Tag Archives: Good Friday

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*Undeniable* On Earth as in Heaven

“Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou (Are you) The King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it to thee ? (Are you asking or did someone ask you to) Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

Jesus answered, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD: If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered unto the Jews: BUT MY KINGDOM IS NOT FROM HENCE (here).

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou SAYEST (rightly state) THAT I AM A KING. TO THIS END (completely for this purpose) WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I INTO THE WORLD, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Pilate sayeth unto him, What IS the truth? And when he had said THIS, he went back out unto the Jews, and SAITH unto them, I FIND IN HIM NO FAULT AT ALL.

But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover, will ye therefore that I release unto you THE KING OF THE JEWS? Then therefore cried they all again, saying, Not this man, But Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” John 18:33-40 

Think about a little something here, the plan becomes so obvious with the fact that the Jews CHOOSE a robber to live rather than Jesus, because Jesus had said, if anyone tried to come to the Father ANY other way than through Him, they WERE a thieves and a robbers! and you can see that crystal in this verse, they WERE attempting to CHOOSE another way into heaven. 

John 19: 1-22: ” Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him (whipped with a Roman scourge) And the soldiers platted (twisted) a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe.

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote (struck) him with their hands. Pilate forth again, and said unto them, BEHOLD, (pay attention) I bring him forth to you, THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM.

Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying Crucify him, crucify him, Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: FOR I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM.

The Jews answered him, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he hath made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard THAT saying, HE WAS MORE AFRAID.

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? ( WHERE ARE YOU FROM?) But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power (authority) to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest (would) have NO power AT ALL AGAINST ME, EXCEPT it were GIVEN THEE FROM ABOVE: therefore he that hath delivered me UNTO thee hath the greater sin. {He spoke of Judas’ betrayal of him, being greater sin against Him, than Pilates} And from henceforth (that time on) Pilate SOUGHT TO RELEASE HIM:

But the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art NOT Caesar’s friend: whomsoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is called Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation for the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he SAITH unto the Jews, BEHOLD YOUR KING! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify YOUR KING?

The chief priests answered, We have NO king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Where they crucified him and two other with him, on either side one, and JESUS IN THE MIDST (center). And Pilate WROTE a TITLE, and put it ON THE CROSS.

And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: And IT WAS WRITTEN IN HEBREW, GREEK, AND LATIN.

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write NOT, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN I HAVE WRITTEN.”

So much going on there,  the same old routine just as when they REFUSED God as their King and insisted on an earthly king over them and now again they denied and rejected Him, so desperate, that they even used the old scare tactics of “if you were a real friend of Caesar”, but scripture would be fulfilled, even with the Lord hanging in the center.. as known when two agree on anything, HE IS in the middle, agreeing with them and the fulfilling of that in the three-fold cord of the writing itself and the three major languages in order, of which  languages are derived and the languages that OUR Bible would come forth.

Pontius Pilate who is well documented for his cruelty and dolling out crucifixions with the ease of a kid on a bike doling out Sunday morning newspapers, and YET HE WAS AFRAID.. not only because of the warning of his wife having been troubled through dreams, but HE, HIMSELF AFRAID because HE KNEW THIS WAS INDEED THE SON OF GOD.

And as powerful as he was, HE KNEW that he was in the presence of ALL power and as bloody as his hands were, HE DID NOT WANT THIS BLOOD… THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD ON HIS HANDS and he washed them. 

And as he had WRITTEN.. JESUS OF NAZARETH KING OF THE JEWS now became FULFILLED ON EARTH AS IT ALREADY WAS PROCLAIMED IN HEAVEN.

Very soon HE WILL RETURN TO THIS EARTH AND SET UP HIS KINGDOM, we’ll look at that in part three of our series. But TODAY, this HOLY DAY, as we think and reflect on what our Saviour did for us, HIS suffering, His humiliation, and pain BEYOND human comprehension, so horrific that angels CAME to strengthen Him in the garden, because it would be humanly unbearable WITHOUT that strength.

