SCRIPTURE: John 19
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. [John 19:14-15]
In the heat of the moment, we often see a person’s true colours.
Here we see the true colours of the religious leaders – no king but Caesar!
Here we see the true colours of Pilate – gives in to the crowd’s demands out of fear, not out of conviction.
Here we see the true colours of Jesus – concern for His mother even while dying on the cross.
Here we see the true colours of Joseph and Nicodemus – afraid to believe publicly, but stand up for Jesus in the end.
It’s not who we are when everything is going fine, when we’re sitting and church nicely dressed with smiles on our faces – its who we are under pressure, how we act when the going gets tough.
That’s when our true colours show.
The religious leaders hated Caesar, and they hated Pilate, and they hated Jesus for not hating the Romans.
But their love for themselves overrides their hatred of Caesar – we have no king but Caesar!
What would it take for them to say this?
What would it take for Peter to deny Jesus, even though he wanted to be His follower?
The challenge for us is whether our beliefs and conviction will hold under pressure – whether we’re being tempted or ridiculed or facing hardship for them.
To stand up for what we believe, even if there are negative consequences, takes inner strength and determination.
Satan will use whatever pressure he can to get us to compromise, to go against our beliefs and convictions.
We face these kinds of challenges every day – in little and big ways.
Will we stay true to what we believe, even if it means people will question or challenge us?
Jesus loves us, and He watches us as we live out our lives before Him.
He hears us when we sing our worship songs, and He hears us when we talk with our peers.
He is aware of what we claim to believe, but He also sees how our actual commitments show themselves.
He is not looking to criticize or condemn us, He loves us and wants the best for us.
As He did with His mother, He looks down at us with compassion and wants us to be free, blessed, protected.
But He will also test our claims of faith, to see whether we are committed to Him or not.
He allows Satan to tempt us, to challenge us under pressure.
From Satan’s point of view, this is to bring us down; but from Jesus’ point of view, it is to strengthen us.
Every time we stand firm, live out our beliefs and convictions, we get stronger.
Like gold, our faith is refined through fire: For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [1 Peter 1:6-7]
How will our faith handle the fire, what true colours will show for us under pressure?
Look for the small tests that you go through today, to live according to your convictions.
Stay true to what you believe, don’t compromise for the sake of comfort or convenience.
Let everyone know who your king is – we have no king but Jesus!
PRAYER:
Lord, as I go through my day, help me to stay true to You and to my convictions. Lead me through the fire so that my faith can come out stronger, purer in the end!
I read today’s chapter with some of my seminary work still resounding in my head. Much of my study lately has been on the issue of causality – asking the question “why”. As I live out my day and study I am learning to ask the question why and then look for the primary cause of the event or situation
When I read that Jesus was crucified, died and was buried I ask “why”?
It was because of me, because I was broken. The primary cause of the death of Jesus is my brokenness and His love for me. I know this is true for me and it is also true for you because we all are broken somehow and because of that Jesus had to die.
Thank you Jesus for dying for me and for all broken people.
We are all like tea bags – we do not know how strong we are until we get into hot water,
Pilate was afraid of the crowd and thus crumbled to their desires.
The crowd one day praised Him and then was swayed to cry crucify Him!
Christ showed the love for His family even as He was dying.
Joseph and Nicodemus claimed Christ.
How will I live for Jesus today? Will others see Christ in me? What will be my response when I am tested by my daily living for Jesus. Help me daily to stand up for Jesus Lord as I strive to please Him in all I do. Thank You for the Encourager who helps me along the way. In all I do and say, may I be strong in You.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own;
Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.