Apicontent

“Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then the women remembered his words.” —Luke 24:1–8

These faithful female followers of Jesus were the first to find the empty tomb. Showing their love for the Lord, their desire was to demonstrate their commitment to Him by bringing expensive spices to the tomb that they had prepared for His burial. Oh that all of our passions and desires would always lead us to Jesus!

There is a difference between simply knowing Jesus as a person and passionately loving Him as our Lord. When we are inspired with love and delighted by His presence, it is not a compulsion but a pleasure to walk with Him. Just as a child who adores their father’s company, our delight in Him should be prompted by joy.

“Beyond all measure it is desirable that we, as believers, should have the person of Jesus constantly before us, to inflame our love towards Him, and to increase our knowledge of Him … But to have Jesus ever near, the heart must be full of Him, welling up with His love, even to overrunning; hence the apostle prays ‘that Christ may dwell in your hearts.’ ‘That He may dwell’; not that He may call upon you sometimes, as a casual visitor enters into a house and tarries for a night, but that He may dwell; that Jesus may become the Lord and Tenant of your inmost being, never more to go out … We should pant after love to Christ of a most abiding character, not a love that flames up and then dies out into the darkness of a few embers, but a constant flame, fed by a sacred fuel, like the fire upon the altar which never went out. This cannot be accomplished except by faith. Faith must be strong, or love will not be fervent; the root of the flower must be healthy, or we cannot expect the bloom to be sweet … If love be cold, you can be sure that faith is drooping.” —C.H. Spurgeon

Very early in the morning, approaching with their spices, these women discover … an empty tomb! Where could the body have gone? Who has moved the heavy stone away? What has happened? They had been eyewitnesses to the crucifixion and to the burial preparation. So certain were they that He was dead that they had gone to extravagant measures to prepare a proper burial. John tells us their reaction to this scene:

“Now very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance. So she went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’” —John 20:1–2

When they arrive at the tomb and see that the stone has been rolled away, this is, of course, a great wonder to them! But the angels remind them of Jesus’ words to them that He would be delivered into the hands of sinful men, crucified, and raised again!

Become More

“All the powers of death and darkness are under the control of the God of light and life. An angel from heaven has power to break the seal, though it was the great seal of Israel, and is able to roll back the stone, though ever so great. The angel’s sitting on the stone, when he had rolled it back, is very observable. There he sat, defying all the powers of hell to roll the stone to the grave again. The angel sat as a guard to the grave, having frightened away the enemies’ black guard; he sat, expecting the women, and ready to give them an account of His resurrection.” —Matthew Henry

Further Reflections

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives!” —Gloria and Bill Gaither

“To know a crucified Savior as having crucified all my sins, is a high degree of knowledge; but to know a risen Savior as having justified me, and to realize that He has bestowed upon me new life, having given me to be a new creature through His own newness of life, this is a noble style of experience: short of it, none ought to rest satisfied. May you both ‘know Him, and the power of His resurrection’. Why should souls who are quickened with Jesus, wear the grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief? Rise, for the Lord is risen.” —C.H. Spurgeon

“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (but secretly, because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate if he could removed the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he went and took the body away. Nicodemus, the man who had previously earlier had visited Jesus at night, accompanied Nicodemus carrying mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Then they took Jesus’ body, and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. Now at the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, where no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus’ body there.” —John 19:38–42

Once a secret disciple for fear of the Jews, Joseph now boldly asks Pilate for Jesus’ body. Some followers of Jesus may in lesser trials be quite fearful, yet in greater difficulties display tremendous courage. This we find in Joseph who honored Jesus’ body when he could seemingly do nothing else for Him. Circumstances often bring out character in unexpected ways. The other Gospel writers tell us that Joseph was a wealthy, good, and upright man who was waiting for the Kingdom of God. He was a prominent member of the Council but had not consented to their decision and actions regarding Jesus. Interestingly, Joseph of Arimathea is not mentioned in any other places in the New Testament, Only in the burial of our Lord do we read about him. Certainly, there are many Christians in this world about whom very little is known.

