Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Proclaiming Jesus

Light tinted darkness surrounded him.

At his command, the guards had blocked all windows and doorways with long drapes. However, the sheer number of windows as well as their height resulted in a dimly lit room.

Pilate had no desire to be apart of the "festivities" outside his walls. He was sending every type of message to show that he was opposed to this heinous murder.

Pilate turned to the scraping of heavy doors against the marble floor. "My Lord," one of his guards bellowed from his bowed position. "The chief priests of the Jews request an audience with you."

He rolled his eyes. The last thing he wanted was another encounter with those men. Nevertheless, he motioned with his index and middle fingers that the guards could escort them into the chamber.

The blithe men didn't so much as bow. They marched into the chamber as if they were the ones in charge. They probably thought they were based on their manipulation of him. It appeared they were going to start without so much as a, "How do you do, my Lord?"

A large, round man spoke for the group. "We have seen the inscription you have ordered written for the traitor, Jesus of Nazareth. We do not think 'The King of the Jews" is an appropriate description. Rather write, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.' Implying that he is a king is offensive to Caesar. This shows what happens to men who liken themselves unto the magnificent Caesar."

Pilate stood from his couch in a rage. How dare these men continue trying to manipulate him like a toy in their twisted game! They didn't care about honoring Caesar. They merely wanted the world to view Jesus as a fool and a liar. Well, Pilate had had enough. They had got what they wanted, and Jesus was about to die. He charged to the group of hypocrites, and stood nose to nose with their speaker. While pointing his finger in the other man's face, Pilate spoke low and menacingly. "What I have written, I have written. I think it's time you remember who is really in charge here."

Turning sharply, Pilate motioned to the guards to get them out of his chambers. More guards moved from their hidden alcoves to the center of the room, each with their spears pointed towards the men stumbling from the room like drunkards.

They could kill Jesus' body, but they wouldn't kill him. Pilate would see to that.

Based on John 19:16-22

"From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, 'If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.'" John 19:12

"So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.' Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, 'Do not write, "The King of the Jews," but rather, "This man said, I am King of the Jews."' Pilate answered, 'What I have written I have written.'" John 19:16-22

I have to say that I'm quite impressed with Pilate here. These men clearly came to him trying to manipulate him even more with their thinly veiled threat of what Caesar would do if he found out Pilate was sparing a traitor.

What hits me most is how Pilate was searching for God ... and found Him.

"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

Pilate came to know who Jesus was. While the Pharisees were trying to squash any claim of who Jesus was, Pilate acknowledge it to the world.

I'm not saying I know what Pilate's heart was, or that he understood that Jesus was the Son of God, Savior of the world. That's between him and God. What I am saying is that this ruler in the heathen nation proclaimed Jesus when the religious leaders - those who were supposedly trained to recognize Jesus - killed Him.

"So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

What I'm saying is that we need to look at ourselves. Who do we most resemble when the fire is turned up?

V. Joy Palmer

2 comments:

  1. I don't know if Pilate knew exactly what he wrote or not, but what I love is that God used those who opposed Him to proclaim truth! That's a big reminder to people today who think that those who oppose God are in control. Even they bow to God's will and His use... whether they know it or not! Thanks Joy

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