John 19
PRESSURE
Have you ever found yourself in the same position as Pilate? Jesus was delivered to Pilate so that he could pronounce the death sentence, enabling Jesus to be crucified ‘legally.’ But though Pilate had cross examined Jesus, he couldn’t find any reasons to put him to death.
Here are Pilate’s reactions to Jesus:
“I find no guilt in him.” (John 18 v 38 ESV).
“See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” (19 v 4).
“Behold the man!” (v 5).
“Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” (v 6).
“When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid.” (v 8).
“From then on Pilate sought to release him” (v 12).
“Behold your King!” (v 14).
Pilate knew the truth about Jesus and he was afraid. Pilate knew that Jesus was the Son of God, the King of the Jews, and the Messiah of Israel. He had no doubt in his mind about the Man, Jesus, standing in front of him. But public pressure prevailed. “So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.” (v 16).
How often do we know what is right but bow to the pressure of the crowd (or the loudest voice)? It could be anywhere: between you and your spouse, at school, at work, in a social or family environment, or even with our fellow believers. Sometimes, as it was for Pilate that day, the pressure can be intense. It’s hard, I know, but let’s do better and do what is right despite the pressure, the threats or the rewards of doing otherwise.
May we live to give glory to God in all we do and say this week.
With love in our Lord,
Robert
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New on the Thinky Things Website
Practical Love
Exhortation by Robert
(18 minutes)
In this exhortation Robert encourages us to show love in a very practical way, based on the actions of Jesus in John 13 and 14.
Watch it at https://thinkythings.com/talks/
Short Story: Resourceful Scouting
3 minutes to read
“Someone has been dumping rubbish in the bush,” one of the Boy Scouts was shouting as they found a sack hidden in some shrubbery. Another scout untied the sack and was pulling out old bits of paper. “It’s just all paper,” he said.
Brett’s eyes nearly fell out of his head. His boys had found the stolen Charter of Interdependence!
Would this amazing find change their lives?
Read it at https://thinkythings.com/home/short-stories/
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