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Day 296

John 19:1-16 "DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOURCE OF POWER"

Day 296 – John 19

DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOURCE OF POWER

Jesus was conscious, not of the power of men, but of the sovereign power of God His Father, as He answered Pilate. The latter thought of “power” only in terms of what he thought he possessed in his hands. Rome had the power to condemn or to release the life of a prisoner. Pilate, the governor, was given the power to either free a prisoner or to execute him. Not even the highest authority of the Jews had that power. It was a heady feeling to wield that kind of authority and power! That kind of power was the wind that drove Pilate’s sail.

When Jesus offered His opinion concerning the real source of power, Pilate’s sail went limp! If what Jesus said was true, then the real power was in God, and not in Rome. Pilate wasn’t so great after all! All the pomp and ceremony associated with Rome’s might was empty and futile.

The sense of trust that Jesus had even as He spoke to Pilate indicated that He knew the source of true power! That source was in God Himself. He who knew God, and He who trusted in God need fear no human power! Was that the secret behind the tremendous power in Jesus’ life? Just a few minutes with Jesus would be enough to confirm that He had great power in His life, or that He knew the Source of that power intimately.

THE DANGER OF ABUSED POWER

To have power was one thing, to wield it properly was another! Once Satan tempted Jesus and urged Him to use that power to turn stones into bread, to satisfy His hunger (Luke 4:1-4). Jesus flatly refused to use the power entrusted to Him for personal use. To use power for any other purposes than that which God’s Word indicated would be abuse. And abuse of power was sin!

Herod had asked Jesus to perform miracles for his entertainment (Luke 23:6-12). Jesus refused to say a word to Herod. He would use His power to heal the blind, to cast out demons, and even to raise the dead! Those were great displays of power, but He would never use His power to entertain! Not even if Herod were to promise that he would release Him!

In the garden of Gethsemane, the disciples offered to do battle with the soldiers, in an effort to free Jesus! Impetuous Peter preempted Jesus’ answer and struck at one of the servants of the high priest! Jesus calmed His disciples down with these words,

“Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My
Father, and He will provide Me with more than
twelve legions of angels?”
Matthew 26:53

Jesus was acquainted with the Power of God. But He refused to abuse that power that was His! He knew that the abuse of power was sin. Thus He said,

“Therefore the one who delivered Me to you
has the greater sin.”
John 19:11b

THE ABUSE OF POWER IS SIN

To concentrate at all after having been severely beaten is in itself quite a feat. To be able to speak so clearly, so eloquently and with such profound depth – that was something to marvel at. Pilate must have marveled at Jesus for having spoken as He did. However, His words had greater import than just profundity.

Already Pilate felt fear as he pondered over how he should handle the trial of Jesus. He knew that he should release Jesus for he had found no fault in Him. Yet, why did he hesitate? Why did he vacillate? Why was he so afraid of the influential chief priests and elders of the Jews? But he was!

Pilate, being the typical Roman military man that he was, seldom thought of matters in terms that Jesus employed. He spoke of “truth”. He also spoke of “sin”. Rome did not become mighty because it had a tender conscience. Rome became a world-conquering power because it was ruthless and brutal.

Rome would lay siege on cities and watch people starve to death. All who opposed the might of Rome were pulverized! All who opposed the might of Rome must expect to feel the iron hand by which it ruled the world.

Sin – what a “strange” word that was in the ears of a Roman governor! That word when spoken by a Man like Jesus carried with it the power to touch the most hardened heart.

1. The sin of Pilate

Pilate knew that he had handled the trial of Jesus poorly. He knew that he shouldn’t have vacillated in his decision-making. He shouldn’t have ordered the whipping of Jesus!

What power did Pilate actually possess that he should flaunt it in the face of Jesus? He had not realized until this very moment just how sinful he was in the sight of God!

2. The greater sin of the chief priests and the elders

Jesus solemnly declared that Pilate was not alone in sinning against Him, and against God! Those who delivered Jesus to Pilate had committed the greater sin! The great sinfulness of the chief priests may be enumerated as follows. To name but a few:-

a) They had fabricated charges against Jesus.
b) They had abused their positions of power.
c) They resorted to all kinds of trickery to ensure the death-conviction of Jesus.
d) They were vicious in their tenacity and venom in their attacks.

JESUS’ ABSOLUTE FAITH IN HIS FATHER

Jesus did not trust in the so-called power that Pilate boasted of. He did not trust in the empty words Pilate used. There was only One Person He fully trusted, even though He seemed to be trapped in the predicament of being sentenced to death! He trusted in the higher plans and power of God. That is the kind of faith all believers need to cultivate.