asked John to take care of her. Certainly the three hours of darkness that accompanied Jesus’ sacrifice would have also marked this crucifixion unlike any other.

We can only offer guesses as to when the centurion began to realize that perhaps, just maybe, this Man was exactly who He claimed to be. But, we do know exactly when he realized it with full certainty!

Just before He died, Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” Immediately after that He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” At that precise moment, Jesus died. And, at that same moment, a violent earthquake shook the land with such force that rocks were split and the veil in the Temple was torn in half. Witnessing all of this, the book of Luke tells us that the Roman captain praised God! He said, “Surely this was the Son of God.” Wow! Just like that, the man who had presided over Jesus’ execution, the man who ordered the nails to be driven into his hands and feet, became the first person to become a believer after Jesus’ death! What a conversion! Jesus’ conduct and testimony throughout the entire agonizing ordeal was so loving, so unique, and so divine, that it won the heart of at least one of His executioners! How incredible!!

This centurion, who as I said earlier is mentioned in three of the four gospel accounts, was not pointed out in Scripture because of his cruelty, ruthlessness, or abilities as a soldier. But rather He went down in the greatest history book of all time for something far more important: a marvelous transformation that occurred in his life at the foot of the cross.

Have you experienced that transformation? Have you declared, “Surely Jesus is the Son of God?”

It was because of our sin that it was necessary for Jesus to go to the cross. And He did it willingly and lovingly for each of us. Have you ever told Him thank you?

Untold millions of people have followed the example of that Roman soldier and become believers in Jesus down through the centuries since His death. I hope you are one of them.

As we continue to celebrate the wonder of Jesus’ sacrifice and the miracle of His resurrection, I can think of no greater expression of gratitude than for all of our hearts to be totally devoted and committed to Him. If you’ve never taken that step, you can do so today by simply admitting to God that your sins were the reason that Jesus needed to go to Calvary. Just tell God you’re sorry. Then you simply need to thank Jesus for the forgiveness He extends to you and accept it as a free gift that you could never earn on your own. Then just ask Jesus to be the leader of your life and commit to follow His plan for your life from here on out. It all begins with those simple steps, and they lead to the greatest adventure of you’ll ever know!

If you’ve made a decision to follow Christ for the first time today, or if you’ve decided to recommit your life to Jesus, please let us know. You can simply respond to this and we’ll be so happy to join in the party that heaven is throwing on behalf of your decision to follow Jesus!

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart…

Matthew 27:50-51Matthew 27:50-51
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
50 Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died. ⁵¹ At once the curtain in the temple q curtain in the temple: There were two curtains in the temple. One was at the entrance, and the other separated the holy place from the most holy place that the Jewish people thought of as God's home on earth. The second curtain is probably the one that is meant. was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart.

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Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Mark 15:37-38Mark 15:37-38
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
37 Jesus shouted and then died. ³⁸ At once the curtain in the temple a curtain in the temple: There were two curtains in the temple. One was at the entrance, and the other separated the holy place from the most holy place that the Jewish people thought of as God's home on earth. The second curtain is probably the one which is meant. tore in two from top to bottom.

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By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the thick veil hanging in the Temple was torn apart. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

Luke 23:44-46Luke 23:44-46
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Death of Jesus ⁴⁴ Around noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until the middle of the afternoon. ⁴⁵ The sun stopped shining, and the curtain in the temple o curtain in the temple: There were two curtains in the temple. One was at the entrance, and the other separated the holy place from the most holy place that the Jewish people thought of as God's home on earth. The second curtain is probably the one which is meant. split down the middle. ⁴⁶ . Jesus shouted, “Father, I put myself in your hands!” Then he died.

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A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his legs.

