11th April 2025
Shouting
But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” John 19:15 (NIV) When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” John 11:43 (ESV)
There’s a lot of shouting going on around Pilate’s HQ when Jesus is brought before him. There’s a crowd and there’s nothing like a crowd to get behind a good collective chant.
Pilate comes out to tell them that he hasn’t found any basis for a charge against Jesus and, as it is a custom to release one prisoner during Passover, he asks: ‘Do you want me to release the king of the Jews?’
Did they want Jesus? No way! ‘No, not him! Give us Barabbas!’ they shout. The crowds want their man – who was probably seen as a terrorist by the Romans, but as a freedom fighter to most of the Jews.
So Pilate has Jesus scourged. Jesus emerges, wearing a crown of thorns and a purple robe. The chief priest and officials now take over shouting duty and yell out: “Crucify! Crucify!” (John 19:6 NIV).
Pilate keeps on trying to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders keep up the shouting, finally using their trump card and blackmailing Pilate into giving way to their demands. “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” they hurl at Pilate (v.12). So Pilate washes his hands and lets Jesus go to be crucified.
Yet only a few days earlier Jesus himself was shouting. Along with Martha and Mary and a great number of mourners he went to Lazarus’ tomb. He called for the stone to be removed and practical Martha objected – in the Middle Eastern heat the body would be, well, far from fragrant. But Jesus was obeyed and he stood there before the dark entrance and he shouted out with a loud voice for Lazarus to come out. And Lazarus came out. “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Jesus commanded. (John 11:44 NIV).
On our behalf, the crowds yelled for the death of the incarnate Son of God. But Jesus shouts out for all of us, like Lazarus, to rise from the dead and leave behind our grave clothes and walk in the newness of life. And he was obeyed and he will be obeyed.
Prayer
In our alienation from you, our Saviour, we have rejected you, the Man of sorrows, and sent you like a sheep to slaughter. But all thanks and praise to you, who shouted out for us to live. Amen.
|
Study by: Hilary Buck About the author: |
|
Local congregation:
Grace Communion in Lewes
The House of Friendship
208 High Street
Lewes
BN7 2NS
Meeting time:
Sunday 11:00 am
Local congregational contact:
Hilary Buck
Email: lewes@gracecom.church
Like us on www.facebook.com/Grace Communion Lewes
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church