Day 200: John 20:24-31 & Psalms 95-96 - What is the Real Value of John's Gospel?

Today's Reading: John 20:24-31 & Psalms 95-96

Get the full reading plan

What is the Real Value of John's Gospel? 

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. - John 20:24-31, ESV

We have now spent 200 days together in the Gospels, almost 50 of those in the Gospel of John. By the time we finish in three more days, we will have spent over 50 days considering this Gospel. So, what is the real benefit we gain from this time? What is the real value of John's Gospel? 

Well, John tells us the benefit of his Gospel for us at the end of his book. Thomas (so-called "Doubting Thomas") makes the most powerful and clear profession of faith in Jesus Christ in the whole Gospel. Jesus answers Thomas' doubt by inviting Thomas to put his fingers in Jesus' scared hands and to place his hand in Jesus' pierced side. Thomas answers Jesus' invitation by proclaiming, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus then answers Thomas' proclamation of faith by saying, "“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. This is the blessing available to all who read John's Gospel. John knew he was the last living apostle and he knew he was writing the last Gospel. He wanted his readers, people who had never seen Jesus - including you and me - to receive this blessing promised by Jesus. And so he says, "These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." 

None of us has ever seen the Lord. But we can receive an even greater blessing than those who did see Him, if we will believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and if we will trust and receive life in His name. The signs recorded in John's Gospel - turning water into wine, healing, feeding 5,000, raising the dead and rising from the dead Himself - all testify and bear witness to the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed Messiah, the Lord and the Savior of all who trust in Him. He is the Son of God, and He has the power of life in Himself. He showed this life-giving power when He raised Lazarus and then when He defeated death Himself.

John's whole purpose in writing this Gospel is to make the good news of Jesus Christ available and open to all who will believe. From beginning to end, he has had this one clear message. So, do you believe? Will you receive life in His name? 

If you have received life by faith in Him, will you share this Gospel with others? Maybe you could find someone in your life and invite them to go on a journey through John with you! 

Prayer Based on Psalms 95-96    

Oh, Lord, let all of Your people sing praises to You;
    let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!
Let us come into Your presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to You with songs of praise!
For You, Lord, are a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.
In Your hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are Yours also.
The sea is Yours, for You made it,
    and Your hands formed the dry land.

Lord, let Your people worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before You, the Lord, our Maker!
For You are our God,
    and we are the people of Your pasture,
    and the sheep of Your hand.
Today, let us hear Your voice,
    and do not let us harden our hearts, as Your people did at Meribah,
    as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
when our spiritual forefathers put You to the test
    and put You to the proof, though they had seen Your work.
For forty years You loathed that generation
    and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,
    and they have not known my ways.”
Therefore You swore in Your wrath,
    “They shall not enter my rest.”

But, O Lord, let us sing to You a new song;
    sing to You in all the earth!
Sing to You, Lord, and bless Your name;
    tell of Your salvation from day to day.
Declare Your glory among the nations,
    Your marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great are You, Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    You are to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but You, Lord, made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before You;
    strength and beauty are in Your sanctuary.

Let all the families of the peoples,
    ascribe to You, Lord, glory and strength!
Let us ascribe to You the glory due Your name;
    let us bring an offering, and come into Your courts!
Let us worship You, Lord, in the splendor of holiness;
    let us tremble before You in all the earth!

Let Your people say among all the nations, “The Lord reigns!
    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
    He will judge the peoples with equity.”
Let the heavens hear and be glad, and let the earth sing and rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
    before You, Lord, for You come,
    for You come to judge the earth.
You will judge the world in righteousness,
    and all the peoples in Your faithfulness.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Day 199: John 20:19-23 & Psalms 92-93 - When and Why Did the Disciples Receive the Holy Spirit?

Today's Reading: John 20:19-23 & Psalms 92-93

Get the full reading plan

When and Why Did the Disciples Receive the Holy Spirit?

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. - John 20:21-22, ESV

Today's passage brings us to one of the most wonderful and confusing sections of John's Gospel. Here Jesus appears to His disciples after the resurrection and commissions them to go out into the world, saying, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." Then, He breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit."  

