Thursday, March 29, 2018
READ John 19
MEDITATE on John 19:8, "When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid." Of whom or what was Pilate afraid? He had Jesus flogged, crowned with thorns, and mocked. Yet when the crowd told him Jesus should die for saying He was the Son of God, Pilate was afraid. He claims he had authority to release Jesus, yet he was afraid.
REFLECT
There are times when we are called to take a stand for justice, or for righteousness, or for truth. It can be as simple as objecting when co-workers say something mocking religion, to more large-scale working with an organization that addresses human trafficking or abuse. In any case, it requires for us to take a stand and to place our welfare, reputation, and achievements in God's hands. Pilate could not do that: he didn't know God.
But Jesus was standing right in front of him. How ironic! But Pilate refused the truth and tried to wash his hands of guilt, but he could not ignore the truth. He was torn up over it.
Jesus faced all the punishment, injustice, and mockery, the ugliness and vileness of man's sin and its systemic fruit. He took it all.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus and the group of women honored Christ. They did not understand, but they still followed. They had laid aside fear in their relationship with mankind because they had been able to lay aside fear in their relationship with God. They knew Jesus. And though they did not know what good was coming out of the crucifixion, they would soon thereafter. Until then, they had a tiny bit of faith still. Let us have faith as well.
PRAY
Pray for a heart for truth, justice, righteousness, and mercy. Pray for churches to be purified and to stand with Jesus in faith.
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