Tag: Pilate

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11.26.24. Fear is the enemy

Faith or Fear?
What is your guide?

John 19 Guilty or Innocent

In this chapter the Apostle John is like Sherlock Holmes. He has the evidence, will he pronounce the verdict? Jesus remarked that the one who had handed him over to Pilate had the greater sin. Who was He referring to? Could it be Pilate who stood before him in total fear. Of what was he fearful? Jesus had just said he was given the power of his destiny and Pilate had to answer to Rome. Could it be Caiaphas, the high priest because of his announcement that one man should die for the nation. As we read this we encounter several emotions and decisions are revealed. 

The first and prominent emotion is fear and Proverbs reminds us that the fear of man is a snare. Both Pilate and Caiaphas were fearful and their fear was guiding their decisions. As we watch and listen we are reminded that we have an adversary who is clever enough to sway men’s minds just as he did in the Garden of Eden. He presents just enough truth to sway us and then we fall victim to his plans. The worst part of that is that our fear leads us into the path of sin and others become complicit along with us. We can’t say he made me do it. We are all responsible to God for what we decide. 

Both Pilate and Caiaphas leave us with how we are to make decisions. We can allow fear to guide us or we can seek the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom from the Holy One. Whom will you choose? 

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The Sin of Envy

Matt 27  I have sinned, so said Judas before the religious counsel. They said in response: what is that to us revealing the hardness of their hearts. When Pilate questioned Jesus he marveled that here stood before him a man who had been threatened, questioned, beaten, and yet stood dignified. Listening the leaders and Jesus, he ascertained that this whole charade was all because of the sin of envy. 

What does envy do to us when we let it fester and grow? It  brings a harvest of sin and that is where both Judas and the religious leaders stood before the world and  God. Luke records that he found no fault in Jesus so why did he allow the crucifixion to take place? There is no other reason than that Jesus was going to fulfill scripture to pay the penalty of our sin and Pilate could not understand that. 

Many today find themselves in this same box of envy. One author wrote: “Envy and jealousy are fruits of pride (and false humility) that intimidate you and lead to offenses. It will cause you to mistreat people who could have been a blessing to you. If you don’t take the ax to the root when envy or jealousy reveals themself, it hurts you and others. Envy and jealousy lead to slander and is a relationship and character ruiner.” [https://uncaggedbird.com/envy-jealousy-are-fruits-of-pride-steps-to-evict-the-green-eyed-monster/] 

The fruit of envy destroysthat which God had placed before you and the evil one uses that as a temptation. Judas was remorseful but not repentant. The religious leaders were neither. Beware of the sin of The fruit of envy destroy that which God had placed before you and the evil one uses that as a temptation. Judas was remorseful but not repentant. The religious leaders were neither. Beware of the sin of envy which is the big “I” in the word pride. It was the downfall of Judas, the religious leaders and it will be yours.

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TRUTH!

be discerning

2Cor 7 “Are you Blindfolded?”
The dialog between Pilate and Jesus revealed that he was born to testify to the Truth. God’s word is Truth because He is the author, and Jesus is the living Truth that God sent. At that point, Pilate sneeringly asked Jesus: “What is truth?” Not willing or not being interested in further dialog, he walked away. Yet the Proverbs writer wisely said, “Acquire truth and do not sell it…” This Truth is so precious it cost the life of Jesus! Perhaps that is why Jesus gave us this short parable about Truth. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field that a person found and hid. Then, because of joy, he sold all he had and bought that field. [Matt 13] The treasure is Jesus, who is TRUTH, and when we stumble upon Him, we should be willing to surrender all. Jim Elliot captured this: “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

When we find The TRUTH, referring to Jesus, we should be overjoyed and refuse to sell it to the next highest bidder, much like Judas did. Like Judas, Pilate chose to spurn the Truth and return to his way.
Are you still blindfolded to the Truth, or have you received it joyfully?

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Thou Shalt Not Kill

Mark 15, Matt 27 It seems that the religious leaders conveniently forgot this commandment God gave through Moses. They were, as Mark noted, envious of Jesus. They tried in vain to remove Him from leading the people. Interestingly, earlier, the people had tried to make Jesus a king, but He removed himself so that could not happen. Now, the religious leaders sought to use that as their reasoning for his crucifixion, but Pilate did not buy it. Pilate is not as innocent as it would seem on the surface. God providentially placed him before the Truth, but Pilate ignored his heart and yielded to the crowd.

God is long-suffering and not willing any to perish, [2 Peter 3:9] but each is responsible for their decision regarding truth and life. Like the Jewish religious leaders, the LIGHT stood before him, and he rejected Him. They mocked him, forgetting this principle: “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked.” [Gal 6:7] What we sow, we shall also reap. Pilate and the religious leaders sowed to the flesh, and they reaped corruption to their flesh.

When you stand before Christ, what say you regarding who He is and why He came? Is He your KING?

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One Man’s Gift

Joseph's tomb was a gift to Jesus

Mark 15, Matthew 27 As the holidays approach, we begin to think and consider a gift for those we love. What would our gift be?

