King of the Jews

Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped Him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take Him and crucify Him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against Him.” The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law He must die, because He claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed Him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. - John 19:1‭-‬16 NIV

Each week in our staff meeting at Anchor House we do a devotional. This week I decided we would read the selection above in place of a formal devotional. I am grateful we did. I left that reading and short discussion with a weight on my heart. 

We speak of Jesus dying for us, but often we forget the devastation He faced. He stood alone as He was disowned by His people. The occupying authority attempted to promote His innocence but finally, He is sentenced to death. Keeping peace was more valuable to the government than clearing an innocent man.  

The people of God failed to recognize and honor the Messiah. Instead they acknowledged Caesar as their king. In the face of a heavenly king they abandoned their God and choose an earthly human as their king. They used the system to commit murder breaking God's commandments. They violated a commandment because of their self-righteousness. Rather than worshiping their savior they sent Him to the slaughter. 

Pilot also fails to recognize the significance of the man in front of him. He seems to be able to identify His innocence. He seems to get an inkling as to His significance. But his fear of looking bad to a human king blind him.  

It makes me think about how many times I am Pilot or a religious leader in the lynch mob of angry Jews.  I let my insecurities take over.  I get blinded.  I see Jesus right in front of me but the ways of this world blind me. Religion, the laws of man, and tradition get in the way of seeing my savior right in front of me.  

I may be alone in these feelings.  In fact, I pray I am. But something tells me we've all let ourselves lose sight of Jesus.  We've all been blinded by our own insecurities and self-righteous attitudes. 

This Easter, let's commit to giving in.  Give in to that "feeling" when Jesus is calling us to pray or share Him with someone.  Give in when "religion" makes us lose sight of what Jesus did and the space He calls us into. Give in when the world says, "go this way" and Jesus says, "this is the way". 

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt