Beholding Jesus

Jesus identifies a problem/difficulty with the teachers and Pharisees. He makes a number of references to them having a ‘holier than thou’ complex. Do as I say and not as I do. He is sighting of the arrogance and flaw they have come upon with their knowledge and learning. Just because of the degree of what they have learned does not make them better but heed their actions as opposed to their teachings. They are hypocrites.

Were there spoken warnings given to them before this? Essentially a wakeup call to the Pharisees, did they even listen or had they ignored this what had been spoken? Did everyone else that was listening have differing opinions then of the Pharisees after hearing Jesus speak or would they have only given a single ear to them as opposed to two?

Jesus was just tearing into the ones looked to for guidance and advice. Their positions had clouded their opinions of themselves. Thinking that they had been elected to this point of stature, their lives would have become nearly untouchable by anyone. Not having to follow the same standards as anyone who was not them or looked to as a leader.

The efforts of the Pharisees is pointed out to be frivolous by going out of their way to make a single convert and yet by the way they accomplished this by the nearly lifeless nature that is behind what you put into the convert, deems him further into the arrogant punishment that you have laid out for yourselves.

²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Matthew 25:23. This is a reference not just to vanity but the attitude that one shows displays toward others. Maintaining and making the outer more easily viewable part to look up to par but the neglect of the inside, what really matters. The outside is just dressing but the inner core is what defines the person. This is more than apparent to Jesus just by Him addressing it. We all need to take heed of this advice and warning. Looking good so that others may remark positively or look to as an example has almost nothing to do with reflecting the inner man/woman.

What is it that drives human nature to like those around us? The outer shell is just a façade i/e outer shell or deceptive front. The person within is where the heart is and can and will be revealed by ones actions for themselves and to others. ⁵ Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5.

¹⁹ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Matthew 23:19. Some may think this is a trick question. I believe if there was no altar there would be nothing… at all. God has provided both the altar and the possibility for the sacrifice. The Pharisees see that what they give is the greater because they give when required. The altar is always there, the sacrifices are not, they have to be found and presented. Ah, such a narrow view. If there was no altar it could mean absolute chaos if you think of it in one perspective. The altar is the gateway for the sacrifices to be given up to the Lord. This is one of the facets in communion with God and is just as important as every other one. Prayer on which the Pharisees do elongated so that those within hearing distance will hear what is said. As for they look for the praise from all. All who may say they are holy because of the length of their open prayer. Edification from fellow man is only a temporary thing. It fades as the dark submits to the dawn. But the blessings that come from God is an ongoing and wondrous thing.

¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12. This goes right along with those who are first shall be last and those who are last shall be first. Jesus came down to earth to help guide us to wanting to know His Father. This way we will not get caught up in self centeredness. Realizing just where we are and knowing our value. Humbling ourselves before the Lord shows our true humanity and He delights in this.

Submission is not a bad thing, especially when it comes to God. You ever realize that when you are in one of the more rough patches in your life, you come before God with complete tenderness and capitulation. That of what is burdening you, plaguing your heart. You willfully place at the feet of God. For you have found complete loss when attempting to defeat this difficulty on your own. He will take this from you and deal with it according to how He sees fit.

This problem may seem difficult but it’s another chance to come before the Most High and give praise where praise is due. Arrogance has no place here. Humbling of one’s self is where the right frame of mind shall be recognized and blessed.

The Word Made Flesh

The eternal word: In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. This can be so confusing at times; thinking of the word that we read on a daily basis….almost in a perspective of the God head. The word was at the very beginning. The word was God and is God. The word made flesh. The word lived and dwelled inside him. As it should in us. We are to bring the word into flesh. Our own flesh. We are to take its words and make them alive. Words without action are just dead words. We want the word of God to be living.

John’s witness: The true light: God called John to bear witness to the light. To bring clarity to his people. That Jesus, the creator and holder of the earth and everything in it, would be accepted among his own creation. That people would understand that we are all children of God and not of man or flesh. This is what John was sharing with his people.

The word becomes flesh: the word became flesh. It became living. Jesus was the word, and spoke the word, and shared the word. The people beheld the glory of this man and delighted in his presence. The man that John had bore witness too. The people waited in anticipation to hear every word Jesus had to say, and we have his whole script right in front of us. Our own copy. And we have to force ourselves to open it and read it. We need to be like Jesus and be a living word. Let the word of the Lord flow out of us in our actions, in our conversations. Let the word become our flesh.

A voice in the wilderness: when confronted, John denied being Christ and simply said that he was one who cried out in the wilderness to make straight the way of the Lord. I want to be like John. One who is completely dedicated to God with a passion for him. One who baptizes and shares the word, but doesn’t even consider himself worthy to even loosen the Lords sandal strap. I think John is the best example of the word becoming flesh. He was so Christ like. And that is what our aim and goal should be. And if Jesus was the word and spoke the word, then it is up to us to try and do the same. Let the word be like a flame shut up in our bones! That we may know and memorize scripture. That we may contain the words of the Lord in our heart as a weapon against the enemy.

The Lamb of God: The Lord comes and visits John. John said that he could see the Lord coming like a dove toward him and resting on him. He then testified to everyone there saying that this was the son of God who baptized with holy water. I want to be more like John. I want to cry out to God and be a walking testimony to him. I want to see him like a dove. I want to devote my life to God and walking his word out like he did.

The first disciples: When John saw Jesus walking he yelled out “behold the Lamb of God!” two disciples heard him and followed Jesus and went to where he stayed. One of the disciples which was Andrew, went to seek his brother Simon, and brought him back to Jesus. When they all sat down with him, Jesus looked at Simon and renamed him Cephas. These three men were some of the first disciples to follow Jesus.

Phillip and Nathanael: Nathanael has such strong faith! I want to have faith like this man. Just because the Lord said that he saw him under a fig tree before they met, he believed in him! Sometimes it takes everything in me to say yes to him. if we all only had such faith like Nathanael. And because of his faith the Lord said that he would see the heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man. I want that!

Lord, would you give me faith like Nathanael had? That I would believe in you just because you said you saw me when no one else was around. Lord would you let me see heaven open! Would you give me the burden that John had to share your name and your glory and beauty! Would you give me a voice that would cry out in the wilderness! I want to be one who will testify of the Lord Jesus Christ! I want to be like John who denied himself and offered up praise to your name. Lord would you help me to walk your word out. Would you help me to become more like you and make your word flesh. A living testimony. I want to be more like you!

Verses 1-2 “In the beginning was the Word…” God created the universe with His words. He opened His mouth and boom there was everything. The power of the word! It is speaking of how Jesus is the Word. He was there all along from the beginning. This speaks of His deity as the Son of God. ‘…and the Word was God.”

It also says that Jesus was at the beginning in communion with God. ‘…and the Word was with God..” John17:5 says “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” He was always there in fellowship with His Father. These first verses are just so full of who Jesus is.

Verse 3 It’s interesting how people like to separate the trinity but they worked together. They are in communion with each other. “All things were made through Him and without Hi nothing was made that was made.”

Verse 4 ‘In Him was life and the life was the light of men.’ Through Him we get to the Father. He showed us life and gave us life. Creator of the universe who gave us life, died so we may have eternal communion with Him and showed us how to live life by walking on the earth. What a mighty merciful God we serve.

Verse 5 Jesus came to show light to the darkness. The darkness could not understand it! The light overpowered the darkness! Amen! We are called ’sons of light’ John 12:36. We walk in with Jesus, we abide in Him and are children of God. We are therefore called sons of light. God is so gracious as to not only save us from eternal death but to let us walk with Him in authority.

Verse 6-9 John the Baptist was sent from God to prepare s for the coming Messiah. How would you like your life to be dedicated from the beginning to tell others about the coming King. The honor of being such. Thank You Jesus! He was cultivating their hearts for Jesus. They became expectant and desired Him to come after hearing who He is and what He has done.

Verse 10-14 Crazy to think how we have gotten so side tracked and lost sight of the Creator. How we’ve lost sight of our King and Savior. Te very one who gave us breath we reject. Oh, the grace and mercy of God. Oh, how much He loves us and desires us and yet we reject Him. God have mercy on us.

Jesus knew He would be rejected bu His own yet He still came that we may have life. He not only came that we may eternal life with Him but that we may have it abundantly! John 10:10

This is amazing to me to think that the God who created all came to us in human form so we may have eternal life and that we may live abundantly. Though mankind rejects, crushes and blasphemes Jesus He still calls us to Him. He’s always faithful and longs for communion with us. Mind blowing! What an awesome, compassionate, loving God we serve.

Verse 15- Just think how John must have been waiting for Jesus. He knew about Him and prophesied about Him. The joy that must have filled him to see and touch the Savior of the world. Just think how confusing the words of John must have been to those around him. “..He who comes after me is preferred before me for He was before me.” I would be like ‘what?’ How is He who was born after you have been before you? I can picture the smile coming across the face of John as he explained who Jesus was.

Verse 19-28 John is questioned on who he is and what he is doing. He says he is “The voice of one crying in the wilderness…” He is telling them that he is waiting for the Messiah and he tells them of who he is waiting for. What a joy to tell of our King and lover of our souls!

John says of Jesus that “whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” Seriously, who are we to even be allowed into the presence and walk in the mercy and grace that He gives us. He is such an amazing God! This is so amazing to me that the One who was there in the beginning gave Himself to be beaten and rejected on the cross to die for us.

Verse 29-31 The joy that must have filled John’s heart when He sees the One he has preparing the way for. I can just picture his face lighting up and not knowing to bow down or run up and hug Him. Oh, God is so good! Crazy to think that they were cousins and did John know that Jesus was the Messiah? He must have sensed something about Jesus when growing up. So cool to think that they are family.

Verse 32-34 Just think how people’s worlds shook when they saw Jesus being baptized. I wonder how the felt when they heard John talk of the Holy Spirit? Did they know what he was talking about? They must have sensed something when being around John and Jesus.

Jesus asks in verse 37 to those that followed Him “What do you seek?” Interesting question. I wonder how the people felt when they followed Jesus. No wonder some people questioned Him because it is crazy to think of the things that Jesus does and where He stays. He’s so humble and merciful to think that He would stay out in the wilderness and not have a place to rest His head. He chose to live on the earth that we may know Him. Just think though that if He only stayed in nice places what people would think about that. Riches are not to be of this world.

Verse 46 Nathaniel asks if anything good can come from Nazareth. Jesus not only became flesh He lived in a place where others didn’t think anything good came from. He seriously chose the humblest path to come to us. He showed us great love. We mock Him and placed Him on a cross and He still heals us and delivers us.

Verse 51 To me this would be confusing if Jesus told me “Most assuredly I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open , and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” This to me is where He starts His sayings that are hard to understand if you are trying to figure out who Jesus is. Just think how expectant these people were for the Messiah to come to them. The deliverer of all people. The One who can heal and save us has come. AMEN! Thank You Jesus.

