Christian Living

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Pompous Pilate

So Pilate said to Him, Will You not speak [even] to me? Do You not know that I have power (authority) to release You and I have power to crucify You? –John 19:10 (AMP)

No mistakes, no typo, I understand that history and Scripture alike refers to him as Pontius Pilate. However, as I read this verse, I find myself drawing back in disbelief and thinking, “Oh no he didn’t”, and placing a new title on him, “Pompous Pilate”.

Pompous defined in the Encarta Dictionary is:
Self-important: having an excessive sense of self-importance, usually displayed through exaggerated seriousness or stateliness in speech or manner

Are there faces of people that you know, flooding your mind’s eye, when you read this characterization? In all likelihood your answer is probably a resounding, YES! Be careful! Don’t go pointing the finger so quickly.

Jesus Christ was in the area they referred to as the Judgment Hall. Pilate was alarmed, and afraid, he could find no wrong in Him. But in an instant, fear and alarm were replaced by arrogance because he (Pilate) became offended.

What was Jesus response? John 19:11 states
Jesus answered, You would not have any power or authority whatsoever against (over) Me if it were not given you from above. For this reason the sin and guilt of the one who delivered Me over to you is greater.

Can you imagine the faces in that room right then? I believe everyone quit breathing. The sound of a pin drop at that point would have probably resonated like a clanging symbol.
From a Christian perspective, where do you find yourself in offending situations? How do you respond?

The Bible is full of things that God says are offensive to Him. You would do well to make yourself aware of those things. I, for one, do not want to find myself on the offensive side of God.

The pulpit has often laid the burden upon people by simply teaching that we are not to be offended. How is that possible, when we are made in the image of a God that is offended? It often seems contradictory.

What does Solomon’s wisdom say to us in this matter?

If the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place [or show a resisting spirit]; for gentleness and calmness prevent or put a stop to great offenses. –Ecclesiastes 10:5 (AMP)

Is this not in line with how Jesus responded to Pompous Pilate? Yes. Jesus, in the Judgment Room, beaten, mocked, clothed in purple, blood running down His face, calmly, in gentleness, replied.

Too many Christians today are walking around like ticking time bombs, angry and offended. If you say the wrong thing to this group of people, or don’t acknowledge them for who they think they are and what they think they know, they become offended.

This behavior is to be expected outside of the Church, not inside. But it is nothing new under the sun. David was offended at God (1 Chronicles 13:10), Jobs friends were offended (Job 13:24), (Proverbs 18:29) speaks of offended brothers, the Pharisees were offended (Matthew 15:12), Jesus forewarned His disciples they would be offended and desert Him (Matthew 26:33)

What was the main thing that bound all of the offended people? A pompous mindset; self-importance, keyword here being, SELF.

What then is the solution? It’s really far too simple, and because it is so simple, pompous people want to overlook it. The Word of God, that book called the Bible, it’s all there.

We have to come to a point where we really grasp and know with our being that God’s Word is enough. That is what Jesus understood. That is why His reply was so powerful. It was simply the Truth spoken. There was nothing else.

In the beginning and in the end, It will stand, It will not be shaken, It will accomplish what He sets It out to do, It is God’s Word. It was, It is and It is to come.

Whether you choose to believe it or not is of no consequence in stopping it. Gods will and His Word is going to stand. Nothing, nothing, nothing has, will or can ever change that.

Jesus answered the Word. That is our example to follow. That is our Truth. It is our reality.
We can do nothing in and of ourselves, with the exception of causing ourselves more pain and trouble. There is an enemy out there hell bent on causing you enough problems. Do yourself a big favor and quit assisting him.

The greatest gift you have to give is to offer yourself over completely to God. Receiving the gift of Salvation is not the same thing.

Give yourself to Him. Allow Him to pour His Word into you. Seek Him and you will find Him. Ask and you will receive. Just be the vessel. Do not give God your life with strings attached. It’s a blessed thing to be a cracked pot in the Master Potters hands.

He knows best. His Word will not be shaken. Ask Him to teach you, to reveal Himself to you, He will not turn you away. That is where you will find the confidence, when faced with the greatest pressures of life, to give a calm, gentle answer to all of those “Pompous Pilates”.

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