What's wonderful here is the two times Jesus says to His disciples, "Peace be with you" and the simple and yet powerful way He commissions them. They are sent out by Jesus just as the Father sent Jesus. So the commission Jesus gives His people is the same as the commission God the Father gave Him: Speak the truth, Show love. Demonstrate the power of the kingdom. Glorify God. Love people. 

What's confusing here is why Jesus breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit." It's confusing because we know that the Holy Spirit is poured out on the disciples at Pentecost, approximately seven weeks later. So, we're left to ask: Did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them or at Pentecost? 

It seems like Jesus' actions here in the Upper Room are more of a sign and promise than the actual full gift of the Holy Spirit. I say this because the disciples don't immediately manifest any evidence of the new power of the Holy Spirit. They don't go out and preach the Gospel or speak in tongues not do they prophesy. In other words, the signs so clearly evident at Pentecost are not seen here. So it seems best to see this action by Jesus as a sign and a promise. That's not to say that the disciples were completely without the influence of the Holy Spirit, only that they had not yet received the full empowering of His indwelling presence and anointing as apostles.

The other confusing verse in today's passage in verse 23, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld." Was Jesus really giving the apostles the authority to forgive or refuse to forgive anyone's sins? Well, did they ever exercise such direct authority? No. The evidence is that the apostles took this charge as authority to preach and minister the Gospel, which is the way people's sins are forgiven. 

John Gill explains: 

"God only can forgive sins. Christ, being God, has a power to do so likewise; but he never communicated any such power to his apostles; nor did they ever assume any such power to themselves, or pretend to exercise it; it is the mark of antichrist, to attempt anything of the kind; who, in so doing, usurps the divine prerogative, places himself in his seat, and shows himself as if he was God: but this is to be understood only in a doctrinal, or ministerial way, by preaching the full and free remission of sins, through the blood of Christ, according to the riches of God's grace, to such as repent of their sins, and believe in Christ."  

This verse does highlight the high value and sacred responsibility of Gospel ministry. Preaching and ministering the Gospel is nothing to be done or taken lightly. It is nothing less than the exercise of the keys of the kingdom and the opportunity for eternal salvation for all who believe. When we withhold the Gospel from someone out of fear or pride or hatred, we are shutting the door of the kingdom of God, the doorway to eternal life, in their faces. May we never do such a thing!

Notice that John connects the promise of the Holy Spirit to two main things: Peace and Gospel mission. The Holy Spirit comes to every believer, bringing us peace with God and sending us out to take the Gospel to a world in need. The Holy Spirit brings peace and empowerment for Gospel ministry. May we seek His presence and power always for these goals and never try to make our own peace or minister in our own power. 

Prayer Based on Psalms 92-93:

It is good to give thanks to You, O Lord,
    to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
to declare Your steadfast love in the morning,
    and Your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
    to the melody of the lyre.
For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your work;
    at the works of Your hands I sing for joy.

How great are Your works, O Lord!
    Your thoughts are very deep!
Those who lack knowledge of You cannot know;
    the foolish who deny the truth cannot understand this:
that though the wicked sprout like grass
    and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
    but You, O Lord, are on high forever.
For behold, Your enemies, O Lord,
    for behold, Your enemies shall perish;
    all evildoers shall be scattered.

But You have exalted the Lord Jesus, my horn and my salvation;
    You have poured over the anointing of Your Holy Spirit.
My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies, crushed beneath the cross;
    my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants, defeated by my Lord's death and resurrection.

The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that You, O Lord, are upright;
    You are my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in You.

You, O Lord, reign over all; You are robed in majesty;
    You are robed; You have put on strength as Your belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
    You are from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
    the floods have lifted up their voice;
    the floods lift up their roaring.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
    mightier than the waves of the sea,
    You, O Lord on high, are mighty indeed!

