John 19:16-22 - The King of the Jews Crucified

John 19:16-22

16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.

17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

Message: The King of the Jews Crucified

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Even up to the point of Jesus' crucifixion, the Jews wanted to be in control of the proceedings. Pilate wrote above Jesus - King of the Jews, but the Jews wanted a clarification with Jesus saying, "I am the King of the Jews." But that was it and Pilate would not change the reading. 

As I have discovered in this reading, prior to Pilate finally giving over Jesus he had him flogged and scourged, perhaps thinking that beating would be enough for the Jewish officials. But it wasn't and so now in going to bear His cross and going to the place of crucifixion, though the Gospel of John does not mention it, the other gospels do mention more scourging of Jesus which would have left him very weak. He was so weak he was unable to carry the cross beam on his shoulder Simon of Cyrene was grabbed from the crowd to carry it. 

I think it is hard somewhat to think of the flogging and scourging that Jesus received. It was necessary for Jesus to die, but the beating he received and infliction of pain was indeed severe. And maybe it is easier to not think about it. Crucifixion was indeed the most extreme form of the death penalty in first century Roman Empire. It was an agonizing process to die in this way - a slow death, with nails driven through their extremities. Hard to fathom and yet not a death march that seems to have been repeated in history. I read though where it lasted until about 400 AD. 

Summary: Jesus is taken to be crucified and the sign of King of the Jews is displayed over him in a mocking way. 

Promise: Jesus bears the wrath for us and it should give us confidence that his love is an enduring love.

Prayer: Thank you God for saving my soul. Thank you God for making me whole. You God are my Savior and Lord and I thank you for your great love for me. It is hard to read and think about the pain you suffered, even that many suffered in dying a crucified way. Thank you for your great love for me. Thank you for the life that I have in You and the peace that You give. I want others to have that same peace and joy and love. You are the great One. Keep me focused on You. Go before me today and give me Your Strength. Help those you place in my life. Give me confidence to speak boldly of you today and to trust in You. Be my rock and My hope. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 18:38b-40 - Exchanging Jesus for Barabbas

John 18:38b-40

38b And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Message: Exchanging Jesus for Barabbas

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: I am at the end of John 18. After going to a garden with the disciples, Judas arrives as well bringing Roman officers, chief priests and Pharisees to arrest Jesus. Jesus willingly goes. It's time, but Peter isn't ready to see Jesus leave and pulls out a sword, striking the high priest's slaves ear. Jesus tells Peter to put the sword away. Jesus is taken to a court for interrogation, first to Annas, then Caiaphas, then Pilate. Peter follows, and yet when questioned about being a disciple is recorded as being questioned by 3 people of his affiliation with Jesus and 3 times denies being a disciple/follower. Jesus had predicted this. Jesus proceeds to defend Himself from the officials questions. Throughout He speaks truth. The accusations seem unclear. Jesus wonders what is being asked of Him and defends His mission: to speak, teach in the synagogues, and be open to people. He is King, but his Kingdom is not of this world, but He has entered this world to speak Truth. 

Truth is what I see everyone wants in life. Defining themselves. Our jobs are about doing truth. Doing things right where we are planted. I am a Men's Retreat and we are seeking truth. This is who John has presented to us in His Gospel. The man of truth. It has been a simple message.

• Believe (3:12)
• Believe in Jesus (3:16)
• To enter - born of water and Spirit (3:5)
• Drink of Him, His water (4:13-14)
• Worship (4:23)
• Jesus is doing His Father's will on earth (4:34)
• Do not sin (5:14)
• Jesus gives life to whom He wishes (5:21)
• Believe and have eternal life (5:24)
• Receive Him who God sent (5:43)
• "I am the bread of life" (6:35)
• To come to Jesus, must be drawn (6:44)
• The world hates Jesus because He speaks of their evil deeds (7:7)
• If thirsty, go to Jesus and drink (7:37)
• Believe in Jesus and innermost being will flow rivers of living water (7:38)
• Follow Jesus, the light of the world, and you will have the light of life (8:12)
• Not believing results in dying in your wins (8:24)
• Abide in Jesus' words (8:31)
• Enter through Jesus, the door, to be saved (10:9)
• Jesus will lay his life down and take it up again (10:17-18)
• Jesus sheep hear His voice (10:27)
• Believe and there is life even if one dies (11:25)
• The Son of Man will be glorified (12:23)
• To believe in Jesus is to believe in God (12:44)
• Love one another (13:34)

At this point, the tone shifts to Love. It is as if people have believed and now Jesus focuses on His love and our need to love others and in the process bear fruit (15:8)

• A Helper will come (16:7) 
• He will guide you into all truth - to Glorify Jesus (16:13-14)
• Jesus wants us with Him (17:24)

This is the Truth. At least the truth John speaks of Jesus in His Gospel. And it is because of these words that when given the opportunity to release one prisoner during the Passover - Barabbas or Jesus -- Barabbas being a criminal who most likely murdered someone, they chose to release Barabbas, resulting in Jesus being condemned to death -- though not really guilty of any crime - and yet not a friend to the world, but one focused on a broader goal -- Truth for eternity. 

Interesting dichotomy here. 

People of this world are indeed stuck in this world. 

Part of me wants to absolve Pilate of being responsible for Jesus' death because He does state that he finds no guilt in Jesus. Yet, at that moment, he does not let Jesus go. I think of most scenes in a court and when a judge pronounces someone innocent, he is let go. But Pilate does not do that and instead knows that the Jews need to let someone go who is guilty. 

Verse 39 mentions a custom of releasing someone. Leviticus 16:5-10, "5 He shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 Then Aaron shall offer the bull for the sin offering which is for himself, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household. 7 He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 8 Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 Then Aaron shall offer the goat on which the lot for the Lord fell, and make it a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat." In this scenario, there is determine to be one scapegoat or one that escapes the offering. And the process of choosing will be casting lots. Casting lots appears to be random. Proverbs 16:33 however says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." What appears to be random is not random. It is a decision from the Lord. And in that decision results in one dying and one not. 