The Word Made Flesh
John 1

When I think upon the works done by Christ in Mark 5:21-43, I just simply cry. Jesus you are so kind. In verse 25 a woman who was bleeding and had been for twelve years sees Jesus and has faith she could be healed. What faith she must have had, to believe that just simply touching His clothing would heal her. Or was it desperation? How would it feel to be bleeding for years and every doctor that tries to heal you and just  makes it worse? If it were me would I despair? What a life that she must have lived in that wretched state. I picture her lying on the ground inflicted with severe pain, humiliated by the blood on her clothing knowing what people must be thinking; but seeing a man who is not just a man walking in the street. Life is in His eyes, compassion in His gaze, power in His stride, and a presence that shakes the very ground beneath Him because of the authority given. One who cast demons aside with out blinking an eye, one who raises the dead like one wakes a child from a nap, no even easier than that! Was it seeing this man, no this God that gave her hope again, hope to believe that in spite of her humiliation, wretchedness, and inflictions, that she could be healed at last? I look at the story unfold and she did not even ask Him to pray or lay hands on her, she simply thought, “If I but touch His robe I can be healed”. So she buries her body, her dignity and disease in the dust and crawls on the ground like an animal; probably being kicked in the side or at least shoved but she doesn’t care her eyes have seen God. Finally she is close enough that if she can just reach out she can touch Him. Then it happens she did it, she touched His robe healing rushes through her body and instantly she is healed. Affliction is gone from her at last, not only in body but spirit as well for sin cannot be found in the presence of God. Jesus feels His power leave him (5:30) and He knows instantly what happened, yet He asked, “Who touched my clothing?” I picture Him asking not from lack of knowing but wanting to see the face of one whom He loved and was delighted to heal, who in faith claimed her healing. When she comes forth terribly afraid, He validates her saying, “Go in peace my daughter your faith has healed you, be freed from your suffering.” Wow to have the God of heaven and earth say that to me would blow me away. What must she have felt? God gave her justice; she no longer was that gross, disgusting, and diseased creature she had been before. The woman had been called “daughter” of God and she had been commended for her faith. Healing took place in her body, spirit, and mind, but I believe that there is more. To be granted a glance into those beautiful eyes, to see the face of one who offers His life in the place of my iniquities, infirmities, and rebellion, to hear His voice giving affirmation to her heart. I believe God was saying, “I know who you are, what you have done, for I know all things; I say to you daughter well done.” He neglected time and space to make sure that she not only received healing, but also received vindication. If this is a picture of who Jesus is (which it is), I pose the question; Have we even touched the surface of who He is?

(John 5:1-30) When I look at this miraculous healing, I see not only a healing but Jesus challenging religiosity. There is a pool (Bethesda) where an angel would come and stir the waters and the first person in the water would be healed. Yet, a man who had been an invalid for 38 years had never been the one who made it. Thirty-eight years of sitting waiting for the angel to come trying to make it in first, or hoping that maybe next time he would make it. Every time he was met with the same crushing reality, “yet again you didn’t make it”. During all that time you would think that someone would have said, “let me help you.”, however that does not appear to be the case. Then one day some random man comes over and says, “Do you want to get well?”  How would I have answered, “No duh of course I do?” But this invalid simply goes on to say that he has been trying for years but can never make it into the pool. Then Jesus say, “Get up! Take your mat and walk!” As soon as the man obeys Jesus, he is healed. Wondering, I ask this question, did Jesus make him act in faith to receive his healing because he had lost it over the years of trying but never getting in the pool to be healed? Now some Jews saw that this man was healed and were indignant because it was the Sabbath. So they tell him that he is disobeying the law by carrying his mat, and that he needs to put it down. If Jesus had healed me and told me to do something I would not care if it broke the law; which I guess is what the man was thinking. Later Jesus sees the man in the temple and tells him to stop sinning, did he mean that if the elders told him to put down his mat, he should do it. I believe that Jesus was saying that, the man I believe became offended because he went immediately to the Jewish elders and told them that it was Jesus. When the elders confront Jesus about healing on the Sabbath, he simply replies, “ My father is at always at work to this very day, so to am I to be working.”  I love Jesus’ heart he wasn’t being proud but he declares who He is. One who was there when the earth was formed, who took part in it. He created these men who are accusing Him. Jesus could strike them dead in a minute, however He says, “I am working like my Father does.” When they don’t understand He goes on to tell them that He does nothing on His own but the Father in heaven gives Him an example in heaven. Jesus stands there and tells them the way to heaven and that they must believe in Him, Instead of believing, they reject Him. God would I have rejected you or would you have allowed my eyes to be open to believe? How must it have felt to be rejected by the ones you came to save? Jesus you are more awesome than we know or can comprehend You tolerate so much, You never fight back, You just love and intercede. One day though Jesus will return and He will judge the nations and the Jews will declare, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” So Jesus we ask that You would return, come quickly back and let our hearts be like that of the woman you healed that day, and let us walk in the faith that you gave all to all those healed.

