Gospel

A Nagging Soul

by Roland Crim
01/02/17
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Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” John 18:33-38a and John 19:8-12 NIV

I am certain Pontius Pilate had never met anyone like Jesus. Do you notice that none of the answers which Jesus provides to Pilate’s questions are anticipated? The response to the first question, Are you the Kind of the Jews?” is at least less “intrusive” to the soul. The second question “What have you done?” draws a response which at least begins to nag at the soul. Pilate was told that the kingdom of Jesus was not from this world. What must have been Pilate’s thoughts on this one? Pilate knew that he could have Jesus crucified or he could free him. Yet, the man Jesus said nothing to defend Himself. Did Pilate think Jesus was crazy, or was Jesus’ comments really gnawing at the soul of this man? To the statement “You are a king then” Jesus lets Pilate know why he came into this world. By that point I truly wonder if Pilate’s soul heard a real loud knock, a warning that this was not an ordinary man standing before Him. And, as we know, there is nothing ordinary about Christ. And the knock-out punch is the reply to Pilate’s perceived authority. If Pilate was not shaking by the time he heard this response, then the man was less bright than how I perceive him to have been. Pilate at one point retorted at Jesus with
“What is truth?” What Pilate did not realize is that the answer to his very question stood right before him.

Do you ever feel questions of Christ, or His words in Holy Scripture nag at your soul? Do you ever feel there may be a slight amiss in your life? Don’t fret. Take these nagging concerns of yours to the Lord. If you truly seek Him and desire to serve Him, He will show you if something is amiss, and He will lovingly guide you to actions which will please Him and the Heavenly Father. The Lord is so loving and kind, and will not turn away from those who humbly seek Him!