A Case of Loyalty

Gal.1:¹⁰ “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”

John 19:^8-11 “When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. [that is the panic of a fearful man] “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”Jesus’ response to Pilate is instructive and comforting. Jesus said, ‘No one takes My life from Me, I lay it down. I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it back up.’ Jesus was on a mission. I once saw a video of a lawyer in Kenya that was suing the Jewish nation for crucifying Jesus of Nazareth. He said he had enough proof that Jesus was crucified unjustly by the Jewish nation. The man obviously did not read his Bible because Jesus Himself said, ‘No one is killing Me because they have the power to. God is allowing it because it has to happen. But guess what? That is not the end of the story, I am going to get up again on the third day.’ So, rather than being upset at the Jewish nation, we should be grateful to the Jewish nation. John 19:¹¹ “…So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Jesus even showed Pilate mercy. John 19:^11-12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.” And that was the joker!

The ‘Son of God’ claim was big enough to shake Caesar but the fact that Jesus said, “I am a King.” If Pilate ignores that, he is finished. The Jewish leaders were so determined that Pilate knew that if he ignores this, they are going straight to Rome and that would be the end of his career and “…Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.” Meaning, if you are supporting a rebel Pilate then you are not a friend of Caesar. Remember the story about Sejanus? What the high priests were saying, in essence, was, if you ignore this, we would see to it that you are expunged from that group and that was it for Pilate.

John 19:¹³ “When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha).” Pilate quickly wanted to make it official; he did not have to sit on the judgement seat. He wanted them to go back and give Caesar a good report. Politicians! Pilate officially wanted to take the credit for killing Jesus even though he knew Jesus was innocent and he knew that He had not done anything wrong. But as soon as the high priests brought that joker, he decided to take the credit and he made it official.

Prayer: Father, I ask for the grace to live my life perpetually to the audience of One, daily striving to please You and do right by You alone, in Jesus Name. Amen!