KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, November 12, 2017
Chapters: John 18-19
Message: God’s Word Is Final
Hello My Friend,
God’s Word is infallible, meaning everything written is true and without error, from the things of the past, and into the present, nothing can change God’s Word. That does not stop the devil from using people to try to altar it such as creating man made versions of holy books that are supposed to be based on the Word of God, taking things out of the original texts, or even adding things. God’s Word is what it is, you can try to rewrite it, but it is written in heaven and was, is, and always will be final even if people try to change it, everything in it will come to pass as it is written. The reason so many try to change it in the first place is because His words cut like a knife, they literally pierce the heart, the sad thing, they want God in their lives, just their way, and that will never work. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12.
The book of John goes into more detail about Jesus being captured, this time we see them speaking to Jesus, and it was an interesting conversation that they had prior to Judas betraying Him.
“Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.” – John 18:3-8,12-14.
“that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.” Expedient; Literally, hastening; urging forward. The high priest and counsel to the Jews, urging them to put Jesus to death quickly, that He might save the people. Caiaphas had one motive in all this, get rid of Jesus and be held as the one who put to death the man that caused such a ruckus in Israel for the past three years. Let me tell you, while Jesus did die to save people, He did not die to save the people of the world, nor the Jews, He died to save the elect of God, the ones who would believe on His name and receive Him as their Saviour. Since the Jews could not put someone to death as it was still the Passover, they sent Him to the Roman governor, Pilate to try and get him to do their dirty work for them. Pilate spoke to Jesus, and right our asked Him why they wanted Him dead.
“Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” – John 18:33-40.
“Sayest thou this thing of thyself,” You see, it was the Jews intention to get Pilate to side with them and immediately have Jesus put to death, but when he spoke to Him he found that they had no reason to kill Him at all. It is fitting that these men would rather pardon the life of a criminal than the one who healed and did so many miraculous things for them. The Jews could not stand it that Pilate called Jesus their king, he did not even know the Scriptures, but he knew that He was not some ordinary man, in fact, he even tried to spare His life.
“Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” – John 19:4-11.
“Thou couldest have no power at all against me,” From that moment, Pilate knew that Jesus truly is the Son of God and true King, he even went as far as saying that he had the power to stop all this, but Jesus basically said, “Unless God has given you that power, it is not going to happen.” Jesus knew that Pilate did not want to deliver Him into their hands, He assures him that the ones who delivered Him to him would face the greater judgment. One thing must be clear, prophecies are never given to change fate, just prepare us it, if God says it is going to happen, it will happen, there is no changing what is meant to be. Now, sometimes fate can be redirected down another path, for instance, our salvation, if we are not saved our fate is hell, but if we are saved our fate is heaven, but when it comes to things that God says we must go through, they must come to pass. We can, however, through prayer and supplication with God learn how to handle fate, but when it comes to fulfilling His will in our lives, He will do it, and it will go exactly as planned, no matter who He has to use to fulfill it. “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:” – Romans 9:21,22.
All the Jews wanted to do was get rid of the man that not only exposed them for being the hypocrites that they were, but also convicted them of their own sins. They had no idea that they were all being used by God to fulfill every one of the prophecies concerning Christ’s crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection, but the Jews got their wish, and Jesus was crucified, along with two other men, as the Sabbath was fast approaching, they wanted them down from their crosses before the end of the day, in order to speed up the process they broke their legs, all except Jesus because He had already died.
“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.” – John 19:28-34,38-41.
“Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,” That blood dripping from the thorns around His head, the blood dripping from His body from the cat o’ nine tails, the blood gushing out of His side was not just some ordinary blood, it was the only blood that God accepted as permanent the atonement for sin, and reconciliation between Him and man. The blood shed of rams and lambs was not offered to keep one saved, but to let God know that they wanted His forgiveness, and a relationship with Him more than the sin. We are not nor ever have been redeemed by earthly things, blood has always been required for redemption, thanks to Jesus it is forever. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” – I Peter 1:18-21. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Magnified: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” – John 19:30.
Today’s Prayer: God, There is nothing more powerful than Your Word, no matter how many people try to alter it or alter our perception of it it is infalliable. It is comforting to know that when You have a plan You stop at nothing for it to come to pass, including Your plan for me. Thank You for loving me and not giving up on me, for waiting patiently for me to learn the truth about Your Son, and how important it is to have Him in my life. Thank You Jesus, for dying for me, for redeeming me, and for making me one of Your very own. Let me live my life according to Your will and give me Your grace to not only be able to handle everything You want me to go through, but get back on track when I do veer off the path once in a while. I love You Lord, and pray in your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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