Onward Christian Soldiers? (John 19:1-11)

There is a raging battle all around us. The world is full of corruption. Too many violent systems exploit the weakest and most vulnerable, historically children, and women, minorities, and anyone who was different or seen as undesirable. There is a force that makes things harder. That allows and fuels greed. That sows lies and betrayal, that leads to miscommunication and murder.  It’s an enormous Evil, as big as the whole mass of humanity and so pervasive that it infects the heart of every person who’s ever lived.  In our passage this week, we watch as Jesus comes face to face with our evil, broken, overwhelming system. As he got passed up the pyramid of power. And as he never raises a finger to hurt a single person. He doesn’t lash out with his fists and he doesn’t pick up a weapon. Instead, he came into the middle of the battlefield, and he doesn’t fight - he rescues. We too are called to the battlefield, but we are also not called to fight. We don’t carry swords or guns or hatred. We enter the battle armed with love. With joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Gentleness. Self-control. We are called to do everything we can to rescue people and stop the fighting. We love them so that they can feel the love of Jesus, so that they might choose the One who has chosen them.