| In my last article, "What is Truth?", I wrote about the | | | | I have authority to crucify You?' " John 18:10 |
| irony of that question. Pilate stood and stared right into | | | | This was a bit pompous and pious on Pilat'e part. He |
| the face of truth and still didn't recognize it. Then this | | | | was exhibiting some pretty heavy self importance at |
| prompted me to consider what it was about him that | | | | this point. But Jesus set the record straight. |
| he didn't recognize Christ as the Truth. I suppose it's | | | | "Jesus answered, 'You would have NO authority over |
| the same reasons that people today don't know what | | | | Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this |
| truth really is. | | | | reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater |
| This all begins with the condition of a person's heart. | | | | sin.' " John 18:11 |
| Since the fall of man, we are all sinful creatures not | | | | Imagine that, Jesus telling this powerful ruler that power |
| worthy to stand in the presence of One so holy and | | | | is given by God. This is quite a blow to his ego! So no |
| just. God's Word says that like sheep, we have all | | | | matter what Pilate rules, Jesus is letting him know that |
| gone astray. It's natural for people to do wrong things. | | | | he is just a pawn in this power play for control. Who |
| It's not how God made us but what sin created in us. | | | | was the one who delivered Jesus to Pilate? He |
| The miracle is that any one of us should come to | | | | couldve been talking about Ciaphas the high priest |
| repentance and be saved. This is a supernatural event | | | | since he took such an active role in plotting against |
| that a heart made of stone should be transformed into | | | | Him. Or Jesus could've meant Judas for his betrayal. |
| one of flesh. God's Word already tells us that we all | | | | What is important is not who, but what. What they did |
| fall short of God's glory because we all sin. I believe | | | | led to guilt. Their actions were deliberate and |
| the hardest thing for people to realize is that their good | | | | premeditated. It was high handed and coldly calculated |
| works will not save them from God's final judgment | | | | especially after seeing and hearing the undeniable truth |
| and wrath. Please understand that aside from His | | | | that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. |
| Son's atoning blood sacrifice, there is nothing we have | | | | Pilate was not guilty of this crime. After hearing this, |
| to offer that God will accept as pure and holy. And I | | | | Pilate tried to persuade the people again into releasing |
| pray you won't miss this. The gospel message is not | | | | Jesus. |
| about us, it's about Christ and what He came to do in | | | | "As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, |
| accordance to His Father's will. The reason Christ | | | | but the Jews cried out saying, 'If you release this Man, |
| walked the earth and willingly died a brutal death was | | | | you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes |
| because of God's love for us. So, please understand | | | | himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.' " John 18:12 |
| that it's not what we can do for God, but what He has | | | | This was so ironic for the Jews to even say. They |
| done for each one of us who has or ever will accept | | | | hated Rome and they certainly were no friends of |
| the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. It has nothing to do | | | | Caesar's. But they knew how much Pilate feared |
| with who we think we are in the eyes of the world. It's | | | | Tiberius Caesar. This powerful emporer ruled ruthlessly |
| not our attitudes that people judge us by that matter. | | | | and since Pilate had already created some problems in |
| Unless we have an 'attitude of gratitude' towards | | | | Rome, he didn't want to be on Caesar's black list. |
| Jesus, our self importance will get us nowhere. | | | | Pilate's fear of not doing the right thing for Caesar |
| Pontius Pilate had such an attitude. On the surface we | | | | meant more to him than doing what was right before |
| read how he found Christ blameless and washed his | | | | the Lord. So being pressed in at all sides, Pilate |
| hands of the whole thing. It almost makes us feel sorry | | | | capitulated under pressure and prepared to pass |
| for him. He took the fall so to speak. But, let's be | | | | judgment on the original sedition against Rome. His |
| honest, shall we? His pompous and pious attitude was | | | | friendship with the world meant more than his |
| his choice because he had alterior motives. He cared | | | | friendship with God. So he went to the judgment seat |
| more about his own image and future power than to | | | | to render the official verdict. |
| take the time and recognize the Truth in the person of | | | | "Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought |
| Jesus. I'm sure we can recognize someone in our own | | | | Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a |
| lives like this. They are the people who believe they | | | | place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha." |
| are in total control of their own destiny. Two words | | | | John 18:13 |
| come to mind for this kind of attitude; pious and | | | | Here's the perfect irony of Pilate's pompous and pious |
| pompous. After all, this is what drove Pontius Pilate to | | | | attitude. While he rendered judgment on the One |
| giving Christ over to be crucified. He was more | | | | whom the Father Himself entrusted with ALL |
| concerned with his personal image before the Jews | | | | judgment would be the same One Who would also |
| and the Romans. | | | | render a just condemnation on Pilate! God's Word tells |
| In the Meriam-Webster dictionary, it describes pious as | | | | us that Christ is our mediator in heaven, all power and |
| a hypocrit, deserving commendation. I came aross | | | | authority belong to Him. When Satan stands before |
| another meaning that really got my attention. It | | | | Him as our accuser, Jesus defends all those who |
| described pious as a cultural center for peaceful | | | | have been given to Him by our Heavenly Father. |
| resolutions of societal conflicts. The word pompous is | | | | "For not even the Father judges anymore, but He has |
| described as exhibiting self importance or arrogance. | | | | given all judgment to the Son." John 5:22 |
| Let's dig deeper into what scripture is actually saying | | | | God did this so that everyone will honor Christ as they |
| about this man. | | | | honor God, they are One in the same. If we don't |
| "Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was | | | | honor what Christ has done on our behalf, then God |
| even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium | | | | says it's impossible for us to honor Him. He wants us |
| again and said to Jesus, 'Where are You from?' But | | | | to have a relationship with His Son, because He loves |
| Jesus gave him no answer." John 18:8-9 | | | | us for ourselves, not for what others think we should |
| Pilate realized that the Jews already passed sentence | | | | be. If you desire Him to be your Lord and Savior but |
| on Jesus for blasphemy. It was a Levitical law that | | | | don't know Him yet, just repeat this simple prayer: |
| they had from Leviticus 24:16, "the one who | | | | "Dear Heavenly Father, I am a sinner. Please forgive |
| blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put | | | | me of all my offenses against You. Wash me white |
| to death." But the Romans were a superstitious group | | | | as snow. I believe that Your Son Jesus died for me |
| of people. Since the Jews already interpreted Jesus' | | | | upon the Cross. I also believe He rose to life after 3 |
| claims as messianic, given the title of "Son of God", for | | | | days and now sits at Your right hand in heaven and |
| the Romans, they thought of Him as a "divine man", | | | | intercedes for me. I thank You for calling me Your child. |
| gifted with supernatural powers. Pilate was worried | | | | Thank You Father, in Jesus' name. Amen." |
| that he had just whipped and beaten someone who | | | | If you said this prayer and truly invited Jesus into heart, |
| could bring down curses and vengeance upon him. | | | | just know there is a heavenly chorus singing right now |
| Just exactly Who was he dealing with? | | | | on your behalf! "Happy Re-Birthday!" |
| "So Pilate said to Him, 'You do not speak to me? Do | | | | If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have |
| you not know that I have authority to release You, and | | | | died to provide it. |