Your decrees are very trustworthy;
    holiness befits Your house,

    O Lord, forevermore.
I am Your house, by Your grace,
   so make me holy in heart and life, as befits Your Temple.
Your people, Your church, are the living Temple,
   so make us holy and fill us with Your purifying presence.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 198: John 20:11-18 & Psalm 91 - What Makes Mary Magdalene's Testimony of the Resurrection so Remarkable?

Today's Reading: John 20:11-18 & Psalm 91

Get the full reading plan

What Makes Mary Magdalene's Testimony of the Resurrection so Remarkable?

Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). - John 20:14-16, ESV

In the 40 days after He rose from the dead and before He ascended back to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus appeared to over 515 people on several different occasions. However, of all of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, none was more remarkable than the first. Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene in the garden of the tomb is surprising and perhaps the most compelling of all of the appearances. Why?

1. Mary was a woman. Women were not respected in the ancient world. They did not enjoy the same rights as men and their testimony was generally not admissible in court. Yet Jesus chose to appear first to a woman and to send her to be the first witness of His resurrection to the male disciples, who would not see Him until later that day, in the evening.

2. Mary was a woman with a troubled past. More than just a woman, Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus had exorcised seven demons. This means she had a dark and oppressed past. What better person to be the first to witness the victory of Christ over the powers of hell than someone who had suffered for years under the torment of those very powers!

3. Mary was clearly not expecting the resurrection. This account shows us how entirely unexpected the resurrection was to the early disciples. Skeptics sometimes claim that the disciples were superstitious and gullible, and that the resurrection appearances might have been a kind of wish-fulfillment. But ancient people knew as clearly as we do that dead people do not rise again. They were not expecting to see Jesus again.

4. Mary did not even recognize Jesus first. Mary was deeply distress, crying, desperately wondering what had happened to her Master. Even after she saw angels in the tomb, she still thought someone had just stolen the body. Even when she saw Jesus, she thought he was the gardener of the garden around the tomb. She thought perhaps he had taken the body away.

For all of these reasons, when Jesus speaks Mary's name and she recognizes Him, it is the most wonderful news and a most remarkable transformation for her life, for the life of the disciples and for the world! Praise God for the remarkable testimony of this woman. Praise Him even more for the powerful resurrection of Jesus from the dead!   

Prayer Based on Psalm 91:

Heavenly Father, by Your grace,
You are my shelter and I dwell in the shadow of Your wings.
You keep me and guard me in all of my ways.
Your son, Jesus, trusted in You and You delivered Him from the snare of death.
Because I belong to Jesus, I, too, am secure in Your loving care for me. 

Father, we are Your people and we live in a hostile world.
We live in a land where Satan prowls and people fall prey to His attacks daily.
Keep us safe in Your hands.
Guide us by Your Holy Spirit.
Glorify Your name and exalt Your Son
   in our churches, in our worship, in our families and in our lives.
Deliver us and protect us,
   for we love You and hold fast to Your name.

In Jesus' precious name, Amen!    

Day 197: John 20:1-10 & Psalm 89 - What's the Difference Between Seeing and Seeing?

Today's Reading: John 20:1-10 & Psalm 89

Get the full reading plan

What's the Difference Between Seeing and Seeing?

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed - John 20:6-18

If you're a man and you're married, then you've probably had the experience of being asked, "Do you see that?" and looking and wondering, What exactly am I supposed to see? If you're blessed to be a husband, then you know there is a big difference between seeing and seeing. You probably also know the difference between seeing and seeing from the other perspective if you're the parent of a teenager. You walk into their room and ask, "Do you see this?" and they stare blankly back at you and reply, "See what?"  

Well, Peter and John had a seeing vs. seeing experience on that first Resurrection Day. They both ran to the tomb at the report of Mary Magdalene. John reached the tomb first; he was younger, after all. But John didn't go into the tomb. He just looked in and saw the linen cloths lying there. Peter went into the tomb and also saw the linen cloths. Then John entered the tomb and really saw and believed.

In English, this discussion is limited by the fact that we say seeing and seeing, saw and saw, using the same word but meaning two different things by it. Greek is different. Greek has several different words for seeing, and John uses three different verb here:

1. The first time (v. 5), when John saw the linen cloths, the word is blepo, which is perhaps the most basic word for seeing with the eye. 

