John 19:1-19

1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.

4-5 Pilate went back out again and said to them, "I present him to you, but I want you to know that I do not find him guilty of any crime." Just then Jesus came out wearing the thorn crown and purple robe.

Pilate announced, "Here he is: the Man."

6 When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, "Crucify! Crucify!"

Pilate told them, "You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him."

7 The Jews answered, "We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God."

8-9 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, "Where did you come from?"

Jesus gave no answer.

10 Pilate said, "You won't talk? Don't you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?"

11 Jesus said, "You haven't a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That's why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault."

12 At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: "If you pardon this man, you're no friend of Caesar's. Anyone setting himself up as 'king' defies Caesar."

13-14 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, "Here is your king."

15 They shouted back, "Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!"

Pilate said, "I am to crucify your king?"

The high priests answered, "We have no king except Caesar."

16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.

Perhaps one of the most powerful movies ever made was Mel Gibson's "The Passion". That movie made these scenes real for me. Verse 1 saying that Pilate had Jesus whipped doesn't sound like a lot until you have a mental picture of what that meant; and the movie "The Passion" gave me that terrible and graphic picture. That cruel whipping pains me to the core. So frequently when I'm praying in the evenings with my sons and thanking God for all He's done for us that picture comes to my mind. I am SO GRATEFUL to Jesus. He suffered for me and I NEED His salvation. He knew exactly what He was doing and did it all for us. When Pilate tries to encourage Jesus in verse 10 to work with him so he can make it better for Jesus, Jesus is so clear that He understands that this is all part of a bigger plan, that Jesus being ultimately crucified is God's work.

Oh once again Jesus I'm overcome with gratitude for what You did for me. You suffered so unfairly and so awfully for me. Thank You Jesus. Thank You so very much! I appreciate my salvation and what You did for me. Thank You that Your blood covers my sins. May Your goodness make me live a better life. There's that part of me that wants to become "good enough" in response to what You've done - but we both know I can't get there. Thank You that Your blood dear Jesus makes God see me as good. May I let You empower me to be who You want me to be today. I thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to be patient with myself and others.

That movie "The Passion" also helped me get a better grasp on Pilate's tough situation. He's ruling in another country, not his homeland, and he doesn't want the people he's ruling to get so upset that they uprise and then there has to be a military force getting them back into order that creates the bloodshed of both the Jews and his soldiers. Interesting that yet again it is Jesus' blood that is shed to avoid the price of others' blood shed.

It seems that there is an application for me in these actions of Pilate. His actions were fear based. I don't want to live like that. I want to trust God and do what is right; not compromise due to very real fears.

Oh Father, help me understand what You want each day. Help me not be presumptuous but help me get the main picture so that I can act obediently. Help me be strong in You and the power of Your might and not give into fear. Thank You for Your armor to protect me. Even now I put on Your armor. Starting with the belt of Truth; may I live my life honestly today and remain in the truth of Your word. When situations arise help me remember Your word that applies to those situations. I now put on the breastplate of Righteousness; I thank You Jesus that Your blood makes me righteous. May I remember that it is by Your blood dear Jesus that I am righteous today. Please empower me to live in a right way so that I don't create my own problems today. I put on the helmet of salvation; thank You Father for Your salvation. May my mind be bathed in the truth of the fact that because of Jesus I am saved. May I not listen to anything different the enemy may say in any way to me today. I take up the shield of Faith; I put my faith in Your faithfulness to me. Thank You heavenly Father that I can always count on You. May I remember this truth and use this shield when I need it. I take up that offensive weaponry of the sword of the Spirit; may I use Your word against the enemy when issues arise. May I be on the alert today and remain open to Your Holy Spirit working within me and through me. I put the gospel of peace on my feet; may peace go with me wherever I tread today. May I spread the gospel in various ways in whatever I do today. Thank You for Your armor God and thank You that You make me ready and able.