The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day five)

“Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.”

Pilate is an interesting case study. When the Jewish leaders change their argument from political to theological, he becomes (more) afraid. It appears in some sense, the Pilate may actually believe them. That there was a deity to Jesus. What the crowd claimed to be certainly untrue (Jesus was the Son of God), Pilate may have actually found to be true. Because he immediately goes back to Jesus and asks Him where He is from. It is entirely possible that Pilate “believed” that Jesus was the Son of God. But that is where Pilate’s faith journey ended. Dangerously close to conversion. Belief (required) on its own, is not enough. There must also be confession, repentance, surrender, and obedience. A lesson for us all. Has there been real conversion in our hearts and lives?  Belief on its own is dangerously close to conversion.

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬

Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day four)

It’s easy to breeze over Pilate’s words here and treat him with unnuanced disdain. We often consider him to simply be a tool used to bring about the next part of the story. But that’s not how Jesus saw Pilate.

Jesus had a habit of seeing people for who they really are, and knowing their heart before they ever spoke a word (the idea of being “fully God” comes in in a relational way here). And Jesus saw who Pilate really was – a man desperately trying to live up to his family’s legacy of military prowess and political influence, a man with equal parts power and insecurity as he tried to rule a people group that he didn’t understand during their biggest holiday season of the year (Passover), a man on unsure footing with his boss, King Herod, wondering if his life would really turn out the way he imagined.

When Jesus speaks to Pilate here, he doesn’t speak with anger, but compassion. He simply speaks the truth. And while we know Pilate’s anxiety eventually leads him to give Jesus over to be crucified, I have to imagine that these interactions with Jesus were etched in his heart. After all, you can feel it when you are truly seen and known by someone.

You are fully known by Jesus. What will your response be?

Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day three)

“If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

The Jewish leaders suddenly found their inner imperialist. Appealing to Pilate’s political insecurities was a shrewd move. This was going to happen; they’d had enough. They were not going to lose this game of brinksmanship. Somewhere along the way, where there had been any genuine engagement with Jesus, the shock troops of establishment power trampled it all underfoot. The powers that be determined Jesus now had to be destroyed to preserve the status quo. But they did not realize they presided over a crumbling regime. What they managed to save that day would all be razed to the ground within 40 years. The pursuit of political victory becomes all consuming, and sacrifice of the good becomes a justifiable price to pay.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day tw0) As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” vs. 12

No one is past redemption. There are times and circumstances, however, where the weight of your sin compounds and leads inexorably to more sin. This is where Pilate found himself, and this is where the mob found themselves as well. No amount of rhetoric, argument, or reason would stop this train…it had already left the station. Jesus was going to die. This was how it was designed. Jesus must endure this so that we might have the hope of salvation. It was the ‘joy set before him’ that kept his focus.

It is because of what Jesus did for us that we can escape the crushing load of sin. You may find yourself in a similar position as Pilate where you are trying to do the right thing, but the world is set against you. It is here that Christ intercedes. Jesus will make a way for you. Look to the cross as a way of hope not as the end. Jesus paid that price of sin so you/we don’t have to.

As you make final preparations for your Christmas celebrations, don’t ever forget as you read Luke 2 that he had John 19 in mind the whole time.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through  John 19:5-16 in our Winter Re:Verse Series: “The Beauty of Restoration” The Final Days of Jesus in the Gospel of John.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day seven)

“Hail, King of the Jews!”

The actions of the Roman soldiers in this passage makes me believe that this was not the first time they had quelled a “rebellion.” Their actions were swift and rehearsed. Their props were ready and nearby. The goal was to make the “king” appear weak and defeated in hopes that his followers would scatter.

“Behold, the Man!”

Pilate hoped this would be sufficient for the crowd. He thought he could present Jesus as a defeated king. He thought they would have sympathy and be satisfied by Jesus’ scourging. He thought it would end there.

Could it have ended there? Sure… all Jesus would have had to do was claim He was not the Messiah. If He stood before the religious leaders, a defeated king, and admitted His defeat and rebutted His claims, He probably could have been freed. Yet, Jesus stood His ground. He was the Messiah, He is the King and He will not be defeated. The battle has just begun!

PRe:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day six)

The King of Moab had commissioned Balam to curse the Israelites, but God wouldn’t have it; instead he couldn’t help but bless them. (Numbers 22-24)

The words spoken in these five verses accomplish the same thing. While the soldiers intended to mock Jesus, they proclaimed him king. While the religious leaders, declared him guilty, Pilate couldn’t help but proclaim his innocence. And when he finally presented Jesus to them, he unknowingly prophesied “Look, here is the man,” a veiled reference to his incarnation.

Jesus is the true Israel; faithful and righteous.

And by his stripes we are healed.

PRe:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day five)   What do you notice about Pilate in this narrative?  There is unrest in his actions. There is a frantic undertone to his words. There is tension and angst in his decision making. He is caught in the shallow and unstable influence of the world- his position, his power, and his own wisdom and authority.  A visible case-study for seeking the pleasures and treasures of this world.

“The spiritual man (Jesus) is the free man,  and the man who is committed to the things of this world (Pilate) is the man who is (caught) in bondage”.- R Kent Hughes

Want peace and courage in the middle of tension and crisis?  Want strength and assurance in the middle of hardship?  Look to the Lord!  Seek His perspective and presence!  He promises to help us and walk with us through struggles, pain, and suffering!!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬

Re:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day four)

In the passage we read last week, Jesus finally claims his kingship for the first time. “You say correctly that I am a king,” Jesus says. It’s not until this moment that he verbally claims that title. And how does the world respond? We get a glimpse of that this week: they mock him, they beat him, they reject him. The truest king to ever live finally claims his title, and the world can only scoff at him, blinded by sin at the glory before them.

There were times before this when if he had claimed to be king, he would have been carried on people’s shoulders, had the red carpet laid out for him. In the moments where he would have been treated like royalty, he says nothing of his kingship. But now, after having been betrayed, accused, thrown into the hands of an unjust ruler, when no good could come of it, he says it plainly: I am a king.

The soldiers meant only to mock him, but his mock coronation testifies to the truth that he is the one true king, and that his death will actually be his hour of glory. They meant to degrade him, but they unknowingly affirmed his eternal reign. The stone the builders rejected became the cornerstone – here in this very moment.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day three)

“Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him.”

When did Jesus bear on himself all the sins of the world? The bearing of those sins culminated with his death on the cross. But prior to that, the soldiers mocked him and beat him and tortured him with thorns. Prior to that, Pilate scourged him. Prior to that, he was assaulted about the face in front of the high priest. Prior to that, Peter’s denial occurred within earshot. Prior to that, he was handed over to the authorities in history’s most infamous betrayal. Prior to that, his hometown rejected him. Prior to that, many followers turned away from him. He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, says the prophet. When did Jesus bear on himself all the sins of the world? When did he ever not do so?