Out of love, Joseph took off his cloak of secrecy and came forth publicly in humble service for our Lord. He did not hesitate to confess his association with Jesus at a time when the Romans and Jews alike viewed Jesus as a criminal. Joseph’s actions may have rendered him a marked man among the Jew; he most certainly ruined his character with the high priests and ruling council. And yet, his actions stand in Scripture as a memorial to him. Surely it is the hope of the Church that in every age there are hidden servants unknown to the world yet known well unto God. Joseph is memorialized in all four Gospels as showing kindness to the Lord Jesus for no other reason than love.

Not too dissimilar to Joseph in his secrecy while Jesus was alive, we see Nicodemus now coming forward as a volunteer to aid in the burial of Jesus. They both demonstrated more reverence and love towards our Lord when He was dead than they had when He was alive. Nicodemus did not shrink to take part in this good work. Had these men not come forward, Jesus’ body may have been buried in a common grave for criminals. But that was not God’s plan. He had allowed as much to be done to His Son’s precious body as was going to be done. The Father therefore empowered and emboldened these once timid followers—at this perfect time—to demonstrate their compassion and mercy for Jesus. God always supplies the grace sufficient to meet a specific need at an appointed time!

Out of great love, we see in our verses for today, Joseph and Nicodemus together taking Jesus’ body down from the cross and carefully wrapping it in strips of clean linen on which myrrh and aloes have been laid. John is the only one of the Gospel writers to include the amount of Nicodemus’ sizeable offering of spices for the holy work of burying Jesus. Nicodemus’ actions are in contrast to his first timid visit with Jesus when he came to question Him under the cloak of darkness, fearful of his associates. Nicodemus’ actions show his rapid growth in grace, faith, knowledge, and courage in a short three-year span.

Become More

What we see here is Joseph and Nicodemus selflessly loving Jesus with seemingly no apparent gain for themselves and certainly some loss in reputation. It is important to remember that this kind of service can never be done in our own strength or we will quickly lose our courage. We will weary from the task; we will become bored or burdened or disgruntled or afraid. True love is a love born of God, not of man. It is a love that esteems, cherishes, favors, honors, respects, accepts, prizes, and relishes. It comes from God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If our actions are not motivated by this kind of empowered love, we will soon become discouraged.

God’s love and power are gifts from the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to fill you with His strength and grace.

Further Reflections

“By this they showed the value they had for his person and doctrine, and that it was not lessened by the reproach of the cross. They showed not only the charitable respect of committing his body to the earth, but the honorable respect shown to great men. This they might do, and yet believe and look for his resurrection. Since God intended honor for this body, they would honor it.” —Matthew Henry

“In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good deeds and give honor your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:16

“And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, the women who had followed him from Galilee, saw these things.” —Luke 23:49

Those who knew and loved Jesus stood at a distance trying to understand what they were seeing. However, what appears to be the worst they could have imagined, is in actuality the very best that can possibly be! Is not this life for many of us? We stand in a bereaved silence, stunned, staring at a particular circumstance that has crossed the path of our lives and quite literally taken our breath away. How can something so devastating turn out to be good? Though we know God has good plans, the “whys” of life often echo loudly in our minds, drowning out any thoughts of a higher purpose for good, oftentimes leaving us without hope. 

Paul’s words encourage us:

“For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.” —1 Corinthians 13:12

“Now” we suffer from incomplete knowledge. It will only be when “now” becomes “then” that we will understand fully and have all of our questions answered. The “in part” that we can comprehend and hold on to is His faithfulness to us, love for us, and intentions toward us.

God always has our best interest at heart! The message of the Old Testament reminds us:

“So realize that the LORD your God is true God; the faithful God, who keeps covenant faithfully with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” —Deuteronomy 7:9

Throughout our seeming devastation, God is in the business of making beauty from our ashes. Indeed, Jesus’ “job description” covers that very issue. We are told by the prophet Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners, to announce the year when the LORD will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn, to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement. They will be called oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the LORD to reveal his splendor. —Isaiah 61:1–3

Jesus reads these very words from a scroll handed to Him in the synagogue, proclaiming to His hearers that these words have been fulfilled in their hearing:

“Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and, found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to tell them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled even as you heard it being read.’” —Luke 4:16–21

Jesus came to proclaim the good news, release the captive, set free the oppressed, and proclaim God’s favor—all of this coming our way by way of the cross.

