Monday, April 11, 2022
April 1st, 2021
Kingman, IN
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate.”
John 18:37-38a (NIV)
T ▪️ R ▪️ U ▪️ T ▪️ H
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)
Bible Reading • John 18:28 – 19:19
Jesus Before Pilate (18:28-40)
“Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.”
Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified (19:1-16)
“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.”
Did you know that on the day that Jesus was crucified He stood before three judges? I am not sure if I knew this piece of information prior to reading the book “Uncovering the Love of Jesus” by Asheritah Ciuciu in which she reference to it on page 181, line 3.
Jesus stood before Caiaphas
“Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.”
John 18:19,24,28 (NIV)
Jesus replied only once when questioned by Caiaphas and the Jewish leaders:
“Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.”
Matthew 26:62-66 (NIV)
The Religious Leaders Condemn Jesus (Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71)
Jesus stood before Herod
“Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.”
Luke 23:1,6-7 (NIV)
Jesus Sent to Herod (Luke 23:6-12)
Jesus did not answer Herod’s questions and refused to put on a show for him.
“When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.”
Luke 23:8-9 (NIV)
Jesus stood before Pilate
“Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
John 18:28-29 (NIV)
Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate (Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-37)
Jesus has a lengthy dialogue with Pilate.
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”
John 18:33-38 (NIV)
What Is Truth?
This was Pilate’s response to Jesus saying, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Jesus throughout His questioning was calm and in control. Not once did Jesus turn to pettiness or jealousy. Jesus could have easily pointed out the sins of His accusers, He did not try to prove His innocence, He wasn’t defensive in His responses. Throughout their dialogue it becomes clear that Pilate finds no fault in Jesus. Pilate had a choice as to whether or not he would be a part of Jesus’ death. Even Pilate’s wife had troubling dreams about Jesus and His innocence.
“So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
Matthew 27:17-19 (NIV)
🌀 Challenge 🌀 Question 🌀
We know Pilate’s choice, and we’re each given a choice today. Jesus lovingly shatters our illusions of power and control, reveals the fear we each cover up inside.
Will you choose self-preservation or will we throw ourselves on the mercy of Jesus?
Today, if you’ve never yielded to Jesus as your Lord and King, surrender to Him and receive His gift of life with Him forever.
A Prayer for Salvation
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 NIV
📘• 📚 • Further Study • 📚 • 📕
“But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.”
Mark 15:5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2015:5&version=NIV
John 18:28-19:16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2018:28-19:16&version=NIV
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%204:18&version=NIV
Prayer ~
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
Friends —
I know today’s post is rather long, the scriptures drew me in and I was overwhelmed with information and details that I’m sorry to say have been glossed over through the years. I hope you learned or enjoyed this post as much as I did writing it. Your encouragement and support are true blessings to me. I have had the privilege of meeting so many creative individuals around the world through WordPress. God bless you all! See you tomorrow. 😉 💚🌻
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
References:
John 18:37-38 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2018:37-38&version=NIV
Ephesians 4:15 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%204:15&version=NIV
John 18:28-19:16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2018:28-19:16&version=NIV
John 18:19,24,28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2018:19,24,28&version=NIV
Luke 23:1,6-7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2023:1,6-7&version=NIV
Luke 23:8-9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2023:8-9&version=NIV
Matthew 26:62-66 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2026:62-66&version=NIV
John 18:28-29 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2018:28-29&version=NIV
John 18:33-38 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2018:33-38&version=NIV
Matthew 27:17-19 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2027:17-19&version=NIV
Psalm 139:23-24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%20139:23-24&version=NIV
Romans 10:9-10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:9-10&version=NIV
https://www.learnreligions.com/timeline-of-jesus-death-700226
HOPE SEEKER 
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