John 19:29-33John 19:29-33
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
29 A jar of cheap wine was there. Someone then soaked a sponge with the wine and held it up to Jesus' mouth on the stem of a hyssop plant. ³⁰ After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything is done!” He bowed his head and died. A Spear Is Stuck in Jesus' Side ³¹ The next day would be both a Sabbath and the Passover. It was a special day for the Jewish people, k a special day for the Jewish people: Passover could be any day of the week. But according to the Gospel of John, Passover was on a Sabbath in the year that Jesus was nailed to a cross. and they did not want the bodies to stay on the crosses during that day. So they asked Pilate to break the men's legs l break the men's legs: This was the way that the Romans sometimes speeded up the death of a person who had been nailed to a cross. and take their bodies down. ³² The soldiers first broke the legs of the other two men who were nailed there. ³³ But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, and they did not break his legs.

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The final words of Christ pave the way for us to come into God’s presence with great confidence and hope. Jesus’ example – constant prayer, constant communion with God – is not just a clever pattern for us to follow. It is a reality, a privilege we have to speak openly to God, anytime, anywhere, because of what Christ did. Our sin has been addressed, so we can now go directly to God. We can do what the prophets and priests of Israel had both hoped for and dreaded – stand in his presence, and live.

Notice that Jesus’ death was willing, if not even unnaturally abbreviated. Whether Jesus’ “early” death was the result of overly-grievous beating, his own will submitting to God’s plan, or some combination, Jesus willingly gave himself to God as a sacrifice; As one who stood in our place. Death gripped his body so that he could show us that His power would ultimately overcome it. It was a guarantee that he would do the same for us.

This willing death, the full submission of Jesus’ body to the human condition, was accompanied by a miraculous act. The veil in the temple was ripped – top to bottom. This “veil” was no flimsy, shimmering piece of silk, or some beaded curtain. It was thick. Not something you would normally expect to hear closely connected with the word “rip”.

The veil represented a closed door. In the tabernacle, and then in the temple, it concealed behind it God’s glory. God was not to be approached beyond this doorway except by the high priest, once a year, to offer atonement, symbolic payment, for Israel’s sin. Coming into God’s glorious presence was something fearful, dreaded. Who could stand in his presence?

We don’t deserve it, but Jesus death, his declaration of completion, has prepared the way. We can boldly, as the writer of Hebrews tells us, come into God’s presence. We can seek his counsel, understand his character, worship at his very feet. We can know what he wants for us by soaking up his very nature. We can take on Jesus’ form; we can know his mind and see where he is going.

So what is your daily prayer life like? Is it frustrating? Is it full of trust and history? Is it joyful, or something you dread? Whatever it has been up to now, make it constant and real, just like Jesus did.

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This week, sacrifice something for someone you would normally overlook. Whether time, energy or money, do it remembering that Jesus willingly gave up everything for us, and we did not deserve it.

The words of Jesus, “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” come from Psalm 31:5Psalm 31:5
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
5 . You are faithful, and I trust you because you rescued me.

WP-Bible plugin, in the NLT, “I entrust my spirit into your hand.” Taken alone, it is interesting to hear Jesus quote scripture from the cross. But this Psalm speaks prophetically of Jesus as he suffered. Read, thinking prayerfully about what Christ was going through as he completed His work of salvation. Here is the Psalm:

O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be put to shame.
Rescue me, for you always do what is right.
Bend down and listen to me; rescue me quickly.
Be for me a great rock of safety, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
You are my rock and my fortress.
For the honor of your name, lead me out of this peril.
Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
for I find protection in you alone.
I entrust my spirit into your hand.
Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.
I hate those who worship worthless idols.
I trust in the Lord.
I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.
You have not handed me over to my enemy but have set me in a safe place.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
My sight is blurred because of my tears.
My body and soul are withering away.
I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness.
Misery has drained my strength;
I am wasting away from within.
I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors-even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street, they turn the other way.
I have been ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot.
I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.
But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in your hands.
Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
Let your favor shine on your servant.
In your unfailing love, save me.
Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave.
May their lying lips be silenced-those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.
Your goodness is so great!
You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you.
You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.
Praise the Lord, for he has shown me his unfailing love.
He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
In sudden fear I had cried out, “I have been cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.
Love the Lord, all you faithful ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes all who are arrogant.
So be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Psalm 31

So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”
“We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.
“Then take him away and judge him by your own laws,” Pilate told them.
“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.
Then Pilate went back inside and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked him.
Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

John 18:29-34John 18:29-34
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
29 Pilate came out and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” ³⁰ They answered, “He is a criminal! That's why we brought him to you.” ³¹ Pilate told them, “Take him and judge him by your own laws.” The crowd replied, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death.” ³² . And so what Jesus said about his death f about his death: Jesus had said that he would die by being “lifted up,” which meant that he would die on a cross. The Romans killed criminals by nailing them on a cross, but they did not let the Jews kill anyone in this way. would soon come true. ³³ Pilate then went back inside. He called Jesus over and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own or did someone tell you about me?”

