November 23, 2023 -- John 19:12-16 -- We have no king, but...

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
John 19:12-16 ESV

I can’t tell you how many times I have read this passage. How many Good Friday Services where this was part of the text and it was preached, but I missed something so basic. However, today it absolutely hit me full on. The Jews knew full well, from all the Old Testament, this truth: God is their King. There are so many possible texts to choose from, let me cite two of them.

Clap your hands, all peoples!
    Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
    a great king over all the earth.
Psalm 47:1-2 ESV

“But the LORD is the true God, He is the Living God,
an everlasting King: at His wrath the earth shall tremble…
Jeremiah 10:10 ESV

Look at the twists of this story. Pilate, who is not Jewish, nor is he a believer, recognizes (even if all he is doing is taunting the people) that Jesus is the King of the Jews. Not a king, but their King. The Jewish people—and this is a horrible disregard of their history—say they have no king but Caesar. They are embracing the false king who also claims deity.

When has hatred of a person brought you to the point that you disregard Jesus, your King, and you mindlessly vent your rage? When has greed taken hold of your heart and you served your desires more than King Jesus? When has a spasm of lust taken hold of you and you’ve allowed your lustful impulses to deny your allegiance to your One, True King?

People of God, what truly repulses me about this story is how much I can identify with the Jews and chief priests who are prepared to deny their King in favour of power, lust, and greed. How much I need the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and the knowledge that His work on the cross is finished. His blood reconciles believers to the Father. Jesus pleads for us, Father, forgive them. He does not pray this to a hard-hearted, unwilling Father, but to the Father Who has chosen His elect in love, chosen them in the Beloved.

Father in heaven, forgive me. By Your Spirit’s application of the word in my life, lead me to honest, true and deep confession. Create in me a clean heart, O God. One which can only be made clean at the inestimable cost of Jesus’ sacrifice. Then, Triune God, shall I rise up and bless Your Name. Amen.

https://youtu.be/YfG0Efz49VU?si=Z62ckJOWJhHgPi9f “The Lord Almighty Reigns” SovereignGraceMusic

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