11/19/10 Luke 23:1-5 The King of Souls

1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” 3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”  5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

"Ecce Homo" James Jacques. Tissot d. 1902)
Thoughts: It wasn't one or two who were rejecting and accusing Jesus, but many.  They concocted three different lies against Jesus: 1) encouraging rebellion, 2) not paying taxes, 3) claiming to be an earthly king.  The closest to reality was that Jesus claimed a kingship.  Jesus claims kingship over our souls no matter who collects taxes and makes political decisions.  Pilate, who had judged many cases, knew this and continually sought to avoid pronouncing a guilty verdict.  Many accuse Christ and Christians falsely.  But in the end, the King of kings will be proven.  We know this because despite the worst the Jesus accusers and the mightiest empire could do, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering their cross.  So we should put our trust in the King of kings. 

Prayer: Jesus, you are the lover of my soul and the souls of all those around me.  Let me acknowledge you as my King.  Let me speak truthfully and boldly about you to others.

Stuart Townsend: "Behold the Lamb" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alvX9Fa53-o

John Calvin abridged: It was shocking that the Son of God would be dragged before the judgement seat of a profane man to see if he were worthy of death.  The Son of God chose to stand bound and condemned before an earthly judge that we who deserve condemnation may stand without fear and freely before the throne of God.