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“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.”

John 18:38John 18:38
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
38 Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” Jesus Is Sentenced to Death Pilate went back out and said, “I don't find this man guilty of anything!

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Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders told him, “If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew Gabbatha). It was now about noon of the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Here is your king!”
“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him – crucify him!”
“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.
Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified.

John 19:12-16John 19:12-16
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
12 Then Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd again yelled, “If you set this man free, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of the Emperor.” ¹³ When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out. Then he sat down on the judge's bench at the place known as “The Stone Pavement.” In Aramaic this pavement is called “Gabbatha.” ¹⁴ It was about noon on the day before Passover, and Pilate said to the crowd, “Look at your king!” ¹⁵ “Kill him! Kill him!” they yelled. “Nail him to a cross!” “So you want me to nail your king to a cross?” Pilate asked. The chief priests replied, “The Emperor is our king!” ¹⁶ Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be nailed to a cross. Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross Jesus was taken away,

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Pilate had a unique ability to rebuff the murderous claims of the religious leaders. But the snapshot of his life revealed in the gospels is indicative of expediency. Pilate chose the path of least resistance.

Pilate had every opportunity to choose another path. His wife received a dream and urged her husband to release Jesus. Pilate himself found no proof of any rebellion, and indeed considered Jesus more of a philosophical enigma than a threat to the Roman state. If not for the machinations of the Sadducees, the political-religious leaders in Israel, there may never have been a crucifixion. But the Sadducees manipulate Pilate in the one way they knew he could be. They questioned his loyalty to Rome. And immediately, Pilate gave in to their requests. What good would it do to be right, but not in favor…or worse, in disfavor of Caesar?

Rather than seeking and holding to truth, Pilate shows himself an accomplice in the death of Jesus. No amount of hand-washing could free him of the guilt. He chose a path that seemed to secure his own future, even if at the expense of a righteous man.

Have you ever been in Pilate’s shoes? Two paths open up. One seems easy; it seems to offer exactly what you desire with limited complication. Another path is nearby, but is clearly a difficult road. It could mean loss of status, approval, a job, a friendship. How can the right path cost so much? Surely God wouldn’t require so much of a servant? Or have you faced a moral dilemma, knowing that one path is wrong, another right? Yet circumstances required the reprehensible decision? What was the eventual outcome?

We have been looking at forgiveness this week. The injustice Jesus faced from Pilate was no mistake. God knew and understood the part it would play. Pilate sought to wash away his guilt by rejecting involvement. He tried to convince himself that if he “washed his hands” of the matter, he would not bear the responsibility for his actions. No need for forgiveness when you are not to blame!

Clearly, God sees it differently. We cannot wash our hands of what goes on around us. When we make a conscious decision to avoid justice, or to put our responsibility on others, we pervert who God has created us to be.

Who has been caught in the wake of your “path of least resistance”? How have you failed your friends and family, your fellow-servants in Christ, by rejecting your responsibility? Or by making an unwise decision that could not be changed once it was made? How have you failed God by taking the easy road, rather than serving him wherever he asks you to go?

Jesus’ death on the cross offers forgiveness for every sin! For every injustice. For every failing. We must acknowledge that we are the ones at fault, that we have acted unjustly. That we have put ourselves in this position of needing forgiveness. This is something Pilate failed to do. He wanted to claim he wasn’t really accountable.

God wants to offer us mercy; to give us new life, new purpose. Even if the consequences of our actions won’t go away, and seem to be a perpetual sting, God offers hope of new potential. Of forgiveness.