I know there is a long-standing disagreement over the number of his stripes, many say because the Jews had a forty-stripe save one rule, but people.. this was NOT just the Jews.. this WAS the force of HELL itself, ON EARTH, coming down on Him.,

There WERE NO laws protecting Him, NO MERCY WAS SHOWN HIM and He was beaten to the point that He was unrecognizable as Himself, it was so much MORE than any thirty-nine stripes.

There is also the standing argument that He was pierced through his wrists NOT his hands because the hands would not hold up, but IT WAS  his palms that were nailed through and I will leave that right there, and instead of all the debate over who thinks what happened we need to bear in mind, ONLY this.. IT DID HAPPEN and as He asked Peter, “Whom do ye say that I am?” I want to echo HIS question today, if I may.. TO YOU.

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT HE IS? Pilate answered it for Himself and answered it to the Jews, even though they did not want that answer, He was NOT making fun of Jesus, when he asked the Jews IF they want him to crucify THEIR King, He was getting that answer confirmed, that THEY did it and he told them THREE TIMES that HE DID NOT FIND FAULT WITH JESUS and never once did he argue WHO Jesus Is, but he confirmed His identity by refusing to change the title.

So if you have never accepted Him, I could truly not think of a better time than right now, right where you are…and please don’t fall to false religions, there is only ONE way, so don’t be like the Jews of that day, who rejected their own King and instead of accepting salvation they CHOSE a robber, because the themselves were robbers in thinking they were coming to God any other way.

Today.. INVITE HIS WILL TO BE DONE IN EARTH… (IN THE EARTH THAT IS YOU).. AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

Blessings and peace to you and may you know the power of His glorious resurrection this Holy season!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NBJ 2017  **REVISTED 02/27/2021** And also 04/16/2022 & 04/06/23

by

“Behold your King”

“For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, The Lord is our king, he will save us.” Isaiah 33:22 

What a powerful verse, when you really stop and think about the interactions between the kings of old, the kings of present, and all the kings that have been or ever will be. Kings who have been tyrants, requiring the toil and oppression of their subjects as they are forced to bow before them on bended knee.

We can see this all throughout history and we can surely see it in the Biblical accounts as power and prestige have a way of turning men into monsters as their thrones often lead them to exalted hearts that desire that their subject should lavish on them, not just respect or honor as is custom for their positions but actual worship of them, their power, their thrones, and they themselves. And the worship that they desire and often demand is the worship and state of exaltation that must only be reserved for the one true King.

We need only look back at the story of Pharaoh and his enslavement of the Hebrews and his absolute defiance as God sent plague after plague, even in as much as pursuing them after they had freed, changing his mind because his heart was so hardened and God to his glory swallowed them all up in the Red Sea as they defiantly pursued his enslaved children,

We know the story of how after God freed them they cried for an earthly King over them and even after God had them warned by the prophet that this was a very bad idea and that they would regret it and that when they did regret that he would not hear their cries because they knew what they were getting when asking that God’s sovereign care over them be replaced with the “leadership” of a mere man, so God allowed them to have that king,

Much as we have in our society trampled over the good things that God desired to do for the nations, choosing instead to have flawed humans make choices and enact laws that by which we are all bound. Much like leaders of today that bind us all by laws of their choosing that are an offense and abomination to God, decisions that all of earth is defiled through.

We also know through the account of king Saul that even after God took his anointing from him and gave it to David, that Saul still just couldn’t let go of that power trip, instead of seeking repentance he chose to seek out the “counsel” of the dark side, causing the death of him and his house.

This is one that may not be as familiar but it is an account that should strike fear into leaders who choose to believe their own press and promote their own praise and chose to persecute God’s chosen.

