7The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11Jesus 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.”
12From 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.”
13When 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). 14It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15But 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.
16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. (John 19:7-16)
Thoughts: Pilate, the governor, was afraid of condemning Jesus- but he was also afraid of losing his earthly position and reputation more. That the Jews were accusing Jesus of being the Son (essence) of God, Pilate was concerned about this case more than others.
Pilate asked Jesus where he was from. In my area of the country, this is a polite but also important part of our identity. Jesus did not want to argue with Pilate and he knew it mattered little what He said. Pilate gloried in his power to give or take life. But Jesus reminded Pilate that all life is a gift of God and not his to give or take alone. God uses even unbelieving, disobedient, ruthless politicians to accomplish His will. In the end, the Jews wanted him dead over Jesus' divine claims while Pilate did not want Jesus' kingship to interfere with Rome's rule.
Pilate asked Jesus where he was from. In my area of the country, this is a polite but also important part of our identity. Jesus did not want to argue with Pilate and he knew it mattered little what He said. Pilate gloried in his power to give or take life. But Jesus reminded Pilate that all life is a gift of God and not his to give or take alone. God uses even unbelieving, disobedient, ruthless politicians to accomplish His will. In the end, the Jews wanted him dead over Jesus' divine claims while Pilate did not want Jesus' kingship to interfere with Rome's rule.
Prayer: Lord, do not let my hold on this world be so tight that I cannot hold onto your truth and what is right.
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