SEEING DEEP
with Denise Pass
BIBLE READING PLAN
Who’s Your King?
If Christ is our King, we will live differently. This world that surrounds us marches to the beat of whatever is politically correct in the moment. But our God is timeless. Our King rules over all whether or not people say He does. Who’s Your King? Does He lay down His life for you? Mine does. And I want to live for Him!
Bible Reading of the Day: John 19-20
There is a back-and-forth between Pilate and the Chief Priests and temple servants. Pilate wanted to release Jesus. He saw that Jesus had not legitimately broken any law. And yet the religious leaders tried to use the Law as an excuse against Jesus.
John 19:4-5, “4 Pilate went outside again and said to them, ‘Look, I’m bringing him out to you to let you know I find no grounds for charging him.’ 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the temple servants saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate responded, ‘Take him and crucify him yourselves since I find no grounds for charging him.” 7 “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God.’”
Who’s Your King?—A god of Convenience
Notice the shift and how the chief priests just wanted a conviction against Jesus. They were willing to frame up Jesus’ guilt with whichever law was more convenient. When the Roman law did not convict Jesus, they changed their argument. According to Ellicott’s commentary:
“They change the accusation then from one of treason against Cæsar (John 19:12), of which Pilate claimed to be judge, to one of blasphemy against God, of which they only could be judges; and assert that Jesus is by that law guilty of a capital offense, for which He ought to die.”
Don’t we see this today? Political arguments and any argument that is convenient to use for people to try to get their way. But switching positions to try and get what people want will never ease their conscience. Deep down, we know the truth, whether we deny or suppress it, as it says in Romans 1:18-19, “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them.”
Who’s Your King?—Political Correctness
Friends, people can try to be politically or religiously correct and deceive many, but the word of God and the Holy Spirit clear up any confusion, for those who want the truth.
Back then, as is the case today, people prefer deception. And ultimately man wants to be his own god, so it is convenient that the religious leaders would be able to switch their argument against Jesus. But what is interesting to me is that they in one moment claim that Caesar was their god. These were supposedly God’s people. How could they resort to such a place of deception?
“12 From that moment Pilate kept trying to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!” 13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s seat in a place called the Stone Pavement. 14 It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon. Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!” 15 They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?” “We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered. 16 Then he handed him over to be crucified.”
Who’s Your King?—Christ is King
“We have no king but Caesar”. Interesting words from God’s people. But this is not the first time they refused God as their King.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites chose a man as their king—King Saul. They did not want God as their king then, either.
1 Samuel 8:6-7, “But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.”
Friends, let us not just sit by while lies surround us in this culture. Great atrocities like the holocaust happen because good men do nothing in the face of evil. It will be hard, but we must speak truth while we still can.
We do have a king—King Jesus. and He rules our lives and this world. Nothing would happen in this world if God did not allow it. Man has free will and chooses evil, but God still powerfully uses what was meant for evil for good.
Scripture of the Day: John 19:11
“Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
The church needs to wake up and do what we can to affect and impact our culture. Butt ultimately, the church needs to look inward first. Is Christ our King, truly? Then let’s live our faith out boldly.
Do you need help trying to live your faith out in this crazy world? I hope you will join me this coming Saturday at a women’s conference as I share about “Having Biblical Faith in a Modern World” at Good Hope Baptist Church from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. There will be breakfast and lunch, worship and four talks about how we live our faith in a post-modern society.
You can buy tickets at https://www.goodhopelive.com/events/womens2020
Application
- How we live tells who our king is.
- Christ is King whether or not people acknowledge Him as King.
7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Day #258: John 19
Scripture of the Day: John 19:11
Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/John.19
Join me live at 8am ET:
www.facebook.com/deniseduboispass
Bible Reading Plan: https://denisepass.com/bible-reading-plan/ #SeeingDeep #BibleInAYear
Missed one of the Bible time lives? No problem! Check it out on my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/denisepass_seeingdeep
Sign up for the Bible Reading Plan!
The post Who’s Your King?—September 14 Bible Reading Plan appeared first on Denise Pass.
DENISE PASS BIBLE READING PLAN
You can find Denise’s previous day series posts by clicking the button below.
