“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. - Mark 15:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (April 18, 2014): Mark 15

Today is a day of ritual.  It is probably a day that most of us would rather do without.  Who needs to be reminded again of an execution that happened 2000 years ago?  Not us.  A lot of innocent people have been executed over the years.  It’s not our fault – we weren’t the ones.  It’s not like we can bring them back. 

But that is the real question that is asked of us every Good Friday.  What would you have done – really?  What shall we do with him, the one they call the King of the Jews?  So we try to ignore it – pass by the question – not give it an answer.  In the end that was probably what most of the people in Jerusalem did as well.  Oh, some cried out for his crucifixion – but most probably just sat by and watched it happen.  Don’t make me answer Pilate’s question.  I don’t know what to do with him.

If we yell for him to be crucified – well that doesn’t seem fair.  But if we call him God, then he might expect something of us.  Something that we are just not willing to give.  And so we remain silent.

But our silence does not stop the question from being asked.  What shall we do with him, the one you call the King of the Jews?  What are we going to do?  At some point the question needs to be answered, at some point the silence needs to be broken.  Will we join the ones that cried for him to be crucified, or will we be the ones to call him Savior, Lord and friend?

I want you to know that I have made my choice.  Have you made yours?     

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 1

This post was originally published on April 10, 2009