The apostle John wrote how, “Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and said unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate said unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate said unto them, Take you him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid. And went again into the judgment hall, and said unto Jesus, Who are you? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then said Pilate unto him, Speak you not unto me? Know you not that I have power to crucify you, and have power to release you?”, and in chapter nineteen and verse eleven of his book John shared how Jesus told Pilate, “you could have not power at all against me, except it were given you from above” where we read:
Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against me, except it were given you from above: therefore he that delivered me unto you has the greater sin.
The verse reads, “Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against me, except it were given you from above:” John began with the words, “Jesus answered” which means “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation responded and began to speak”, “you could have no power at all against me” or “you, Pilate, would not have any ability or mental or physical strength in opposition to me, Jesus”, “except it were given you” which means “unless the power was provided, granted, furnished and supplied” “from above” or “from Heaven or God”. John shared how “Jesus” responded to “Pilate” by telling him that he would have no ability at all if God the Father above did not grant it to him.
The verse goes on to say, “therefore he that delivered me unto you has the greater sin.” John continued with the words, “therefore he that delivered me unto you” or “then, wherefore, on this account and consequently the person who judged, condemned, punished, scourged and tormented me, Jesus, to you, Pilate” “has the greater sin” which means “owns, possesses and holds the larger, abundant and predominate error, mistake and missing of the mark”. John shared how Jesus told “Pilate” that the person who “judged and condemned” Him to “Pilate” possesses the more abundant error and wrong.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus told “Pilate” the source of his “power”. It is God the Heavenly Father who grants “power” to people in authority and government as the Psalmist wrote, “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another.” (See Psalm 75-6-7). “Pilate” received his “power and authority” from God, and only from that source would “Pilate” be able to “crucify” or “release” Jesus. God's plan of salvation for mankind was being fulfilled, and He used “Pilate” to carry out the “crucifixion” of Jesus so anyone who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him in Heaven. Let all who consider these words understand the source of “real power and authority” and surrender their lives to Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time John shares how Jesus told Pilate, “from thereon Pilate sought to release him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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