Daily Bread 2010 - John 19

Daily Bread 2010 – John 19

Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.
4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"
6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!"
But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."
7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."
8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 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?"
11Jesus 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."

Throughout the last days of Jesus life, he is being confronted by all the powers of the world. Whether they are the religious authorities, the governmental authorities, or even the forces of darkness (spiritual authorities); although he acknowledges their power; he reminds them where it comes from.

In this case, Pilate is trying figure out Jesus and when Jesus refuses to answer one of his questions he tries a power play when he says, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” To which Jesus reminds him that this power has been given to him from above.

In allowing the authorities of the world to prosecute, eventually convict, and then crucify him, Jesus submits to the power structure which has been given by God. Indeed all power we have in this world has been given to us by God. Whether that be as a parent, a boss, politician or pastor; we have legitimate power to rule over others, and yet this is a privilege not a right. It is has been given to us and we will be accountable to God for how we use this power.

In some cases legitimate power has been so abused, as in cases such as Hitler and other tyrannical rulers, they need to be overthrown. But generally we are called to submit the authorities over us as Paul affirms in Romans 13. Ultimately the greatest power we submit ourselves is to God, Himself. Once we have submitted ourselves to God it is a lot easier to submit to any earthly authority, since we do it in obedience to God not any person.

Heavenly Father, thank you for those who rule over us and help us to obey them out of respect to the authority you have given them. As we have been given authority may we use it to serve those who we are in charge of being servant leaders just as you have shown un in Your Son, Amen.