Scripture:
John 19:14-16
Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
Observation:
Pilot was a weak leader, scared leader, betraying leader.
Weak – many but ultimately, even though Pilate believed Jesus was the King, he still caved to the crowd.
Scared – vs 8. “When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid.” I don’t know if Pilate was afraid Jesus claiming (and possibly true) to being God, or afraid of breaking Jewish law on blasphemy.
Betrayer – Pilate choked like a Miami hurricane! Like Buffalo Bill’s kicker, Scott Norwood! Pilate totally and epically fails and gives in to the temptation of the crowd. He totally gave in to his fears and weaknesses – and chose everyone and everything else over Jesus. AND not only did he say yes to flesh, no to Jesus – he also hands him over to be murdered!
Application:
Don’t be a Pilate! Be a spirit filled you!
You might say, “No way, me? Never a Pilot”. Easy, now you’re sounding like the foot-in-mouth master, Peter. Don’t be a Peter either! (John 18)
Truth – sometimes, I’m a Pilate. I’ve said…
No to Jesus yes to a 3rd scoop of ice cream!
No to Jesus yes to sex
No to Jesus yes to money
No to Jesus yes to drunkenness
No to Jesus yes to shopping, gossip, lust, power, bullying, laziness, pot, porn, and politics!
Don’t be a James, either!
Sin turns great leaders into lame leaders.
Sin makes us a Pilate.
Don’t be a Pilate!
Be a spirit filled you!
The spirit turns us into and delivers us in through – Jesus! The spirit of Jesus allows us to be bold to politics, culture, to society, to sin!
Jesus was bold to Pilate. No concerns at all. At all! He boldly told Pilate who’s really in charge. Now THAT’S leadership!
Be a spirit filled you! ( saved, serving, committed )
Prayer:
Lord you used the sin of man to save us from man’s sin. Mind blown. You truly love us. May our love for you overcome our fears and insecurities. May your love for us give us strength when faced with temptations of the flesh and world. In Jesus name, amen.
-James Smith