Sincerity Having Peace Instagram Post 9/30/2021 8:00am EST
Thursday, September 30, 2021
15-18 It was an old custom for the governor to pardon a single prisoner named by the crowd during the Feast. At the time, they had the infamous Jesus Barabbas in prison. So, with the crowd before him, Pilate said, “Which prisoner do you want me to pardon: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?” He knew it was through sheer spite that they had turned Jesus over to him.
19 While the court was still in session, Pilate’s wife sent him a message: “Don’t get mixed up in judging this noble man. I’ve just been through a long and troubled night because of a dream about him.”
20 Meanwhile, the high priests and religious leaders had talked the crowd into asking for the pardon of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.
-Matthew 27:15-20 The Message
Verse 15: Now, at the Passover Feast, the governor was accustomed to releasing any prisoner they wanted for the people.
Verse 16: And at that time, they were holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
Verses 15-16 studies: Mark 15:7 reminds us that Barabbas participated in a rebellion against the Roman government. He may be a villain to the Romans, although he is a hero to the Jews. Ironically, Barabbas was guilty of a crime that Jesus was accused of. The word Barabbas means “son of the father,” which was Jesus’ position with God.
Verse 17: So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
Verse 18: For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over.
Verse 19: And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.”
Verse 20: The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and put Jesus to death.
Verse 19 study: Pilate is a leader that is supposed to make sure justice is served. He only proved to be concerned about political expediency, not what is right. He had numerous opportunities to make things right, but he didn’t. His conscience said Jesus is innocent; the Roman law said an innocent man should not be put to death, and his wife had a troubling dream about it. Pilate did not have any good excuse to condemn Jesus; he was afraid of the crowd.
Blasphemy is a big word in the Bible. The biggest problem is that the crowds don’t know the difference between what is real and not real. I pray that when we are in a situation that needs your attention, we can tell the difference between Satan and you. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Sincerity Having Peace Instagram Post. 9/29/2021 11:30am EST
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Jesus before Pilate
Verse 11: Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”
Verse 12: And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not offer any answer.
Verse 12 study: When the religious leaders stood before Pilate, they accused Jesus of another crime other than what they wanted to charge him with. They tried to charge Jesus with blasphemy, meaning claiming to be God. This charge wouldn’t mean a thing to the court. So to make charges more interesting to the court, the religious leaders charged Jesus with crimes he didn’t commit, like encouraging people not to pay taxes, claiming to be king, and starting riots. This type of stuff they did showed how desperate the leaders were to want to have Jesus killed, and they broke several commandments to make it happen.
Verse 13: Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?”
Verse 14: And still, He did not answer him regarding even a single charge, so the governor was incredibly amazed.
Verse 14 study: Isaiah 53:7; Jesus’ silence fulfilled the words of the prophet. Pilate was shocked that he (Jesus) didn’t try to defend himself. Pilate saw a plot against Jesus and wanted to let him go, but Pilate was under pressure from the Rome government to keep the peace in his terrority. The last thing Pilate wanted was rebellion over the quiet and seemingly insignificant man.
Father, I ask myself, how can this happen? But I shouldn’t ask that because you always have your plans, and it is a lot better than me asking how can this happen? So remind me and others that you have your plans and that we always follow along with them. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Sincerity Having Peace Instagram Post. 9/28/2021 8:00am
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
6-10 The high priests picked up the silver pieces but didn’t know what to do with them. “It wouldn’t be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple.” So they decided to get rid of it by buying the “Potter’s Field” and using it as a burial place for the homeless. That’s how the field got called “Murder Meadow,” a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah’s words became history:
They took the thirty silver pieces,
The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel,
And they purchased the potter’s field.
And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.
-Matthew 27:6-10 The Message
Verse 6: The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them in the temple treasury, since it is money paid for blood.”
Verse 6 study: The chief priests’ guilt in accepting the money back because it was wrong for Judas to return blood money; the payment for murder; although, they never took it. But no remorse when they gave the money to Judas to betray an innocent man. The hatred they had for Jesus caused them to lose all sense of justice.
