“From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews
cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who
makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he
brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone
Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the
Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to
them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king
but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took
Jesus,” (John 19:12–16, ESV)
“If you don’t … you are….” Recognizing that Pilate was given
by God to send Jesus to the cross, we also see that the means used was his own
weakness to stand for what he knew within was right because of the pressure
from without. We read that Pilate sought from his last conversation forward to
release Jesus, but the pressure from the Jews continued. And the Jews even
heightened the pressure by making a false or misplaced association. While Jesus
did not come then to set up an earthly kingdom and He even told Pilate such,
the Jews used the thought of Jesus making himself king as direct opposition to
Caesar. They accused Pilate of being an enemy of Caesar because he was not an
enemy of Jesus, and should he release Jesus he would prove just how much he was
not a friend or full follower and servant of Caesar. They accused him of
betraying Caesar by saving Jesus.
Pilate had a choice to make. If he obeyed his conscience he
would infuriate some very influential people and possibly even jeopardize his
position before Caesar. And if he listened to his conscience he would prove
himself weak and have to live with the certain knowledge that he sentenced an
innocent man to death to save his own political neck. From extra-biblical sources
we know that Pilate served as the prefect of Judea for another three years
until he poorly handled a Samaritan uprising (according to the historian
Josephus). He was then called back to Rome and later died in 39 a.d. by mysterious means, with some
sources suggesting that he committed suicide.
So we read that Pilate brought Jesus outside, “and sat down
on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic
Gabbatha.” Pilate, sitting as judge, took his seat at what we might call today,
“the bench” and was prepared to pass sentence. The crowd had gathered around
the stone pavement which was the established place of rule, and they awaited
his response. Was he going to set the innocent righteous One free and infuriate
the crowd or was he going to appease the crowd and sentence the righteous One
to death? At that moment righteousness was placed in his hands. But he still
had not made a decision.
We read that the morning had passed away and noon was at
hand (the sixth hour) on the day before Passover. For the Jews time was running
out for Jesus to be crucified before they must stop all work in favor of their
Passover observances. They were down to the wire, and I imagine they were
growing more and more intense by the moment. Pilate then spoke to the people
and said, “Behold your King!” Of course, Pilate knew how they would respond,
but by that point I wonder if he resigned himself to conceding to their will.
And sure enough the Jews responded crying out, “Away with him, away with him,
crucify him!”
Again Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” And
the chief priests yelled out, “We have no king but Caesar.” The next words John
records for us are, “So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they
took Jesus,”
I have to say that I am very glad that God the Father gave
His Son to Pilate to go to the cross for our sins. God used a man who would not
stand for what He knew was right in order to appease enemies of God so that
through his decision we might be saved. But I also feel for Pilate as one who
knew what was right in his own heart and yet he chose to do that which he knew
was wrong because to him it was the most expedient thing to do. God knew the
intimidation Pilate would face and He knew how Pilate would respond, and Pilate
was the right man for this purpose.
Right now the United States is again reeling because of the
decision of a handful of appointed men who ruled for themselves against what
God instituted as right for man and woman such that they took it upon
themselves to redefine for the entire country marriage to include that which
God never intended and even condemned. Prior to their ruling pressure had
intensified, States had legalized, and moves had been made to normalize to the
point that one of the justices was swayed by the potential consequence of
affecting the children of these unions should they not be accepted by all. It
was a long slippery slope that this country has been on leading to this ruling.
It did not happen out of a vacuum, but out of man doing what was right in his
own eyes and then demanding that the government endorse it. And now that the bench
has ruled it has had an immediate impact on county clerks and judges whose
faith will not allow them to participate in these unions. These events are so
new that the outcomes are yet to be seen, but it does not look favorable for
these servants of God. It does not look favorable for people who operate
businesses or schools or hospitals according to their faith. It does not look
well for Christianity in America because man ruled according to his own desires
from the bench and not according to the Word of God.
Things are surely going to get much worse, and the question
remains as to how people of faith will respond to their conscience being
pricked. 1 Corinthians is a letter written to a church that not only had not
grown in their faith, but had openly accepted various forms of sin to continue
in their midst. Paul wrote a very strong letter to them chastising them and
calling them to repentance and growth.
In chapter 15, which is an entire chapter on the power of the
resurrection, he wrote, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For
some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.”” (1 Corinthians
15:33–34, ESV) It is an amazing thing to read that some in their church had no
knowledge of God. His Word had not permeated their lives nor had it directed
their steps.
Peter gives us our sober response. I know this is a longer
passage, but take the time to read and think on his words as they pertain to
where we are even today. "(1) Since therefore Christ suffered in the
flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in
the flesh has ceased from sin, (2) so as to live for the rest of the time in
the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (3) For the
time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in
sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless
idolatry. (4) With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them
in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; (5) but they will give
account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (6) For this is
why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in
the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
(7) The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded
for the sake of your prayers. (8) Above all, keep loving one another earnestly,
since love covers a multitude of sins. (9) Show hospitality to one another
without grumbling. (10) As each has received a gift, use it to serve one
another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: (11) whoever speaks, as one
who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength
that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through
Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
(12) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it
comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
(13) But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also
rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (14) If you are insulted for
the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God
rests upon you. (15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an
evildoer or as a meddler. (16) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him
not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (17) For it is time for
judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will
be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:1–17,
ESV)
No comments:
Post a Comment