John 19:16

It was the hour that darkness reigned. I recall Jesus’ Words recorded in Luke when He was arrested:

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour--when darkness reigns." Luke 22:52-53 (NIV)

Don’t you know our Lord’s little band of ragamuffin disciples were confused and fearful. In a whirlwind of nightmarish events they witnessed their Master taken from them, scourged beyond recognition and sentenced to death by crucifixion in a mockery of a trial. Indeed, it was the hour upon earth when darkness reigned. Luke records in Acts the following Truth:

33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Acts 8:33 (NIV)

Conviction yielded and corruptions prevailed, Pilate now delivers our Lord over into the hands of the chief priests giving them permission to put Him to death. We see how the fear of man held a greater power over Pilate than the fear of God Almighty. I am reminded of God’s Word in Isaiah:

11 "Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me, and have neither remembered me nor pondered this in your hearts? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? 12 I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you." Isaiah 57:11-12 (NIV)

“But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.” Isaiah 57:13 (NIV)

In an effort to pacify his conscience, Pilate endeavored to transfer the guilt to the Jews excusing himself of his wrong doing. How smug His enemies must have all seemed over their apparent victory, how ruthless their treatment of the great “I AM” and all accomplished through the hands of the Roman soldiers. While the priests’ hands were not literally bloodied, they were certainly the responsible persons in our Lord’s murder as Pilate merely delivered Jesus over to their will. Luke tells us:

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. Luke 23:23-25 (NIV)

Christ was delivered over to death for our offences – the Righteous for the unrighteous – to set us free. He is our substitution. The punishment that brought us peace was laid upon Him and by His wounds we are healed. Paul tells us in Romans:

25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:25 (NIV)

Surely our Lord was not surprised by any of this rather He willingly acquiesced in obedience to His Father’s will. Jesus stated earlier in John:

38 “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38 (NIV)

Interestingly, after the temptation of Jesus by the adversary in the wilderness, Scripture states God sent forth His angels to attend to and minister care for our Lord’s needs while Satan departed until an opportune time. Matthew tells us:

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matt 4:11 (NIV)

Luke gives us further insight on the devil’s dealings regarding Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness:

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:13 (NIV)

In our verse for today we discover it was the devil’s hour – no angels attended - therefore Scripture states:

“So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.”