Verse 7: They conferred together and bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers with the money.
Verse 8: For this reason, that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
Verse 9: Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the One whose price had been set by the sons of Israel;
Verse 10: and they gave them for the Potter’s Field, just as the Lord directed me.”
Verses 9-10 studies: The prophecy is found in Zechariah 11:12-13, 17:2-3, 10:1-4, 19:1-11 or 32:6-15. In the Old Testament times, Jeremiah was the collector of some of the prophets’ writings, so it can be that his name is cited than Zechariah.
These verses are senseless, Father. The corrupt government we see today is what we are reading about now. Let us see this as two things. One, bad. And two, a lesson. The lesson is that we shouldn’t let corrupted people influence our common sense. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Sincerity Having Peace Instagram Post. 9/27/2021 10:15am
Monday, September 27, 2021
Thirty Silver Coins
27 1-2 In the first light of dawn, all the high priests and religious leaders met and put the finishing touches on their plot to kill Jesus. Then they tied him up and paraded him to Pilate, the governor.
3-4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he returned the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”
They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”
5 Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.
-Matthew 27:1-5 The Message
There are a total of four versions of Jesus’ crucifixion. We read the first one in John 19. Another version we are about to read and study is in the book of Matthew, chapter 27. I can promise that a lot of this is repetitions for sure. There will be different events as well that are not mentioned in other versions. Let’s study it.
Judas’s Remorse
27 Verse 1: Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death;
Verse 2: They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate, the governor.
Verses 1-2 studies: The religious leaders persuaded the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. The government can’t charge Jesus because they don’t have the authority to. The Romans took power away from the religious leaders. From the political side, the killing of Jesus would make the religious leaders look better if someone else is responsible. The leaders wanted it to look like the Romans’ responsibility, so the crowd wouldn’t blame the leaders. They arrested Jesus on blasphemy. That would get thrown out of the court. So the leaders had to find another reason, a political reason for Jesus’ death. Their strategy was to show Jesus as a rebel who claimed to be a king and a threat to Caesar.
Verse 2 study: From A.D. 26-36, Pilate was the Roman governor of Samaria and Judea. Pilate showed his authority over the Jews. For instance, he impounded money from the temple treasures to build an aqueduct. Pilate wasn’t famous, but the leaders had no other way to get rid of Jesus; Pilate was the only choice. Ironically, Pilate found Jesus innocent, a Jew who couldn’t find one fault in him.
Verse 3: Then, when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Verse 4: saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You shall see to it yourself!”
Verses 3-4 studies: Jesus’ formal accuser (26:48) wanted to drop charges, but religious leaders said no, we are moving on with the charges and will not halt the proceedings. When he betrayed Jesus, it seem like he was trying to force Jesus’ hand to lead a revolt against Rome. It didn’t work, and Judas tried to change his mind, but it was too late by then. Most of the plans were set, couldn’t be changed when the plan was in motion. The lesson is to think about consequences before making or acting on our actions and later regretting them.
Verse 4 study: There is nothing worse than going to a priest and confessing sins. The priests did this to Judas. Their job is to help point people to Jesus. They didn’t care about anybody. They told Judas, “What is this to us? See that for yourself!” No guidance, nothing. They rejected the Messiah and rejected their roles as priests.
Verse 5: And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left, and he went away and hanged himself.
Verse 5 study: Matthew claims that Judas hung himself. In Acts 1:18, Judas fell and busted open. The best way to explain is that the limb from where he was hanging broke, resulting in him falling and splitting his body open.
Father, thank you for the different versions of Jesus’ death. We are thankful to you for allowing the Gospel to be written about Jesus’ death to share with future followers. I pray we will continue to take this time to remember Jesus’ death and the purpose of it. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
38, After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.
39-42 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen with the spices following the Jewish burial custom. There was a garden near the place he was crucified and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they set Jesus in it.
John 19:38-42 The Message
Verse 38: Now after these things, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, requested of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
Verses 38-39 studies: Four people were changed in the process of Jesus’ death.
