“Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” (John 19:10-11 KJV).
Not hearing a response from the Lord Jesus for his question, Pilate pompously boasts of having the power to free or crucify Him. That is the nature of ungodly people. They often magnify the little control they get. Which reminds of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who bragged of the majesty and power of the kingdom he claimed to build by his own might. But, he was instantly disproved and reminded that it’s all from God (Daniel 4:28-33). Here, the Lord Jesus reminded Pilate that he couldn’t have power unless it is given from above.
The Lord Jesus further revealed the unfolding of this case in Pilate’s hands. “He that delivered me unto you has the greater sin!” This is a very profound statement made by the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing that for all who have sinned, all the same, will die regardless of the nature of their sin. As the scripture says, all fall short of the glory of God. The consequence of sin is death! (Romans 3:23). So, what sin and who did the Lord Jesus refer to in this statement? We can look back how this sad and eventful process unravel.
Who delivered the Lord to the hands of these people? First, we have Judas Iscariot, one of the Lord’s apostles who heard the truth and seemed to believe in him. He’d been with the Lord as part of His twelve apostles. He sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. For his betrayal, the Lord declared it would have been better for him not to have been born (Matthew 26:24).
Second, the religious authorities, who professed to know the Word of God and to be followers of the law of Moses, but failed to recognize the Lord Jesus of whom Moses and the prophets prophesied. They accused the Lord Jesus of blasphemy for affirming to them that He is the Messiah whom they’ve been waiting for. They handed Him to Pilate to be crucified. The Lord Jesus proclaimed multiple woes to them (Matthew 23).
We are therefore cautioned to stay in faith, as the scriptures remind: “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” (Hebrews 6:4-6 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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