The Old Testament reading as we continue our series on the Voices of Passion comes from the 24th chapter of the book of Proverbs. The proverb reminds us that true wisdom isn’t indifferent to suffering.
Our New Testament reading is taken from the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Roman church where he reminds us as the church that indifference to sin is judged just as harshly as the sin itself.
The Gospel Lesson for this morning is found in the eighteenth chapter of John’s telling of the life and teachings of Jesus. We hear about Pontius Pilate and his moral indifference as a leader.
3 With wisdom a house is built.
With understanding it is established.
4 With knowledge its rooms are filled
with every kind of riches, both precious and pleasant.
5 A strong man knows how to use his strength,
but a person with knowledge is even more powerful.
6 After all, with the right strategy you can wage war,
and with many advisers there is victory.
10 If you faint in a crisis, you are weak.
11 Rescue captives condemned to death,
and spare those staggering toward their slaughter.
12 When you say, “We didn’t know this,”
won’t the one who weighs hearts take note of it?
Won’t the one who guards your soul know it?
Won’t he pay back people for what they do?
Our New Testament reading is taken from the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Roman church where he reminds us as the church that indifference to sin is judged just as harshly as the sin itself.
28 And because they thought it was worthless to acknowledge God, God allowed their own immoral minds to control them. So they do these indecent things. 29 Their lives are filled with all kinds of sexual sins, wickedness, and greed. They are mean. They are filled with envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, haughty, arrogant, and boastful. They think up new ways to be cruel. They don’t obey their parents, 31 don’t have any sense, don’t keep promises, and don’t show love to their own families or mercy to others. 32 Although they know God’s judgment that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do these things but also approve of others who do them.
The Gospel Lesson for this morning is found in the eighteenth chapter of John’s telling of the life and teachings of Jesus. We hear about Pontius Pilate and his moral indifference as a leader.
28 Early in the morning, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the governor’s palace.
The Jews wouldn’t go into the palace. They didn’t want to become unclean, since they wanted to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What accusation are you making against this man?”
30 The Jews answered Pilate, “If he weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate told the Jews, “Take him, and try him by your law.”
The Jews answered him, “We’re not allowed to execute anyone.” 32 In this way what Jesus had predicted about how he would die came true.
33 Pilate went back into the palace, called for Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 Jesus replied, “Did you think of that yourself, or did others tell you about me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn’t belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. My kingdom doesn’t have its origin on earth.”
37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”
Jesus replied, “You’re correct in saying that I’m a king. I have been born and have come into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”
38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After Pilate said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I don’t find this man guilty of anything. 39 You have a custom that I should free one person for you at Passover. Would you like me to free the king of the Jews for you?”
40 The Jews shouted again, “Don’t free this man! Free Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a political revolutionary.)
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