(John 8:1-11) This story opens up with a woman caught in the act of adultery. Thrown to the ground a man demands, ‘She must be stoned, it is the law”. Then he looks at Jesus and says, “What do you say?”  For he wanted to trick Jesus so they could accuse Him. Although they were seemingly smart, they were very blind to the wisdom of God. Meekly, Jesus begins to write in the dirt, stands, and then replies, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” Returning to write in the dirt, was he waiting for a reply? Imagining what must have been going through their minds I picture the woman bracing her self to be stoned. I picture these thoughts going through her mind. “Who is this man? What did He mean by His question? Is he defending me? Why would He bother, I am guilty of this I am certain. I deserve to be stoned. Here I am my sins bare for all to see. Left alone no one to stand for me, I will surely die.” Jesus probes into her thoughts, “Woman who has accused you? Where are they, show me one? Has no one condemned you?” Baffled I see her looking around replying still stunned “No sir”. Jesus takes on His role as savior and says, “Go and leave your sinful ways.” Wow, what must it have felt like to be at the point of dying for your sins and then to have God give you a second chance? Playing it over in her head I picture her trying to make sense of it. There she was lying there covered with the disgust of immorality, the scent of sin potent on her being; her accuser lording over her holding an unforgiving glare. He was determined to have her blood. An angry mob surrounded her on every side each holding her death sentence in hand, a large boulder’s stone.  Their faces each littered with anger, and judgment it would not be long now. She knew she would very soon be dead. All were waiting for one thing, the voice of their leader saying, “You shall die”; the stones would be hurled and another sinner would be cast down to hell’s fire forever. Only one factor remained a factor that had nothing to do with her. The leader’s thoughts, “Let us see if we can catch another who seems to think himself wise, what would he say of this? Would he dare to say she should not be put to death?” So the men of the city grab and drag who through the streets, her body is already being tattered as they treat her with disdain. Then they cast her down again surrounding her, and then they begin to dialogue with this strange man. She watches His finger as He writes something in the sand, as He stands she sees His feet once more and then he writes more in the sand. Finally he speaks to her, her face buried in the dirt she moves to look at Him. He has given her a second chance, instantly she knows, “He is God, Son of the Father.”  Under the surface I believe she was dancing if it weren’t for the shaking of her body she probably would have danced. Creator of heaven and earth just forgave her sins and let her go free.  Death had been written on her forehead, yet He wrote forgiven on her heart. Jesus thank you for your mercy, your forgiveness and compassion which none deserves but is given to all.