2. In the next verse (v. 6), when Peter enters and sees the linen cloths, the word is theoreo, which is a stronger verb, meaning to look and consider, to view attentively.

3. Finally, when John entered the tomb, we're told "he saw and believed." (v. 8) This time, the verb for saw is horao, which can mean to perceive or to pay heed. This is the verb that is used by Matthew to descibe the wise men seeing the star; it is a seeing with understanding. Thus, John "saw and believed." His seeing was with an understanding that led to faith.         

In life, so much depends on really being able to see. May the Lord give us the grace to be able to see with understanding and to respond with faith, just as John did, believing with eyes of faith, before he saw the risen Lord and before he even fully understood the Scriptures. Lord, grant us that kind of sight! 

Prayer Based on Psalm 89:

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;

    with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations.

For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;

    in the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”

You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;

    I have sworn to David my servant:

‘I will establish your offspring forever,

    and build your throne for all generations.’”

You have kept and fulfilled all of Your covenant promises in Christ,

   the Great Son of David who lives and ruled forever! 

Let the heavens praise Your wonders, O Lord,

    Your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

For who in the skies can be compared You, O Lord?

    Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,

a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,

    and awesome above all who are around You?

O Lord God of hosts,

    who is mighty as You are, O Lord,

    with Your faithfulness all around You?

You rule the raging of the sea;

    when its waves rise, You still them.

The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours;

    the world and all that is in it, You have founded them.

The north and the south, You have created them;

    Tabor and Hermon joyously praise Your name.

You have a mighty arm;

    strong is your hand, high Your right hand,

    Jesus our Savior and Lord, Your right hand forever!

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

    steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Blessed are the people who who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,

who exult in the name of Jesus all the day

    and in Your righteousness are exalted.

For You are the glory of their strength;

    by Your favor our horn is exalted.

For our shield belongs to the Lord,

    our king to the Holy One of Israel.

But Your people are in trouble, O Lord,

    Persecuted and harassed by enemies and suffering shame and disgrace.

How long, O Lord? Will You hide yourself forever?

    How long will Your wrath burn like fire?

Remember how short our time is!

    For what brief lives on earth You have created all the children of man!

What man can live and never see death?

    Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?

Only in Jesus is power over the grave!

Lord, where is Your steadfast love of old,

    which by Your faithfulness You swore to David?

Your have fulfilled the vows You made to David in Your Son.

Now, remember, O Lord, how Your servants are mocked,

    and how we bear the insults of all the many nations,

with which Your enemies mock, O Lord,

    with which they mock the footsteps of Your anointed.

Redeem and rescue, to the praise of Your name!

Blessed be the Lord forever!

Amen and Amen.

Day 196: John 19:28-42 & Psalm 85 - What Did Jesus Mean When He Cried "It is Finished!"?

Today's Reading: John 19:28-42 & Psalm 85

Get the full reading plan

What Did Jesus Mean When He Cried "It is Finished!"?

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. - John 19:28-30, ESV

When Jesus hung on the cross, one of the last things He cried out was "It is finished!" Years ago, people who were searching for the "real historical Jesus" beneath the supposed propaganda of the Gospel accounts latched onto this desperate cry of a dying man as proof that Jesus died in despair. They claimed that "It is finished!"- when combined with "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?"- tells us all we need to know about Jesus: He was a failure in His mission to become the Jewish Messiah and He died a horrible death in utter rejection as a failure. 

Looking at Jesus' death in this way is far from historical or real. It ignores the eye-witness accounts of Jesus' triumphant resurrection. It also ignores the Old Testament source for two of the seven things Jesus said on the cross before He said, "It is finished!" Once we place "It is finished!" into the broader context (something all good historians should do), we find that this is not a cry of despair and defeat but of triumph and satisfaction.