Is there anything random in this life? While up at the men's retreat, after playing guitar, the guitar player dislocated his finger and had to leave to go back to town to the emergency room. This happened while he was in bed. Someone later called it a freak accident. Yet, I wonder if it was random. Often, we think of cancer or aliments that people get as being random because you do not know when they will strike, and yet I wonder if it is all indeed random or if there is intention of the Lord. Maybe at the time we see it as being random and yet, in His perfect plan of working all things out for good (Romans 8:28) he takes seemingly random events and makes them good. Yet, how can we say this about a school shooting, a hurricane that takes the lives of thousands, a terrorist bombing, a genocide, the World War II concentration camps? Do we prefer to conclude these are random events? Perhaps it makes us feel better to not think that God could have been involved in all of this for some purpose that He decides. Those events occurred due to the choices from man, we could conclude following the result of Adam and Eve's sin. But not all. Hurricane's, Tsunami's, earthquakes, happened according to nature and winds and atmospheric pressure - yet, all of these set up by the hand of God - created as part of this world. 

Scapegoat - A person or group that is blamed for something wrong that someone else did, or made to suffer in their place. For example, "Politicians have used the financial sector as a scapegoat for the global economic crisis". In the Bible, a goat that symbolically took on the sins of the people during the Yom Kippur ceremony and was then sent into the wilderness. The term was coined in 1530 by Protestant scholar William Tyndale during his translation of the Hebrew Bible into English.

Other Verses:

Leviticus 19:4 - Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the Lord your God. 

Matthew 27:15-21 - 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. 21 But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

Luke 23:18-25 - 18 But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

I John 5:21 - Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Interesting that these others verses that accompany this reading are references to idolatry. In choosing Barabbas, the one chosen was not the real thing, but an impostor. So on one hand, their was a chose, a rather obvious one in that the innocent one was not chosen. And yet as mentioned earlier, it was not random. Thus, in the choosing, in what appeared to be random - it wasn't. 

Summary: Pilate states Jesus is innocent, but he remains a prisoner and the chief priests must determine between Jesus and Barabbas, the murderer. Barabbas is chosen to be spared. 

Promise: Both this (Jesus) and the other goat (Barabbas) typified Christ; this in his death and passion for us, that in his resurrection for our deliverance.

Prayer: Lord, I am still trying to understand this passage of scripture and how it relates to Leviticus 16. But, I do know you were chosen as it would seem, though innocent, to take on our sin. The lot fell to Barabbas to be set free and yet as the thief, his sin and all of our sin was transferred to Jesus, the ultimate scapegoat for the sins of all people. Thank you God for knowing what we need always and in all things I submit and surrender to You and accept what You provide. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 12:12-15 - Greeting the King

John 12:12-15

12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT." 

Message: Greeting the King

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: In the first 11 verses of Chapter 12 the main idea of this text is the anointing of Jesus by Mary. She does it. Not sure what prompts her to do this and not sure if she was aware what she was doing. Hard to say. But there was a significant purpose in it, as it anticipated the burial of Jesus. Now maybe He is the only One that knew when this burial would be soon, but nevertheless it was significant. 

And now in this passage is another offering of sorts or another recognition of sorts of Jesus. Passover is near or beginning and many have come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Jesus is 2 miles away in Bethany and word of Him has spread. But in verse 12 it mentions that He is headed to Jerusalem and in anticipation of this people come bringing branches of palm trees and speak words from Psalm 118:26, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord." The words from Psalm 118 could have referred to the Messiah, but they could have referred to anyone that was coming to Jerusalem or coming to the Temple to present an offering. Jesus will be soon presenting the ultimate offering, sacrificing Himself for the sins of mankind. 

Hosanna can take on the meaning "Save us Now." And that phrase is not found in Psalm 118. So perhaps by using this word, it takes the message from Psalm and tweaks it so that it speaks of Jesus. Jesus is the one who will save them. 

After this occurs, Jesus then finds a donkey. The donkey signifies Him arriving in humility. Again, He will be one who sacrifices Himself. He is not there to conquer His foes or to wage war against them. He is not coming on a war horse, but coming on a donkey. Jesus has a different foe - sin, Satan, and death. A humble animal could be ridden even of a victorious king like in I Kings 1:33. 

This last phrase is a quote from Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey." This verse mentions a king coming, a king that is different. And now applies to Jesus. And John points us to this here. 

Summary: Jesus is intentional, being greeting in Jerusalem with palm branches and then riding on a donkey, humble with a foe of sin, Satan, and death.

Promise: We need to approach the Jesus that came and not the one we want. Let us seek to follow Jesus as He reveals Himself in the Bible. 

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for revealing Yourself. And thank you for the bridge that is brought from the Old Testament words to Your coming. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 6:15 - Withdrawing From a Confused Crowd

John 6:15
Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force, to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.  

Message: Withdrawing from a Confused Crowd

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As I am reading the Bible, sometimes I forget about the politics going on at the time of the writings or even that there is that going on. I've never been a great person to pay a lot of attention to this even in the world in which I live in. I suppose it is mostly this way because of the way I grew up and the little prominence that this played in my life. We did not watch any news show in the evening or in the morning and we never did get the paper on a regular basis, except for the Sunday paper, which my dad often read while we went to church. But, as a citizen I can't help but pay attention to it as it is talked about and I am to be a concerned citizen. It is important, but sometimes I wonder how important. And yet maybe it is not so important to me because I've never been really negatively impacted by the leadership and my quality of life. 

Jesus had fed the 5,000 at the time of Passover. And verse 14 culminates with the idea that Jesus is the Prophet who is to come in the world (fulfilling Deuteronomy 18:18), a prophet to propel them to political independence. Jews had a desire to be in full possession of the land promised to them and therefore, free from Roman occupation. The first Passover was a setting where the Jewish people had an aspiration to be free from the control of Egypt and now this was similar to their desire to be free from Rome.

And so Jesus, like Moses, could be the one to free them. And thus the reason for verse 14. And yet Jesus had a different purpose. As such, verse 15 today states - Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force, to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. Jesus had to get away. He heads back, to where He was before with his disciples (verse 3). He changed the tide and went away to hopefully show that He has a different purpose. He changed the scenery. 

Summary: Upon hearing that the crowd thought he was their Prophet to shake things up politically, Jesus withdrew and went back to the mountain, alone. 

Promise: Jesus will be the Lord and King over us on His terms, not ours.

