The Devotional Period

White Ribbon, Volume 31, Issue 1, 1 May 1959, Page 3

The Devotional Period

AN EASTER MEDITATION Scripture Reading: John 18: 1-8, 19-21, 33-38 W.R. Hymnal: No. 82.

Devotions taken at Christchurch Convention by Mist V. Jackson.

As we are nearing the most sacred season of the Christian year—Easter, I have chosen the wellknown account of the arrest and trial of Jesus, our Saviour and King—the King of love, as portrayed by His loved disciple, John. The arrest of Jesus: In the cool of the evening, with His disciples, Jesus entered the Garden, a favourite place of theirs and one which we can well picture, but in that Garden there was no peace for Jesus. A small band of men, sent by the chief priests and Pharisees, and led by Judas, armed with torches and weapons approached Him, and He, knowing their intention inquired, “Whom seek ye?” On receiving the answer, ‘‘Jesus of Nazareth”, He replied, “I am He”. Jesus did not falter, but His assailants, instead of performing their task, fell backwards to the ground. Jesus then repeated His question and received the same reply. Perhaps in our language of today we would say Jesus was exasperated with the methods of the High Priests and Pharisees and said to their accomplices, “I have told you, I am HE. If ye seek Me, let these go their way” (His disciples). His concern was for their safety. There was no question of Jesus trying to escape; His superb courage confounded even the men sent to arrest Him. But what of Judas who betrayed Him? We read that he went out and hanged self. Judas, a name that through the ages has been one of shame to the person to whom it may seem to apply. Do we stand firmly in our faith and to our convictions? For thirty pieces of silver, Judas betrayed his Lord; and through fear, Peter denied Him. Is not today’s cardinal sin that of indifference ?

The Judgment Hall: When Jesus was questioned by the High Priest as to His doctrine, he declared, “1 spake openly in public places and taught in the Synagogue and the temple. I kept nothing secret. Why ask Me ? Ask them who heard Me. They know what I said.” Let us pause here and visualise a trial of an innocent man, who, through misadventure is being questioned by a cunning, clever lawyer. In spite of His direct answers, He is finally sent on to Pilate, the Roman Governor.

Thirdly, Pilate did not want to be involved in a Jewish trial and so endeavours to place the responsibility onto the Jewish leaders, who retort that their laws do not allow of the taking cf life. The lews practised despicable treachery to their fellow-countryman for they were determined to see Hifr- die, but let the Roman soldiers do it. Pilate, fearful of losing his position, twice questioned Jesus and after Jesus’ reply that He bore witness to the truth, returned to the waiting Jews with the verdict, “I find no fault in Him”. According to the law, Jesus, the King of the Jews, was innocent. Yet, in Isaiah 53 we read, “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him, He hath put Him to grief (but praise be to God), when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed; He shall prolong His days and the pleasure of the Lord

shall prosper in His hand”. In closing, let me quote from “One Solitary Life!” “Here is a man, born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew in another obscure village, worked in a carpenter’s shop until He was thirty and for three years was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book; He never held an office; He never owned a home. ... He never travelled more than 200 miles from where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with this world but the naked power of His Divine Manhood. While still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a Cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled with the only piece of property He had on earth, His coat. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.

“But He was stronger than death and the grave. He arose and appeared to many. He thus confirmed His teachings and fulfilled His promises. .. . Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and yet, today, He is the centrepiece of the human race. ... It is not far within the mark to say that all earthly kingdoms, potentates, rulers, scientists, philosophers, teachers and reformers put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that ONE SOLITARY LIFE.”