Two of Jesus' seven sayings on the cross come from Psalm 22, which opens "My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?" and then in verse 15 refers to extreme thirst, "my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws." John tells us that when Jesus said, "I thirst," He did so "to fulfill the Scripture" of Psalm 22:15. If we go to Psalm 22, we find the following details of the crucifixion of Jesus:

1. Jesus scorned and despised by the people. (v. 6)

2. Jesus mocked by those who see Him on the cross. (vv. 7-8)

3. Jesus' bones being out of joint. (v. 14) This commonly happened during crucifixion.

4. Jesus being extremely thirsty. (v. 15)

5. Jesus' hands and feet being pierced. (v. 16)

6. None of Jesus' bones bring broken. (v. 17)

7. Jesus' clothing being divided and then gambled over. (v. 18)

Seven specific details about the crucifixion of Jesus from the pen of David, written 1,000 years before the birth of Jesus. Add to this the details of Jesus' trial and death from Isaiah 53 and it's not hard to see part of Jesus' meaning behind, "It is finished!" All that had been written about how He would suffer had been fulfilled. His work to fulfill the Scripture was indeed finished.

But Jesus' words mean more. Isaiah 53 tells us not only details about Jesus' death (like Psalm 22), but it also tells us the reason for Jesus' death and what His death accomplished:

Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all. (vv. 4-6) 

Jesus hung on the cross for our transgressions, for our iniquities. He died to take away our sin and to give us peace and healing instead. In the light of this, "It is finished!" meant "paid in full." Full atonement had been made, the full price of ransom had been paid. 

Today, when we're wrestling with doubt and fear, we can look back at the cross and say with Jesus: "It is finished!" Jesus fulfilled every detail of the prophecies made about Him. Jesus paid for every sin. Jesus purchased full healing and lasting peace. Because of the cross, our salvation is finished indeed!  

Prayer Based on Psalm 85:

Lord, on the cross, You were favorable to Your people;

    you redeemed Your people and restored our fortunes with You.

You forgave the iniquity of Your people;

    You covered all our sin. 

You withdrew all Your wrath;

    You turned from Your hot anger.

Restore us again, O God of our salvation,

    and put away Your indignation toward us!

We confess our sin and our unfaithfulness!
   We have been worldly and idolatrous in many ways.

Will You be angry with us forever?

   Will You not revive us again,

    that Your people may rejoice in You?

Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord,

    and grant us Your salvation.

Let me hear what You, O God our Lord, will speak,

    for You will speak peace to Your people, to Your saints;

    but please keep us from turning back to folly.

Surely Your salvation is near to those who fear You,

    that Your glory may dwell among Your people.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;

    righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Faithfulness springs up from the ground,

    and righteousness looks down from the sky.

At the cross, love was displayed and justice fulfilled

    promises faithfully kept and righteousness perfectly fulfilled.

Because of the cross as the demonstration of Your love,

    we know that You, O Lord, will give what is good,

    and our land will yield its increase.

Let us always live by the rightousness of Jesus;

   may His footsteps be the way in which we walk.

In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Day 195: John 19:17-27 & Psalm 82 - Why Was "King of the Jews" Written on Jesus' Cross?

Today's Reading: John 19:17-27 & Psalm 82

Get the full reading plan

Why Was "King of the Jews" Written on Jesus' Cross?

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” - John 19:19-22, ESV

Pontius Pilate washed his hands of Jesus. He declared Him innocent of treason and rebellion and said very clearly, "I find no guilt in him." (v. 6) Yet, cowardly, he decided to pacify the Jewish leadership and give them what they wanted - the death of Jesus. 

Interestingly, once Pilate decides to give in to their demands, he then starts consistently referring to Jesus as the King of the Jews. When he presents Jesus to the crowd one final time, he says, “Behold your King!” He then asks them, “Shall I crucify your King?” To this question, the chief priests, of all people, answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” In the end, when Jesus was hung on the cross, Pilate ordered an inscription be put on the cross reading, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

So, what was Pilate thinking? Why did He do this? Did he suddenly change his mind and think Jesus was trying to lead a Jewish uprising against Rome? No, it doesn't seem like he did. Rather, it seems like Pilate was trying to lay the blame for Jesus' death at the feet of the Jews, while at the same time mocking them for having their king crucified.

