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<DIV><FONT size=4>The suspicion lies to hand that had Jesus come among us today
instead of two thousand years ago, chances are that he would be imprisoned - if
not executed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>When I was a theological student, I traveled one summer with
the seminary choir. We stopped at the state prison in Deer Lodge, Montana, to
sing for the prisoners. In our program one of us always told why he had decided
to go into the ministry. The lot fell to me. I never felt quite so foolish as I
did telling those stony-faced felons and murderers and rapists why I wanted to
be a preacher. My discomfort was wiped away by another member of the choir, who
was chosen to preach a brief sermon. Peter McKenzie told how Jesus came from
working-class people in a small town. How he never held a steady job. How he was
betrayed by a friend and given a shoddy trial. How he was summarily executed. As
Peter spoke, I watched the faces of the prisoners. It seemed to me that Jesus’
experience was closer to theirs than to my own.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=435&C=321"><FONT
size=4>http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=435&C=321</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>John C. Purdy, 1993</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>As he does many times in this Gospel, Jesus maintains
authority over events that seem to be spiraling dangerously out of
control.<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>He orders Peter to put away his sword (18:11)<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Under questioning by the high priest he answers openly and
demands witnesses (18:20-23)<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>He takes a similar in-your-face approach to Pilate
(18:33-38)<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=4/10/2009&tab=4">http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=4/10/2009&tab=4</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Audrey West, 2009</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV>Jesus is much more talkative in John during the trial, usually in a way
which gives expression to central themes of Johannine faith and reflects its own
history of conflict. The Jews – doubtless fellow Jews for most of John’s readers
– are exposed as betraying their own people and almost hailing the Emperor as a
god. It is a cruel portrait and reflects the enmity present in John 8. It
becomes dynamite when taken from being an inner Jewish conflict and made to
serve anti-Semitism. No, ‘the Jews’ did not kill Jesus! The historical collusion
probably included temple authorities, but not ‘the Jews’ – we need to tell our
people that.</DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkGoodFriday.htm">http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkGoodFriday.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>William Loader</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=3><FONT size=4>John wants only one thing
for his intended readers:</FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book. But <STRONG>these are written so
that</STRONG> you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,
<STRONG>and that</STRONG> through believing you may have life in his
name.<BR><EM>John 20:30-31 NRSV (Emphasis added.)</EM></DIV>
<DIV>Note the author's direct, personal, address to the reader - "you." John
wants <STRONG>YOU</STRONG> to believe. And as M&R emphasize, not just
"believe," as in, "have an opinion about," But "believe into," become bonded
with Jesus, become his disciple, become a loyal, trusting and trustworthy
follower of Jesus. And not just that even. John wants <STRONG>YOU</STRONG> to
have the life that is in Jesus. </DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.holytextures.com/2009/04/john-18-1-19-42-good-friday.html">http://www.holytextures.com/2009/04/john-18-1-19-42-good-friday.html</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>David Ewart, 2009</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>One of the many things this story tells us is that Jesus was
not brought down by atheism and anarchy. He was brought down by law and order
allied with religion, which is always a deadly mix. Beware of those who claim to
know the mind of God and who are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make
others conform. Beware of those who cannot tell God’s will from their own.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=642">http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=642</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Barbara Brown Taylor, 1998</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>A potent symbol of the whole trial is that of kingship, a
theme that emerges as Pilate begins to interrogate Jesus (18:33-38). Pilate
represents political might symbolized in the emperor's crown. But Jesus'
sovereignty is not "of this world," that is, it represents a very different sort
of power--one that gives life. As the prologue of the Gospel had already
proclaimed in poetic fashion (1:1-18) Jesus came into the world to proclaim the
ultimate truth of God's love--those who hear the voice of Jesus know God's truth
and live it out in their lives (8:47). The truth of God's love--and not brute,
oppressive force--is the source of Jesus' power. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.cptryon.org/xpipassio/passio/john/3pilatec.html">http://www.cptryon.org/xpipassio/passio/john/3pilatec.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Donald Senior</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
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