THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS

1 Samuel 10:17-27; Acts 7:44 - 8:1; Luke 22:52-62

SCRIPTURE

Luke 22:54 — Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house.

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

In the “old west” we, the posse, were the ultimate authority. When we caught the bank robbers, the horse thieves, or the cattle rustlers, we didn’t have to haul them before a judge somewhere. One of us changed hats, found a box, and used the rusted hammer with the broken handle for a gavel. There were only occasional appeals to the higher authority of Mom, but sentencing was usually swift and severe. We never hanged anyone, but a few were sentenced to be hanged, and lots of dangerous criminals got hundreds of years in jail. (That usually translated to about ten to fifteen minutes.) Not so with Jesus. He was arrested and dragged from one authority to the next. The high priest’s house was only the first stop. While only the Romans had the authority to execute, the Jewish authorities felt no restraint from beatings and humiliation along the way. The high priest’s house was excavated in Jerusalem several years ago. It includes a circular prison in the floor in which Jesus was most likely thrown while waiting to be “tried” by the high priest. Many of the trials Jesus had to endure were little more than “kangaroo courts”. We may sometimes be frustrated with the slowness of justice and the endless appeals of our courts, but how well would Jesus fare in our court system? How does Jesus fare in them? “What you do to the least....” We may thank the Lord that He took upon Himself the punishment of us all so that we might judge with loving mercy.

PRAYER

Sometimes I am so judgmental, dear God, being judge and jury and making up my mind too quickly. Forgive me for my lack of judgment and my lack of caring for those who are not receiving fair verdicts throughout the world. Use me to bring justice. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.