The criminal dying on the cross beside Jesus, the one that asked to include him in his kingdom (Luke 23:39-43).
Roman centurion claimed Jesus indeed was the Son of God (Mark 15:39).
Joseph and Nicodemus, Jewish council members and secret followers of Jesus (7:50-52) came out of hiding.
These men were changed by Jesus’ death than while he was living. That brought out belief, proclamation and action. When confronted about Jesus’ death, we should be changed, believing, proclaiming, and acting on it.
Verse 39: Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred litras weight.
Verse 40: So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Verse 41: Now, in the place where He was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
Verse 42: Therefore, because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Verses 38-42 studies: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were secret followers of Jesus. They were afraid to make this known because of their positions within the Jewish community. Joseph, an honorable leader and member of the Jewish council, and Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish council, came to Jesus by night (3:1) and later tried to defend him before other religious leaders (7:50-52). They risk their reputation to provide for Jesus’ burial. Are you a secret follower? Do you choose to hold out your faith from friends and family? This is an excellent time to step out of hiding if you do hide.
Verse 42 study: The tomb is believed to be a carved-out cave of stone on a hillside. It’s big enough for people to walk into it. So Joseph and Nicodemus walked into the hillside to carry Jesus’ body. A large stone rolls out in front of the entrance. But Joseph and Nicodemus had to hurry up and work to avoid working on the Sabbath day, which begins on Friday evening at sundown.
Father, Jesus’ death is meant to change lives. Let it change us in our actions and our ability to not hide behind our faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Sincerity Having Peace Instagram post. 9/25/2021 8:00am
Saturday, September 25, 2021
28 Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, “I’m thirsty.”
29-30 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, “It’s done . . . complete.” Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.
31-34 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn’t stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies were taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the first man’s legs crucified with Jesus, and then the other. When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.
35 The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.
36-37 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”
-John 19:28-37 The Message
Jesus Dies on the Cross.
Verse 28: After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, *said, “I am thirsty.”
Verse 29: A jar full of sour wine was standing there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.
Verse 30: Therefore, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Verse 30 study: A complicated system of sacrifices adjusted for sins, making amends or reparations. We know that sins separate us from God. An animal can be sacrificed; the substitute can be that people can be forgiven and clean before God. Unfortunately, people continue to sin and don’t stop. Jesus is the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. Finishing is the same as “paid in full.” Jesus came to finish God’s work of salvation (4:34; 17:4). Because of Jesus’ action, his death of the sacrificial system ended because Jesus put it upon himself. We can go to God for everything because of what Jesus did for all of us. For those that believes in Jesus’ death and resurrection can live eternally with God and escape the penalty of sins it comes with.
Care of the Body of Jesus
Verse 31: Now then, since it was the day of preparation, to prevent the bodies from remaining on the Cross on the Sabbath for that Sabbath was a high day, the Jews requested Pilate that their legs be broken, and the bodies are taken away.
Verse 31 study: God’s law says that they can’t leave a dead person’s body exposed overnight (Deuteronomy 21:23). It is also against the law to work after sundown on Friday when the Sabbath begins. That’s why religious leaders wanted to remove Jesus’ body from the Cross and bury it by sunset.
Verse 32: So the soldiers came and broke the first man’s legs and the other who was crucified with Him;
Verse 33: but after they came to Jesus when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
Verse 32 study: The purpose of the Romans breaking the victims’ legs is to speed up the death process. A person is hung on the Cross; death comes from suffocation. But the victim can push on the Cross with his legs to hold the body to keep breathing. With the legs broken, they suffocate almost immediately.
Verse 34: Yet one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
Verse 35: And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
Verses 31-35 studies: The Romans are experienced soldiers. The number of crucifixions they did said a lot about if anyone was dead or alive. Jesus was killed, it’s no question about it. So they didn’t break his legs like they did the other victims. The piercing of his side and seeing the flow of blood and water (which means that the sac surrounding his heart and the soul was pierced) is further proof of his death. Some people believed he didn’t die and that he only passed out. Which is why he came back to life. There is a witness of the imparted party, the Roman soldiers, that Jesus died on the Cross.
