Stirring Up the People

Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. Luke 23:1-12 

Stirring Up the People

There are but a few of us

former outcasts, refugees, slaves

we have walked the trail of tears

and fought to keep family alive.

There a but a few of us

but we will stir up the people

to never give up hope

to see God's power in our midst.

The church may not know it's need of us

we may be exhausted by the struggle

and yet there is Jesus dwelling with us

stirring up the people for justice and freedom.

There may be but a few of us

but we carry our burden with joy

remembering the voiceless ancestors 

the one's abandoned and shunned.

There may be a few of us

but we will continue to stir up the people

we will join together so that all may be free

to live and lead and serve our precious Lord.