What appeared as devastation to the onlookers mentioned in today’s verses becomes life to the full.

Become More

Sometimes it is hard for us to understand God’s higher purposes for good when calamities occur. We must hold on to the promise of God’s Word that He will use these things for our good and for His glory. God has a plan and it is always for our good!

“Faith raises the soul above the difficulty, straight to God Himself, and enables one to stand still. We gain nothing by our restless and anxious efforts … It is therefore true wisdom, in all times of difficulty and perplexity, to stand still–to wait only upon God, and He will assuredly open a way for us.” —C.H. Mackintosh

Further Reflection

“To the child of God, there is no such thing as an accident. He travels an appointed way … Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evils only because we cannot read the secret script of God’s hidden providence.” —A.W. Tozer

“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him along with two others–one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had a notice written and fastened to the cross. Which read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Thus many of the Jews read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the notice was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write “The King of the Jews,” but rather that this man said “I am king of the Jews.”’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’” —John 19:17–22

The cross—an instrument of the most terrible and agonizing torture, commonly used by the Romans for slaves and criminals. Persons sentenced to crucifixion were first beaten and then compelled to carry their own cross to the place of execution. Crucifixion was reserved for the worst and most hardened of criminals and a sign was usually placed on the chest of or over the head of the one being executed. What humiliation Christ endured as our substitute.

Jesus was considered a sinner and a curse for us. He was the most significant sin offering ever to be seen—bearing our disgrace. In the book of Hebrews we find this summary:

“For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp. We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.” —Hebrews 13:11–13

We must choose to follow Jesus regardless of the humiliation or suffering that being His disciple might involve. We may be asked to leave the security of our traditions and ceremonies, or friends and family, or location and lands. We may be deserted by all, persecuted for our doctrine and practice, and yet we must be willing to stand alone. As we carry our cross, we embrace His rule over our lives and in so doing take hold of the life that is truly life. Whatever cross He calls us to, we must remember that He carried His cross first. He died with criminals, fulfilling the prophecy found in Isaiah:

“So I will assign him a portion among the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of the victory with the powerful, because he willing submitted to death, and was numbered with the rebel, when he lifted up the sin of many, and intervened on behalf of the rebels.” —Isaiah 53:12

How incredible that the words Pilate chose to place on the cross of our Lord would be the exact proclamation God would have the world to know! How symbolic that those words were nailed to the wood on which Jesus bore ours sins. How like God to use someone such as Pilate to accomplish His purpose!

“JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” the proclamation read. Jesus came to be a King, and as a King, He lived and suffered and died for His subjects. The sign eliminates any confusion about who He is. The myriads who pass by, those who witness the crucifixion, see that Jesus really did suffer. and that He was not at the last moment released, or another punished in His place, or His death taken away by miraculous intervention.

Jesus’ death blotted out the requirements of the law which were held against us. Paul tells us Christ nailed them to the cross:

“And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.” —Colossians 2:13–14

Become More

“The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other way! Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony at Calvary. We should never take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification in simple faith, and then forget the enormous cost to God that made all of this ours. Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. Never accept a view of the fatherhood of God if it blots out the atonement. The revealed truth of God is that without the atonement He cannot forgive–He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God through the atonement of the Cross. God’s forgiveness is possible only in the supernatural realm … Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.” —Oswald Chambers

Further Reflection

The crucifixion takes place prominently near the city where all those attending the Passover will pass by. Written in three languages—Hebrew (Aramaic), the language of the Jews; Greek, the language most known in all the eastern countries as well as the language of the educated; and Latin, the language of the Romans, the ruling nation of the world at that time—there is no confusion. All who read the sign understand and spread the news in their own language that Jesus–the King of the Jews—has been put to death by crucifixion at the Passover Feast.