Verses 34-35 studies: The graphic details of Jesus’ death is good and critical because John is an eyewitness and wrote his story.
Verse 36: For these things took place so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.”
Verse 37: And again, another Scripture says, “They will look at Him whom they pierced.”
Verses 36-37 studies: Jesus died as the lambs for Passover meals were slain. Not one bone was broken in these sacrificial lambs (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12). So Jesus, the lamb of God, is the perfect sacrifice for the world’s sins (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Father, let us remember this as the day Jesus wiped away sins. The sacrifices Jesus made for us are forgiven as to the reason why he died on the Cross. Let us sit on this and meditate on it. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
23-24 When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up to four ways, each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it up. Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This confirmed the Scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat.” (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)
24-27 While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment, the disciple accepted her as his own mother.
-John 19:22-27 The Message
Verse 22: Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
Verse 23: Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.
Verse 24: So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be,” this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.”
Verses 23-24 studies: The Roman soldier in charge of crucifixions customarily helped themselves to the clothes of the condemned men. They did with Jesus to divide his clothing, casting lots to determine who would get his seamless tunic. The tunic is Jesus’ most valuable piece of clothing. This fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 22:18
Verse 25: Therefore, the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
Verse 26: When Jesus then saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
Verse 27: Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, the disciple took her into his own household.
Verses 25-27 studies: While dying on the cross, Jesus was concerned about his family. Jesus told John to care for Mary, who is Jesus’ mother. God gave us gifts in the family. We should value and care for family, regardless of circumstances. Christian work or critical responsibilities in any job should excuse you from caring for your family. In other words, care for your family first. What do you do to help your family in a caring way?
Verse 27study: The Gospel writer John was asked by Jesus to care for his mother. Joseph, Mary’s husband, probably was dead around this time. The question that is asked is, why didn’t Jesus assign the task to his brothers? Jesus being the oldest Jesus entrusted his mother to a person who stayed with him at the cross, that was John.
Father, we learn how critical family is in our lives. Our blessings are family. Let us continue to embrace family and make sure they are a priority over everything. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Sincerity Having Peace Instagram post. 9/23/2021 11:00am
Thursday, September 23, 2021
16-19 Pilate caved into their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:
Jesus the Nazarene
the King of the jews.
20-21 Many Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish high priests objected. “Don’t write,” they said to Pilate, “‘The King of the Jews.’ Make it, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”‘”
-John 19:16-21 The Message
Verse 16: So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.
Jesus Is Led Away To Be Crucified
Jesus Is Placed on the Cross
Verse 17: They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.
Verse 17 study: Golgotha, the Place of a Skull was probably a hill outside of Jerusalem at the main road. Executions took place there so the Romans could use them as examples to other people.
Verse 18: There they crucified Him and with Him two other men, one on either side and Jesus in between.
Verse 18 study: Crucifixion is the Roman form of execution. The person condemned was forced to carry his cross along the road to the execution site as a warning to people. Those types of crucifixion varied based on the methods and crosses. Jesus was nailed to the cross; some were tied with rope. The cause of death would be suffocation because of the body’s weight, which was difficult to breathe. The victim would lose his breath and strength. Crucifixion is a hideously slow and painful death.
Verse 19: Pilate also wrote in the inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Verse 19 study: The inscription is supposed to be sarcastic. There’s a king, stripped nearly naked and executed in public view, who lost his kingdom forever. Jesus turns the worlds’ wisdom upside down is really coming into his kingdom. The death and resurrection is a blow to Satan’s rule and establish Jesus’ eternal authority over the earth. Very few people that read the inscription that afternoon know its meaning. All is not lost. Jesus was the King of the Jews and Gentiles, the whole universe.
Verse 20: Therefore, many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek.
Verse 21: So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, “The King of the Jews,” but that He said, “I am King of the Jews.””