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth  his hands to vex certain of the church (decided to persecute them) and he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take (seize) Peter also, (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

And when Herod would have brought him forth (was about to bring him out), the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers (guards) before the door kept the prison (standing guard).

And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him (stood by him), and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly, And his chains fell from his hands.

And the angel said unto Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals (get dressed and put on your shoes). And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

And he went out, and followed him; and wist (knew) not that it was true which was done by the angel; but though he saw a vision (did not know if it was real or a vision).

When they were past the first and the second ward (guard posts), they came to the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of it’s own accord (the gate opened itself); and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

And when Peter was come to himself (realized it was all real),  he said, Now I know of a surety (for certain), that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectations of the people of the Jews (God had rescued him from their plans).

And when he had considered the thing (thought about it), he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken (answer), named Rhonda.

And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, (she was so happy to see him she forgot to let him in), but ran in, and told how Peter stood at the gate.

And they said unto her, Thou art mad (insane), But she constantly affirmed that it was even so, Then they said, It is his angel.

But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace (motioned for them to be quite), declared (told) them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.

And he said, Go shew (tell) these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

And when Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: But they came with one accord (with one purpose) to him, and having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because they their country was nourished by the king’s country (Herod supplied those countries with food).

And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel sat upon his throne, and made a oration (speech) unto them.

And the people gave a great shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost (died).

But the word of the Lord grew and multiplied.” Acts12:1-24

So much in those passages, I love the angelic rescue and the fact that those who had prayed without ceasing  thought the one who announced to them that those prayers had been answered was insane,

It is also a truly gruesome picture of the swift judgment God brings.

Nothing in any of these accounts resembles the attributes of the one true King, the King of Kings, by whom all other kings are allowed the authority they wield.

Now let’s talk about HIM!

Our beginning verse tells us assuredly, just like that same assurance Peter came to in his realization, our true King is our  judge, our lawgiver, and King above all,

And just as he promised he would and did come to save us!

“And it came to pass, when when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against (opposite) you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never a man sat: loose him, and bring him hither (here).

And if any man ask you Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

And they that were sent went on their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast (spread) their garments upon the colt, and they sat Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way (on the road).

And when he  was come nigh (near), even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen. 

Saying, BLESSED BE THE KING THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD: PEACE IN HEAVEN, AND GLORY IN THE HIGHEST.”

Note the awesome symbolism there as they threw their garments down paving the road for the Lord, as we have to throw off all our old ways, our sins, and all that hinders us, laying it all down at the feet of Jesus in exchange for something so beautiful in him. And rejoicing and praising God as he travelled Mount Olives, in mirror to the fact that one day He will return, coming down on Mount Olives in triumphant glory in his rightful role as King over earth.

He already is, He created everything and He is King but one day all the world will be very aware of that fact, whether they have believed or have chosen to deny his existence, it will never change the fact of who he is is and will forever be.

But unlike the kings we have studied and the kings and rulers of this earth, Jesus loves us, he does not use cruelty and force to make people worship him, we worship him because we adore him.

And our King did not ask us to die for him, He died for us, he left his glorious throne in heaven and came to this earth in the most humble of ways and he healed us, protected us, spoke in defense of us,, blessed the deaf to hear, gave sight to the blind, and resurrected the dead, and cried with those who cried, calmed the storms washed the feet of his followers and giving all he had with his mercy, kindness, and gentleness he gave his life for us.

The perfect Lamb, spotless and without sin, never once did he ever do anything wrong, a feat that no human could ever accomplish, but Jesus did.

And he allowed himself to be humiliated, tortured, and crucified for us.

He is perfect, He is Holy and He is the only one true king.

As we go into the Holy week, keep these things in mind and rest your soul in him.

“NOW unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” 1 Timothy 1:17

Thank you for reading! God bless you in the upcoming week and join me next time as we look at the cross and the price our beautiful Saviour paid for us in his role as the Holy spotless Lamb.

