The apostle John wrote how Pilate told the Jewish people concerning Jesus, “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? 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”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twelve of his book John wrote, “from thereafter Pilate sought to release him” where we read:
And from thereafter Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend: whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.
The verse reads, “And from thereafter Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, ...” John began with the words, “and from thereafter” which means “and from that time forward or in the future” “Pilate” whose name means “armed with a spear and was the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria” “sought to release him” which means “aimed to, craved and desired to set Jesus free and at liberty”: “but the Jews cried out” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the people of the Jewish nations shouted aloud”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. John shared how “Pilate” desired to “set” Jesus “free”, however, the Jewish people shouted aloud the following phrase.
The verse continues, “... If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend: whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” John added the words, “If you let this man go” or “whether and in case you, Pilate, permit this male human being to be set free, acquitted and dismissed”, “you are not Ceasar's friend” which means “you, Pilate, do not exist as the associate or companion of Ceasar, which means severed and was the surname of Julius Caesar, which adopted by Octavius Augustus and his successors afterwards became a title, and was appropriated by the Roman emperors as part of their title”: “whosoever” or “whatever person whether male or female” “makes himself a king” which means “renders and declares his own self leader, ruler, commander and prince” “speaks against Caesar” or “gainsays, contradicts and opposes Caesar”. John shared how the Jewish people told “Pilate” “if” he set Jesus free, he was not the “companion of” “Caesar” because anyone who “declared” themselves to be “ruler and leader” was in opposition to “Caesar” who was the “leader” in Rome.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how the Jewish people increased their accusations not only against Jesus, but if “Pilate” set Jesus free, he also would be accused of being an “enemy or foe” to “Caesar”. “Pilate” previously had difficulties ruling in the Roman empire, and he desired no further troubles from “Caesar” or the Roman government. In other words, it was decision time for “Pilate”. Would he choose to “release” Jesus or cower to the power of the Roman rule? Each person must decide whether they will receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” or allow the world and it's influence to dictate their choice. God loves people, and He has given them the opportunity to receive or reject His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will understand the world and it's influence should never prevent them from accepting Jesus as the “Ruler” and Lord of their lives.
Next time John shares, “When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat”, 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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