Judging Jesus in Your Life: John 19:1-16
Focus Passage: John 19:1-16 (NIrV)
During Jesus’ trial before Pilate, John draws our attention to some interesting wordplay that was used, and onto a startling declaration that the chief priests state. Following Jesus’ conversation with Pilate about where Pilate’s power over Jesus came from, Pilate knew Jesus was different and John tells us that from that point, “Pilate tried to set Jesus free.” (v. 12a)
However, John tells us that the Jewish leaders had one other trick up their sleeves to twist Pilate’s arm into sentencing Jesus to death. They respond to Pilate’s attempts to free Jesus by saying, “If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend! Anyone who claims to be a king is against Caesar!” (v. 12b)
In a single statement, the Jewish leaders challenge Pilate on where his allegiance lies: Does Pilate side with the self-proclaimed King Jesus, or does he side with Caesar, the Roman emperor?
But Pilate does not seem fazed by their remark. Instead, John seems to say that their remark gives Pilate an idea. “When Pilate heard that, he brought Jesus out. Pilate sat down on the judge’s seat.” (v. 13)
Pilate is clearly Roman, and Jesus is clearly Jewish. So Pilate, seated on the judge’s seat, challenges the crowd by saying, “Here is your king!” (v. 14b)
But the people shouted back, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” (v. 15a)
Pilate responded by asking, “Should I crucify your king?” (v. 15b)
Then the chief priests give their most revealing response: “We have no king but Caesar.” (v. 15c)
The chief priests, who technically should have no king but God, directly state that Caesar has replaced the role of God in their lives. While they might claim to be following God, they have lowered God out of the role of king and instead placed Him in the box of their religion.
In this conversation between Pilate and the chief priests over the fate of Jesus, these Jewish leaders clearly ally with Rome over the Messiah who God had sent. While they may have not liked Rome, they choose Rome over God.
The choice these religious leaders had is the same choice each of us has. When we are prioritizing our lives, will we place God in the number one position, or will we place a human authority, system, or set of beliefs as first in our lives? Will the God who placed us ahead of Himself win our hearts, or will we choose something else instead?
The Jewish leaders chose to reject Jesus, but we don’t have to make the same decision.
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