Lenten Daily Devotional - Day 31 - Wednesday, 3/20/13

Devotional Scripture:   John 19:1-16

Devotional Thought:

"From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free . . ." - John 19:12

John paints a very sympathethic picture of Pilate.

As I mentioned in yesterday's devotional thought, Pilate is in a "no-win" situation.

He knows it.  It's as clear as the nose on his own face.

Yet . . . he now tries even harder to find every way he can to set Jesus free.

Verse 8 is telling  . . . "When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back insdie the palace. 

What was it that made him afraid?  

Easy enough to figure out . . . the Jews wanted him to give permission to crucify the "Son of God."

Honestly, and in all seriousness . . . who would want such a decision on their hands.  How do you think it would feel to have someone check your employment history, and discover that you sentenced the "Son of God" to death?

Such is much more common than you think.

During all the clearing away and making straight our roads to Easter . . . haven't we all come across certain things that remind us, that at various times in our lives . . . we have shouted "Crucify" as well?

How about those times when the call of Jesus on our lives seemed like a threat to our personal comfort and security?

"Crucify!"

How about those times when we wanted to be the one in control . . . the one calling the shots?

"Crucify!"

How about those times when we just didn't want to be a good neighbor, or turn the other cheek, or go the extra mile?

"Crucify!"

In these last days of Lent . . . we start coming up against the bigger things that block our path to Easter.   It's time to fight as hard as we can to clear them away.

Pilate tried to set Jesus free, perhaps to protect his legacy, and perhaps in some way as a matter of justice . . . but he tried hard to set Jesus free.

Easter's coming.  Let's continue to do the hard work we need to do to set Jesus free in our hearts and lives.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>