Reading: John 19:8-12
When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then be bowed his head and gave up
his spirit. John 19:30.
What did Jesus mean with the words: "It is finished''? The Greek word St. John uses is a
courtroom term. It means "Case closed." Whose case? The case against Jesus? Yes, but there's
more. Take another look at the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate.
As John reports it, we soon see that Pilate himself is on trial. When Pilate tries to enmesh Jesus
in his own power game, Jesus reminds Pilate of the "game" being played on him. (John 19:11)
He's accountable to God for his political office. What he does with Jesus will bounce back in
God's verdict on him. Pilate thinks he's in charge, and only Jesus is on trial. From one angle
that's true, but the roles are also reversed: Pilate on trial, Jesus the judge.
So it should not really surprise us that it is Jesus, not Pilate, who pronounces the "case closed."
Only the one on the bench, the judge, can close cases. Well then, is Jesus the one in charge or
the one being charged--and executed? Answer: Yes. Both are true.
The charge against Jesus was: He says he's King of the Jews. How do you test that? Jewish
kings are shepherd-kings. Not until such a king dies so that the sheep may live, do we have the
evidence to close the case. Jesus dies so that others may live. He truly is the King as charged.
Case closed. Pilate, and all of us, need just such a king--for dear life. Thereby our case is
closed.
Prayer: You are guilty as charged, Lord Jesus, guilty of being our king. Anyone associating
with sorry-looking sheep like us has to reckon with the consequences, and you did. Not just
once on Good Friday as our Good Shepherd, but today and tomorrow as well. Our life depends
on that. Amen.
When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then be bowed his head and gave up
his spirit. John 19:30.
What did Jesus mean with the words: "It is finished''? The Greek word St. John uses is a
courtroom term. It means "Case closed." Whose case? The case against Jesus? Yes, but there's
more. Take another look at the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate.
As John reports it, we soon see that Pilate himself is on trial. When Pilate tries to enmesh Jesus
in his own power game, Jesus reminds Pilate of the "game" being played on him. (John 19:11)
He's accountable to God for his political office. What he does with Jesus will bounce back in
God's verdict on him. Pilate thinks he's in charge, and only Jesus is on trial. From one angle
that's true, but the roles are also reversed: Pilate on trial, Jesus the judge.
So it should not really surprise us that it is Jesus, not Pilate, who pronounces the "case closed."
Only the one on the bench, the judge, can close cases. Well then, is Jesus the one in charge or
the one being charged--and executed? Answer: Yes. Both are true.
The charge against Jesus was: He says he's King of the Jews. How do you test that? Jewish
kings are shepherd-kings. Not until such a king dies so that the sheep may live, do we have the
evidence to close the case. Jesus dies so that others may live. He truly is the King as charged.
Case closed. Pilate, and all of us, need just such a king--for dear life. Thereby our case is
closed.
Prayer: You are guilty as charged, Lord Jesus, guilty of being our king. Anyone associating
with sorry-looking sheep like us has to reckon with the consequences, and you did. Not just
once on Good Friday as our Good Shepherd, but today and tomorrow as well. Our life depends
on that. Amen.
For more information,
Prayers and counseling you can contact,
No comments:
Post a Comment