28. Mark 15:14-15
Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Do you ever wonder just how much of our lives is dictated by what we think others will think of us? I’d like to believe that it’s only insignificant things, like what I may wear (not that I’m ever particularly in style) or the length of my sideburns. But everyone once in a while I fear I am a lot more like Pilate than I’d want to admit.
Think about it. We are, as a species, notoriously insecure. We do not know where we’ve come from; we do not know (for certain) where will go. We have little to no firm ground upon which to stand when we attempt to assess our worth or value. We cannot measure ourselves against God or the eternal – perhaps the surest standard of measure – simply because it would be overwhelming. And so lacking any sure standard, we compare ourselves to each other, judging and measuring and assessing and gossiping and cutting, all in the hope of finding a place to stand. And if it wasn’t bad enough that the place we end up standing more often than not is on the backs of others, what’s worse is that we still can’t escape the pervasive sense of insecurity that colors human existence.
And so when we are not comparing and judging we are pleasing, or at least trying to please. If we can’t establish our worth on our own, or over and against others, perhaps someone else can do it for us. And so we fawn, or compliment, or satisfy, or mollify, or bend over backwards, or go to unreasonable lengths to win the favor of others. And when that fails as well we despise them for not giving us what we could not give ourselves, and we despise ourselves for needing it.
Poor Pilate. Procurator of Judea. The most powerful man in the realm. Caesar’s appointed deputy in the region. Judgment sits on his brow; life in death rest in his hands. And yet still he craves the approval, if not adoration, of others. Normally cold, calculating, harsh – he would no doubt call it fair – yet he cannot release the man he knows to be innocent and instead sends him to be whipped and then crucified. And while I suspect that it wasn’t long before he forgot this man, this sentence, this episode altogether, every once in a while I wonder if, deep down, he wasn’t the unhappiest man in the land.
Prayer: Dear God, We are restless until we rest in you, insecure until called worthy by you, afraid until we find courage in you. Remind us of your great love for us and for all people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
David,
I wanted so much to find an answer to the problem stated in the article this morning.
Just before I read the article, I had prayed that God would help me to overcome my insecurities, which more often than not lead me to succumb to temptation, excusing it because of my unworthiness. I fall and then I rise again, thankful that I can, but fearful that one day I will not.
It is to easy to say that I know the answer to my overcoming, but I do, but I know that the true answer rises above me doing anything and rests solely in me being who I am in Christ.
I pray for the security of abiding in that truth.
I struggle that I might live and live that I might struggle.
Pastor Gary Lynch
I think you’re right, Gary. It is a struggle. And it is a matter of not doing anything except learning to rest in God’s mercy; accept God’s love; realize and remember that God calls you worthy of love and honor and offered God’s Son for you. And that is enough. May the peace of Christ guard your heart.
David