TURN UP THE HEAT

John 19:12-16
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Sentenced to Death

12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

13 When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). 14 It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!”

15 “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!”

“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.

16 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus away.

‘Friend of Caesar’ is a technical term which means ally of the emperor. Pilate was a political appointee. He served at the will of the emperor. To be accused of not being an ally of the emperor really turned up the heat on Pilate and he caved in to the wishes of the Jewish leaders.

What happens in your life when the heat gets turned up? Are you able to stand up to the heat or do you cave in? Temptation … anger … bitterness … unforgiveness. When the pressure is on, call on the Holy Spirit to help you be strong … to stand … to not cave in.

When the heat got to Pilate, he turned Jesus over to be crucified. Think of caving in as crucifying Jesus again. Commit to HIM … NEVER AGAIN!