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Friday, March 28, 2014

"Therefore When Pilate Heard That...."

"Therefore when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid."  (John 19:8)

The reason Pilate, "was more afraid," was the Jews' statement, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."  Now the ever-increasing fear in Pilate began in the previous chapter where we read that Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you a king then?"  Jesus answered in the affirmative.  So here we have this Roman politician, this Roman governor facing, "the carpenter's son," hearing claims and assertions which he was hearing for the first time.  The claims, and more importantly and fearfully, the Man in front of him, the One Who had caused Pilate's wife to have, "suffered many things...in a dream because of Him," told Pilate that he was also facing Truth Himself.  What a moment in history.  The time Jesus was before the Jews and Pilate reveal religious and political fear, the Jews, because Jesus claimed to be, "the Son of God," and, "The Christ," Pilate, because Jesus claimed to be, "The Son of God," and, "The King of the Jews."  No wonder some guards once said, "No one ever spoke the way this man does...."  A hearty Amen to that.

We can only pray that the, "was more afraid," would come upon all humanity, from presidents, prime ministers, kings, to family, neighbors, the "average" citizens of every nation.  I can only imagine in a small way what Pilate must have gone through in those moments before Jesus.  At times there was wonderment, at times, mocking, at times genuine confusion and fear.  Maybe this is a description of our lives before we surrendered our lives to Jesus.  If it is, it was good, was it not?  The journey from Gethsemane to the Garden Tomb and Resurrection was for you and me, for, "every kindred, tongue, tribe and nation."  Because of the Triumphant Life, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, you and I can lead a Triumphant, overcoming, victorious life, day by day, moment by moment, the right-now moment.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for all You did and do.  Amen.
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Obama mocked Russia as a "regional power."  Read how misguided he is at: jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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