Mmmm Freshly baked Buttermilk Scones with Cherry Jam Mmmm

In Australia, we have the freshest produce to make awesome food!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College last semester, I ate big mouthfuls of the New Testament.

Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, ‘We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.’ So Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no basis for a charge against this man.’ But they insisted, ‘He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.’ On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.’ With one voice they cried out, ‘Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!’ (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ For the third time he spoke to them: ‘Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.’ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 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 23:1-25

There has been debate about 2 Aussie men facing the death penalty in Indonesia.

Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were convicted of drug trafficking in 2006.

The punishment for this crime in Indonesia is death by firing squad.

Australia no longer has the death penalty for any crimes.

Some have argued that Indonesia should show mercy and let them live.

Others argued that they should be punished as they knew the consequences.

Interestingly, Andrew became a Christian in prison after his conviction.

He even started studying at an Aussie Bible College by distance education.

He led a Christian fellowship inside the prison and cared for other inmates.

It is a shame that he cannot continue pastoring those who need his care.

The New Testament passage above tells of another man who faced the death penalty.

2000 years ago, Jewish leaders falsely accused Jesus of crimes against their nation.

However, they needed the permission of the Roman government to execute him.

The author Luke recorded the trial of Jesus before Roman leader Pilate.

Three times Pilate declared that Jesus was innocent and did not deserve to die.

But the Jewish leaders insisted that Jesus be crucified.

Crucifixion was a punishment reserved for the worst criminals like murderers.

Pilate gave into their demands and sentenced innocent Jesus to death.

The Jewish leaders thought they had triumphed by getting rid of Jesus.

But his death was foretold in the Old Testament as the way of salvation.

God raised Jesus to life again as King of the Universe.

Jesus now offers eternal life to those who trust in Him.

Jesus will return to judge the world.

Are you afraid of dying?

Do you have the hope of eternal life that Jesus freely gives?

Or will you be judged by Jesus to spend eternity in hell?

mmmm Bible mmmm

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