Prayer: Lord, yesterday in that session at work about race, I did recognize that as a white person I have had privilege and haven't been stopped by police or questioned just because of my race. I think of this when I think about politics and the leaders of this world and how I haven't been very involved, mainly because I haven't had a reason to be involved because my world has not been upset by their leadership. And I appreciate this message Lord, this simply message you inspired John to provide to us, to remind us Lord once again that you on this earth were about something different, to free people from their sin and to help us all recognize our sin. Thank for the simplicity of this, but also for what I have and have been given. You've made me special, yes. But you have also placed me in this world at such a time, at such a place. Continue to show me how I am to live. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Revelation 1 - Jesus and His Servant John

Revelation 1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Message: Jesus and His Servant John

Time: John mentions himself as writer of this book 4 times. He wrote it from the island of Patmos around AD 95. It is a book of eschatology (last things), first writing to 7 churches John had been involved with. It then deals with the specifics of the tribulation (4-18) and then Christ's dominance over the forces of evil and a re-creation of a place for the redeemed (19-22). 

What the Lord is Saying:

So after spending much time looking at Jesus, Christ alone and what it meant that Jesus came. I've spent the last remaining lessons looking at the encounters Jesus had with people. Nathanael, Samaritan Woman, Pontius Pilate, Two men on the road after his resurrection, Saul, and now John the Revelator (as Phil Keaggy would say). 

These words giving to John are events which must soon take place. John received visions or was in the Spirit of what would happen and he records what he sees in these writings. He speaks to the seven churches who released us from our sins by His blood. 

It is clear from this first chapter that Jesus spoke to John and he received a special experience from Jesus that has now been relayed to us. It reminds me that Jesus is involved in our lives. He is still speaking to us, through the Holy Spirit. We are really enamored and enthralled by this text. It has been a controversial text and many different people walk away from it with many different interpretations. To me, that seems fine. It is fun to understand the text but understanding it is not crucial I believe to my salvation. But, I do believe Jesus had this encounter with John and he is passing on that understanding through these words. 

Conclusions - I have spent a lot of time on this particular issue of Tabletalk. I started looking at in January, reading through the articles and providing a synopsis of them. I suppose I decided to be thorough in looking at the issue since I was taking so long to go through it and it wasn't until the end of March that I started my first post on the Divine Nature of Christ. The issue is about solus Christus - Christ alone. It has been very illuminating to me. It seems too small to simply say that Jesus has had a significant impact on my life and the life of us all. But, it also seems necessary to say that Jesus and His mission completes the story of our lives and faith. He is divine and this is significant though remains quite controversial. But, in addition to being divine he had a human nature, needing to eat, needing rest and being tempted, as I am daily. 

The lesson on Jesus as our Federal Head is an interesting one to me for Jesus makes us all alive as Adam ushered in sin to all men. It makes sense and yet it is truly a message that is difficult to understand for those that have not been given divine understanding of it by God. And it was followed up by saying that Jesus is the True Israel, the true Messenger from God and the one as our Messiah that will rescue and deliver His People. O how rich is this understanding of God and His word. 

These lessons were followed with understanding further Jesus obedience. For Him to be our Messiah, and Messenger and final substitute, he must have been completely obedient in every way - as he grew up and He also showed us the importance of baptism and how we are to respond to temptation and how Jesus fulfilled the Law. I am incapable of being obedient to the Law so the Law means something a little different to me, it first and foremost reminds me that I can't obey it but it was meant to be obeyed and Jesus did this. Therefore, I always return to Him for having saved me and done this. And in saving me He suffered. Sin has consequences and Jesus took on all of those consequences for me. 

Then there were lessons about Jesus' titles - Prophet, Priest and King. Again, what I see in Jesus is completeness and finality. He is the only Prophet that is needed. He spoke for God and He always accomplished God's purposes. He did it all so there is no reason for anyone else. He is our High Priest, clearing the way for us to approach the Father. And He intercedes for me. He is all I need. He is King. he is King of Kings. 

It is his atonement that makes me whole. He paid the penalty of sin for me, once for all, but also for all he has called. The reality is that not every person will be drawn to Him. And so while he can save all, he only saved those that He has called. And it is only by Him rising from the dead that I can rise from the dead. He conquered death and it is through my faith in Him that I share this resurrection. 

This lesson ended with Jesus and his encounters with people, reminding me that He is encounters us and meets us and what a joy this is to me, to all of us. 

Promise: Everything changes in our lives or should change in our lives when we encounter Jesus. 

Prayer: O God, thank you for these lessons. They've taken me a lot of time to get through but getting through them has been an absolute joy. It has reminded me Jesus how you have done it all for me. And that life is always about You. O forgive me for shying away sometimes from speaking of You. Help me to be a light for you and to encourage people as I can about You. Thank you for speaking so clearly to me through these words. Thank you for giving me new life and that life is all about You. Continue to give me discernment and knowledge of You and Your word. Bring to mind these truths in my life, as I live life, as I engage with people. I want to be like you Jesus and think and do the way you think and do. I praise your name and thank you for changing my life for not just now, but for all eternity. 

John 18:28-19:16a - Jesus Stands Before Pontius Pilate

John 18:28 - 19:16a

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “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.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”

Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.

Message: Jesus Stands Before Pontius Pilate

Time: John is not recorded as the author, but unanimous testimony of early Christians, like Iraneus in the 2nd century declare him the author. Plus, the eyewitness account give rise that he was one of the close knit disciples and Peter already penned through Mark (the Gospel of Mark), and James died soon after the resurrection, which leaves John. It is thought this book was written between 85 and 95 AD. The Deity of Christ is a striking quality of John's gospel.

What the Lord is Saying:

Once again, I felt like I should reference the entire text in the Post. Sometimes I just do excerpts from the text. This is a familiar story, whereby Jesus is delivered over to Pontius Pilate. Pilate is only going to sentence Jesus because the Jews want this to happen. When given the option of releasing a man, the Jews choose another man, a robber. What they have against Jesus is he proclaims himself as a king and as one with authority. Jesus has always made it clear that he has authority and this has always bothered the Pharisees and Jews. Pilate did not care about Jesus. Even though he had no reason to believe he was guilty, he also had no reason to let him go and to that end, he feared his own safety and his own name if he would have gone that route in letting him go. 