Φλογιζω 2021NBJ/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson

For teaching on the importance of Palm Sunday, please visit this link:

“PALM SUNDAY” **REVISITED**

by

*Undeniable* On Earth as in Heaven

“Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou (Are you) The King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it to thee ? (Are you asking or did someone ask you to) Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

Jesus answered, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD: If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered unto the Jews: BUT MY KINGDOM IS NOT FROM HENCE (here).

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou SAYEST (rightly state) THAT I AM A KING. TO THIS END (completely for this purpose) WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I INTO THE WORLD, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Pilate sayeth unto him, What IS the truth? And when he had said THIS, he went back out unto the Jews, and SAITH unto them, I FIND IN HIM NO FAULT AT ALL.

But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover, will ye therefore that I release unto you THE KING OF THE JEWS? Then therefore cried they all again, saying, Not this man, But Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” John 18:33-40 

Think about a little something here, the plan becomes so obvious with the fact that the Jews CHOOSE a robber to live rather than Jesus, because Jesus had said, if anyone tried to come to the Father ANY other way than through Him, they WERE a thieves and a robbers! and you can see that crystal in this verse, they WERE attempting to CHOOSE another way into heaven. 

John 19: 1-22: ” Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him (whipped with a Roman scourge) And the soldiers platted (twisted) a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe.

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote (struck) him with their hands. Pilate forth again, and said unto them, BEHOLD, (pay attention) I bring him forth to you, THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM.

Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying Crucify him, crucify him, Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: FOR I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM.

The Jews answered him, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he hath made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard THAT saying, HE WAS MORE AFRAID.

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? ( WHERE ARE YOU FROM?) But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power (authority) to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest (would) have NO power AT ALL AGAINST ME, EXCEPT it were GIVEN THEE FROM ABOVE: therefore he that hath delivered me UNTO thee hath the greater sin. {He spoke of Judas’ betrayal of him, being greater sin against Him, than Pilates} And from henceforth (that time on) Pilate SOUGHT TO RELEASE HIM:

But the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art NOT Caesar’s friend: whomsoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is called Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation for the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he SAITH unto the Jews, BEHOLD YOUR KING! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify YOUR KING?

The chief priests answered, We have NO king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Where they crucified him and two other with him, on either side one, and JESUS IN THE MIDST (center). And Pilate WROTE a TITLE, and put it ON THE CROSS.

And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: And IT WAS WRITTEN IN HEBREW, GREEK, AND LATIN.

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write NOT, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN I HAVE WRITTEN.”

So much going on there,  the same old routine just as when they REFUSED God as their King and insisted on an earthly king over them and now again they denied and rejected Him, so desperate, that they even used the old scare tactics of “if you were a real friend of Caesar”, but scripture would be fulfilled, even with the Lord hanging in the center.. as known when two agree on anything, HE IS in the middle, agreeing with them and the fulfilling of that in the three-fold cord of the writing itself and the three major languages in order, of which  languages are derived and the languages that OUR Bible would come forth.

Pontius Pilate who is well documented for his cruelty and dolling out crucifixions with the ease of a kid on a bike doling out Sunday morning newspapers, and YET HE WAS AFRAID.. not only because of the warning of his wife having been troubled through dreams, but HE, HIMSELF AFRAID because HE KNEW THIS WAS INDEED THE SON OF GOD.

And as powerful as he was, HE KNEW that he was in the presence of ALL power and as bloody as his hands were, HE DID NOT WANT THIS BLOOD… THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD ON HIS HANDS and he washed them. 

And as he had WRITTEN.. JESUS OF NAZARETH KING OF THE JEWS now became FULFILLED ON EARTH AS IT ALREADY WAS PROCLAIMED IN HEAVEN.

Very soon HE WILL RETURN TO THIS EARTH AND SET UP HIS KINGDOM, we’ll look at that in part three of our series. But TODAY, this HOLY DAY, as we think and reflect on what our Saviour did for us, HIS suffering, His humiliation, and pain BEYOND human comprehension, so horrific that angels CAME to strengthen Him in the garden, because it would be humanly unbearable WITHOUT that strength.

