A number of years ago we did ministry in a place that had not heard the Gospel. The people there had no hope, other than seeking witch doctors, who both cursed and “healed” them. People would spend all they had looking for a cure, trapped in darkness; the good news of the Gospel was such freedom to them!

The Jewish leaders, led by the High Priest, were now determined to have Jesus put to death. Since the Jews were under Roman law it was illegal for them to kill Jesus. They knew, however, if they took him to Pilate and claimed that Jesus was the King of the Jews, Pilate would have the power to kill Him, because the Jews were not allowed to have a king other than Caesar. I am struck by Pilate’s struggle with Jesus.

A number of years ago we did ministry in a place that had not heard the Gospel. The people there had no hope, other than seeking witch doctors, who both cursed and “healed” them. People would spend all they had looking for a cure, trapped in darkness; the good news of the Gospel was such freedom to them!

Have you ever seen a movie that was just hard to watch? It is hard to watch a movie where the injustice perpetrated on another human being goes without response.

Have you ever felt lonely or betrayed? Have you ever felt the weight of being in a large group of people, yet feeling alone, like no one can understand what you are going through in your life at that exact moment? What we read today is that moment for Jesus.