In this scene, Pilate washes his hands of the responsibility for Jesus’ fate, and leaves a decision up to the crowd. In this pandemic, we have experienced being under government regulations and guidelines, and also been trusted to use our judgement. This week, we consider how to respond in times where we may not agree with decisions made by others on our behalf, and how we respond when others seem to flout or bend the rules. How have we found ways to live with this tension?
Bible reading: Mark 15:6-15 (NIV)
6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9 ‘Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get Pilate to release Barabbas instead.
12 ‘What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked them.
13 ‘Crucify him!’ they shouted.
14 ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Voices: Here and there
Today’s here and there voices from Roots share the thoughts from a family member of someone shielding and the widow of Barabbas’s victim.
Reflection:
1) How do you personally respond to: a) government guidelines you may not agree with; b) other people flouting restrictions; c) people you disagree with in a wider context?
2) What do you think may have been the implications for anyone who stood up against Pilate’s judgement in the crowd?
3) Can we or should we find ways of trusting and living with other’s decisions?
Today’s reflection is from the Roots Here and There reflections for Lent. You can find the full text for the reflections for Holy Week plus suggestions for hymns, prayer and follow-up activity online at https://www.rootsontheweb.com/i-am-looking-for/resources-for-lent-2021
