Opening Prayer
Lord, do not let me enter the place of the ungodly. Amen.
Text: Luke 23:4–12
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.” When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 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. 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. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 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. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for before that they had been at enmity with each other.
Devotion
Pilate was really struck by Jesus’ purity and majesty, and shuddered at the thought of condemning Him. He didn’t really want to have anything to do with Him. But the hour of decision had come, and Jesus had to become either his downfall or his uplifting.
Jesus has also confronted you and me: what has He become for us? No one passes by Him: either one must be offended at Him and deny Him, or else believe in Him and serve Him. “Jesus’ majesty and His truthfulness were somewhat fascinating to Pilate, but he loved his own prestige and his own honor among men too highly so that against all better judgment and against his conscience, against the warnings of Christ and the Holy Spirit, he condemned the Son of Man. It is a victory for Jesus’ innocence that only by compulsion and hardly then was Pilate able to bring himself to condemn Him. When I talk about this, I feel troubled and sad because this man for whom the Lord had a powerful concern for his soul, even under the crown of thorns and the purple robe, under the blood and spitting – this man did not allow himself to be won over and did not receive the prize of eternal grace and become the second murderer the Lord won over at His death. For if Pilate would have carried out justice, hell’s raging and the Father’s eternal decision still would have brought Jesus to death” (Löhe). The Lord puts a thousand hindrances in the way for those who are determined to go to hell. But Pilate, and so many with him, break through and think it wise to sell their conscience and the eternal salvation of their soul for fleeting enjoyment and a fading glory.
The entertainment-seeking Herod Antipas tried to joke with the Lord and wants Him to do some trick for him. Even this He endures and is silent, and in this way atones for the world’s wantonness, and gives His Christians grace to forsake fleshly desires and teaches us what we should think of the world’s Mardi Gras pranks. Those who want to be called Christians, but take part in such things, ought to look at Jesus in the midst of Herod and his court.
Closing Prayer
O holy Savior, we heartily thank You for being moved back and forth between Herod and Pilate, and for Your meekness and patience to suffer all this. We marvel, we fear, and we worship before Your throne, glorious Son of God. O be gracious to us and help us to believe in You, to forsake the pleasures of the world, and to rejoice in Your salvation. Amen.
Hymn
Lord, let Thy bitter Passion
My soul with strength inspire
To flee with indignation
All sinful, low desire:
Ah! never would I, Lord, forget
The greatness of that ransom
Which paid my endless debt.
Should earthly griefs assail me,
If need be, shame and scorn,
Let patience never fail me
To bear as Thou hast borne:
Grant that the world I may forsake,
And Thee for my example,
O may I daily take.
Gesenius: O Lord, when condemnation L 285:5-6 LHy 281:5-6 tr. W. Mercer;
tune: Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn (ELH 224); alternate hymn: When o’er my sins I sorrow ELH 276:3-4