John the apostle wrote how the high priests and officers led, “Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring you against this man?”, and in chapter eighteen and verse thirty of his book John shared how Jesus' accusers said, “if he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto you” where we read:
They answered and said unto him,
If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto you.
The verse reads, “They answered and said unto him, ...” John began with the words, “they answered” which means “the religious leaders responded and began to speak” “and said unto him” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to Pilate” the following words. John shared how the “high priests and others” who were accusing Jesus began to respond to “Pilate's” question with the next words.
The verse goes on to say, “If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto you.” John continued with the words, “If he were not a malefactor” or “whether and in the case he, Jesus, did not exist as an evil doer or criminal”, “we would not have delivered him up” which means “we, the high priests and those with them, would in no way or manner betray, surrender, yield, transmit or entrust him, Jesus” “unto you” or “toward you, Pilate”. John shared how the “Jewish religious leaders” told “Pilate” they would not have “surrendered or entrusted” Jesus to him “if” He was not a “criminal”.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we discover the “religious leaders'” answer to “Pilate's” question concerning Jesus. Though Jesus had done nothing wrong, these wicked men decided He was a “criminal”. Jesus endured all these things so people could be saved from their sins and have a personal relationship with His Father God. God loves people, and even when they violate His law and should die for their own sins, He sent His Son Jesus to be their personal “Savior and Lord”. Anyone who surrenders their life to Jesus will be “saved”, and all others will be left to defend for their own violations against Him.
Next time we see John shares how Pilate told the accusers, “take you him according to your law”, 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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