I know there is a long-standing disagreement over the number of his stripes, many say because the Jews had a forty-stripe save one rule, but people.. this was NOT just the Jews.. this WAS the force of HELL itself, ON EARTH, coming down on Him.,

There WERE NO laws protecting Him, NO MERCY WAS SHOWN HIM and He was beaten to the point that He was unrecognizable as Himself, it was so much MORE than any thirty-nine stripes.

There is also the standing argument that He was pierced through his wrists NOT his hands because the hands would not hold up, but IT WAS  his palms that were nailed through and I will leave that right there, and instead of all the debate over who thinks what happened we need to bear in mind, ONLY this.. IT DID HAPPEN and as He asked Peter, “Whom do ye say that I am?” I want to echo HIS question today, if I may.. TO YOU.

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT HE IS? Pilate answered it for Himself and answered it to the Jews, even though they did not want that answer, He was NOT making fun of Jesus, when he asked the Jews IF they want him to crucify THEIR King, He was getting that answer confirmed, that THEY did it and he told them THREE TIMES that HE DID NOT FIND FAULT WITH JESUS and never once did he argue WHO Jesus Is, but he confirmed His identity by refusing to change the title.

So if you have never accepted Him, I could truly not think of a better time than right now, right where you are…and please don’t fall to false religions, there is only ONE way, so don’t be like the Jews of that day, who rejected their own King and instead of accepting salvation they CHOSE a robber, because the themselves were robbers in thinking they were coming to God any other way.

Today.. INVITE HIS WILL TO BE DONE IN EARTH… (IN THE EARTH THAT IS YOU).. AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

Blessings and peace to you and may you know the power of His glorious resurrection this Holy season!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NBJ 2017  **REVISTED 02/27/2021** And also 04/16/2022

by

*Undeniable* On Earth as in Heaven

“Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou (Are you) The King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it to thee ? (Are you asking or did someone ask you to) Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

Jesus answered, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD: If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered unto the Jews: BUT MY KINGDOM IS NOT FROM HENCE (here).

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou SAYEST (rightly state) THAT I AM A KING. TO THIS END (completely for this purpose) WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I INTO THE WORLD, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Pilate sayeth unto him, What IS the truth? And when he had said THIS, he went back out unto the Jews, and SAITH unto them, I FIND IN HIM NO FAULT AT ALL.

But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover, will ye therefore that I release unto you THE KING OF THE JEWS? Then therefore cried they all again, saying, Not this man, But Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” John 18:33-40 

Think about a little something here, the plan becomes so obvious with the fact that the Jews CHOOSE a robber to live rather than Jesus, because Jesus had said, if anyone tried to come to the Father ANY other way than through Him, they WERE a thieves and a robbers! and you can see that crystal in this verse, they WERE attempting to CHOOSE another way into heaven. 

John 19: 1-22: ” Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him (whipped with a Roman scourge) And the soldiers platted (twisted) a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe.

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote (struck) him with their hands. Pilate forth again, and said unto them, BEHOLD, (pay attention) I bring him forth to you, THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM.

Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying Crucify him, crucify him, Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: FOR I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM.

The Jews answered him, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he hath made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard THAT saying, HE WAS MORE AFRAID.

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? ( WHERE ARE YOU FROM?) But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power (authority) to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest (would) have NO power AT ALL AGAINST ME, EXCEPT it were GIVEN THEE FROM ABOVE: therefore he that hath delivered me UNTO thee hath the greater sin. {He spoke of Judas’ betrayal of him, being greater sin against Him, than Pilates} And from henceforth (that time on) Pilate SOUGHT TO RELEASE HIM:

But the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art NOT Caesar’s friend: whomsoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is called Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation for the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he SAITH unto the Jews, BEHOLD YOUR KING! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify YOUR KING?

