The apostle John 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? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto you”, and in chapter eighteen and verse thirty-one of his book John shared how Pilate told the accusers, “take you him according to your law” where we read:
Then said Pilate unto them, Take you him, and judge him according to your law.
The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
The verse reads, “Then said Pilate unto them, Take you him, and judge him according to your law.” John began with the words, “then said Pilate unto them” which means “at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed Pilate whose name means armed with a spear and was the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria to the high priests and officers”, “take you him” or “claim and procure him, Jesus”, “and judge him” which means “and deem, decree and pronounce judgment upon him, Jesus” “according to your law” or “toward your, the Jewish people's, rule producing a state approved unto God”. John shared how “Pilate” told the Jewish high priests and officers to “procure” Jesus and judge Him toward their own “rule, precept and injunction”.
The verse continues, “The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:” John added the words, “the Jews therefore” or “the people and leaders of the Jewish nation then, wherefore, accordingly and consequently” “said unto him” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Pilate”, “It is not lawful for us” or “it is not right or according to the rule for us, the Jewish people” “to put any man to death” which means “to kill, destroy, make perish and inflict mortal death upon any person whether male or female”. John shared how the “Jewish leaders and people” told “Pilate” that it was “against the rule” for them to “kill” or have anyone “put to death”.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how “Pilate” desired to defer the “judgment” of Jesus to the “Jewish accusers”. Rather than judge Jesus himself, “Pilate” told the “Jews” to “judge” Jesus with their own “law”. This created a problem for the “Jewish people” because they did not have absolute authority that would permit them to “put” Jesus “to death”. The Roman government had the power to make and carry out this decision, and the “Jewish nation” no longer could. They deemed Jesus a criminal who was worthy of death, and even though He came into the world to be the “Savior and Lord” of all mankind, they wanted to eliminate Him. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus. Jesus suffered the punishment desired by the “Jews” so that every person who believes and trusts in Him may be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God in Heaven. Let all who consider these things yield themselves to Jesus.
Next time we see John shares how this happened so, “the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled”, 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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