the authority Pilate had<\/span><\/p>\nThere is something that Pilate seemed to have during the trial but actually didn't. It is called authority. Let's read John chapter 19 verse8 to 12.<\/p>\n
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. \u201cWhere do you come from?\u201d he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 \u201cDo you refuse to speak to me?\u201d Pilate said. \u201cDon\u2019t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?\u201d<\/p>\n
11 Jesus answered, \u201cYou would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.\u201d<\/p>\n
12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, \u201cIf you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pilate never thought that his authority was denied. That is why he said \u201cI have a power.\u201d Yes this is true. The powerful Roman Empire was behind him, and he was the governor to rule them under its name. He had authority to change things from white to black. But Jesus said to him. \u201c You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.\u201d<\/p>\n
We live as believers on this earth and in our case, we live in the nation of the United States. We obey the rules of this country. The law exist to maintain order in this country, and it has the authority to punish people who disobey the rules. We say that a country can have an authority to put someone to death. If we as individuals kill someone using our own judgment, it would become a crime. But a country has an authority to do it.<\/p>\n
I don't have enough time to discuss all about the authority of country vs. God . But one thing became very clear through the conversation between Pilate and Jesus . The sentence to crucify Jesus was made through Pilate's authority. However, the accusation originally come from jealousy of people, and the judgment by Pilate came from self defense.<\/p>\n
When we judge someone in court, secretly in our hearts, or when people judge us in their hearts, we have to know that those are not ultimate judgments. We remember that God judges over all authorities on this earth. So Pilate who judged Jesus with his authority was supposed to be judged under God's authority.<\/p>\n
Let me talk about another subject while pondering about God's authority. This is the truth that Pilate couldn't have. Let's read John chapter 18 verse 35 to 38.<\/p>\n
35 \u201cAm I a Jew?\u201d Pilate replied. \u201cYour own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?\u201d<\/p>\n
36 Jesus said, \u201cMy kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.\u201d<\/p>\n
37 \u201cYou are a king, then!\u201d said Pilate.<\/p>\n
Jesus answered, \u201cYou say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
38 \u201cWhat is truth?\u201d retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, \u201cI find no basis for a charge against him.<\/p>\n
Jesus was at the court to be judged. Pilate had the authority to judge Jesus. Then Pilate asked Jesus what the truth was. The reason he had asked was because of Jesus said,\u201d the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
It means that the one who was supposed to judge impartially didn't know the truth, but the one who was supposed to be judged knew the truth. No, it is not enough. Jesus himself is truth. It is written in John chapter 8 verse 31 to 32.<\/p>\n
\u201c31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, \u201cIf you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\u201d 33 They answered him, \u201cWe are Abraham\u2019s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?\u201d 34 Jesus replied, \u201cVery truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.<\/p>\n
In 1862, the Emancipation Proclamation was made by Abraham Lincoln. This was a very important event in the history of the United States. So now, no one officially lives as a slave in this country . (The reason I use the word officially is that there are most likely people who are or have been treated like slaves.)<\/p>\n
Then, what is the meaning of being a slave to sin? We know about good and evil in our hearts. However, we do the wrong knowing what the good is. We do the wrongs even against our will. We know that we shouldn't say them, but we shout. The Bible said that sin is something that drives us against our will. Our mouths and bodies work against our wishes. This attitude shows that we are slaves to sin. Jesus came to this world where there were people just like this.<\/p>\n
All people who Jesus saw were slaves to sin. It is ironic that people who are slaves to sin judge other people who are also slaves to sin.<\/p>\n
Jesus said to us \u201c don't be afraid\u201d. We can't tell if we have fear, but Jesus understood each of our fear.<\/p>\n
Pilate who had the authority, also had fear. His fear was not knowing the truth and his heart knowing that something was wrong but went against his will. Fear is judging people with his imperfection. He may have thought that he was able to protect himself by making the decision in favor of the crowds, but when he did, his heart was bound with sins like shackles on his feet. This is not only Pilate's story. For Christ, the son of God, we are like slaves who lost true freedom because we are bound with sins and can't say and do the right things even though we know what we should say and do. We are just like Pilate.<\/p>\n
Jesus came to the world as the truth. The truth knows our roots of our problems and gives us solutions to them. He gave us forgiveness to free ourselves from being slaves to sin. This is the true meaning of Christ's cross.<\/p>\n
This morning, we see our nature through Pilate who authorized Jesus\u2019 crucification. We realize that we can\u2019t be proud of the authority that we have in our own lives. Christ's cross is not fiction but fact. The cross was put by the authority of the real official of the Roman empire recorded in history. Christ gave us this promise when we know this fact.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\u201d (John 8 31-32)<\/p>\n
In thinking about your life, what authority do you want to rely on, and which truth do you want to follow? What would you take with if you could only take one thing? I hope you don't choose something we can hold in our hands but the truth and the freedom in Christ. What do you think? Let's pray.<\/p>\n
Translated by takako Nishii<\/p>\n
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