Abide Together: Reflections on John 19

In John 19, Pilate had Jesus beaten, the soldiers made fun of Him and Pilate tried to get out of putting Jesus to death multiple times.  When Jesus did not answer Pilate’s question concerning where He was from, Pilate basically said I have the power to release you or crucify you.  Jesus told him that he had no authority accept what was given to him from above. The Jews insisted that Pilate crucify Jesus, so he gave in and handed him over to be crucified. Jesus was crucified between 2 criminals while his mother, some other women and John stood nearby.  Jesus cried out, “It is finished” and gave up His spirit.  They took His body down and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried Him in a tomb.  There is a huge contrast in this chapter among the people.  Most of them were part of the crowd that yelled, “We have no king but Caesar.”  This group of people chose Caesar, an earthly king, to be their king. However, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus risked their lives and their positions and chose Jesus, the heavenly king, to be their king.  Nicodemus, who came to Jesus in John 3 asking about eternal life, had decided to follow Jesus as His king and in so doing gave up his was of salvation and gave up life as he knew it as ‘The’ Teacher in Israel.  All people are faced with the same choice and the same question, “Who is your king?”  By God’s Grace, Jesus is my King.  Lord, help me follow Jesus, as my King, in such a way that can only be explained by You and that brings glory to You.

– Bryan McKenzie