One of the words that Pilate spoke of Jesus was "Behold, the Man!" When speaking of the man, Pilate is referring to Jesus as a man. Sin entered the world through a man, Adam, and now Jesus as our Savior, and as a man will atone for the sins of other human beings. It is an important distinction as it took a second Adam to reconcile us to God. Romans 5:19 declares, For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Jesus does remark that He is King. “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” He is truth. And so he submitted to the authorities in order to stand in Truth. Jesus knew this time was coming. He knew His message was one of controversy. Many times it is recorded in the Gospel of how he would tell people that he has healed or encountered to not make a commotion about Him because He wanted to get the message of His gospel out to many and He knew that what He was putting forth would be received by some but for others they would feel threatened. Jesus is still this way. Mentioning God is fine, but once we start mentioning that Jesus is more than a man, more than a prophet, people are taken aback. But this is who Jesus is and this is who I need to proclaim Him to be, beyond what is heard on sunday morning at church. Jesus is God incarnate and He is Savior and King and Lord. 

Promise: Let us always love the truth and proclaim it even when it is not convenient for us. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Jesus and for Him being fully man and fully God and dying on the cross for my sins and then rising again, conquering death and taking me now with Him to eternal life with Him. I will conquer death in the same way. You God are Lord and King. Lord, you remind me though Lord of how I need to continue to proclaim you in the streets, in the office, throughout my life that You are Lord of my life. I admit too often my words of you are safe and I mention God but not sure amongst unsaved that I mention Jesus, you having changed my life. Lord, I want to be an ambassador for You and be a witness and proclaim You as You proclaimed me and chose me. I want to stand up for Jesus no matter what crowd or people group I am in. Show me now how to have the strength of sharing you Jesus with others. 

Revelation 17:14 - Christ Our King

Revelation 17:14

They will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.

Message: Christ Our King

Time: John mentions himself 4 times as author. It was written around the year 95 on John's exile to the island of Patmos after preaching the gospel to Asia. Revelation comes from the Greek word for apocalypse and refers to an unveiling. The book is about the tribulation period with symbolic language, giving us the end of the story -- Jesus will once and for all heal the wounds of sin, reign for a thousand years on earth, then re-create the world into a place that represent's God's original design. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

This verse speaks of a war that is happening with the Son of God - the Lamb of God - Jesus - and today it definitely feels like Jesus as Lord is being put on the shelf in our present life by the world. Yet, should we be surprised? This world is of Satan and the people resemble that type of thinking and yet the people of God know that Jesus is King of kings. 

To dig a little deeper into this verse in Revelation, I am interested in the title "King of kings" and why it was used. The Expositor's Greek New Testament (1897) references this title as a reference to the well-known Parthian title. "King of kings" which was a title first given to Parthian empires of their kings around 150 BC. This verse begins with "They will wage war against the Lamb." The preceding verses speak of the last of the seven angels, which were entrusted the execution of the last things and the last angel is referred to as the Great Harlot. And in 17:2 is mentioned that the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, this angel, the Great Harlot. The idea being that the kings accepted this angels idolatry and aligned themselves with her. And now in verse 14, they will wage war is the idea that these kings of the earth, kings of nations, will wage war with Jesus and Jesus the Lamb will overcome them because He is lord of lords and King of kings. Thus, Jesus is the King among all kings. Thus, it seems that John is taking a phrase that has been used of kings and empires somewhat recently, 250 years or less and ascribing that phrase - King of kings - to Jesus. 

It is interesting because I remember singing songs with "King of kings" in the verses. And there is the idea present often that all the governments do submit to Jesus as He is king of Kings. In the Bible are 6 references to King of Kings. I don't see this as a title given to the Lord God himself in the Old Testament, but there are 3 references to it in the new, 2 in Revelation and 1 time by Paul in I Timothy 6:15. 

Yet, the idea of God as King is mentioned in the Bible, like Psalm 10:16, "The Lord is King forever and ever; nations have perished from His land." So on one hand is the title "King of kings" which is not given too many times, but is a true concept and then the idea of Jesus as King is also prominent. 

One instance of this is found in John 12:12-16 as Jesus is entering Jerusalem on his way to being crucified. 

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

This reference in John seem to go back to Zechariah 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The Zechariah verse paints the picture of the ideal king coming. And then Zechariah also inserts, coming with salvation. Zechariah is prediction the fall of Israel here and the fall of the neighboring nations. This is not a conquering king coming with weapons, but a king coming as a prince of peace. The colt or ass references back to Judges passages that speak of riding on donkeys in preparation for judgment. This king was spoken by all the prophets and is one coming that will reign forever. So Jesus is meek and still the ultimate rescue for His people. And he is it. No more will be needed. Yes, He will come again to usher in the final kingdom on earth and in heaven, but His rescue of people's souls and lives will never again be repeated. 

This type of king in our lives in not fathomable. We have rotating kings and presidents. We have this constant stress or adulation of who will be our next leader. And the question of what type of leader He will be. Will God be by His side or will he only lean on human wisdom? So, this lesson is so important for Jesus is King of Kings and He is the last and ideal king. No one is better and no one needs to be better for He had done it all. 

Promise: I am Christ's ambassador to point people to the Jesus the only King and only true King of our lives, but we are to bow our knee to Him today and each day. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for showing me this text. It takes me time, but you illuminate me and open my eyes to your truth and the right understand of you Jesus as King, as the King of Kings. Thank you for using your word and speaking through others in the past to also give me understanding. I am your ambassador of truth. Help me to keep being a blessing to others. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah, Obedience in Childhood, Obedience in Baptism, Obedience in Temptation, Obedience under the Law, Obedience in Suffering, Christ Our Prophet, Christ the Priest, Christ Our King

Mark 15:27-32 - Crucified and Reviled

Mark 15:27-32
27 They *crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. 28 [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”] 29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 32 Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
Message: Crucified and Reviled

Time:  Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has arrived at the cross. He was too weak to carry the crossbeam after being beaten, scourged, spit on, mocked, so Simon the Cyrene was grabbed as he passed by and he carried the beam until it was joined with the upright post. Jesus' garments were divided among the soldiers.

They *crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Jesus is not alone but has two robbers on either side of Him being crucified. By placing robbers on his right and left his reproach is equalized or ever worse than these two thieves. These men could have been part of the brigade of Barabbas. Yet, Jesus had not even sinned and still the rejection and mockery that he received was focused squarely on him. Mark does not even mention that they walked with Jesus to the cross bearing a crossbeam. Obviously the death on the cross is great, but for Jesus it went beyond physical pain to an attempt to hurt him emotionally and psychologically. [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”] Isaiah 53:12 states, "Because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors." The brackets around this verse are there because this verse is omitted from most manuscripts. But, it does show the fulfillment of prophecy.

