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The Truth About Sin - John 19:10-11Pilate said, "You refuse to speak to me? Remember, I have the power to make you free. I also have the power to kill you on a cross." Jesus answered, "The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God. So the man who gave me to you is guilty of a greater sin." (ERV) Full Text
Key ThoughtSin clouds our thinking. Sin tempts us to overestimate our abilities; then sin ensnares us in its deceitful and deadly web of death. Sin wounds others. And as Jesus reminds us here, not all sin is the same! Some folks have suggested that one sin is not greater than another because all sin separates us from God. While the latter part of that statement is true, the first isn't. Jesus' own people, people who knew the character and the promises of God distorted their legal process, called down curses on themselves and their children, and honored a godless emperor as their king as they asked for God’s Son to be killed. While Pilate's weakness and pandering to the crowd is definitely sin, Jesus emphasizes that the sin of his own leaders was the greater sin. Sin matters to God—all sin and every sin matters to God! However, some sin involves us engaging and influencing others to sin. Some sin—especially that of parents, Bible teachers, and leaders—gets replicated and passed on as a sin problem to coming generations. Some sin involves our own bodies, the very temple of God through his Holy Spirit. So let's not be glib about sin. Instead, let's focus on doing what is right, saying what is true, and keeping our commitments to the God of all grace. And when we do sin? Let's acknowledge it before God and receive his gracious gift of forgiveness and cleansing. Today's PrayerToday's Verses in ContextThen Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and be whipped. The soldiers used some thorny branches to make a crown. They put this crown of thorns on Jesus' head. Then the soldiers put a purple robe around Jesus. The soldiers came to Jesus many times and said, "Hello, O king of the Jews!" They hit Jesus in the face. Again Pilate came out and said to the Jewish leaders, "Look! I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want you to know that I find nothing I can charge against him." Then Jesus came out. He was wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to the Jews, "Here is the man!" When the leading priests and the Jewish guards saw Jesus they yelled, "Kill him on a cross! Kill him on a cross!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and nail him to a cross yourselves. I find nothing I can charge against him." The Jewish leaders answered, "We have a law that says he must die, because he said that he is the Son of God." When Pilate heard this, he was more afraid. Pilate went back inside the palace. He asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him. Pilate said, "You refuse to speak to me? Remember, I have the power to make you free. I also have the power to kill you on a cross." Jesus answered, "The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God. So the man who gave me to you is guilty of a greater sin." After this, Pilate tried to let Jesus go free. But the Jewish leaders yelled, "Any person who makes himself a king is against Caesar. So if you let this man (Jesus) go free, that means you are not Caesar's friend." Pilate heard what these Jews said. So he brought Jesus out to the place called "The Stone Pavement." (In the Jewish language the name is "Gabbatha.") Pilate sat down on the judge's seat there. It was now almost noon on Preparation day of Passover week. Pilate said to the Jews, "Here is your king!" They yelled, "Take him away! Take him away! Kill him on a cross!" Pilate asked them, "Do you want me to kill your king on across?" The leading priests answered, "The only king we have is Caesar !" — John 19:1-15 (ERV)
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