Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, my precious and righteous Father, please keep my heart pure in its allegiance to you. I don't want to ever let anything or anyone lead me away from my loyalty to you. Forgive me for the past times when I've let other things distract my attention and distort my loyalty. Thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Then 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 !"

Related Scripture Readings

Why are the people from other nations so angry? Why are they making foolish plans? Their kings and leaders joined together to fight against the Lord and against the king he chose. {Those leaders said,} "Let's rebel against God and against the king he chose. "Let's break free from them!" But my Master, the King in heaven, laughs at those people. God is angry and he tells those people, "I chose this man to be king! And he will rule on Mount Zion. Zion is my special mountain." And that makes those other leaders afraid. Now I will tell you about the Lord's agreement. The Lord said to me, "Today I become your father! And you are my son. If you ask me, I will give the nations to you. All the people on earth will be yours!

God, your throne continues forever! Goodness is your royal scepter. You love goodness and you hate evil. So God, your God, chose you to be king over your friends.

He will be great (important). People will call him the Son of the Most High (God). The Lord God will make him king like his ancestor David.