The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 19:10b-11,
"'Don't you realize I [Pontius Pilate] have power either to free you or to crucify you?' Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
When Jesus was brought to Pilate following his arrest, Pilate interrogated Jesus. When Jesus remained silent when Pilate asked him where he came from, Pilate warned Jesus that he could either free him or have him crucified. Jesus informed Pilate that the only power Pilate had over him was what was given to him "from above." Just as Judas Iscariot, Pilate also had his part to play in the predetermined arrangements to bring about Jesus' own death (thereby effecting his atonement for the sins of all mankind.)
We read in verse 12 that Pilate set himself to free Jesus, "From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, 'If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.'" It was not to be and Jesus was crucified. Pilate had no real control as he had fallen into the hands of God's sovereign will and the atonement for mankind would be accomplished no matter what. "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." Proverbs 21:30.
I note the disparity of culpability Jesus informed Pilate of. Caiaphas, the chief priest who handed Jesus over to Pilate (or was Jesus speaking of Judas?), was guilty of a greater sin than Pilate himself. Why would that be? The NIV Study Bible points out that the one who handed Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified was guilty of a greater sin because it was carried out with willful, malicious intent. John MacArthur points out, "The critical point is not the identity of the person [either Caiaphas or Judas], but guilt because of the deliberate, high-handed, and coldly calculated act of handing Jesus over to Pilate, after having seen and heard the overwhelming evidence that He was Messiah and Son of God. Pilate had not been exposed to that."
"'Don't you realize I [Pontius Pilate] have power either to free you or to crucify you?' Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
When Jesus was brought to Pilate following his arrest, Pilate interrogated Jesus. When Jesus remained silent when Pilate asked him where he came from, Pilate warned Jesus that he could either free him or have him crucified. Jesus informed Pilate that the only power Pilate had over him was what was given to him "from above." Just as Judas Iscariot, Pilate also had his part to play in the predetermined arrangements to bring about Jesus' own death (thereby effecting his atonement for the sins of all mankind.)
We read in verse 12 that Pilate set himself to free Jesus, "From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, 'If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.'" It was not to be and Jesus was crucified. Pilate had no real control as he had fallen into the hands of God's sovereign will and the atonement for mankind would be accomplished no matter what. "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." Proverbs 21:30.
I note the disparity of culpability Jesus informed Pilate of. Caiaphas, the chief priest who handed Jesus over to Pilate (or was Jesus speaking of Judas?), was guilty of a greater sin than Pilate himself. Why would that be? The NIV Study Bible points out that the one who handed Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified was guilty of a greater sin because it was carried out with willful, malicious intent. John MacArthur points out, "The critical point is not the identity of the person [either Caiaphas or Judas], but guilt because of the deliberate, high-handed, and coldly calculated act of handing Jesus over to Pilate, after having seen and heard the overwhelming evidence that He was Messiah and Son of God. Pilate had not been exposed to that."
It is that last thought of MacArthur that strikes me as an important point. It is one thing to not know and be guilty of some sin against God. It is another to have been exposed to the things of God and sin anyway. Both Judas and Caiaphas fit well into that thought.
How might we fit into that? Sobering, isn't it...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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