Mark now talks of the emotional suffering that Christ endured by first, those passing by. This could have been a road or walkway or perhaps people made a specific trip to the crucifixion. Yet, there, seeing Jesus suffering isn't enough for them as they were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” Again, it is interesting to me what Mark calls attention to here. Peter was there, witnessing this and making note of how people responded. For Peter he seems to be focusing on other people a lot in this gospel. And the remark from the people is again a misunderstanding of what Jesus had said. The temple he had mentioned was himself not the physical structure. In fact these words will be fulfilled. Their words are as Gil mentions, "thou poor vain miserable creature, that boasted of thy power, where art thou now? and what dost thou think of thyself?"

The second group that Peter mentions is the expected chief priests and scribes: In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Their condemnation of Him seems more expected. Yet, unlike the passerby's the mocking is among themselves. But was not this their practice, to speak among themselves and instead motivate others be the ones assaulting him. Yes, they questioned Jesus, but this was more of a slanderous act they were doing.

And finally the 3rd group mentioned are those on the left and right of Jesus: the robbers who were also being crucified. This contempt is odd by all. Nothing more can be done to Jesus and yet there is an attempt to do more, by everyone around him continuing to mock him. The robbers were almost declaring that they were unlike him, but even worse. Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him. 

Summary - Mark will now take a moment to not talk about how Jesus is suffering physically on the cross, but how the passerby's or the people watching Jesus be crucified don't just watch, but continue to mock him and insult him.

Promise: R.C. Sproul writes, "Jesus was not about saving Himself. He was about saving His people, which required that He stay on the cross until the bitter end."

Prayer: Lord, you experienced pain that I will never know. I seek to escape pain. Thank you Lord. That's really the best I can do is thank you and try to pledge my life in service to You. You didn't deserve it and yet it fulfilled prophecy. None of this was needed and yet you endured whatever it took to save me, to save all of us.

Mark 15:21-26 - The King on the Cross

Mark 15:21-26 
21 They *pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.
22 Then they *brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. 24 And they *crucified Him, and *divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”


Message: The King on the Cross

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is on his way to being crucified. He has been tried before the Jewish Council for blasphemy because he has admitted to being the Messiah, the Son of God and then the Jewish leaders take Him before Pilate with the charge He is King of the Jews. Jesus agrees but throughout all of the other assaults on him verbally he remains silent. A crown of thorns is placed on his head and then a reed or staff is used to whip that crown and drive those thorns into him while others spit on him and mock him. 

It is Friday and Jesus is on his way to being crucified for the crime of being King of the Jews. The Jewish people want him crucified, having been persuaded by the chief priests, scribes, and Jewish leaders who I believe are threatened by Him. 

Jesus' crucifixion was carried out by Roman authorities for they had jurisdiction over capital punishment. On the way to being crucified the prisoner would carry a crossbeam or patibulum and then when arrived at the site of the crucifixion would be joined with a stipes or upright post. Jesus has already been beaten and scourged to the point that his body can't carry the crossbeam. They *pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross. The soldiers grabbed Simon as he passed by to help Jesus bear the crossbeam and carry it. Then they *brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. At this point the upright post is joined to the crossbeam.

They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. It was a custom of the Jews to offer to those preparing to be crucified a strong drink or narcotic to help dull the pain or mask the pain the person would be enduring on the cross. But Jesus would not take it. Jesus would bear the full burden of pain.

And they *crucified Him. Mark does not here dwell on the specific events of the now crucifixion, but simply remarks that He was crucified though this period of time would be a longer period that other Gospel writers go into more detail about. Mark instead emphasizes the garments of Jesus and dividing them up. and *divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. This act was prophesied by the Psalmist - They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:18). This is really another moment of humiliation. The only thing that Jesus owns at this point is the clothes on his back and even at this moment, those clothes are stripped from him and they are taken by the soldiers and divided up among them.

It was the third hour when they crucified Him. This is a point many have brought up as a contradiction because John states in 19:14 - it was about the sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” The Pulpit Commentary offers these words - "The third hour would literally be nine o'clock. But we gather from verse 33 that our Lord was on his cross, and still alive, at the sixth hour, that is, at twelve o'clock. The simplest mode of solving the chronological difficulty seems to be this: The Jews divided their day into four parts, which they called hours, namely, the first, from six to nine; the third, from nine to twelve; the sixth, from twelve to three; and the ninth, from three to six. It was, then, within the third hour, that is, between nine and twelve, that they crucified him; and it was from the sixth to the ninth hour that he was actually upon his cross. St. John employs the Asiatic mode of computing time."

The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” This inscription was meant to humiliate Him and yet Jesus has proclaimed this to be the truth when questioned by Pilate. He is the King of the Jews but this was the reason for the execution because Caesar was instead the true emperor over everyone in the land.

Summary - Jesus is taken to Golgatha to be crucified but he is to weak to carry the crossbeam and so a passerby is pulled in to bear the cross and carry it for Jesus to Golgatha. At this place the upright post is fastened to the crossbeam and Jesus is brought up to hang on the cross. He denies the offering of a strong drink by the Jews to help alleviate some of the pain. His garment is divided up among the soldiers, thus humiliating him more and a sign is placed over him bearing his crime, King of the Jews.

Promise: Matthew Henry states here - Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must remember what was written over his head; he is a King, and we must give up ourselves to be his subjects.

Prayer: Jesus, you were crucified to death for me. You were the lamb led to the slaughter. You experienced a pain I never will. I avoid pain at all costs and hate it when it disturbs my life. Thank you for suffering for me. I want to live for You. I thank you for bearing my pain and going to be crucified. Help me to not forget this especially as I take the Lord's Supper. Use that time taking the Lord's Supper to take me back to the pain that you experienced for me.

Mark 15:6-15 - Pilate Capitulates To The Crowd

Mark 15:6-15
6 Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Message: Pilate Capitulates To The Crowd

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - It is Friday morning and the chief priests have consulted and concluded Jesus is guilty of blasphemy, but now they take him to Roman authority, Pilate, to recommend his execution. Blasphemy carries no weight with Pilate so they mention that He proclaims himself to be King of the Jews. Pilate addresses Jesus and he admits it and then others accuse him but he remains silent to these many other accusations.

In verse 10, the text remarks that Pilate was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. This was the concern that the Jewish leaders had with Jesus. They felt like he would rival their authority. This is interesting because in life sometimes conflicts are over authority and not necessarily what is best for the people. From Peter's perspective, the Jewish leaders had envy for Jesus because they saw the audiences that he commanded and they saw how people flocked to him, walking many miles to see Him. They didn't have that type of popularity or notoriety.

