“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!” (John 19:13-14 KJV).
When Pilate heard the challenge of the religious leaders of the Jews that if he releases the Lord Jesus Christ who they say ‘claimed to be king’, as He is, then he - Pilate, Rome's governor of Judaea, becomes an enemy of Caesar. That’s full and heavy to Pilate to bear who probably aims for higher position in the Empire, perhaps. He had to find ways to stand on a version of ‘truth’ knowing that the Man standing before him for judgement is innocent. That’s where his balancing skills need to be employed to its utmost. And, indeed he would, aware of the popularity of the Lord, the jealousy of the religious Jews, and that He was not a revolutionary instigator against Rome. With the angry religious crowd demanding for the Lord Jesus to face a brutal death, he had to tease the crowd to refrain unrest in this busy and overcrowded religious celebration.
Sensing a riot in the offing if the demand of this religious mob to execute the lord is not delivered, Pilate has to decide quick. Rome has no regard of their religious squabbles. What mattered to Rome is when conquered subjects reject Roman authority. So, he sat on his official public judgement seat or Gabbatha. Trying to irk the Jews, he declared: 'behold your King'. This day, in this final several hours of preparation for the Passover remembrance, soon Jerusalem will be full of visiting tourists, and religious observers to commemorate Israel's miraculous rescue from Egypt. This is celebrated by the slaughter of a spotless lamb. But this day, the true perfect Lamb of God will be offered. Unbeknownst to Pilate, he will play a vital role as he makes his judgement call.
The Lord Jesus Christ came to be the spotless Lamb whose unblemished blood will be shed to save us who believe in Him. This, Apostle Paul affirmed, as it is written: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ” (Ephesians 1:7-9 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment