May 30

John 19

Pilate is one Bible character I would not want to be. Talk about the pressure!! Does he stay loyal to Caesar, the Jewish authorities, or his heart?   I don't know if he knew or recognized Jesus as the Messiah, but he knew in his heart there was nothing Jesus had done that made him guilty to receive the punishment of being crucified.  Perhaps Pilate's brutal orders to have Jesus beaten was an attempt to get out of making the final decision.  He might have thought the brutal beatings would satisfy the angry Jewish leaders, but it didn't.  Jesus told Pilate that the power he claimed to have was given to him by God, showing Pilate that what was happening was far bigger than he knew or understood.  When it was all said and done, Pilate had "King of the Jews" written in three languages over the cross. Maybe Pilate had no idea of the magnitude of what what going on, but the sign he ordered was written in the only three languages spoken, so everyone could understand the message. Whether Pilate realized it or not, the message was clear.  Jesus is King over all.  We'll never fully understand the events that took place, we just have to trust that God is sovereign and Jesus had to die on the cross for our redemption.  It makes no sense that a brutal death was the ultimate exchange for our eternal life. We give You praise, honor and glory Jesus and proclaim you King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Randi