City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

⁸When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. ⁹He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” ¹¹Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Aisha’s Analysis

Today’s text reveals a common misconception people tend to make towards God. Here, Pilate mistakenly thinks that he actually has authority over Jesus. Although Jesus did not respond to every question or statement made by Pilate, I think it’s especially important that He does respond to this and sets the record straight, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (verse 11). 

Let’s zero in on this statement. Jesus did not say that Pilate did not have any authority, but that the authority Pilate did have was given to him from above. That goes to show us that God has given everyone some level of authority–mainly our free will as individuals. 

From the scriptures, we see that Pilate used his authority to have Jesus flogged in a failed attempt to placate the Jews and save his own neck. You see, the only reason why the Jews brought Jesus before Pilate was because they deemed Him to be a threat to the Roman empire. In my personal opinion, if Jesus had posed an actual threat to the Roman empire, the Jews would have made Him their king rather than turn Him in to be crucified. 

However, that is not what Jesus came to do. He did not want to exert His legitimate authority over all the kingdoms of this earth. Jesus humbled Himself when He came to this earth He created. He came to establish peace on earth and good will towards men. And He did this in the most unexpected of ways. He submitted to dying a sinner’s death on the cross to save us all. That’s the kind of God we serve. May His name be praised forever. 

Application

Based on today’s scripture, God gave Pilate a level of authority. How are you exercising the authority God has given you? Do you use your authority to bully others or do you use it to be a blessing? 

I would venture to say the most powerful thing we possess as human beings is our power to decide. We can choose to follow the Holy Spirit and thereby experience life and peace. Or we can choose to follow the sinful desires of our flesh and experience death as a result. As Morgan Freeman said in Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”

Prayer

Father, I just want to thank You for making the tough decision to come down to this world and save me. I know that decision involved unspeakable pain and suffering for You, but I am so grateful that You accomplished what I could have never achieved in my own strength. I am so honored to be Your child, and I want to honor You with my choices. Lord, empower me to live for You and advance Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.