XOPQBNMKK
| Daily Devo/Bible Study - 3/5/2010 - John 19:14-16 |
 |
 |
 |
| Deep Thoughts | |||
| Written by Jonathan Hsieh | |||
| Saturday, 06 March 2010 22:25 | |||
|
19:14 (Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, about noon.) Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, here is your king!”
19:15 Then they shouted out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your king?” The high priests replied, “We have no king except Caesar!” 19:16 Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. 19:14 (Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, about noon.) John notes this is the Day of Preparation, which is the day before Passover, and about noon. It was at this time that everyone in Jerusalem would be stopping their work and preparing for Passover. The task of preparing a lamb to be slaughtered would also be beginning. This is significant on two levels. On one hand, the priests there would want this to be over with quickly so they could attend to the temple reparations for Passover. Also as people began preparing to slaughter Passover lambs the ultimate Passover lamb was about to be sacrificed. Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, here is your king!”
19:15 Then they shouted out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your king?” The high priests replied, “We have no king except Caesar!” Pilate is in a corner. He knows what he must do. To make put the responsibility of the crucifixion onto the religious leaders, he presents Jesus as their king to antagonize them. Their response is to cry out for His crucifixion. One more time Pilate plays with the Jews by referring Jesus as their king. They respond that they have no king but Caesar. This is an obvious statement that disagrees with their personal convictions that was stated to have Jesus crucified. God was supposed to be their king. God had put those to represent Him rule in Israel's past. But now these religious leaders are declaring someone that is not representing God or God Himself as their king and ruler. 19:16 Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
And with very succinct words, John tells us that Jesus is then handed over to be crucified.
The Jews here rejected God's rule and to accomplish this rejection they declared a ruthless leader who did not follow God as their king. To deny what they know is right by praising what they know is wrong. How often do we do something like this? Perhaps one of us knows that we should be setting an example to others about God, but we don't want to. Instead we rebel and cling to doing things God obviously doesn't approve of. As if denying or refusing to acknowledge something Godly wasn't bad enough, we go and do something anti-Godly. Let's try to keep our actions in step with what we say we believe.
|