DAY TWELVE -- Things He Could Have Said
Christ is to us just what his cross is. All that Christ was in heaven or on earth was put into what he did there . . . Christ, I repeat, is to us just what his cross is. You do not understand Christ till you understand his cross. —P. T. Forsyth
Reflect
In quietness, listen to the sounds around you. Seek to enter a sense of rest, letting outer noises become a distant hum. Set your heart toward the living God by expressing your thankfulness that He is always here, ready to meet you.
Contemplate the greatness of God, especially in light of His commitment to redeem you.
For this reason you are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself? (2 Samuel 7:22–23 NASB)
Pray through the Scripture above, beginning with the words, “O Lord God, there is none like You, who . . .” Read
I find no guilt in Him. (John 18:38 NASB)
By now the streets are teeming with morning worshipers. Many stop to stare at the odd procession. Jewish pilgrims recognize their most powerful leaders heading the entourage. But who is the prisoner? Probably some poor beggar—clothes dirty, face looking like He barely survived a drunken brawl.
Once again Jesus is a spectacle. A few fall in line, forsaking worship to satiate their lust for the bizarre. There may even be an execution—why else would the Sanhedrin be bringing this One to Pilate?
What might Jesus see in the faces as He passes by? A mother whose tiny child He once brought to life? A teenager who sat one day on a hillside listening to Him teach? An old man who shared in the miracle meal of fishes and loaves? How do they respond when He catches their eye? Offer silent support? Turn away, embarrassed?
Outside Fortress Antonia the growing group stops once again. Refusing to enter the Gentile’s residence and face defilement, Caiaphas sends for Pilate. Soon he appears at the top of the stairs near the gate.
“What are you accusing Him of?”
Irritated at Pilate’s condescension, Caiphas retorts: “If He hadn’t done evil things, we wouldn’t be here.”
Pilate shakes his head. One more false messiah, one more fanatic claiming to be sent from God. When would these backward Jews ever stop their foolish games? “Take Him, then, and judge Him yourselves.”
Turning to leave, Pilate hears words he cannot ignore: “He is a blasphemer, worthy of death, and we can’t execute Him. That is why we are here.”
Sighing, Pilate gestures to his soldiers to bring the accused into the palace. By now he is curious—what could this man have done to stir them so? How powerful can he be?
“Well, is it true—are You the King of the Jews?” he asks in mild amusement.
“Did someone tell you this, or are you asking for yourself?” Jesus quietly responds.
“I’m not a Jew—Your people, Your own priests have brought You here. What in the world have You done to make them so afraid of You?”
“I do have a kingdom, but it isn’t in this world. If it were, My followers would be fighting for power and control even now. If it were, I wouldn’t even be here. But My kingdom is of another world.”
Jesus’ mystical rhetoric frustrates Pilate. He needs a simple answer to determine guilt. Why won’t the Man just deny the charge and end this whole fiasco? He tries again. “Are You a king, then?”
Jesus looks off as if daydreaming. “I was born for one reason. I came into this world for one thing only—to speak the truth. Every person who recognizes truth hears what I am trying to say.”
Bored, and eager to eat breakfast, Pilate rises.
“What is truth anyway?” he says, almost to himself, as he motions for them to bring Jesus back out to the palace steps.
Pilate looks down at the Jewish religious leaders, who have given him nothing but trouble as a Roman governor in Judea. I find no guilt in Him.
Fearing their plan is about to fall apart, various elders begin to cry out.
“This man is trying to pervert our nation.”
“He refused to give honor to Caesar.”
Pilate glances over at Jesus, whose eyes are surveying the crowds that have gathered. “Why don’t you defend Yourself?”
“He says He is a King!”
Once again Pilate probes at the prisoner: “Don’t You hear all they are saying? Why don’t You answer these charges?”
There are so many things Jesus could say in this moment. I am King of kings and Lord of lords! I am the Alpha and the Omega. For My own pleasure I created all things. I am the first and the last—in Me, every one of you lives and moves and has your being.
But He says nothing.
Pilate, marveling at the calmness with which the prisoner awaits His fate, proclaims again: “I find no guilt in Him.”
Shouts fill the air—loud, angry accusations.
“He stirs up the people everywhere He goes.”
“All through Judea He has been teaching and causing an uprising.”
Seeing things spinning out of control, Pilate searches his mind for a solution to this craziness. He must have legitimate charges or Tiberius might hear of it and remove him from office. On the other hand, these Jews have caused so many problems with their fanaticism—what if they instigate a riot? How will he explain that?
“From Galilee to here, He has incited the people.”
Pilate is stopped short at this claim, reveling in the simple solution before him.
“Galilee? Did you say He is from Galilee? Well, then, take Him to Herod—he is here in Jerusalem too. Let him deal with the Galilean.”
It seems a stroke of genius. First, Herod will be honored and perhaps put in a good word for him in Rome. Second, maybe he will take the Galilean home and try Him there. Then all this will be a thing of the past.
Pilate turns to go, glancing briefly at the ill-placed prisoner.
Jesus, physically exhausted and weak from hunger, watches Pilate leave. The soldiers pull Him roughly back down the stairs.
What does He hear from the midst of the crowd? Chatting, laughing, people excited at the turn of events? Lonely onlookers losing hope in the Man they once thought would change their world? Religious zealots, meticulous about keeping the law, but lost at any rate?
Like a beating drum, the march moves on. Pious pilgrims prepare for their day of rest and the plan for the Lord of the Sabbath turns another prophetic page.
Respond
Think for a moment of all the things that Jesus could have said each time that charges were brought against Him. Consider the things He could have done—to the Sanhedrin, Pilate, the soldiers, the onlookers. Given the reality that He was fully human and fully God at every moment, contemplate His ongoing choices to endure all that He went through. Respond in loving words of worship and thanksgiving.
A Prayer
With accusations hurled against You, did You ever want to just stop the whole thing—to whisper truth into the depravity of lies that filled the air, my Lord? And I wonder where they were—those who might have defended You—Nicodemus, Joseph . . . and Your disciples. And where would I be if I were one of them? Give me grace to answer honestly, Lord.
Reprinted by permission. Contemplating the Cross: a Forty Day Pilgrimage of Prayer, Tricia McCary Rhodes, 2004, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Copying or using this material without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited and in direct violation of copyright law.
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