The chief priests answered, We have NO king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Where they crucified him and two other with him, on either side one, and JESUS IN THE MIDST (center). And Pilate WROTE a TITLE, and put it ON THE CROSS.

And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: And IT WAS WRITTEN IN HEBREW, GREEK, AND LATIN.

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write NOT, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN I HAVE WRITTEN.”

So much going on there,  the same old routine just as when they REFUSED God as their King and insisted on an earthly king over them and now again they denied and rejected Him, so desperate, that they even used the old scare tactics of “if you were a real friend of Caesar”, but scripture would be fulfilled, even with the Lord hanging in the center.. as known when two agree on anything, HE IS in the middle, agreeing with them and the fulfilling of that in the three-fold cord of the writing itself and the three major languages in order, of which  languages are derived and the languages that OUR Bible would come forth.

Pontius Pilate who is well documented for his cruelty and dolling out crucifixions with the ease of a kid on a bike doling out Sunday morning newspapers, and YET HE WAS AFRAID.. not only because of the warning of his wife having been troubled through dreams, but HE, HIMSELF AFRAID because HE KNEW THIS WAS INDEED THE SON OF GOD.

And as powerful as he was, HE KNEW that he was in the presence of ALL power and as bloody as his hands were, HE DID NOT WANT THIS BLOOD… THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD ON HIS HANDS and he washed them. 

And as he had WRITTEN.. JESUS OF NAZARETH KING OF THE JEWS now became FULFILLED ON EARTH AS IT ALREADY WAS PROCLAIMED IN HEAVEN.

Very soon HE WILL RETURN TO THIS EARTH AND SET UP HIS KINGDOM, we’ll look at that in part three of our series. But TODAY, this HOLY DAY, as we think and reflect on what our Saviour did for us, HIS suffering, His humiliation, and pain BEYOND human comprehension, so horrific that angels CAME to strengthen Him in the garden, because it would be humanly unbearable WITHOUT that strength.

I know there is a long-standing disagreement over the number of his stripes, many say because the Jews had a forty-stripe save one rule, but people.. this was NOT just the Jews.. this WAS the force of HELL itself, ON EARTH, coming down on Him.,

There WERE NO laws protecting Him, NO MERCY WAS SHOWN HIM and He was beaten to the point that He was unrecognizable as Himself, it was so much MORE than any thirty-nine stripes.

There is also the standing argument that He was pierced through his wrists NOT his hands because the hands would not hold up, but IT WAS  his palms that were nailed through and I will leave that right there, and instead of all the debate over who thinks what happened we need to bear in mind, ONLY this.. IT DID HAPPEN and as He asked Peter, “Whom do ye say that I am?” I want to echo HIS question today, if I may.. TO YOU.

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT HE IS? Pilate answered it for Himself and answered it to the Jews, even though they did not want that answer, He was NOT making fun of Jesus, when he asked the Jews IF they want him to crucify THEIR King, He was getting that answer confirmed, that THEY did it and he told them THREE TIMES that HE DID NOT FIND FAULT WITH JESUS and never once did he argue WHO Jesus Is, but he confirmed His identity by refusing to change the title.

So if you have never accepted Him, I could truly not think of a better time than right now, right where you are…and please don’t fall to false religions, there is only ONE way, so don’t be like the Jews of that day, who rejected their own King and instead of accepting salvation they CHOSE a robber, because the themselves were robbers in thinking they were coming to God any other way.

Today.. INVITE HIS WILL TO BE DONE IN EARTH… (IN THE EARTH THAT IS YOU).. AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

Blessings and peace to you and may you know the power of His glorious resurrection this Holy season!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NBJ 2017  **REVISTED 02/27/2021** To get us all thinking about the upcoming Holiday, in it and all and through it all one thing remains, Jesus is L:ord and He is always there for you all you have to do is ask!