“(Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, about noon.) Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, ‘Look, here is your king!’ Then they shouted out, ‘Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!’ Pilate asked, ‘Shall I crucify your king?’ The high priests replied, ‘We have no king except Caesar!’ Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus.” —John 19:14–16

All Jewish feasts have their preparation days in order for people to be ready mentally, spiritually, and physically. On these days, no regular work is done in order to focus totally on preparation. Jesus’ death occurred prior to the special Sabbath known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The children of Israel were to abstain from all leavened bread for seven days. To prevent any accidental consumption, they were to empty their homes of any leaven or leaven products. The Old Testament includes strict instructions:

“These are the LORD’s appointed times, the holy assemblies, which you must proclaim at their appointed times: In the first month, on the fourteen day of the month, at twilight, is a Passover offering to the LORD. Then on the fifteenth day of that same month the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day there will be a holy assembly for you; and you must do no regular work.” —Leviticus 23:4–7

“For seven days yeast must not be found in your houses. For whoever eats what is made with yeast that person will be cut off from the community of Israel, whether a resident foreigner or one born in the land. You will not eat anything made with yeast; in all places where you live, you must eat bread made without yeast.” —Exodus 12:19–20

Yeast in the Bible is symbolic of sin. The absence of yeast represents the picture that those who are under the safety of the shed blood of the Passover lamb are free from the corruption of sin before a holy God.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

“Clean out old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough—you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. So then, let us celebrate the festival not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.” —1 Corinthians 5:7–8

It is important to note that Jesus died on the day the Israelites were to rid their lives of leaven (sin). This was the day they were to leave their wanderings behind them. The great God in heaven allowed the perfect Lamb of God to take upon Him all the sin of the world so that those who would believe on Him would be safe under His shed blood:

“God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” —2 Corinthians 5:21

Sadly, many of the Jews did not want Jesus to be their King. In our verses for today, we find them raising their fierce, relentless, stubborn cry in a demand for the death of Jesus. They shout to Pilate: “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” They want no part of Him. Only His blood will satisfy them and only His blood will fully satisfy God’s righteous requirement for the payment of their sin.

Had not our Lord been rejected, we would have been forever rejected by God. As Christ was made sin for us and crucified, in like manner, we are to crucify the sin in our lives. Christ was put to death for our offenses—the Righteous One for the unrighteous. He is our substitution. Our punishment was laid upon Him and by His wounds, we are healed. He has set us free! Paul tells us:

“He was given over to death for our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.” —Romans 4:25

This was a part of God’s plan! Isaiah clearly foretold of God’s amazing plan to redeem us to himself:

“Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the LORD’s purpose will be accomplished through him.” —Isaiah 53:10

Become More

You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver and gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.” —1 Peter 1:18–19

Further Reflection

“See what sort of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called God’s children—and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it is did not know him.” —1 John 3:1

“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged severely. The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head and they clothed him in a purple robe. They came up to him and again, said, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ And they struck him repeatedly in the face.” —John 19:1–3

Jesus is experiencing incredible suffering … for our sake. The moment has come for the Old Testament prophecies to be fulfilled:

“He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him, he was despised, and we considered him insignificant.” —Isaiah 53:3

“He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.” —Isaiah 53:5

The eternal Son of God, whom the Father’s countless angels stood at the ready delighting to honor, steps down out of His glory to be the perfect and needed sacrifice for all the sins of the world. We see our Lord here willingly beaten by His own people, unjustly condemned by a judge who proclaimed he could find no fault in Him, and finally delivered up to an excruciating death with all the sins of the world heaped upon His bleeding and disfigured body. Who loves like this? Only God—His love is a love that stands alone.

Paul tells us:

“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:5–11

The suffering of Jesus puts into perspective our own suffering. What was it like for Him to beaten and mocked? We are called to follow His example of patience in all trials and afflictions of life—especially those brought upon us for our faith in Him. It is He and He alone who gives us the grace, the power, and the strength to meet each trial. We have His strength in us!

Become More

“But the LORD delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble.” —Psalm 37:39

Further Reflections

“He, the innocent sin-bearer, wore the crown of thorns, that we, the guilty, might wear a crown of glory.” —John Charles Ryle

“Whatever the circumstances, whatever the call, whatever the duty, whatever the price, whatever the sacrifice—His strength will be your strength in your hour of need.” —Billy Graham

“Want of trust is at the root of almost all our sins and all our weaknesses, and how shall we escape it but by looking to Him and observing His faithfulness. The man who holds God’s faithfulness will not be foolhardy or reckless, but will be ready for every emergency.” —Hudson Taylor

“So Pilate went back into the government residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, are you the king of the Jews? Jesus replied, ‘Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me or did others talk to you about me?’” —John 18:33–34

In an effort to remove Jesus from the disorderly crowd so that he can question Him, Pilate calls Jesus into his palace. Holiness has been summoned into defilement. Is that not a perfect description of what Jesus does every time He is asked to enter a heart at the point of salvation? Purity, holiness, and blamelessness enter into a heart filled with sin and depravity—saving, cleansing, and empowering that heart to be like Him.

