March 28

John 19:8 (NIV)
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,

All through this chapter is an interesting story of a man in great authority, Pilate. He meets Jesus through and unlikely set of circumstances and then has the power of his death in his hands. Without getting into a discussion about the sovereignty of God, I would like to point out what Pilate did and didn’t do and why.

Pilate it seems became convinced of Jesus’ “kingship” so much so that even with the Jews dissenting, he had a sign over our Lord’s head reading King of the Jews in 3 languages. He didn’t want anyone to miss his acknowledgement. I think Pilate became fascinated with Jesus, and even may have believed that Jesus was someone very special if not divine. In another gospel Pilate’s wife comes and warns him to have nothing to do with the death of this man (Jesus) because of a dream she had. Yet Pilate is in a sticky situation. If he lets Jesus go then the Jews may revolt – but he could quench that quick enough. If he crucifies Jesus, I think it is clear that he goes against what he thinks is right. There is this battle within him and he clearly does not want to kill Jesus (have him killed). Yet there is something within him, as there is within us that pushes him over the edge and orders that Jesus be crucified – self. He feared the Jews more than he feared Jesus (God). He wanted to please the Jews more than he wanted to yield to what he knew was right. He wanted the calmest water to prevail so he crucified his own conscious and had Jesus killed.

We have got to decide, when the chips are down, are we going to be man pleasers, self pleasers or God pleasers.