All of us have heard of Pontius Pilate.  He was the man the Roman government put in charge of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea, the areas we now call Israel.  He was a military man and Roman official who for ten years ruled over a rebellious province whose people were the Jews.  Ordinarily he lived on the seacoast in the port city of Caesarea.  But on the high feast days of the Jews and other tense times he and his troops moved to Jerusalem so they could keep control over the citizens.  Particularly at Passover riots were a threat.

When Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane and then brought to trial, this man --- Pontius Pilate --- was the secular authority.  He had power of life and death over Jesus.  He was probably a man about Jesus’ age.  He was a good administrator, but obstinate and proud.  He was a Roman through and through.

Jesus stood before him in the Praetorium, which you can see today if you visit modern day Jerusalem.  Here Pontius Pilate asked Jesus a series of questions.  Each of the four gospels records this trial…and several of these questions.  During this Lenten season we will be focusing on these questions which Pilate asked.  We will stand with him and with the other accusers of Jesus, and will face this prophet from the Northern provinces, this Jesus of Nazareth.  We will see how he answers the questions.  We will see how they lead to Pilate’s final act --- washing his hands of this matter and condemning Jesus to death on a cross.  This will be our journey this Lent.

Beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 6 at 8:00 p.m. our church will host a series of mid-week Lenten services. This year our theme is "And Pilate Asked." Each week we will sing meditative songs from Taize and hear another question posed by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to Jesus.

February 6 (Ash Wed) - The Question of Guilt:

"What Have You Done?