But there's a more important reason why "King of the Jews" was written on the cross: Because it was true and God wanted it proclaimed there. Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of David. He was the King of the Jews. And yet, the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek, all of the major languages of the people and of the empire. This was to signify that Jesus' kingship had worldwide significance.

Jesus was not just the King of the Jews, but He hung on the cross as the King of the Jews. He hung on the cross to pay for the sins of God's people as their King, dying in their place. Part of what qualified Him to hang on the cross in the place of God's people was His position as their King. And yet, He was not just hanging there for the sins of His Jewish people; He was paying for the sins of all of God's people, from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. So the sign was specific to His office but universal in its proclamation.

Is Jesus your King? Did He hang there for your sins? Will you adore Him at the foot of that shameful and yet glorious cross?

Prayer Based on Psalm 82:

O God, You have taken Your place in the divine council;
    in the midst of the mighty ones, You hold judgment,
speaking to the powerful of the world, asking:
“How long will you judge unjustly
    and show partiality to the wicked?
Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

Lord, they have neither knowledge nor understanding,
    the rulers of the world walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Lord, You have said to the world's rulers, “You are gods, mighty ones,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die,
    and fall like any prince.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for You shall inherit all the nations! 

Day 194: John 19:1-16 & Psalm 80 - Who Gave Pontius Pilate the Authority to Crucify Jesus?

Today's Reading: John 19:1-16 & Psalm 80

Get the full reading plan

Who Gave Pontius Pilate the Authority to Crucify Jesus?

So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”- John 19:10-11, ESV

It is hard to submit to governing authorities, especially when we see then doing wrong. It is hard to see our taxes supporting wrong-headed ideas. It is hard to obey laws we believe to be mis-guided (not laws requiring us to sin, just foolish ones). When we feel the weight of flawed government hanging on us and when we are tempted to resent and rebel, we can look to Jesus. Yes, even in times of government discontent, we can look to Jesus.

Today, we see Jesus standing before an unjust governor, ruling poorly and representing a repressive foreign empire. We see Jesus face-to-face with a man whose name has come to be synonymous with injustice. Yet we do not see Jesus lecturing Pontius Pilate on the principles of sound governing. We do not see Him complaining. Rather, we see a calm and confident Jesus telling the truth in loving humility.

Jesus' calm confidence is so deeply disturbing to Pilate that he repeatedly gets exasperated. One time, as Jesus stood silently before him, Pilate said, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” In response, Jesus profoundly revealed the source of His great calm and confidence: "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above." Jesus actually tells Pontius Pilate that the authority he has to crucify Jesus has been given to him by God Himself, Jesus' Heavenly Father.   

Are we really supposed to believe that the power of Pilate was entrusted to him by God? Yes! More than that, believing it should give us confidence and peace. Think about the alternative and this will make sense: Either Pilate's power was given to him by God or else some power in the world is being exercised outside of God's sovereign control. Which is scarier?

We need to believe that everything in this world is under the control of our heavenly Father, just like Jesus did. Believing this gives us the assurance that any injustice which may happen to us comes through the hands of our loving Father and is intended by Him for His glory and for our greater good. That's what Jesus knew! He was facing the single greatest injustice in the history of the world: the shameful public execution of the single truly innocent man in the history of the world, a man whose whole life was love and service. 

If Jesus could face Pontius Pilate with confidence, we can face anything the world may have in store with the same peace. We can face our rulers and our enemies with equal calm confidence in our Father who ordains all power and all use of that power for His greater purposes. 

Prayer Based on Psalm 80:

Heavenly Father,

We are Your people,
chosen in love and redeemed in Christ. 

We are Your church,
the place where You dwell. 

We are Your children,
the ones You have adopted and given Your own name. 

Yet, O Lord, look at Your household! 
Look upon Your people! 
In America,
we are lukewarm, compromised, cowardly, crooked and divided. 
In other parts of the world,
we are violently persecuted, outlawed, harassed and suffering. 

Have mercy on us! Be gracious to us! Restore us!

In Jesus' name, Amen!