Wednesday Word . . . The First Station
Jesus is Condemned to Death
“As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said, ‘He deserves to die’.”
In the First Station, an innocent man is condemned to death through the machinations and alliances of religious and government leaders looking for an expedient way to dispose of a troublemaker. His trial before the religious authorities was a kangaroo court where the verdict was already predetermined. The governmental leaders, not wanting to upset the powerful religious leaders, found a legal way to execute the accused.
In our own day we need to be watchful for, and wary of, the joining of religion and government. A religion that insists on controlling the government, and a government that insists on one religion, are both dangerous combinations. We have seen the terrible results of these alliances from the time of Jesus on down through our own day.
May we have the courage to speak out against anti-Christ behaviors. May we be willing to act counter to mob mentalities. May we be willing to be condemned for putting Christ first. And may we respond as Jesus did: with dignity, compassion, and unyielding loyalty to God alone.
Blessings,
**Stations of the Cross devotions are held at Noon (MDT) at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church every Wednesday in Lent. These services are also livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person. https://www.stlukesbuffalo.church/services
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