“The Shouts Of The Enemies Prevail When It Is In The Will Of God!”

“The Shouts Of The Enemies Prevail When It Is In The Will Of God!”(Lk.23:1-25).
Today Holy Thursday, we are going to have an afternoon Main Service to commemorate the Lord’s Supper. Even so, we prefer to continue our meditation on the Passion story and not on the text of the afternoon Main Service.
When Jesus was brought before the council for hearing, the council had two accusations against him: “If you are the Christ, tell us,” and “Are you the Son of God?”
They loathed Jesus for impersonating God, which was the peak of blasphemy in their religion.
When they took Jesus to Pilate, they gave the impression that Jesus was a revolutionist subverting their nation, opposing the payment of taxes to Caesar and claiming to be Christ, a king. Their use of Christ here was in a political sense in which the Christ was considered to be a political king figure who would free the Jews from Roman foreign domination(Ps.2).
When Pilate asked Jesus if he was king of the Jews, Jesus replied, “Yes, it is as you say.”
Left to Pilate, there was nothing political in Jesus, but Jesus’ accusers insisted that Jesus “stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
Pilate learning that Jesus was from Galilee under Herod’s jurisdiction seized the opportunity to offer Jesus as his olive branch to Herod. “That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies.”
Pilate and Herod initiated a pattern that has continued to this day. Sworn political adversaries often become friends to fight the gospel!
However, both pilate and Herod did not find Jesus guilty of treason or subversion deserving the death penalty. Pilate wanted to have him flogged and be released. “But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.”
The Jews prefered the release of Barabas, a notorious villain who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city and for murder.
It cannot be gainsaid that if you are inside water your enemies will still accuse you of raising dust!
May the souls of all those who hated Jesus so much and caused his death rest in perfect peace. Whatever they did brought us salvation. Jesus died according to the Scriptures to become the Christ! Hallelujah!
My friend, are you surprised that I have prayed for the souls of those who killed Jesus to rest in peace? The Lord Jesus himself enjoins us: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you you”(Lk.6:27-28). Jesus himself exemplified this on the cross by saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”(Lk.23:34). Indeed, the enemies did not know what they were doing, and even today, enemies don’t know what they are doing. When it is in the will of God for enemies to act evilly, it will be a disservice for them to act righteously!
Prayer: Father, let your will be done; whatever it be. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
17/04/2025.