(Luke 7:36-50) Jesus is reclining with Simon a Pharisee whom had invited Jesus for dinner. A woman enters, this was no ordinary woman this woman consumed by sin; her sins were many and she was cast out by most because of them. When this woman entered the room she immediately came and kissed Messiah’s feet, she washed His feet with tears and anointed them with alabaster perfume. Peering into this scene, I put myself into the place of the woman. What must it have felt like, going into a house you knew you were unwelcome in but wanting to worship the Lord? She heard that He was there she must have thought, “If only I may see this man, wash His feet, letting Jesus know that I love Him. What else could matter, my life is but a vapor and the fragrance is foul in the air; but if I can kiss His feet I will be satisfied. For Jesus is Lord!” Oh to have been the one who could kiss the feet of Jesus, who could wash His feet with the tears of my eyes, to dry them with my hair. A woman’s hair was considered to be her dignity, yet she used it to wash His feet. Why was she crying? Was she crying because she knew how distasteful her life was in the sight of perfection itself, was it the condemnation of the people around her, or was it simply that she loved the man whose feet she kissed? I see her crying and I realize that it was the latter, she saw Jesus who wouldn’t cry, and like Jesus said in the parable she loved Him more because she had been forgiven more. The Pharisee didn’t love Jesus that way he was even offended by Jesus letting her touch him; the poor man lacked understanding of the reality taking place. The moment the woman entered the room Jesus forgave her sins, in her heart I believe she felt the change sin cannot stand in the presence of God. Jesus knew who she was and why she came, He favored her and let her do what was appropriate to do to the Son of God. After she had washed His feet, she poured out perfume over His them I believe this too has a hidden meaning. The fragrance of her life was so foul, yet so sweet was the fragrance of the perfume. Humbly she came before Him, she kissed His feet out of respect and adoration, her tears stained with repentance wet His feet, what little dignity she had was in her hair and even that she used to dry them, was that enough by all means no. No, she must fragrance them with a costly perfume one that smells delightful one that would please her Lord. “God” she asked in her heart, “Would you accept my humble gift?” I believe that was what Jesus was looking at when he said to the Pharisee, “She has been forgiven much because she loved much. My daughter your sins are forgiven.” He made it very clear to the ones gathered there that what she had done was right and she was not to be despised for what she had done but commended for it. She had done right and her fragrance was pleasing to the Lord, now she could go and live her life to serve Him and follow the path of righteousness and of love for her Savior. God let me wash Your feet, let me lower myself and sacrifice my dignity to worship you with all that I am and let the fragrance of my life be pleasing to You.

My life is blistered by the actions that I have taken. I stand afflicted in the present from a past that continues to leap forward. I have played on this dodge ball team for years awaiting a substitute that never seems to call me out. Where am I to look now? The bleachers? They are only full of the people that came to speculate, cast their lots on how long I will last, and to see who will overcome and be named glorious in the sight of strength? Oh how I have yet to open my eyes to the glorious light that lay ahead of my gaze. If I were to open my eyes wide enough I am sure that I would be able to see it. But seeming how I lower my head and squint to see my feet walk in front of each other, my eyes lay in bondage to my shame.

I am to prideful to ask people to pray for me, but there is a man that can see through the mask of joy that I wear daily. In the beginning, it was he, he was the Word, he was with God, he was God, and his name was Jesus. Lost in a nation of humanism and false teachers who try to limit the divinity of this man, I find hope in knowing that Jesus was more than a man. He was God. He was the one that came forth and dwelt with the fruit of his creation. He knows the walls that I have constructed and has seen my skill and precision, with reasoning behind the blueprints. He has seen the tiny imperfections and knows where to strike to tear down the fortress surrounding my heart. Though I have yet to recognize him, a voice was crying out from the wilderness, saying “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.”

I have only just begun to see how much this man loves me. I can only wonder why. Have we gone so far left? Or, have we become so numb to our emotions, that it is beyond our dynamics, and hard to understand, that it is only natural, and more than normal to love. That is why this man has walked to the wayside, to pull us back to the beginning of understanding, the beginning of revelation for his love. We must take that closer look, correct our vision and focus in on that light hidden behind the darkened flesh of this Jewish man.

As my focus becomes clear it has become blurry again. This time from the swelling of my tear ducts, that cannot contain the rivers of gladness, full of a truth, that I have failed to see for years. Though I felt like I walked alone, I only failed to hold the hand of the man that walked beside me. As I lay hold of the warmth of the palm of comfort and security, I found grace and truth, hope and love. At this moment I no longer felt the weight of a world that only planned to accumulate more burdens. I began to feel a new birth. I have been spit out of grace a new creature covered in the heat of the blood of a God that became flesh. My chest beats a rhythm of courage and strength that I have never felt before. This is because I am no longer born of natural descent, nor of human decision, or a husband’s will, but I have been born of God. I can only give thanks to this man, Jesus Christ.

