The Gospel of John 19:8-9 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.” (John 19:8-9 KJV).

The imperial authority of Rome in Judaea ‘the more afraid’? He must be. To hear the charge that the Lord Jesus made Himself the Son of God, as reason to have Him crucified, must have sent chills and shivers to the bones of this representative of Rome. Rome, with all the many gods that they look up to and belief in its unreal power, Pilate must be alarmed deeply. And here, he is in front of a man whose dignified and majestic demeanor is not like any other accused he had dealt with. With the warning from his wife to have nothing to do with the Lord Jesus (Matthew 27:19), Pilate has more reason not to have part of this sham. The signs, miracles and astonishing powers the Lord Jesus performed over both the sick and the dead that he heard, may now have come to his recollection.

With the new charge of ‘blasphemy’ Pilate grilled the Lord again in the hearing of the religious Jews. But, the Lord steely stood with no response. To Pilate, this moment gives a very strong contrast to his earlier questioning, with the Lord Jesus giving him clear and frank revealing response direct to his empty heart that seems seeking for truth. He forfeited those instances for shunning rather than embracing the knowledge he's been given. The Lord Jesus revealed to him the nature of His kingdom and His purpose, affirming that He is King and not of this world. He was given privy to the Lord's purpose, saying 'that I should bear witness unto the truth.' (John 18:37), Pilate had the opportunity to embrace the truth and the person of truth in Christ Jesus. But, he let it slipped?

Now, in this face off with the Lord, Pilate asked: “whence art thou?”, or in the Message Bible paraphrase “where did you come from?” The Lord did not respond, but gave him time to be still. That would be the same kind of stillness we too must have in the presence of our Savior. In Psalms: “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;” (Psalms 46:10a NIV). This is the NOW moment for Pilate and for those who are still grappling for the truth, to believe and be saved. His Words remind: “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2 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.

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