As Pilate now is going to bring these criminals before the people it is known that at this time of year, during the Passover feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. To this day the president prior to leaving office will pardon criminals or set them free. And this appears to be the custom at this time of the year. Pilate wondered if Jesus was the one that would be released. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” This is now the name of Jesus, King of the Jews, and not messiah, healer, provider, but rather the name that the Jewish leaders took the greatest offense.

The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. Barabbas is the one brought forth to be released. He was a rebel who had been imprisoned for staging a revolt against the Roman government which was often the case among people. The Jewish government ended up being there only for spiritual matters while the Roman government had the weight of criminal items. Thus, it had more weight and there were those that didn't like this, like Barabbas, who had in the past sparked a revolt against the Roman authority. And the idea of Pilate releasing someone is repeated - The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. The custom had been for someone to be released at the Passover.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. The chief priests wanted to make it clear that the one to be released was Barabbas and not Jesus. So it was clear that Barabbas would be released so Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” Pilate seems to be experiencing some inward struggle as he then asks the people what would be the fate of the one they call King of the Jews. Jesus is not simply called the King but is known to be the king by the people is Pilate's assertion. Though Pilate is willing to let Jesus go, the people respond with They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” This was prompted by the chief priests and then now echoed by the crowd. Yet even after hearing this pronouncement by the people, Pilate wonders again - “Why, what evil has He done?” but the response is still the same But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” This is a mob scene. I recall a movie called the Oxbow Incident that I always thought showed the picture of this. In that story is the idea that they people are convinced of the guilty of 3 men and stage a lynching of those men for the murder of one of their own, and yet in the end they discover that even after the lynching the guilty party is still at large and they go back to a salon in sorrow for what they have done.

It seems the crucifixion of Jesus takes on a similar tone and one we have to be mindful of and careful of, even today. There is a tendency in us to go along with the crowd and ignore the facts but to have in us this desire to see another man's demise because it is somewhat easy and at the time we want Justice.

Pilate does what the people ask him to do. Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. The chief priests have gotten what they wanted, Jesus to be crucified.

Summary - It is Friday and the fate of not only Jesus but also a rebel is up for grabs. The chief priests want to see Jesus' demise. Pilate is going to pardon someone, but the attention of the pardon is turned towards Barabbas who has been an insurrectionist or rebel of the Roman authority. The people recommend his removal. But do not want Jesus to be pardoned. Jesus, the chiefs priests felt, was a rebel to their own authority. Despite a couple of attempts by Pilate to set Jesus free, he turns Jesus over to the people to have Him crucified.

Promise: Every time we trust in earthly princes we come to be apart of the crowd that crucified Jesus. Our allegiance is not to be with the crowd and the pressure we may feel to be a part of that crowd, but to focused on the Truth, the Truth of God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for going along with the crowd often instead of doing what is right. I am never promised a rose garden, but in fact there will be hard toil as I labor for You and desire to achieve maturity as a believer in Christ. Help me God to beat to the correct drum. O Lord, my Lord, how majestic is Your name in all of the earth. I am to praise Your name and do the right thing, no matter the cost.

Mark 15:1-5 - Taken to Pilate

Mark 15:1-5
1 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He *answered him, “It is as you say.” 3 The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. 4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” 5 But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.
Message: Taken to Pilate

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus was arrested at night time after having spent time praying in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Passover meal and Lord's Supper in which he announced that someone among them would betray him. They all said, "not me." Despite this response when Jesus needed them to watch out while he was praying they fell asleep. And come evening there was the chief priests and elders showing up to arrest him. They took him Thursday night and immediately had a court of sort where they had witnesses to testify against him. But this didn't merit much until Caiaphas asked him if he was the Messiah, the son of God. He admitted he was and that he would sit at the right hand of God. Caiaphas called this blasphemy and others there started to spit on Jesus and fist pump him. At this point, Peter, who had followed Jesus there as well as John, was asked by the high priests servant girl if he was a part of Jesus group and Peter denied his affiliation or that he even knew Jesus. This was just as Jesus had predicted and Peter wept.

It is now Friday morning. Jesus has not slept. All night they have spent accusing him and then starting to spit on him and punch him. Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. I wonder if interrogations like this always move this fast or because this is Jesus it is moving faster than normal. The chief priests and council ruled on religious matters but at some point they would then take an issue to Pilate, the Rome authority who would carry out capital punishment. Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea. He is in Jerusalem because of the major Jewish feasts because of the number of people in the city and having to deal with any issues.

Although blasphemy was the offense that the Sanhedrin Council had, blasphemy meant little to Pilate. Evidently, the Sanhedrin Council brought the issue of Jesus being king of the Jews to Pilate. Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” This is the crime Pilate is concerned about because he thinks it has something to do with usurping the authority of Rome.

And He *answered him, “It is as you say.” Jesus' response to this was thou sayest. So he acknowledges that what has been said is valid. But then the accusations start rolling in even harsher towards Jesus and to these he does not respond. The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed. He has said all that he needs to say. The fact that Jesus stands silent speaks more to the fact of his character because he was in fact blameless.

Summary - Now that the Sanhedrin, Jewish, Council has come to a conclusion that Jesus is a blasphemer, they take him before Pilate and pronounce before him that Jesus claims to be king of the Jews. Jesus admits this and the chief priests and scribes continue to assault him with accusations, but for these he remains silent. Jesus has said all that He needs to say.

Promise: Sometimes there is nothing more to be done when being accused than to be silent as Jesus was silent. Only other people can help with an acquittal though Jesus is carrying out a commission by the Father.

Prayer: O God thank you for taking the blame for my sin. The accusation were true that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the Son of Man, King of the Jews, but people continually don't understand you well. But, it is for your children that you care for and I praise you and thank You for your great love for me. Help me to be a person of love and echo your message as is needed in the world I live in.

Mark 11:7-11 - Jesus Hailed as King

Mark 11:7-11
7 They *brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting:

      “Hosanna!
      Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
10  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David;
      Hosanna in the highest!”

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.


Message: Jesus Hailed as King

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is on his way into Jerusalem, letting the disciples know previously that he is headed there to die and be resurrected, but the disciples don't know the events or how it will happen. It begins though with Jesus entering on a colt and thus far he has told his disciples to go get him a colt, it will be waiting for him where they are to get it and they are to bring it back to him.

