Daily Archives: March 7, 2026

LUKE’S GOSPEL…WHY? – 57

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LUKE’S GOSPEL…WHY? – 57

“For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was arrested, tried, and found guilty in a Jewish court, handed over to a Gentile, Pilate, to carry out their sentence. Why did Pilate declare Him innocent after questioning Him but sentence Him to death anyway? 

Did Pilate act according to his findings, according to the truth, according to his conscience? Why did he have an innocent man flogged to the point of death? Was that justice? Was that the way the representative of Rome governed in a Roman colony?

Why did Pilate cave in to the demands of the Jewish leaders and the Jewish public? Who was really in charge? Was he afraid of the people, concerned about saving his own skin, worried about  the consequences if he released Jesus…a riot, an insurrection, the collapse of law and order? Was he in danger of losing his position if the situation got out of hand?

So, Pilate’s decision was, in the end, all about himself. 

He was known to be a cruel and ruthless man.

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It seems that Pilate’s dealings with the Jews do not paint a picture of a just man or a wise ruler. So, could anyone expect anything different from him in Jesus’ case? His defence of Jesus was weak and unconvincing… even his wife warned him but he ignored her…and he quickly absolved himself of guilt, and to get rid of his problem, by washing his hands of his own decision. 

Does this mean that Jesus was crucified because of Pilate’s bad judgment ? 

If we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, we will see that the guilt was never Pilate’s alone. We can trace the reason for Jesus’ death right back  to Genesis 3. From the moment the first pair changed allegiance from their Creator to the deceiver, and the whole human race with them, it was for the sin of the whole world that God demanded the death penalty, and the mercy of God that chose to pay the price Himself.  

So, God orchestrated Jesus’ death…and the way it would happen…but, at the same time, He holds humanity responsible for the choices that brought about His Son’s death. 

This is the mystery of God’s sovereignty! Centuries before, Isaiah prophesied…

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and Peter confirmed, on the day of Pentecost…

“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why, then, did Jesus suffer in such a terrible manner? Why did Pilate have Him flogged, and condemn Him to death, when he knew that Jesus was innocent? Why did the Roman soldiers drive nails through Jesus’ hands and feet and a sword into His side? Why did the naked body of the sinless Son God have to hang on a Roman cross in the blazing sun for all to see?

For us! We put Him there. The Jews, the Gentiles, the whole world put Him on that cross for one reason… we owed a debt we could not pay…and Jesus chose to pay it for us. 

Those who carried out the sentence were the hands and feet that did it for the whole world so that the whole can share in the blessing of forgiveness and the new life Jesus’ death provides for those who believe. 

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE COMPANY YOU KEEP – 60

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“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭55‬-‭62‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A significant detail in the story… Peter chose dangerous company! 

I don’t think that the narrator included the mention of Peter’s nighttime companions just for colour. I think that the soldiers and servants, the ”they” in the story, were the catalyst for Peter’s fall. Had he remained with his fellow disciples, the like-minded ones, they might have supported one another and stayed out of the limelight. 

Peter was a square peg in a round hole. It was obvious to those around the fire that he was from out of town. His dress and speech gave him away. He was a Galilean, from the northern province which was closest to Gentile territory, the territory of the prisoner under arrest. Was it coincidence that a Galilean was right there among them?  It was like a citizen of Louisiana visiting New York. The difference was unmistakeable. 

What was a Galilean doing in Jerusalem? A visitor from up north attending Passover celebrations…at this time of the morning…in the courtyard of the high priest’s residence? Not likely? He was there for another reason…

The atmosphere was electric with tension…suspicion…a “dangerous” prisoner was on trial. Were there spies in the company…was there someone of His group who was detailed to stage a rescue mission…to trigger a revolt? Why were the bystanders so interested in this stranger?

An unnamed servant girl set off the enquiry, rather…the accusation. “You are a Galilean!” Got you! “What is a Galilean doing here? You were with Him!”

“No, I’m not! No, I wasn’t! I don’t even know the man!” 

“But we saw you with Him!” 

“No, it wasn’t me!”

“Yes. it was you!”

“You are crazy! I wasn’t anywhere near Him!”

And so the “he said – she said” argument continued until…a familiar sound heralded the dawn. Peter stopped short, as if a bolt of lightning had struck him. In the heat of the argument, he remembered!

“..Truly I tell you,…this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 

…and he remembered…his vigorous and “cock-sure”defence…

…“Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you”…

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and the sound of all his empty words rang in his ears…

Peter glanced up in his moment of shame and, for a moment his eyes locked onto Jesus…

…and Jesus slowly turned and looked at Peter…straight in the eye. 

…and Peter knew that Jesus knew…

…and Peter broke…and the tears flowed down his cheeks in a river of shame and regret…

…and Peter slunk away into the darkness to lick his wounds and wonder…”Is Jesus finished with me?”

In the eyes of the Master, there was everything He wanted to say to His fallen companion, not “I told you so!” not “Why, Peter, why?” or even, “You worthless, you good-for nothing sinner!” From those eyes of fire boring deep into his soul flashed love, forgiveness, compassion…even sorrow for a wasted opportunity. 

Jesus was to Peter, even in his darkest moment, what He had always been to every “cancelled” Jewish “sinner” among own His chosen people…gentle, kind, and full of mercy.  

This “look” of Jesus lit a spark of hope in Peter’s soul. He fled the company that had triggered his downfall and rejoined his companions who were all in this together. Everyone, in his own way, had denied and forsaken Jesus. They could not return, fall at His feet and beg for forgiveness. The moment for restoration had passed, so

 they thought. They could only stand near Him as His lifeblood dripped away…but, somehow, they knew that He knew…and they were comforted. 

There is a sequel to this saga…a meeting on the beach, back at the lake where, for some, the story had begun. Breakfast shared at the invitation of the risen Master, a deliberate gesture of reconciliation. An intimate moment…love rekindled, love shared, the commission renewed, “Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep; tend my lambs.”

A restored, reassured, revitalised Peter returned to Jerusalem to be the herald and spokesman for Jesus when the Holy Spirit fell on them to jumpstart His church and the glorious New Covenant. 

Jesus is the God of the second chance…if only Judas had known…

To be continued…