Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Saturday after Oculi

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. Luke 23:1-25 (NKJV)

1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” 5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.” 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

13 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” 17 (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). 18 And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. 20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” 22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” 23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. 25 And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Devotion

“But they shouted, saying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!'” Luke 23:21

“Why does God let this happen? What good can ever come of it?” Have you ever asked this sort of question? Something terrible happens…maybe some horrific world news event, maybe some personal life catastrophe…but whatever it was, it made you wonder: Such an evil. It just doesn’t seem like God should have allowed it.

There is no greater evil conceivable than that people would cry out for the crucifixion of the holy, innocent, perfect Son of God. What a total miscarriage of any form of justice whatsoever! It’s as sinful and as wrong as it gets…and yet by means of this, God brings about the sacrifice that accomplishes the salvation of the world.

So too you should know: God does not just “work around” the evils that transpire in your life. He co-opts them, and uses sometimes the most awful things to bring about His will, and His saving good purposes in your life and in the lives of others.

They cry “crucify Him,” and crucify they did…on Good Friday. Rejoice that God’s will is done, even by way of the wickedness of man. Rejoice, for in Christ the unjustly crucified One, your sins are forgiven you.

“Lord God heavenly Father, grant me grace to bear the injustices that are done against me, just as Your Son has suffered unjustly on account of me and my sin, and given me eternal life. Amen.”

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