Jesus refused to answer Pilate or any of his accusers, even through he knew they would make him suffer. In our worship today, we consider why our integrity is so important that we might even be prepared to suffer for it.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when I'm tempted to lie to save my own skin,
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, when I'm tempted to lie save other people's feelings,
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, when I'm tempted to lie to make myself popular,
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
Luke 23:1-49
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. [2] They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." [3] Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." [4] Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." [5] But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place." [6] When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. [7] And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. [8] When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. [9] He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. [10] The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. [11] Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. [12] That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. [13] Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, [14] and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. [15] Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. [16] I will therefore have him flogged and release him." [17] [18] Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" [19] (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) [20] Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; [21] but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" [22] A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." [23] But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. [24] So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. [25] He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. [26] As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. [27] A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. [28] But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. [29] For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' [30] Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' [31] For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" [32] Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. [33] When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [34] Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. [35] And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" [36] The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, [37] and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" [38] There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." [39] One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" [40] But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? [41] And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." [42] Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." [43] He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." [44] It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, [45] while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. [46] Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last. [47] When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." [48] And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. [49] But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Story:
Society today encourages us to think that integrity is of minimal importance. But this was not Jesus' view. He was prepared to suffer horrific torture and to die rather than save his skin by lying about his beliefs.
Today's story tries to explore the difficulties of maintaining our own integrity in the face of pressure from society to do otherwise.
Honesty Really Is The Best Policy
"Can I go out and play football?" asked Tom.
His mother was in the kitchen. "Have you finished your homework?" she called.
Tom glanced guiltily at the history project, which had to be handed in next day. But since nobody ever handed their work in on time, he reckoned he could blag an extension of a day or two. That would give him time to log onto the internet and download an essay from a homework site.
"Yes!" he shouted happily, and ran out to join his friends.
It was easy, next day. Half the class hadn't finished their project, so Tom just joined the crowd who were grumbling that they hadn't had enough time. They all got an extension of two days.
That evening, Tom logged onto his favourite homework site. He typed "Mary, Queen of Scots" into the search engine and waited. Within seconds, thousands of links had appeared. Tom scrolled down the list until he found an essay which looked about the right length. Then he downloaded it and printed it off.
He handed his essay in next day and earned a "Well done, Tom!" from his teacher.
It was a couple of weeks before the work was handed back, and Tom was delighted to discover he'd gained an A grade. He raced home to tell his parents, who were as thrilled as he was. Success felt good.
Tom's downfall came in the exams. Without the internet or any books to help him, Tom discovered that he knew no history at all. He couldn't even answer the question on "Mary, Queen of Scots."
When he was called in to explain his poor results to the Head Teacher, Tom was horrified to see all his term's work neatly laid out on the desk. Every essay had gained a B grade or above because every one had been downloaded. He was even more horrified to discover his parents were present.
"Perhaps you were ill in the exam, Tom?" asked the Head Teacher, kindly.
Clutching eagerly at this lifeline, Tom nodded vigorously. "I - I - um - had a headache," he muttered.
"Oh?" said his mother. "Had it cleared by the time you came home? I seem to remember you running off outside without any problem."
Tom shifted uncomfortably and glanced at his father. His dad was looking kind of sad. "Why don't you tell us the truth, lad?" he asked.
Tom swallowed. There was no way he could tell his parents and the Head what he'd been doing for months now. He thought quickly. "It was just a blip," he explained. "My mind went blank and I couldn't think of anything. I'm always like that in exams, " he added. "It's exam nerves."
"Well, Tom," said the Head, "we must help you with that. I've been talking with your parents and we all think you should stay behind after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the rest of this term. Your history teacher will coach you in exam techniques."
Tom gasped. "What about football practice? That's on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If I don't go to practices I won't be in the team. Please, you must let me. I'll do anything."
But his dad said quietly, "There's another sort of history, Tom. The history of where you've been, on the computer. I think you have a lot to learn before you play football for the school team. If you cheat in life you'll cheat at sport, too. The school doesn't want cheats on its team, no matter how good they are. You have the rest of this term to learn how to be honest in everything you do or think or say. If you manage that, perhaps you'll be ready for football next term."
And Tom went back to his class feeling very ashamed of himself.
Activity:
Today complete the Easter garden. First ask the children to compose suitable prayers - one for placing the crosses, one for placing the tomb.
Wire the figures to the crosses using plastic bag ties and insert the crosses into the moss-covered hill.
Invite the children to say the special prayer they have written. Place the tomb in position, with the stone beside the entrance. Invite the children to say the other special prayer they have written.
When the garden is complete, explain that the figure of Jesus will be taken down from the cross on Good Friday and laid in the tomb. If you have a children's event over Easter weekend, this can be incorporated into the event.
By Easter Sunday morning, make sure that the figure of Jesus has disappeared and the stone is rolled away from the tomb. The children could make and dress some pipe cleaner angels today, which would be placed in the tomb at the weekend ready for Easter morning.
Use the flowers to talk about resurrection by pointing out that although they die each year, if they're planted outside the polyanthus will bloom again ready for next Easter.
Intercession:
God of integrity, help our church to be open and honest in all our dealings with each other. May we not brush difficulties out of sight but face them as you faced difficulties.
God of integrity, we pray for honesty in the world, especially within those who hold positions of trust and who rule over us. May they never be afraid to speak the truth, no matter what it costs them.
God of integrity, take away our fear and enable us to be transparent and truthful in all that we think or say or do. Come to us in our fear and give us courage to live as you lived.
God of integrity, we hold before you those for whom we care and who need our prayers. We name them in our own hearts
Blessing:
May you have the courage to be yourself,
To be honest with other people
And to live by your own beliefs.
And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now,
be in your homes and in your families
and with all those whom you love
and for whom you pray,
now and always.
Amen.
