In truth Pilate did not find Jesus guilty by the preferred charges against him. He, being a historical witness to the daily events against Jesus, and aware of the ill motives of the Jewish religious leaders, said in John 18: 31 take him yourselves and judge him according to your law. See also Luke 19: 22. He was not ready to bear their guilt judging by their own religious laws. What motivated Pilate to say so?
They did not fear God
Many of us associate with the Church yet do not fear God. Jesus said in Matthew 7: 21 not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord: will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. The people, just as Pilate knew that both the Roman and Jewish laws did not encourage perversion of justice yet for their seared conscience they intimidated Pilate to do otherwise to shed an innocent blood. Intentional sin has no forgiveness. Galatians 6: 7 says God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
Lack of the fear of God pervertes the truth; it is without integrity; it prevails over God’s truth. However, those who fear God align with his truth. God said of Job in Job 2: 3… there is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason. God commands us to fear him. Fearing God means maintaining integrity and holiness in God’s will. 1John 5: 10 says… those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.
Revelation 14: 7 says fear God and give him glory. Fear means reverence and respect with awe. God said in Leviticus 19: 14, 32; 25: 17 you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. Psalms 2: 11 says serve the LORD with fear, with trembling. Psalms 25: 14 says the friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him. Without true friendship but worldly standards, our judgment will be weak. John 7: 24 says do not judge by appearance, but judge with right judgment. In Pilate’s mind the question of the apostles in Acts 4: 19 echoed, whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.
The truth about Christ Jesus
Isaiah 9: 6 confirms what is written in Romans 5: 6 for while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Without Jesus, there is no eternal life for anyone. Romans 6: 23 says… but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus came for a good reason. John 10: 10 says I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Galatians 3: 13 says Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”.
In 1Corinthians 5: 7 Jesus died for us as our paschal lamb. 1 Corinthians 10: 9 says we must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. In 2Corinthians 8: 9… though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Our citizenship and inheritance in heaven come from Jesus. In Ephesians 1: 5 God destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ.
Paul said of Jesus in Philippians 1: 21 for to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. He also said of Jesus’ love in Romans 8: 38-39 for I am convinced that neither death, nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We must be truthful with our judging Jesus.
The law of Christ Jesus
Knowledge of the law of Christ will help us to better judge who he is. Paul wrote in Galatians 6: 2 bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus’ law is therefore selfless love, care, kindness, sacrifice and forgiveness. Pilate knew Jesus as such, what about us? Revelation 22: 12 says see, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work.
Will we be rewarded based on our truth and conscience or for our lies and mob philosophy? John 8: 32 says you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. Are we liberated in the truth of God and of the conscience by the Holy Spirit? Have we personally evaluated Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit? Do we belong to the mob or Jesus’ redemptive grace?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to know you better and to judge by the Holy Spirit of truth. Let the law of Christ Jesus prepare us to be personally accountable for our stewardship. Thank you Father for revealing to us who Jesus is. Let us fear you with reverence, holiness and truth. Let our judgment be on the substance of the word in our hearts, and not by human inclination. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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