Tag: King of the Jews

Posted in Lent devotions

I saw the sign

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Thursday, March 25, 2021.

And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” (Mark 15:25-26)

The sign above Jesus’ head reminds me of some of the dog-shaming photos I’ve seen on social media. Photos of a retriever with a handwritten sign saying, “I ate a whole stick of butter.” Or a dog wearing a note stating, “I ate mom’s lunch. Again.” Or, “I have chewed up five pairs of glasses this week.”

Jesus’ shaming sign read, “The King of the Jews.” Shamefully nailed to a cross, he would have been an embarrassment to every Jewish person as well as himself and the disciples. This is your king? This is the best you can do? Why would we want to take you or your people seriously?

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Posted in Lent devotions

Stirred up

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Photo by Malcolm Lightbody on Unsplash.

Now at the feast [Pilate] used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. (Mark 15:6-11)

Who would you pick? Jesus or Barabbas? Who would you rather have out on the street, a murderer or a king? We all want to say “Jesus.” But if you or I were in the crowd that day, we might vote differently, especially if the chief priests influenced us.

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