Lenten 2024 – Day 35

John 19: Compelled by the Jews, Pontius Pilate scourged Jesus, soldiers platted a thorny crown, beat him, clothed him in purple, said Pilate to the Jewish croud, “Behold the man!” I wonder if the Jews smiled within themselves. Pilate found no fault in Jesus, that was all he wanted to be done.

But the Jews insisted on death, and when Pilate understood it was because he said he was the Son of God, he was frightened. Jesus was brought to Pilate, and now he comes to Jesus for confirmation.
Jesus had little to say, saying Pilate had no power than what was granted by a higher power. Pilate tried to free Jesus, but could not, caught between the government (his duty to maintain peace) and God. Though he chose to allay his fear of men, rather than of God, Pilate asserts, as if to poke them in the eys, “Behold your King!”

Pilate had a change of mind, perhaps that was all it was, and he missed an opportunity to save himself from a worse fate.

This much I know, as happy as the Jews were that they got their way through Pilate, in the end, they were not too happy about the Superscription above his head, spelled in Hebrew the initials of God, YHVH.

Man can reject God if they want, and run from him, but in the end, we will end up before Jesus Christ, “Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -let the chains fall, gy

**Thank you, Pastor for providing this forum for us to meditate and consider the things of God through Scripture…it has been tremendously helpful in my devotional life and I greatly benefit from all who participate here in this study…thank you to all who are here, and let’s keep encouraging more to join us!**

5.49 Jesus is Brought Before Pilate (Mark 15:1, John 18:28-32, Luke 23:2, John 18:33-38, Matt 27:13-14, John 18:38, Luke 23:5-7) So much in the different gospel accounts here. The hypocrisy of the religious leaders, refusing to enter into Pilate’s headquarters so as to not make themselves unclean for the Passover, while also deliberately bearing false witness against an innocent man (saying that Jesus had forbidden paying taxes to Rome, despite Him actually saying exactly the opposite when they tried to catch him with that one…) And the Pilate’s response to Jesus…”What is truth?” This is the cry of the world…particularly the post-modern world, that refuses to believe in an objective truth. Everything is relative…and of course, if everything is relative, then nothing can actually be true, because it is a logical fallacy to believe that something can be both true and not true at the same time. So, we see, that while the post-modern world may have settled into a worldview that rejects objective truth…this is not new. Pilate held the same perspective, more than two thousand years ago. Ultimately, Jesus came to bear witness to the Truth…the Truth of God…the only Truth. As Pilate stands there, with Truth in the flesh, standing before him…he has the opportunity to know God in a way he could never imagine…and yet, blinded by the world, he simply dismisses Truth with a flippant comment. Romans 1:22-23 comes to mind…”Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” and Romans 1:25 “because they exchanged the Truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

And yet…I will not dare to condemn Pilate too severely…for in my own life and heart, I too can be tempted to exchange the Truth of God for a lie. Indeed, for many years, that is exactly what I did…fashioning a god for myself that was acceptable to me, that fit my needs and desires, and was happy to allow me to live in whatever way I desired, all while promising me eternal life, without all the troublesome aspects of actually living a life that reflected the power of God within me…that displayed supernatural effects against besetting sins and a surrender to Christ, daily, that acknowledges that God, you are God, and I am not.

God loves us too much to leave us as we are. In saving us through our faith in Christ Jesus, God has set in motion our sanctification…indeed, Romans 8:29 makes it clear, “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.” God is changing us… and I love what C.S. Lewis writes about God’s intention in this sanctification…”you must realize from the outset that the goal towards which He is beginning to guide you is absolute perfection; and no power in the whole universe, except you yourself, can prevent Him from taking you to that goal.”

Now, talking about perfection while in the flesh is always problematic…it can lead us down many dangerous paths of idolatry and ego, pride and judgementalism…but Oswald Chambers has a great take on this that I’ll share here:

“Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary – that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain God’s standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.” (My Utmost for His Highest, December 2nd entry, devotion on Philippians 3:12)

I love that last line. Let Him do what He wants. Surrender. Get out of the way. Yield…

5.50 Pilate Sends Jesus to King Herod (Luke 23:8-12) I love how Jesus does not satisfy Herod’s unrighteous desire to see him. Herod “long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some sign done by him.” Jesus is not a circus sideshow. He is Truth.

5.51 Pilate Tries to Free Jesus (Luke 23:13-15, Matt 27:15-21) Pilate tries to free Jesus…even knows the right thing to do, knowing that Jesus is innocent. But he fears the crowd, and he fears what could happen if he does not cater to the mob. Ultimately, despite pleading from his wife…Pilate caves to fear. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim 1:7)

The Life of Jesus 5.49-5.51

Jesus’ response and frequent lack of responses is so interesting to me. His careful choosing of when He speaks and when He doesn’t seems to always be driven by teaching moments rather than a quick need to “defend” Himself as would be our natural reaction.
Goodness the crowds choice to free Barabas is so telling of this world on so many levels! It is of course Jesus paying the price we could not pay. But it is also the world’s choice to allow sin to come before the truth of Christ. It is the world’s mob mentality that an obvious morally wrong choice should be allowed. And it is an example of the world’s moral breakdown and so sad!