Verse 20study: the inscription was written in three languages: Hebrew for the native Jews, Latin for the Roman occupation forces, and Greek for foreigners and Jews visiting from other lands.
Father, there are details about the death of Jesus on the cross. Let us remember the details of his death to understand why religious leaders did what they did and the painful death he endured. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Sincerity Having Peace Instagram post. 9/22/2021 8:00am
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
11 Jesus said, “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That’s why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault.”
12 At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: “If you pardon this Man, you’re no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.”
13-14 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in Stone Court’s area (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.”
15 They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said, “I am to crucify your king?”
The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”
-John 19:11-15 The Message
Verse 11: Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me unless it had been given you from above; for this reason, he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
Verse 11 study: The greater sin does not mean excusing Pilate for his political pressure. Pilate was responsible for the decision about Jesus. The fact is that Caiaphas and other religious leaders are just as guilty of greater sin because they all had a role in the premeditated murder of Jesus.
Verse 12: As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to a king opposes Caesar.”
Verse 13: Therefore, when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
Verses 12-13 studies: It doesn’t take much to figure out that Pilate was pressured to crucify Jesus. As the governor of Rome, he has to keep the peace. Rome couldn’t afford to keep a large number of troops in the outlying regions. They only maintained control by crushing rebellion immediately with force. If reports came out that an insurrection happened on Pilate’s watch, that could mean losing his job for Pilate and even his life. Tough decisions will always be in our lives. The choice is we can take the easy way out or stand up for what is right regardless of the cost. If you knew the good, do it. If you don’t do it, you will sin (James 4:17).
Verse 13 study: The pavement was part of the Tower of Antonia bordering the Northwest corner of the temple complex.
Verse 14: Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”
Verse 15: So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him. Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
Verse 15 study: “We have no king but Cesar.” This is how desperate the Jewish leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus. Although Jews’ hatred for Romans, it’s ironic that they fabricated allegiance to Rome but rejected their own Messiah. They condemned themselves by using those words. God is the true King; they abandoned every trace of loyalty to him. As a result, priests lost their reason for existence; they never turned people to God. Instead, they claimed allegiance to Rome to kill the Messiah.
Father, let us poise under pressure when talking about you. Peer pressure is hard in teenagers. Be with us to gain wisdom and do the right thing when it comes down to stress. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Sincerity Having Peace Instagram and WordPress blog post. 9/21/2021 8:00am
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
6 When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate told them, “You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him.”
7 The Jews answered, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8-9 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. So he went back into the palace and said to Jesus, “Where did you come from?”
Jesus gave no answer.
10 Pilate said, “You won’t talk? Don’t you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?”
-John 19:6-10 The Message
Verse 6: So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.
Verse 7: The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law, He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.
Verse 7 study: The truth is that religious leaders brought Jesus to Pilate because he [Jesus] broke the religious laws; Blasphemy. The religious leaders used the excuse the first time because he [Jesus] was causing rebellion against Rome. Accusing Jesus of Blasphemy would give them credibility to their case for the Jews. Treason would present the Romans with a strong case. Nobody cared about what charge Pilate gave; they wanted Pilate’s cooperation in killing Jesus.
Verse 8: Therefore, when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid;
Verse 9: He entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
Verse 10: So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”
Verse 10 study: If history teaches us anything, it is to remain calm. Jesus stayed calm and was in control throughout the entire trial. The religious leaders nor Pilate had control. Pilate fluctuated; the Jews reacted out of hatred and anger, yet again. Jesus stayed in power. Pilate and the religious leaders are on trial. The other lesson from history is when you are questioned by your faith or ridiculed, you are on trial to your accusers, while the accusers are on trial before God. The accusers may act if they have control, but God got the authority. Let them question your faith. Continue to live in faith.
Father, these verses are powerful. While we may be accused of our faith and ridiculed, those accusers are on trial before God. I pray that we remember this as we continue to share our faith boldly. After all, we are struggling to win people over because we live in Satan’s world. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
You must be logged in to post a comment.