Mark 14:32-42
My soul is grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch
This statement to me just emphasized the severity of the event that was about to occur. It wasn’t just an event where Jesus would come and die for our sins and we’d all be happy. It was Jesus, who is God, coming down to the earth He created, and allowing himself to be killed and crucified by his own creation because He loved us so much and that was the only way He could save us. His death carried such a gigantic load that God himself was grieved to the point of death.
Abba Father! All things are possible for You remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.
I cry every time I read this. I highly doubt that anyone in their right mind would want to be crucified. Even though Jesus asked for God to remove this burden from him, He loved us so much that He asked the Father’s will to be done instead of His.
I know why Jesus is the ultimate example for a human being to follow. Even to the point of death, he submits Himself to God and prays for not His will but His Father’s will to be done.
John 18:1-11
The betrayal
What I’m struggling with a lot is how can Judas betray the man that he has followed around for so long. He has seen with his own eyes all the miracles that had happened. His faith should be out the roof.
It makes me realize that anyone can fall. Even people who have experienced God first hand are still able to fall to the lies of the enemy.
This definitely confirms the sovereignty and wisdom of God, how He plans everything out, and allows certain things to happen so that His will might be carried out..
Peter cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant
Honestly if I were a disciple at that time and have been through everything that they have been through, I would like to think that my reaction would have been similar to Peter’s.
It was definitely an act of boldness, but just carried out in the wrong way. If only Peter could have displayed his boldness by not denying Jesus. But I’m not surprised that Peter denied Jesus because it allowed for the fulfillment Jesus’ prophesy, and in a way raised Peter’s faith in Jesus.
John 18:12-14 & 19-24
They bound Him and brought him before the high priest
Wrong move definitely, binding the son of God. I know it’s kind of mean, but I want to see how God dealt with these people who bound His son.
Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people
Some irony here. Again just the sovereignty of God. What this man meant for evil, God meant it for good. It’s true that it was beneficial for Jesus to die on behalf of the people because through His death, mankind was saved.
John 18:28-40 (Jesus before Pilate)
My kingdom is not of this world, if My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm
That is so intense. I want to see angels fighting. Imagine some humans wanted to arrest Jesus and bind him up, and an angel comes and just raises his hand, and they all fall to the ground.
I’m really excited to see the day that His kingdom would be of this world. Just all the different sights and events we as believers would see. The glory of God, and what he meant for creation to be. It will be glorious.
I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover
It would be interesting to see whether or not Pilate would have come to know Christ. To me he seemed to be open to what Jesus was saying, up to the point where he did not condemn Him, but even found no guilt in Him.
Not this Man, but Barabas
This saddened my heart that the Jews would rather a murderer be released, than Jesus. To some of them Jesus was a teacher, others a prophet. But those are nothing compared to a murderer, yet they chose Barabas instead. Just the blindness and ignorance that they had
John 19:1-16 (Scourging and a crown of thorns)
God humbled himself to the point where he was humiliated, tortured, and mocked at by his own creations. I feel devastated because of what they did, but at the same time it was God’s will, so I feel like I should be at peace with it. But I’m not. I mourn over what happened, but rejoice in knowing that God’s will was done through these harsh events.
You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given to you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.
What I got from this passage is that Jesus put the blame on the Jews instead of Pilate. For it was the Jews who delivered Him to Pilate.
In this passage, after putting Jesus through torture, Pilate still wanted to release Him.
I feel that Pilate’s heart was not as bad as the other Jews. He tried to be merciful and time after time tried to get the Jews to not kill Jesus, but it ended up not working.
Pilate heard that Jesus claimed to be God, and became afraid and tried to make efforts to release Jesus.
Pilate finally caves under the pressure of the Jews and hands him over to be crucified.
In a way I feel kind of bad for Pilate. He’s torn between releasing a man who he knows is innocent, to trying to plead a crowd who is accusing him of not siding with Pilate’s authority figure, Caesar.
God’s will was still done through Pilate though, because if Pilate had not given in, then there would have been no Crucification.
I really want to know whether or not this Pilate went to heaven.