Today’s Community Scripture – 4/21/2025

Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others and said, “You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge. And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It’s clear that he’s done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. I’m going to warn him to watch his step and let him go.” At that, the crowd went wild: “Kill him! Give us Barabbas!” (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder.) Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again. But they kept shouting back, “Crucify! Crucify him!” He tried a third time. “But for what crime? I’ve found nothing in him deserving death. I’m going to warn him to watch his step and let him go.” But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted. As they led him off, they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus. A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on. At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. The time is coming when they’ll say, ‘Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!’ Then they’ll start calling to the mountains, ‘Fall down on us!’ calling to the hills, ‘Cover us up!’ If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they’ll do with deadwood?” Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution. When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, “He saved others. Let’s see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!” The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: “So you’re King of the Jews! Save yourself!” Printed over him was a sign: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!” But the other one made him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.” He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.” By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” Then he breathed his last.

                            Luke 23:13–46 (MSG)

– Reflection:

                  A Dark Day; Also Uplifting

The passage above is long and determined to show us that even in torture and pain, the love Jesus had for us was real. The scene of what that day looked like, smelled like, and the emotions, energy, and the ability to be in the true presence of GOD himself made flesh is profound. Now he is being taken from the world, and moving forward, what is this going to look like without him? We know now, but back then, the anxiety of having him taken from us must have been incredibly tough. When I get to this part of the Bible, I often wonder how we got here. For three years, this man traveled around and helped many people through touch and his words, which allows some people today to have this experience as an oral auditor. He was everything to all of us who follow GOD, especially as his son Jesus Christ. He spoke to everyone, regardless of caste or class. He made it his business to make the world a better place, reaching hearts, bringing them to GOD, and showing them a better way to live life- without all the toiling and blowing in the wind.

– Where do we go from here?

Yesterday was Easter Sunday; Jesus rose from the grave for us. He did all of this for us. What have we done with his image other than tear one another down or use his words as a narrative to control how we move in this world? Each year at this time, there is always pageantry in the appearance of Easter, but not much in terms of what it truly means or meant at that time. We, as people, complain a lot about how things aren’t as good as they used to be, but those imparting knowledge are often told that nobody does that anymore. I, for one, love the old stories; they give me a sense of where I come from, so when I am on this path, it sets me straight. It is hard to talk to today’s youth sometimes, but every now and then there is a moment where we can reach them. Look for those moments; their futures depend on it.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, yesterday was a beautiful day in ceremony for what you gave up for us. It gives me a better outlook everyday for how to treat people and how I look to be treated. The messages I receive each and every morning while reading the words written all those years ago still hit hard, and have meaning and find a place in my spirit each and every morning. Thank you for lives we have and help us continue to walk the paths you have laid before us. Amen.