They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. This was a colt that had never been ridden before and yet, Jesus was able to simply sit on it for the first time as if it had been used many times. The disciples laid out their coats on the colt, to provide a saddle but also out of respect for Jesus and to give him honor.

And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. This was an example of the crowd responding to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. They were aware of the messianic claims He was making. 2 Kings 9:13 says, "Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”Perhaps the people remembered this event from almost 900 years prior or remembered its significance. Again, what they were doing was showing great honor for Jesus. For Jehu they were acclaiming his as King. Jesus, the same way, as king of the Jews.

Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" There is much going on here. The word Hosanna means "Save." From Psalm 118:25-26 it reads, "O Lord, do save, we beseech You;O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord." It was an appropriate cry from the people. For Jesus to save his people, that salvation must be associated with the reign of David. Jeremiah 23:5, "Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land." This is Hosanna in the highest. This is salvation or being saved in the most ultimate way. This is the crescendo or culmination of it all. There is nothing greater.

Yet, they possibly did not understand the salvation that Jesus was bringing. It was perhaps a misunderstanding of the type of kingdom that Jesus would be bringing. 

They thought it was a kingdom of David rather than the kingdom of God. They were perhaps looking merely for the return to the glory days of Israel, when David and Solomon ruled a united Jewish kingdom renowned for its wealth and military might. - Ligonier

Jesus was receiving now the title of Messiah. That is clear. Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple.He was not there entering the holy of holies for he was not of the tribe of Levi. Instead he was in the courts. And after looking around at everything.At that moment, his purpose was to survey everything. It was only to survey the scene for correction would come at another day. For now, he simply looked around. [It is interesting that this is not mentioned by Matthew. Again, most of what I've seen in Mark is details that he forgets and that Matthew mentions but in this final week, here is a detail that Matthew does not mention.] Then, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.So he went back to Bethany, outside of Jerusalem, probably another 4 to 5 miles back. It was probably about 3pm, so he had time to head back. He had come into the City, entered it, as prophesied, but now headed back with his disciples to rest as it was late. Resting was necessary for he was about to begin his most important work.

Summary - Again, the purpose of this passage is to announce Jesus, as the Messiah. The people perhaps don't understand ultimately that his reign will be the kingdom of God and not simply returning Israel to a time they were before. Jesus comes into the temple area to survey and see what it looks like. Then he leaves and goes back to Bethany to rest. 

Promise: The people may not have understood the nature of Christ's kingdom, but they were correct to acclaim the Davidic king as the bringer of salvation. 

Prayer: Blessed in the name of the Lord. You are salvation. Thank you for my understanding of your coming Lord, that you are salvation in the most perfect sense. You have saved me. I cannot save myself. You are the only Savior. Your way is the only way. You are the only truth to life. 

Psalm 78:67-72 - God's Choice of Judah

 Psalm 78:67-72
^67-68 He also rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.
⁶⁹ And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He has founded forever.
^70-71 He also chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.
⁷² So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.

Message: God's choice of Judah

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Judah should be the head tribe in Israel (v. 68) as the leadership had transferred from the tribe of Ephraim. Some think these verses refer to David while others think it is a messianic passage referring to Jesus. The messianic interpretation speaks of a new David. 

I am not sure what to make of this passage other than noticing that God erected kings over his people. And Jesus is the king of kings. Yet, it is interesting that there are other faiths that have other kings that they believe take precedence (i.e. Joseph Smith or Muhammad). God knows we need a leader, a shepherd, but Christ is that leader for us yesterday, today and forever.

Jesus is the only leader who can guide us in perfect righteousness, and it is in Him alone that we have a sure hope.

Promise: God erects kings not man. In the Old Testament, he gave us many different kings that pointed to our ultimate king -- Jesus.

Psalm 2:7-12 - God's Call to Kiss His Son

Psalm 2:7-12
⁷ “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
⁸ ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
⁹ ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

¹⁰ Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
¹¹ Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
¹² Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Message: Jesus speaks to all the nations and the Lord will be worshiped always

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Chapter 2, the first 6 verses was broken into two 3 verse stanza's that were very similar in their organization, but reflect 2 different views. It began with the heathen nation, the non-Israelites, the kings of the earth, the rulers and their opposition to the ways of the Lord. They sought to bind the strong cord. But, God responded and made known that His plans will never change or be altered. His ways are the same. He will take care of the opposition and their ways will be thwarted as He will anoint His messiah over all and set Him high upon the hill. 

The Decree

In verses 7-12 it appears to continue for 3 verses or stanza's about Jesus and then the last 3 verses returns to a message to the kings of the earth and rules. While verse 4 uttered the words of Jehovah, now the Messiah speaks, "I will tell of the Lord" versus verse 6, "I have installed My King."That seems amazing that this Psalm, written by David, 1000 years before the time of Christ, here David speaks of the Messiah. David paves the way for the message of the Messiah. That's kind of hard to even fathom, that those words would be spoken of a future person.

Once you know, you must make him known. That should be my motto.

While "sons of God" has been used in scripture to refer to saints or children of God, the naming, "Son of God" is only appropriated to the Messiah in Scripture.  

To Infinity and Beyond
In verse 8, the idea is that the Father gives the son dominion or hands over the entire world. Heathen and nation are synonymous words here are therefore translated as such in different translations. At this time, there were Hebrews and non-Hebrews, just as in the New Testament it is spoken often that there are Jews and Gentiles. The idea here then is that God the Father grants God the Son the entire world as His inheritance. God is not a God of the Jews only. The Book of Romans often is showing the Jews that the message of God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is going out to all people, everywhere and going out to the uttermost parts of the earth. 

I think of Acts 1:8 here in the words of uttermost parts of the earth, "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." The ministry of Jesus in people's lives, his disciples, would reach the uttermost parts of the earth. How exciting to see a verse written 1000 years before Christ have its culmination later in this same idea in Acts. It goes to show how the words and message of the New Testament isn't so new. 

Verse 9 reiterates a common theme in this 2nd chapter of Psalms and that is that God has complete authority over all people and specifically, he will deal with the enemies of God. God will deal with them. Man does not need to and really should not be doing to bad-mouth people that think and live contrary to the word of God. My message to them is always simply the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. People's eyes are blinded and they need to know that Jesus died for all, for sinners. This verse shows the completeness of their destruction as they will be shattered like a potter's vessel is shattered. And yet this will be an act of the Messiah. 

