The Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”

John 19:1b-3, 6-7

Meditation

            It is interesting that the religious authorities were more threatened by Jesus than the Roman government. To be sure, Jesus’ words and actions often made the Temple leaders look foolish. Pilate wanted to free Jesus, finding no case against him, but the priests insisted he be crucified. Pilate even told them to crucify him themselves. The writer of Matthew, in chapter 27, verse 24, records of the moment, “So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood.’”

            Even the Roman governor, Pilate, who was not known for compassion, was uncomfortable sentencing Jesus. Pilate was also uncomfortable with his own reluctant part in the events, washing his hands and claiming to absolve himself of any responsibility for the death of Jesus.

Spiritual discipline

Attend worship at the church of your choice. Hold the picture of Jesus in your mind, bound and on display before the crowds. People are screaming for the release of Barabbas, a convicted criminal, and for the crucifixion of Jesus. In the evening, review the lessons, your notes, and your experience of the journey of this past week.

Prayer

            Jesus, my Lord and Savior, the emotional pain of seeing your followers turn on you in Pilate’s court must have been dreadful. I fear that, had I been alive at the time, I might have been in the crowd, too. Today, however, I stand with you as a faithful follower in the truth. Amen.

This is the 29^thin a daily series titled The Stations of the Cross that will run through Easter 2026, at which time I will return to my weekly Life Notes.Life Notes are my explorations into mysteries that interest me. They are invitations for readers to explore more deeply into life’s mysteries. Engage with me or explore contemplative spiritual direction at ghildenbrand@outlook.com.