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I am using readings from the 49 Week Bible Challenge as the basis for these devotions. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. Today’s readings are Luke 23; Psalm 31; Hosea 10; Exodus 26.
Luke 23:13-25
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him.”
18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 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 guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
One of the most challenging mysteries in scripture is what Lutheran theologians call the Crux Theologorum, which is Latin for the “Problem of Theology.” Simply put it is Why some and not others? God wants all people to be saved. But not all people are saved. Sad but true. Incomprehensible but true. A more thorough discussion of this is available here.
I’ve gotten over the idea that I ought to be able to understand this issue or answer the question, Why some and not others. I’m very comfortable with the Lutheran answer: I don’t know. But there is a trend among certain Christians that highlights the distinction the brokenness of the Christian Church on earth and the person and work of Jesus. This trend says that if people just knew Jesus, they would believe in him. Their idea is that the church and Christians get in the way of people knowing and believing in Jesus.
Perhaps an example of that is the He Gets Us ad campaign. Those ads highlight how Jesus has a heart for hurting, lonely, displaced, and marginalized people. Indeed he does. But Jesus took that step from a perspective against the mighty, powerful, self-righteous, and content people of his day. And that would be most all of us. And if you’re ready to say, “I’m not self-righteous,” you’ve proved my point.
Jesus’ message for us all is to repent and believe the Good News. And what is that Good News? Jesus came to earth to seek and save the lost. That took him to Pilate’s court, to Herod’s palace and back, and a cross on a hill outside of Jerusalem previously reserved for Barabbas – an insurrectionist and murderer.
Perhaps we need to answer a different question. Why would God do such a thing? He did it because he loves us and wants all people to be saved. Repent, therefore and believe the Good News of Jesus’ redemption.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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