Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 01:33 PM - Extra Christy
Posted by Administrator
Posted by Administrator
The Other 3 in Holy Week
If you ask a Christian what does "3" have to do with the events of Holy Week, the disciple would probably tell you that three is the number of times the disciple Peter denied Jesus. They are right! However, in my reading this year, I realized there was another 3 in the Holy Week story. Three is also the number of times Pilate pronounced Jesus innocent of any offense worthy of death. (See for yourself in Luke 23.) Today, Peter is celebrated as a man of great faith, the first pope, while Pilate is regarded as a villain who killed Christ. (How many children are named "Pilate"?) Yet the holy one denied Jesus three times and the cursed one defended Jesus thrice. I'll never hear the phrase "You can count on him" the same way again. | ![]() |
The Other Three Times
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." - Luke 23:4
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." - Luke 23:14
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."-Luke 23:22
The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This work by J. Christy Ramsey is licensed under a
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