John 18:26 - 40.
One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”
Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.
39 “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
40 Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
JESUS AND THE RELIGIOUS JEWISH LEADERS:
The Bible reveals to us how the forces of deceit, lie and manipulations fought the forces of Truth and reality in the Life of Jesus Christ in His host community on earth.
We brought out in part 1 of this series that the battle of Life is real practical and many times personal.
The religious Jewish leaders of that season were threatened by the ministry of Jesus Christ, they made a plot to steal, kill and destroy His life.
Many of such threats still goes out to many of you today as you try to live a righteous life today.
Remember what Jesus says in John 10:10. There He reveals the two champions in the battle of Life. He called one The thief and The other He calls I am.
The thief worked seamlessly in the community of the Jews of that day when he succeeded to introduce fear and threat to life to Peter, other disciples of Jesus and the entire community.
Notice in verse 26 of John 18, Peter denied Jesus because of the perceived fear of the religious Jewish leaders.
Notice also the questioning of Pontius Pilate in verse 33 "Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
No element of fear in Jesus.
They tried to use fear to intimidate and cast out the Truth so they might have their way.
The two champions at war in this judgment / conservation in this passage includes:
1. Champion - Death - ( the thief - powered by Satan)
2. Champion - Life - I am - powered by Jesus)
Jesus did not have the kind of support which the Jewish religious leaders had. The world power of their day - (The Roman government) with full military might were also intimidated and pressured to back the Jewish religious leaders in their plan to kill Jesus and stop the gospel of the kingdom of God which He preaches.
Same threats still goes to many today just to achieve same purpose but the reason for this episode is to encourage you to move on with righteousness, heaven is supporting you and we are chairing you up.
Jesus had no fear for His Life rather He was depending on the power of God and spiritual strategy which He received when He read in the Psalm as was quoted in Acts 13:35..." You will not allow your holy one to see corruption "
Jesus knew they will kill Him for lack of enough physical support and He will come back to Life for spiritual support He received from the Father. The ultimate victory in Life will be recorded.
Jesus becomes the champion who is training other champions to win the battle of Life.
Remember to drop a comment, or ask a question so we can reveal more to you in this journey of Life.
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