¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”¹⁸ Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” ¹⁹ (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” ²³ But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.” Luke 23:13-25

This is written by Gustav Janouch called “Conversations with Kafka”: 

Kafka suddenly stood still and stretched out his hand.  “Look! There, there! Can you see it?”  Out of the house…ran a small dog looking like a ball of wool, which crossed our path and disappeared around the corner…  “A pretty little dog,” I said.  “A dog?” asked Kafka suspiciously, and slowly we began to move again.  “A small, young dog.  Didn’t you see it?”  “I saw.  But was it a dog?” Kafka asked.  “It was a poodle.” I said.  Kafka said, “A poodle?  It could be a dog, but it could also be a sign.  We Jews often make tragic mistakes.”  “It was only a dog,” I said.  “It would be a good thing if it was,” Kafka nodded.  “But (that) only is true only for him who uses it.  What one person takes to be a bundle of rags, or a dog, is for another a sign…There is always something unaccounted for.”  We walked in silence….I said, “Bloy writes that the tragic guilt of the Jews is that they did not recognize the Messiah.”  “Perhaps that really is so,” said Kafka.  “Perhaps they really did not recognize him.”

It is obvious that most people did not recognize Jesus for who he really was. But could we expect otherwise – he was not the kind of Messiah they were expecting. They were expecting a mighty “beast” who would destroy the enemies of Israel – instead they received a “bundle of rags” who soaked up all of their pain into himself.

Pastor Dave

⁵⁴ Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶ Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” ⁵⁷ But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” ⁵⁸ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” ⁵⁹ Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” ⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly.⁶³ Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; ⁶⁴ they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” ⁶⁵ They kept heaping many other insults on him.” Luke 22:54-64

If we were in the crowd witnessing these events, would we have had any more conviction, or courage, or backbone than the disciples? I doubt it. The absence of the disciples screams at us throughout the trial – but we have the benefit of 2000 years of separation. Peter falls to self-preservation, but would any of us have done anything differently – understanding it was a matter of life, or death?    In fact, most of the disciples do nothing to stop the events – and do everything to save their own lives. We don’t have our savior on trial today, although the authority of scripture and the teaching of the Gospel is always being assailed. But the impact of religious reductionistic activities puts our religious beliefs on trial everyday. Every…day! How do we respond when someone threatens our religious freedoms? Do we run away when given the opportunity to share the story of Jesus? Do we hide from religious controversy?  Do we seek our own self-preservation? Or, do we have the nerve to stand up, speak out, and tell anyone the truth of the Gospel?

Pastor Dave