“Jesus showed us what God really wants to cleanse and purify—our hearts. Christ’s transforming work on the cross helps us to break free from desires that hold us in bondage. As we submit to God, we become like Christ, no longer wanting to offend God. Out of gratitude we obey Him from the inside out.” —Tremper Longman

The writer of Hebrews gives us the following description of our great High Priest and Savior, Jesus:

“And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” —Hebrews 7:23–26

C.S. Lewis paints a vivid description of what he found when he examined his own heart: “A zoo of lusts, a bedlam of ambitions, a nursery of fears and a harem of fondled hatreds.”

He also wrote: “Man is now a horror to God and to himself and a creature ill-adapted to the universe not because God made him so but because he has made himself so by the abuse of his free will.”

All four Gospels record Pilate asking the same question: “Are you the king of the Jews?” He obviously had a desire to know if Jesus professed to be the king of this ancient people over whom he and his soldiers now ruled. Considering our Lord’s humble appearance, Pilate possibly assumed that Jesus was merely a mock messiah—simply setting himself up over the throngs of people who adored Him. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record Jesus replying to Pilate with the same words: “You say so.”

“Then Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘You say so,’ Jesus replied.” —Matthew 27:11

“So Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate. ‘You say so,’ Jesus replied.” —Mark 15:2

“So Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘You say so,’ Jesus replied.” —Luke 23:3

A few verses later in John 18 we find similar words from Jesus, yet with a stipulation for those willing to hear Him:

“Then Pilate said, ‘So you are a king!’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this reason I came into this world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’” —John 18:37

Become More

The Roman historian Suetonius has noted that a rumor was prevalent throughout the East at this time in history that a king was about to arise among the Jews who would obtain dominion over the world. This rumor no doubt originated from Jewish prophesies. I cannot help but be reminded of the wise men’s statement as they sought to visit Jesus at His birth:

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” —Matthew 2:1–2

Further Reflection

Jesus’ entire life was lived within the framework of his role as the King of the Jews. It is precisely because of it that He saves us!

“So Pilate came outside to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this man?’ They replied, ‘If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate told them, ‘Take him yourselves and pass judgement on him according to your own law!’ The Jewish leaders replied, ‘We have cannot legally put anyone to death. This happened to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated what kind of death he was going to die.’” —John 18:29–32

There was certainly no love lost between Pilate and these hypocritical Jews. Pilate was not the least bit fooled by their false pretense—he saw right through their charade. Matthew’s Gospel tells us Pilate was aware of the motives behind these Jewish leaders’ actions:

“For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.” —Matthew 27:18

Pilate was well aware of these leaders’ envy and fear over Jesus’ growing popularity and following. He had witnessed the love, acclaim, and wild enthusiasm the Jewish nation had for their King. Certainly, he had heard about—if not even seen—the crowds assembled together shouting “Hosanna,” and waving palm branches (symbols of victory) at Jesus’ triumphal entry, and shouting Messianic titles to Him.

John tells us earlier in his gospel:

“The next day the large crowd that had come for the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took palm branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. They began to shout, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!’” —John 12:12–13

However, in our verses for today, it was the Jewish leaders causing this annoyance for Pilate, not the masses. These leaders wanted Jesus dead, and if possible, they wanted the deed done by the hands of the Romans. They wanted to keep everything legal in their own eyes, they wanted to justify their evil behavior. Never mind that their hearts were hardened and dead.

Yet the Jewish leaders’ actions were merely the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophetic words—another confirmation that Jesus was exactly who He said He was!

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and said to them, 

“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely and crucified. Yet on the third day he will be raised.” —Matthew 20:17–19

Become More

What the Jewish leaders failed to realize is that God values what is in the heart over the pretense of righteous actions. He always judges on the basis of why we do what we do.

