Power That Matters

‎Thursday, ‎June ‎9, ‎2022

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.—1 Corinthians 6:11

Memory of the Month: Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Today's reading: 2 CHRONICLES 32-33 JOHN 18:19-40

Power That Matters

We hear it all the time-the term 'power brokers'. These are the people in this world that can change the mood of a generation with a checkbook. We see it on all our screens. These folks can change the narrative of a nation with a few words-lies that fit the feeling of the hoards. The truth is that power is just a word if it is not given 'from above'.

Pilate has been a hated name down through the centuries because he was the one who crucified Jesus. If you skim over the reading of the crucifixion in the Gospel of John, likely as not, you would come away with that idea. But Jesus tells the world for all ages as he speaks to Pilate, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above." Pilate could only do what God had ordained.

From the time Jesus made this statement until Jesus was on the cross, Pilate called Jesus one thing, 'King' and 'King of the Jews'. You can say he was being negative when he said it and wrote it on the sign above Jesus head, but I believe Pilate sensed the greatness. I believe Pilate heard in the silence of Jesus so much more than was said. Pilate was afraid and tried to change the course of the day but could not. God had plans that earthly power could not subvert.

Pilate said,

"Where are you from?"

(From then on Pilate sought to release him)verse 12, John 19

Pilate said,

"Behold your King".

“Shall I crucify your King?”

19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

I believe Pilate knew down deep in his heart who Jesus was. Pilate knew the Jews and some of what they believed. Some had come before claiming to be the messiah so Pilate knew what that meant. He also knew he had somehow lost control of the entire time. He, Pilate, the Roman official with the power of life and death-he could not change the outcome of the day. So, I believe, Pilate wrote what he felt was the truth for history to read on the sign over Jesus. I believe Pilate believed Jesus to be king of the Jews. He could not explain it but it was the truth that could not be ignored and power that came from an ultimate source.

So, Pilate admitted the obvious. This was all obviously bigger than he and all the Roman power he could wield. It was bigger than all the screams of the Jews.

What Pilate said, I think, was, "I have written all that I could write, it is final, Jesus is King..." Pilate had never seen a day as hard and never would again; he would forever question earthly power because he had experienced the power of the hand of God to change history.

Pilate's world had been changed forever. He had experienced the power that really matters.

We can let the news worry us senseless or not. 'Not' if we give praise where praise is due-if we see the hand of God in our lives-if we admit that no matter what happens here, the power here is at very, very best, temporary. We can let the world have power over our lives or we can let God have our lives to empower.

One more time:

We can let the world have power over our lives or we can let God have our lives to empower.

God's power is always bigger than all this-bigger than all we see and hear-bigger than all we can write or imagine-power that really matters. It is ours in Him.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me for giving the world so much power over me. Teach me how to live in Your power. I am Yours.

Giving and healing Father,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen