Seeds for 02/29/2024 - Matthew 27:11-14
Scripture: Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer. Then Pilate asked Him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Observation: Keeping one’s composure is so difficult and rare that we are amazed when we witness someone accomplish it.
We’ve seen Jesus before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Ruling Council, and He kept His composure there. Peppered with questions and accusations, He remained collected and in control of His answers. In the presence of the Roman local governor Pilate, along with the chief priests and elders, He is accused once again. Still Jesus is concise in what He does say but otherwise demurs. He remains disciplined and sustains His approach of being careful, intentional, and minimal in responding to His accusers.
This kind of emotional and mental discipline is extraordinarily difficult and requires a rock solid foundation of who you are, whose you are, and what your purpose is. Where might this foundation have come from? Certainly Jesus’ prayer of surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane was a profound source of strength. But I would also like to make two additional connections.
Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration included similar blessings. Compare the words of the Father, spoken over Jesus at each time.
Baptism: “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’” (3:17)
Transfiguration: “and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’” (17:5)
In each case, the Father reaffirms the relationship, His care and affection, and His pleasure at Jesus’ obedience and faithfulness to His purpose.
Jesus knew who He was, whose He was, and what His purpose was. This equipped Him in a powerful way to withstand the indescribable stress of this night of mock trials and railroaded miscarriages of justice.
We too face trials and challenges. James, the brother of Jesus and leader in the Jerusalem church, taught believers how to approach them.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3)
What can help us face trials with this kind of attitude? Knowing that Jesus faced such injustice with discipline and composure and that He lives inside those who trust in Him is one source of strength. Another is recognizing what grounded Him and realizing that the same blessing is upon us too: “This is my child, whom I love. With him, with her, I am well pleased.”
Application:
When have you experienced affirmations of God’s love for you?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, keep in my heart reminders of my place in your love. Guard my heart and mind with your truth. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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