Address of Psalmist who has heard the words of Jehovah and Messiah
This book begins with the evil plot of the heathen nations and then Jehovah speaks that these nations have no dominion over him or His people. The Messiah enters and sees his impact and now the writer of this Psalms adds his words from verse 10-12.  

He begins with verse 10 or the writer begins speaking to the kings, the judges of the earth. They are not to attempt to resist the ways of God but to surrender to Him and "show discernment" or "be wise." They need to realize that it is not good to be an enemy of the Messiah. This could be a similar prayer that I could pray today towards people that people need show discernment or be wise and take instruction, Jesus is to be served with fear. 

I was reading a comment yesterday by a person on Facebook and they simply remarked, "God is love." I think this is a statement that is overused by many. People use this statement because this is all they want God to be is a God of love and then they define that love as meaning God accepts the behavior and lifestyle of anyone. God does love but his love is so needed because of the sin of man. He loves in spite of man's sin and His love removes the penalty of sin. The thing about these 3 verses now in Psalm 2, 10-12 is they are showing that people need to come before the Messiah and accept Him. 

Verse 11 says to "rejoice with trembling." Yes, we are to praise God but we do so because we recognize his almighty power and that the consequences of being found opposed to him must be overwhelming and awful. 

Verse 10 says to "show discernment" and "be instructed."  Verse 11 says we need to "serve the Lord with fear", "rejoice" but "with trembling." There are times, I think, when people need to see and know the real Messiah, not just the Messiah they conjure up in their mind. 

Verse 12 says, "Do homage to the Son" but I think the King James Version does a better job with this phrase by saying, "Kiss the Son." Man is to come before the Son of God and express his allegiance to the Son. A kiss expresses an Oriental custom to show respect towards one of superior rank. 

In 1 Samuel 10:1, "Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you a ruler over His inheritance?" The ruler here received a kiss from Samuel as the Lord's anointed ruler. 

But, kissing is also done to idols. 

I Kings 19:18, "Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him." 

You see this often in sports, for when the team or person wins the championship or ultimate prize a trophy is given to them and they kiss it. In that kiss, they are showing their allegiance to that prize that they had been seeking. In this same manner, man is to kiss the Son. We are to show our complete allegiance to Him. We are to accept Him completely for who He is and this will mean many things to us. There will be many ramifications, but he is our God and King. He deserves it and He has done so much for us that we should be willing to do anything for Him. 

Or "He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled." There are consequences for not embracing Him as He is. And this is what people don't want to see. They just want to hear and believe the words, "God is Love." They want to embrace the idea that God will allow them to do whatever because He is love. That there is no accountability to Him. 

For "How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!" Is God Love? Yes indeed and we are to seek Him and take our refuge in Him. I am to hide myself in him. This is the message of the Gospel, that man is a sinner and Jesus has redeemed man and so man takes his refuge not in his/her own good behavior, but takes his/her refuge in Him and Jesus is our protector and He blesses us.
  

Promise: It is in vain to attempt to oppose the Lord and His appointed king. From Tabletalk:

It is not difficult to get people to say nice things about Jesus when the only Jesus they know is the gentle Jesus of popular culture who makes no demands on anyone. That is not the Jesus of Scripture. We live in an era of divine patience, when God is holding back His wrath so that many may be saved. But make no mistake, this patience is not eternal. Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, will execute His wrath at the appointed time. Today is the day of salvation, tomorrow the day of wrath.

Psalm 2:1-6 - Opposing the Lord's Anointed

Psalm 2:1-6
¹ Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
² The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
³ “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

⁴ He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
⁶ “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

Message: Opposing the Lord and His Anointed

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.
 

What the Lord is Saying:

The Plot

At my first glance, this is a Psalm written about the Lord and His Anointed. The world or non followers are not pleased with the Lord. They are in an uproar, devising, taking their stand and counsel against the Lord and His Anointed. 

Can I take it? Am I willing to accept that my faith will be unwelcome by many but the Lord will give me strength?  The non-Israelites assemble together and get in a rage. They are angry. They are bothered. It is the heathen, the kings, the rules that are forming this opposition. They were engaged in designing something but the result would be in vain. 

I wonder sometimes if I somewhat dance around my faith because to be completely authentic would be unpopular. I think of people like Kirk Cameron who has been very clear about his beliefs and proclaiming his faith and that is unpopular. People make fun of him. It's kind of like the atheist guy I've been talking to. He says I can believe what I want, "Go Ahead," but keep it to myself. 

Verse 1 refers to the nation or heathen. It is broad, but verse 2 is more specific and refers to the kings of the earth and rulers coming together. Rulers generally have each their own agenda, but here in this matter, they are coming together. They are against God. And they are against who is has anointed. Many believe that the Anointed One is Jesus or the Messiah. It is definitely someone that, at this time, the people were against. It was someone designated by God. 

Verse 3 mentions, "Let us tear their fetters apart" or "Let us break their bands asunder." There was a goal that God and His anointed had, a unity, a coming together that the rulers were threatened by and wanted to break apart. And there was concern of the cords that would be bound by those following the Lord and His anointed. People would come together and make a strong cord following the Lord and His anointed. 

So, this is the situation. What is the response I am to have to people that oppose truth, that oppose the Lord and His anointed? This opposition is a daily occurrence as I witness people constantly speaking against God. 

 

The Plot Thwarted

God allows the plots of man to work out their infinite folly to their own shame. 

While men rage and are tumultuous in opposing his plans (verse 1 and 2), God sits calm and undisturbed in his own heaven (verse 4 and 5). I see this very often as people will attach religion and faith over and over. People spend their lives discrediting it while just assuming that their way is the right way. God laughs. He proceeds in a calm manner executing his plans. 

 

I find that it is interesting here in that the response to the rulers devising a plan is the Lord reasserts His plan. We can trust that God has things under control. I think often we are too quick to feel like we must defend God and belittle people. God has it in his control. He knows what to do. We are to follow His commands and continue to love people and share the Gospel truth with them. 

 

God will speak to them. He will terrify them. They are to submit and surrender to Him and it is very important that they get the right message of the Gospel. God will deal with people's sins. 

 

God has installed My King or My Messiah (verse 6). This is spoken like it is already completed. The nations, kings of the earth, rulers had their plans, but God has his. The holy hill of Zion is the highest point of the hills of Jerusalem.

 

Promise: God will defeat His enemies and ours.