Lenten Devotion: What is your response to Jesus? (Luke 23:1-25)
Day 38 (Maundy Thursday) – 17 Apr 2025
So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. Luke 23:3
In today’s very busy reading, we witness a stormy gathering of a diverse crowd. Named in just 25 verses are the council of chief priests and scribes, a violent mob, Herod Antipas, the soldiers, Pilate and even Barrabas. At the epicentre of the storm was Jesus and his claim, the cause of this confluence of people who would normally try to avoid each other.
Who was this man? He seemed to have evoked such extreme responses from so many people. They shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him”. His own people demanded the worst of the worst for him.
To this day, Jesus Christ and the gospel continue to be a powerful magnet for varied and often violent reactions.
Many are offended by the notion that Christ is the only door to salvation, perhaps even worked up like the mob. Others would brush aside the deity of Christ, and water-down the gospel so as to remain popular. There will be those who ridicule, mock and jeer. Some may attend church to be entertained or to seek a personal favour. What about those who like Barrabas suddenly get an undeserved reprieve from punishment? Would they put it down to sheer luck?
We should certainly not be surprised. Christ and the Gospel cannot harmonise with this world. It tears at the very fabric of sinful existence. Today we see how Jesus stood firm to the truth.
Pondering deeper, I consider moments in my life where self-centredness and worldly influence may have caused me to be blind to Christ’s presence and strayed from the truth. Have I, in my sins also shouted out “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”?
Let us take a moment to reflect on our daily walk and the testimony of our actions and words.
Thanks be to Christ, that by His mercy and grace, our darkness has been shattered by His everlasting light. May we stand firm for who He is and profess the gospel in its fullness now and always.
Loh Kok Chi🙏