Jesus Before Pilate, John 18 – Poor Choices
Stephanie continues to examine the passage about Jesus before Pilate, as found in John 18. She suggests that we are all prone to making poor choices.
Do you think Pilate made a wise choice? Contact us at HopeStreamRadio, if you are in need of prayer.
Jesus Before Pilate
In our previous post we talked about the question Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” While he may not have understood Jesus’ declarations, Pilate did no one thing: There was no reason to put this man to death. He said as much to the crowds gathered outside.
John 18:38-39 (ESV) says,
“After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, ‘I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?’”
But the crowds had been deceived and instead of asking for the release of the man who had opened the eyes of the blind and raised the dead, they asked for the release of a thief. Verse 40 says, “They cried out again, ‘Not this man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a robber.”
This may be the ultimate example of a poor choice. But we are still prone to do the same . . . at least I know I am.
North American Society
In many ways, it seems North American society values busyness over almost everything else. And with access to computers and the Internet in millions of households, the workday no longer ends at 5:00. And if it does, there is an endless list of things to do before collapsing into bed only to wake up the next morning and start all over again.
And what about volunteer work? “Sure, I’ll take that on. No problem.” Yeah, right!
Now, don’t get me wrong. Making a living is important, as is volunteering our time and energy to worthwhile volunteer opportunities.
However, Psalm 46:10 says we are to “be still and know that [He] is God.”
I’m 100 percent certain that God’s idea of stillness isn’t collapsing in front of the television or spending endless hours on Facebook.
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God Convicts Us
Before I go on, I want to remind you that God’s Spirit convicts us. And we, as followers of Christ, must remember Romans 8:1, which says
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” I see it this way: When we’re experiencing condemnation, it’s as if we’re bound and a heavy, wet blanket is tossed over our heads. There seems to be no way out. On the other hand, we must remember Hebrews 12:6, which says, “The Lord disciplines those he loves” (emphasis mine).
There is a sense of hope and peace that comes along with the Lord’s discipline—though it may take time to experience that hope and peace. And that’s just one of the benefits of being still.
Now, why would I focus on busyness and being still in light of the passage we read today?
Steph Nickel
Stephanie is a freelance writer and a contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio.
Read and hear more from Steph Nickel on the contributor’s page or at Steph Nickel’s Eclectic Interests.
Stephanie’s show, “Family Life Lessons,” airs from Monday to Friday on HopeStreamRadio.
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Images courtesy of:
Jesus Before Pilate – Mihály Munkácsy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Clock – Vera Berard
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