4/12/14- Pilate Judges Jesus

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.  

Prayer: Lord, do not let my hold on this world be so tight that I cannot hold onto your truth and what is right.  

4-7-14 Questioning of Jesus

19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
(John 18:19-24)

Thoughts:  The high priest was asking Jesus not only about his teaching, but about his disciples.  He may have wanted to know who and how many.  He was trying to snuff out this group.  Jesus, in response, did not want to answer at all.  He knew they were not really interested in His teaching, They were only interested in attacking Him.  Jesus wanted His actions and His effect on His disciples to speak for themselves.
    Paul was once struck for defending himself to the high priest.  Jesus is also struck.  Jesus did not attack the high priest.  When they struck Jesus, they struck the Great High Priest.  God does not need to defend Himself.  In the end God wins without striking back.  The cross was not overcome on the battlefield, but with the resurrection. 

There are many who, like the High Priest, question the teaching of Jesus and the effect He has had on His followers.  For those who really don't want answers- but just want to interrogate in order to make themselves feel better in their sin- there is no good answer.  We must leave God to give them the answer that they deserve.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to know when to speak and when not to speak.  Help me to trust my defense, my reputation, and myself into your care.  

4/6/14- The Capture of Jesus

8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Thoughts:  It is clear in all four Gospels that Jesus saw His arrest as part of a greater plan and purpose, often calling His arrest and crucifixion His "cup" from the Father.  Jesus did not run, did not encourage his followers to fight, and identified himself to those who would arrest him in the dark.
      Peter cut off the high priest's servant's ear.  Jesus rebuked his sword, and disclaimed violence to Peter, the soldiers who came to arrest him, and later to Pilate.  Luke (22) tells us that Jesus healed Malchus' ear. Later, at Peter's denial, Malchus' relative said he saw Peter with Jesus (implying he saw him cut off his relative's ear).  Perhaps Peter felt rebuked for his zeal which may have led him to soften and hold back in his boldness and deny Christ.  There is an important line between boldness (not being ashamed of following Christ), and violence. We are called to not be violent or uncivil about our faith- but still be faithful and boldly proclaim the truth.
    They bound Jesus and brought Him to Annas.  Annas had been deposed by the Romans as high priest, setting up Caiaphas his son-in-law as high priest, but most Jews regarded Annas as the real high priest- so they took Jesus to Annas.  Caiaphas had already said it would be better if Jesus died for the people than all the people to die at the hands of a Roman rebellion (11:49,50).  John saw this as a significant prophecy by the high priest.  Jesus is, as John the Baptist also prophesied, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (1:29).  Other New Testament passages expand on this idea- 1.Christ's sacrifice is once for all (Heb. 10:10); 2. He frees us from our own death by his single death (Heb. 2:14); 3. He bore our sins on the tree (1 Pt. 2:24); He is the Great High Priest who does not need to offer any other sacrifice because His sacrifice is good once for all (Heb. 7:27).  It is significant that the high priest prophesied about the Great High Priest that Christ would die on behalf of many as a sacrifice of sorts- even though Caiaphas did not fully know what he was saying.  Jesus' death was not just His own, but it was a purposeful, meaningful, sacrificial death.

Prayer: Lord, keep me from taking your sacrifice for granted.  

(1520 anonymous)