Read these words and ponder them for a minute:
18:37 "...Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice" King James Version
"... Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice." Amplified Version
If you know in your heart that Jesus is the Savior, and confess it with your mouth, and make Jesus Lord of your life, then you belong to the Truth. Therefore, you hear and listen to His voice. You are part of that inner circle, you have special privileges that not every one in this world has! This fact should make you feel special. You have been set apart.
19:10 "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
This particular scripture always makes me want to say to Pilate, "Do you realize that you have no power over your Creator?" It strikes me that many people who think they have position and power of authority over people, don't really know who they are. And sometimes we cower under their authority!
Remember the blind man from birth in John 9? He was given sight and then was questioned by the Pharisees, people of authority who think they know it all, but are blinded by their quest for power. The blind man answered their questions with boldness and did not cower under their supposed authority. His parents feared the Pharisees and did cower because they didn't want to be cast out of the synagogue. He answers boldly, not caring about their position because he is under a Greater Authority. God's Authority - he has seen the Real Power, the Real High Priest. The Pharisees throw him out because they see the truth but cannot stand it. My opinion here...
I digressed... Jesus sets Pilate straight in the next verse.
19:11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to your from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
19:19-20 I love these verses because His title is written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, the three main languages of that day and place. This must have really grated on the Pharisees because they did not want any references at all to what Jesus claimed to be. But here it was, written not only for the Jews to see, but the Hellenists and the Romans, too!
19:25-27 Here is Our Jesus, having suffered all manner of abuse, in extreme physical pain, his face disfigured, nailed to a cross, and He is still thinking of others! He made sure His mother was looked after.
But that brings a question to mind. Why did not Jesus's brothers take care of their own mother? Why was she given to John? Any ideas?
Chapter 19 is a great chapter; tough because of what Jesus personally went through in order to bring Salvation to the world. But beautiful because Jesus loved us so much that He went through all manner of torture to bring Salvation to the world. Have you received it?
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I find it interesting to look at correlations between the old and new testament. These two chapters deal with Gods sacrifice of His own Son to forgive the sins of man.
ReplyDeleteIn the Old Testament, there was a complicated list of sins which could be forgiven by animal sacrifices. The atonement from sin was only temporary, however, and the sacrifices had to be repeated on a regular basis (as the sin occurred, or as part of a regular festival). Gods sacrifice of Jesus made the sacrifice system unnecessary; the death of the perfect, unblemished lamb of God atones for all mans sins for all time.
One issue that strikes me, however, is that when the animal was sacrificed it was done quickly and efficiently, without much pain to the animal. The forgiveness of the sin was related to the ceremony of sacrifice, and had absolutely no relation to the amount of pain and suffering of the animal. A complete contrast to the death of Jesus.
Surely the requirement was just for the death of Jesus? There was no need for the 12 hours of torture and humiliation he suffered. A quick death would have been sufficient as a sacrifice. But what if there was another subtext; that by accepting the torture, humiliation and agonizing death, and then rising three days later, Jesus was sending a message to Satan; that the dark had no power over the light, that God was Lord over all. Satan could throw everything he had at Jesus, but Satans best was not good enough. Jesus was in control. What a wonderful thought to hold when we feel that Satan is attacking us personally; that because Jesus is inside us, the battle for our soul has already been won, and we belong to Jesus. Satan can hurt us, but he can't destroy us.
A burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord... Must go, I think Kat's finished cooking dinner!