I was going to blog about this very topic a few days ago when I read of Jesus' trial before Pilate. At first, Pilate tried to shrug off Jesus' accusers, asking them, "What is your charge against this man?" When they explained, "We wouldn't have handed him over to you if he weren't a criminal," Pilate told them to take Jesus away and judge Him themselves. The Jewish leaders persisted, though, "Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone."
All this took place with the religious leaders waiting with Jesus in the outer courtyard of the governor's headquarters. You see, the Pharisees who are determined to have Jesus murdered couldn't actually go inside Pliate's house, for FEAR of defiling themselves right before the big Passover celebration. Then they wouldn't be able to partake in the biggest Jewish celebration of the year! And that would be such a tragedy. Oh no, they had to keep those appearances up and follow the law to the T. All while doing their best to convince Pilate to CRUCIFY Jesus. Yes, that makes perfect sense. Don't enter the headquarters, stay physically pure, murder an innocent man, and then go celebrate the Passover as if you never did anything wrong!
But back to Pilate. He caves so quickly, having Jesus brought inside to interrogate Him. After a brief conversation with Jesus about Him being a king in a "kingdom not of this world," Pilate asks the famous question, "What is truth?" Apparently, Pilate didn't realize that The Way, THE TRUTH, and The Life was standing right before his very eyes in human form! Still not wanting to convict Jesus of any crime but not wanting to upset the religious leaders either, Pilate goes back to the courtyard and informs the crowd he has not found any reason to hold Jesus captive. He then asks if they wish him to release Jesus, as the custom was for one prisoner to be released at the Passover. When they shout back, "No! Not this man, but Barabbas!" Pilate doesn't put up a fight, but rather goes back inside and has Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip.
Pilate then looked on while his soldiers had not only beaten Jesus within inches of His life, but also mocked Him by adorning Him with a crown of thorns, putting a royal robe on His bare, bleeding back, and then repeatedly punched Him in the face while hailing Him, "King of the Jews!" Thinking this "punishment" would suffice, Pilate brings Jesus out to the priests and religious leaders. They persist, however, and cry out, "Crucify! Crucify!" Again, Pilate tries to pass the responsibility on to them, "You crucify Him. I find Him not guilty." The Pharisees insist, "By our laws He ought to die because He called Himself the Son of God." Then, we are told, "when Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever."
Letting his fear of man dictate his actions, Pilate takes Jesus back inside and demands Jesus answer his questions, threatening "Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or to crucify you?" Evidently, Pilate didn't have the confidence to actually use that power as he tried once more to release Jesus, but caved under the pressure of the religious leaders' ultimatum, "If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar." Then, as the crowds shouted, "WE have no king but Caesar," Pilate supposedly washed his hands of the situation and handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
Pilate let FEAR get the best of him. He cared more about what the people thought of him than of doing the right thing. He was more concerned about his own position and prestige than he was Jesus' innocence.
I also could have blogged about Peter's FEAR when I read how He denied even knowing Jesus. Not once. Not twice. But THREE times. Just hours before, Peter had stood by Jesus' side and boldly proclaimed, "I am ready to go to prison with you, and even die with you." He had even wielded a sword and tried to defend Jesus as the guards arrested Him. But as the night continued and Peter looked on while Jesus was questioned at Annas's house, Peter let his FEAR take over. And then the rooster crowed, as Jesus had predicted.
Then, this morning, I read of two more men associated with Jesus who had also let FEAR determine they way they lived. And I couldn't put off blogging anymore.
Today, I was at the point in the story where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus ask Pilate for permission to take Jesus' body off the cross and get it for burial. Their time is limited as it was "the day of preparation before the Passover," so they quickly wrap Jesus' body and place it in a nearby tomb. While it seems thoughtful and kind and even courageous for these men to do such a thing, we are reminded that these men weren't always so brave. For starters, we are told of Joseph, he was a "secret disciple of Jesus (because he FEARED the Jewish leaders)." Then, we read of Nicodemus, "the man who had come to Jesus at night," obviously out of FEAR for what his fellow religious leaders would think of him if he had gone to Jesus during the day, for all to see -- and hear -- the way he was contemplating Jesus' message and considering accepting it as truth.
The good thing, though, is that these men didn't let their fears continue to control them. Evidently, Joseph and Nicodemus were able to put their fears aside and make their love and dedication to Jesus known. Albeit, all this happened after Jesus had already died! Which got me thinking: Don't wait until it's too late! Don't let FEAR get a grip on you, as its grasp will only get tighter and tighter and tighter until it finally strangles you, debilitating you completely and keeping you from not only enjoying a relationship with Jesus but also living for Him and bringing others into this amazing grace God so freely offers each and every one of us!
I couldn't help but remember the apostle Paul's words of encouragement to the believers in Corinth:
We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us,
and no one will find fault with our ministry.
In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God.
We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion,
endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.
We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness,
by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.
We faithfully preach the truth.
God’s power is working in us.
We use the weapons of righteousness
in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.
We serve God whether people honor us or despise us,
whether they slander us or praise us.
We are honest, but they call us impostors.
We are ignored, even though we are well known.
We live close to death, but we are still alive.
We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.
Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.
We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.
We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
I thought too of his bold declaration in his letter to the church in Galatia, "Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant."
The choice is clear.
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
You must decide: Am I going to live for man or am I going to live for God?
The road will not be easy. God never promised us that. BUT, Jesus must have known that His disciples would be scared, that we thousands of years later would also struggle with fear. Which is why I go back to the last words Jesus said. They truly are crucial for us to remember, every single day, if we are going to lay it all on the line and live boldly and courageously for our Jesus, no matter the cost. So, dear friends, join with me in this quest to know Jesus and to make Him known, and as we embark on this journey together, may be abandon our fears and take to heart what Jesus promised us:
Have peace in Me.
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart,
because I have overcome the world.
To close, I think of Joshua, who lived many, many, many years before Jesus ever spoke these words. But, God had the same message for him -- and us today:
I command you -- be strong and courageous!
Do NOT be afraid for discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
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