“All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives.” —Proverbs 16:2

Further Reflections

“Certainly the LORD watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.” —2 Chronicles 16:9

“I, the LORD, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.” —Jeremiah 17:10

“Our Lord does not care so much for the importance of our works as for the love with which they are done.” —Teresa of Avila

“Simon Peter and another disciple followed them as they brought Jesus to Annas. Now the other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. But Peter was left standing outside by the door. So the other disciple who was acquainted with the high priest came out and spoke to the slave girl who watched the door, and brought Peter inside. The girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, ‘You’re not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?’ He replied, ‘I am not.’ One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, ‘Did I not see you with him in the olive grove?’ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.” —John 18:15–18, 25–27

Peter’s denial of Jesus is actually recorded in all four gospels. The other gospel accounts are as follows:

“Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in law and the elders had gathered. But Peter following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard.”—Matthew 26:57–58

“Then they led Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and experts of the law came together. And Peter followed him from a distance, up to the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.” —Mark 14:53–54

“Then they arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high Priest’s house. But Peter following at a distance. When they had made a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down with them.” —Luke 22:54–55

Peter was anxious to see what would happen to his Master, yet not brave or bold enough to stay by His side. What mixed feelings must have been going on within him! Loving the Lord Jesus, afraid to show his true loyalty, ashamed of his disloyalty. And so he finds himself choosing the very unprofitable middle ground between what he knows to be the right thing to do and what fear and cowardice prevent him from doing.

When we find ourselves seeking to stay the middle course for fear of others or for fear of our own skin, we are poised to fall. After being so self-confident that he would never deny the Lord, Peter does exactly that. Isn’t that the way it goes? We place ourselves in positions we should never be in, and fear, self-confidence, pride, or whatever blows in on us and we come spiraling down, doing things we never thought possible.

Instead of being self-confident, Peter ought to have been humble; instead of sleeping, he should have been praying; instead of flitting around the fire with the enemy, he should have placed himself out of temptation’s reach.

Paul tells us we are to flee temptation and pursue righteousness. In order to do that we need to know ourselves! We need to identify what temptations are most appealing to us and will cause us to fall. We must know where we are most tempted and seek to avoid placing ourselves where we are likely to tumble down. No one is above falling.

Certainly, the sound of the early morning rooster crowing was a harsh and bitter sound to Peter’s ears. A jolt of painful lightning must have pierced his heart. He had done something he had passionately proclaimed he would never do. He had turned his back on his Lord. 

Earlier in John, we find Peter showing great confidence:

“Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!” —John 13:37

He genuinely underestimated his own determination. Unfortunately, this is a misstep we all seem to wrestle with! We can all see ourselves in Peter.

Become More

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.” —Hebrews 12:1–3

Further Reflections

“The only fear a Christian should entertain is the fear of sin. All other fears are from Satan sent to confuse and weaken us. How often the Lord reiterated to His disciples, ‘Be not afraid!’” —Isobel Kuhn

“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I will call you by name; you are mine.” —Isaiah 43:1

“Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up. They brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. (Now this was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.) —John 18:12–14

“They tied him up.” Seriously? How do you tie up the One who spoke creation into being? How do you tie up the great “I AM”? How do you tie up the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form? How do you tie up Omnipotence in the flesh? “They tied him up” simply because Jesus allowed them to bind Him. He allowed Himself to be a sufferer and He allowed His enemies to work their will. He allowed Himself to the object of spite and hatred. He suffered while He served. To free humankind from bondage, Jesus became bound, and we owe our liberty to His bondage. The prophet Isaiah tells us:

“He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant. But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.” —Isaiah 53:3–5

“He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth. He was led away after an unjust trial—but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded.” —Isaiah 53:7–8

Become More

“We see the Son of God taken prisoner and led away bound like a malefactor, arraigned before wicked and unjust judges, insulted and treated with contempt. And yet this unresisting prisoner had only to will His deliverance, and He would at once have been free. He had only to command the confusion of His enemies, and they would at once have been confounded. Above all He was One who knew full well that Annas and Caiaphas, and all their companions, would one day stand before His judgment seat and receive an eternal sentence. He knew all these things, and yet condescended to be treated as a malefactor without resisting.” —John Charles Ryle

Jesus is our great deliverer!

Further Reflection

“Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. —Psalm 61:1–2