Cause for a Pause

At some point during the Lenten season, I try to sit down and watch Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Every time I watch it, there is some thought that occurs to me or symbolism that stands out to me that, in all my previous viewings, escaped me. Now, I know it's a movie, someone else's interpretation of the accounts in the Gospels; and I often wonder, when we do find out the actual details behind the writers' words, when we truly discover the accurate and intended meat of God's Word, just how shocked we will be. This is not at all how I imagined! Nevertheless, this year, it was during the scene with Jesus and Pilate, based on John's Gospel that I paused. Pilate asks Jesus directly, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus responds by asking Pilate if he wants to know personally or is he seeking answers from a legal perspective. In other words, had Pilate discerned Jesus' deity and authority for himself, or was Pilate merely investigating the accusations made by the Jewish leaders against Jesus. Obviously, Jesus knew the heart of Pilate; He didn't have to ask the governor's intentions. But the best teachers, the best psychologists are people who ask questions. Questions provide a pause in a moment, a pause that summons us to introspection. Are you sure that's the answer you want to go with? Have you double-checked your work? Do you have your glasses? Who told you you were naked? Questions aren't always asked as a means of obtaining information, but merely calling for it to be presented, laid bare, brought to the forefront. Are you asking for yourself, or are you merely doing your job?

When I watched this scene the other day, I paused it, rewound it, paused it again, and reached for my Bible. As I read the passage in Scripture, what impressed me was the mercy and courageous kindness of our Savior. As He stood face to face with Pilate, the man His accusers counted on to deliver the verdict of death, He saw before Him a spirit. A spirit in need of a Redeemer, a man loved and created by God, fallen and dead without a Savior. Jesus did not tremble with fear; the spirit who stood before Him was more valuable than His own knocking knees or His own reassurance. Jesus did not beg for His life; the man who stood before Him was enslaved by sin and death. Surely, Pilate's condition was far more dire than His own. Jesus, out of mercy and lovingkindness, commanded the situation. He redirected the conversation, provided a pause, and called for clarity.

The other three Gospels record the scene earlier in His ministry when Jesus questioned His disciples:

Who do men say that I am?

Who do you say that I am?

Not in some fact-finding expedition, but for the purpose of providing a pause. Have you made a personal decision about My identity? Do you believe I am the Christ, the Son of the living God?

This is a great time to pause, to consider your relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ. If you feel yourself coming up a little weak or watered-down in that area, I encourage you to begin daily reading in the Gospel of John; get to know Jesus better and spend the rest of life following Him and serving Him with all you've got. If you've not taken any steps at all toward a relationship with Jesus, you can do that right now by confessing your belief He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the One sent to save you from the wrath of God for your sin. In order to build your relationship with Jesus, find a Bible or Bible website, allowing Scripture to become your daily guide for life. Pray, talk to God about whatever crosses your mind and expect Him to communicate His will for you through His Word. And, please, allow me to pray for you; drop me a message through the Contacts form in the righthand column of B2B's home page. 

Allow this season to be cause for an important pause.