Spinning out of Control

A Series on Lent
Jesus is arrested, tried and sentenced
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
John 18:28-19:16 

[Lent is a 40-day season of personal reflection through prayer, fasting and giving in order to prepare your heart to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. We will be following Jesus through the Gospel of John as he enters Jerusalem for Passover, and the ensuing events that led up to his trial, crucifixion and resurrection.]

 

Sometimes life can feel like it’s spinning out of control.

 

In 2020, my wife Debbie had a stroke. At first it didn’t seem too crazy because we didn’t know what was happening. But when Debbie couldn’t sit upright, I realized something was terribly wrong and called 911.

 

Although Debbie’s symptoms improved, the situation worsened. Every test made it scarier. Waiting made it scarier. Fear of the unknown made it scarier. Our life was spinning out of control.

 

The story of Jesus’ arrest, trial and sentencing reads the same way. It starts slow, picks up speed until it seems unstoppable as it spins out of control. Even Jesus seems to get caught up in it at the Garden of Gethsemane.

 

³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”         Mark 14 NIV

 

Following Jesus’ arrest, he is interrogated by the chief priest and quickly taken to the Roman governor Pilate. The Jewish religious leaders intended for Jesus to be crucified and only Pilate could make that happen.

 

However, Pilate doesn’t find any reason to charge Jesus. So hoping to appease the Jews, he offers to let a prisoner go free. They choose Barabbas, a known murderer. 

Jesus is then flogged and abused by the Roman soldiers. Pilate once again tells the Jews he finds Jesus to be innocent. But after the flogging, the crowd smells blood in the water. They’re incensed. 

 

⁵ Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!” ⁶ When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”               NLT

 

For the third time, Pilate tells the Jews that he doesn’t find Jesus guilty of anything. Only then do the Jews confess to Pilate that Jesus has broken their law by claiming to be “the Son of God”. This terrified Pilate.

 

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.”         NIV

 

Sitting in his judgement seat, Pilate presented Jesus one final time saying, “Here is your king”. The Jews demanded that he be crucified, even proclaiming that they have “no king but Caesar”. Compelled by the Jews, Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified.

 

When life is spinning out of control, we do everything we can to regain it. That’s what Peter did when Jesus was being arrested. He drew his sword and cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant.

 

But Jesus knew that it was Friday and Sunday was coming. And when it did, the world would never be the same. Our world will never be the same… even when it’s spinning out of control.

 

Copyright 2023 Joseph B Williams

 

 

The Pieta is a sculpture created by Michelangelo. The link below is a rendition of the song Pieta by Joseph Martin and includes a dramatic dance presentation. I found this very meaningful and hope that you enjoy it.

 Pieta by Joseph Martin