Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Mob rule is a scary thing. It’s easy to get trapped in it. But dangerous when you let it rule you.
Scripture
John 19:11
Jesus: Any authority you have over Me comes from above, not from your political position. Because of this, the one who handed Me to you is guilty of the greater sin.
Devotional
I have to admit, on more than one occasion, I’ve just given in to the crowd.
I was in charge
I knew in my heart what should be done
I knew the consequences that would take place if I let the crowd rule and gave in to their demands
The crowd was small, my platoon or my staff or the section I was leading at the time
They were tired or hungry or wanted to stop or do something I knew wouldn’t have the outcome we needed
I gave in to their demand
It didn’t turn out well
Mission wasn’t accomplished
Results were poor
All of us embarrassed
Pilate was the governor
Had the authority to release Jesus
Knew what was right
Knew the consequences of giving Jesus over to this mob
An innocent man would die because of his failure to stand up for what was right
Wife even warned him of the failure in justice
Pilate listened to the crowd instead of his conscience
Gave a glimmer of hope when he offered Barabas in place of Jesus
It’s easy to follow the crowd
Jesus told us broad the way that leads to destruction, though
Easy to follow the crowd that leads to nowhere
Harder to follow the narrow path that leads to righteousness
Harder to stand for what is right and just and holy
Like salmon swimming upstream against the current
Everyone else will push against you trying to turn you around
But when you know what is right it is worth maintaining the course
In the end you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Say it enough times and it must be true. That’s what some want you to believe. But what is truth?
Scripture
John 18:33-37
Pilate: Are You the King of the Jews?
Jesus: Are you asking Me because you believe this is true, or have others said this about Me?
Pilate: I’m not a Jew, am I? Your people, including the chief priests, have arrested You and placed You in my custody. What have You done?
Jesus: My kingdom is not recognized in this world. If this were My kingdom, My servants would be fighting for My freedom. But My kingdom is not in this physical realm.
Pilate: So You are a king?
Jesus: You say that I am king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the cosmos: to demonstrate the power of truth. Everyone who seeks truth hears My voice.
Devotional
I’m not a salesman for GEICO, but I love some of their commercials.
Remember the one with the young lady that believes everything on the Internet must be true, just because it’s on the Internet?
She argues with the man next to her and just doesn’t understand that everything on the Internet isn’t necessarily true
And then the prince charming she meets on the Internet walks up for their first date
He’s not what she expected, either
What is truth?
Webster defines truth as:
The real facts about something : the things that are true
Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard. Truth may also often be used in modern contexts to refer to an idea of “truth to self,” or authenticity.
Humankind has been on a search for truth since Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden because at the moment they ate that forbidden fruit they discovered there was something in the world that was not true.
Satan lied to them and we have been faced with this dilemma about what is reality and what is not ever since
Pilate wants to know the truth about Jesus
We want to know the same thing
We want to know about God, scriptures, heaven, and hell
We want to know if there is an afterlife and a judgment
We want to know if what scriptures say about the endtimes is true of if what the world says is true
How do we know what is true and what is not?
Take a test drive
Read God’s word with an open heart
Let Him speak to you through His word
Let Him reveal Himself to you
His spirit will guide you into all truth and you will know what is real and what is not
His truth will set you free
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Matthew 27:11
Jesus was standing before the governor, Pilate. Pilate: Are You the King of the Jews? Jesus: So you say.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
Now it’s morning. The priests have been awake all night getting their plans together to take Jesus and the right charges to Pilate to make sure an execution happened on this day. The charges must stand up to the scrutiny of their governor so the punishment was swift and permanent. These priests wanted Jesus out of their hair forever. So what charge could they bring. The only answer? Changes against the emperor himself. This Man talked about the kingdom of heaven, let’s tell Pilate Jesus says He claims He is King of the Jews and wants to overthrow Caesar. That will work!
The sun isn’t up yet, but days start early in Judea. The sun gets hot early so business starts well before the sun comes up and stops when it gets high in the sky. It’s just too hot to do much. So before the sun rises, the priests are at Pilate’s palace knocking on the door. They can’t come in because this is Gentile territory and they can’t dirty themselves by entering. They won’t have time for the cleansing ritual before the Sabbath. Servants go to find the governor who reluctantly comes to the porch to speak with these crazy Jews. He doesn’t understand their customs, but after being their for several years he has grown accustomed to them and grants an audience on their terms. He must keep peace with them if he is to keep favor with the emperor.
I can imagine the crazy conversation. “Pilate, we want you to kill this man for us.” “Why? What has He done?” “He says he wants to be king of our people, that is insurrection against Rome.” “Do you recognize Him as king?” “Well, no.” “Then what’s the problem?” “I thought you priests were the authority in this place. So what if He says He wants to be king? He isn’t and He’s just one man without an army. What do I care?” “But you don’t understand. He’s also called Himself God.” “So, at least you can see Him, you can’t even see the God you guys say you worship. What do I care about that?”
Finally, they convince Pilate to take the case. And He questions Jesus. I expect that conversation went well, too. We only get a few of the words spoken, but I expect there were a lot more than those recorded in Matthew.
“So, Jesus, these guys put your life in my hands. What do you have to say for yourself?” No answer. “They say you want to be king. Is that right?” No answer. “They say you think you’re a god. Do you think you’re a god?” No answer. “So, are you deaf and dumb? You do understand I have the power to set you free, don’t you?” No answer. “Listen. You seem like a nice enough guy. I’ve heard you’re doing some good things for people out in the community. Why don’t you just fall in line with these priests of yours. Things will go a lot smoother for both of us. What do you say?” No answer. “Your refusal to talk to me isn’t getting you very far. I can have you executed on the spot if I want. You know that, don’t you?” No answer.
I think their conversation went on for a while like that. Eventually Pilate got tired of the questions with no answers and asked a final time. “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answers, “So you say.” Notice it’s still Pilate’s words. Jesus is the King of kings, but it’s Pilate’s acclamation, not Jesus’ that brings His condemnation. But with those words, Pilate turns Him over to the crowd. He tries to wash his hands of the affair, but he, as is each of us, is culpable in Jesus death on the cross.
So what do we learn from this exchange? Once again we see Jesus is silent before His accuser. There is no need for argument. As victor over sin and death and the grave, Jesus needs no defense. He has already won the victory. Jesus won His personal human struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was about to win the cosmic struggle over sin in just a few hours. Defense just wasn’t required. He was on the offense now. It might not look like it from the world’s perspective, but that didn’t matter and Jesus knew it. The battle was won!
When we understand that when we are on His side, we are part of the victory team. We don’t need to defend the faith, we just need to live it. We don’t need to argue our position, we just need to stand on the truth of God’s word. We don’t need to cower in the face of the enemy, the battle is already won. The enemy has already been defeated. He just doesn’t know it yet. God has won! When we believe in Him, we are victorious, too. Defense? Not anymore. We’re on the offense and the very gates of hell cannot stand against the church on the offensive. Jesus didn’t argue. We don’t need to either.