Joseph of Arimathea needed Pilate’s permission to remove the crucified Jesus from the cross. Then he and Nicodemus prepared his body for burial and transported it to Joseph’s tomb, which was new and had never been used, thus fulfilling the prophecy: “His grave was assigned with wicked men; Yet He was with a rich man in His death.” [Is 53:9]

Joseph was a secret believer, as was Nicodemus. Yet, they took courage and sought to bury Jesus properly. What a precious gift for our Savior. He was disparaged by those he came to serve, but he was honored by a wealthy man and his tomb in death. Those who wore the robes of religious piety were not willing to be defiled; they would not stoop to enter the governor’s residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, yet were ready to break the sixth commandment: “you shall not murder.” [Ex 20:13; John 18:28]

One man’s gift and his name will live on in eternity as one of the righteous, but one man’s evil words will live on as testimony as a dishonor until he sees Jesus in the clouds. [John 11:50; Matt 26:64]

Which man and which gift do you think gave God pleasure? What will my gift be?    

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Is Your Blindfold On?

blindfolded2aProverbs 23:23 “Is Your Blindfold Still On?”

A recent experience reminded me of what a blindfold does—to hide what should be seen. Pilate was a man who walked blindfolded. When Jesus sought to remove his blindfold by telling him that he came to testify to the truth so men might see and recognize Him as Truth, Pilate sneeringly asked Jesus: “What is truth?” Not being interested in further dialog, he walked away.   The image of God, Jesus, TRUTH, stood before Pilate yet it was as if he willingly chose to put the blindfold of ignorance back on!

The Proverbs writer wisely said “acquire truth and do not sell it…” This truth is so precious because it cost the life of Jesus!  Perhaps that is why Jesus gave us this short parable about truth. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field. [Matt 13:44] The treasure is Jesus who is TRUTH and when we stumble upon Him we should be willing to surrender all to Him. Jim Elliot captured this in a nutshell: “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

The question then before us is why, when truth is revealed would we choose to put the blindfold back on? It is because  2Co 4:4 “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” Like Pilate we have the choice. We can let Truth remove our blindfold we can see Him in all of His glory or return to the blindfold because we don’t want to see our need for Truth.

Is your blindfold still on or have you received the TRUTH with joy?

 

 

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What Will You Do with Jesus?

bold for jesus2aThe high priest of Israel, Caiaphas, had prophesied; “it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”  Yet as Caiaphas prophesied these words he had not known that before him, sat at least one who had become a secret believer. Joseph of Arimathea was a good and righteous man waiting for the kingdom of God and had not consented to the plan of the council to condemn Jesus.

We wonder why Joseph did not stand up and then recall the story of the blind man in John 9 who felt the wrath of the Sanhedrin for challenging their stand against Jesus. His sentence was to be cast out of the synagogue. Perhaps, Joseph was witness to that act and out of fear he was silent.  But, now after Jesus had breathed his last, he “gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.” This Joseph was joined by Nicodemus, The Teacher of Israel who had come to Jesus at night. Together they lovingly anointed his body with spices, wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in the tomb of Joseph.

And where were the disciples who had boldly pronounced their fidelity? They now were the secret believers locked in an upper room. Their false courage was now seen as cowardice.

We all are given opportunities to stand for Jesus. Will we be courageous or silent?

 

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Father Forgive….

ImageMark carries us through the drama of the last day of our Savior and reveals to us each person who has the same opportunity we have: to accept or reject the King of the Jews as The Messiah. Open your ears to hear. Open your eyes to see, but mostly listen and look into your own heart. Then stop and ask yourself: did Jesus die a needless death or did he die for our sin?

The crowd had recently shouted Hosanna now jeer and the momentum has reached a crescendo as one by one they cry “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” The religious leaders lead the chant and seek not the release of one who is innocent but one who has a heart of murder as theirs—Barabbas. Interestingly his name literally means “son of the father.” Earlier Jesus had condemned the religious leaders: “You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires” [Joh 8:44] and now Jesus will show the reality of that prophecy. He will take the place of condemned Barabbas that he might be free and He will take your place that you might be free; free from sin. In the midst of all of this He will offer the sweetest prayer to heaven: Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.

Mark shows us the hearts of true followers. First there is Joseph of Arimathea who will step out of the shadows to boldly go to Pilate to request the body of Jesus seeking what only a family member had the right to do and yet Pilate would alter the rule that Jesus might fulfill: Isaiah 53: 9 “They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully.” There is Nicodemus who joins him, according to John’s gospel, as well as the women who had faithfully ministered to Jesus in his lifetime along with one other—John, the beloved disciple. These will become the first witnesses to the truth: Jesus died on that cross and announced once and for all: It is finished! Sin has been conquered and the ransom paid.

The enemy, the father of lies, Satan himself, would have us think that Jesus did not die and yet the evidence reveals the truth. There is the centurion who proclaimed “Truly this man was God’s Son!” Later he will be called to affirm the death to Pilate while Joseph waits for permission to take down the body of Jesus. The religious leaders and false religions would say he just swooned or the body was stolen but these witnesses tell a different story. The list of witnesses includes the centurion, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, the women and John. All will die with this truth upon their lips: Jesus died that I might be free.

What does your heart affirm? Does it say: yes, Jesus died and paid my debt? Do you hear: Father forgive me for it was for my sin that Jesus died?

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