THE STORY OF JESUS: John 19:1-11
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 1:11)
In Genesis 1, God (from above) gives humans power over the world.
This is how God set up His creation kingdom: God-like humans ruling for Him.
All humans in some way are authorized and empowered to represent God.
We were made to live WITH God, LIKE God, and FOR God in the world.
The bad news is we have become bad leaders, ruined by sin and death.
The kingdom of light is now a dominion of darkness under corrupt leadership.
God sends Jesus to break this cycle, as a human that beats sin and death.
Jesus was a God-like leader: humble, just, compassionate, selfless.
Yet here He is mocked with purple robes, while Pilate is honoured as ruler.
God sees who the real God-like leaders are, whether they’re honoured or not.
And one day He will hold all of us accountable for how we lived in the world.
Am I a Pilate-like leader – doing what it takes to please myself, or the people?
Or am I a God-like, Jesus-like leader – doing what it takes to please God?
Whoever you are, you represent God – what kind of leader are you?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be the kind of leader I want to follow. Help me to be a leader like You!
Pilate always had to step out to meet the religious leaders since they didn’t want to defile themselves for entering a Gentile place. And yet did they do? They wanted the government to kill Jesus. Truth and justice was far from their mind.
And Pilate, didn’t want a bad report to come to Caesar so truth and justice were far from his mind. He went along with the mob to ‘save’ himself to stay on the good side of Caesar.
And I, do I always have truth and justice marking my way or do I also have the ‘crowd’ influencing my choices? My decisions must be lead by Him living in me. I need to be SpiritLead at all times so that will be GodStrong.
Grace and truth shall mark the way
Where the Lord His own will lead,
If His Word they still obey
And His testimonies heed.
For Thy name’s sake hear Thou me,
For Thy mercy, Lord, I wait;
Pardon my iniquity,
For my sin is very great.
He who walks in godly fear
In the path of truth shall go;
Peace shall be his portion here,
And his sons all good shall know.