June 10 Know the King

John 18:28-32 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” 30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. 32 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
 
IN the book of Judges, we twice read these terrifying words: Judges 17:6 & 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Yes, it is terrifying when we see the results of people acting as they please outside lawful rule and authority. Even more frightening would be a world without God’s righteous laws. Observe where this is true today, and you will see people dominated, abused and victimized economically and socially. Judges is a sad record of how this was true in Israel.
   Although those events were recorded some 1,000 years before Jesus’ arrest and trials (Yes, he faced four “trials”.) it seems little had changed among God’s people. The temple priests and Pharisees were doing what they saw fit to accomplish their dreadful purpose. Caiaphas’ design was to crucify Jesus, and he would do so in any way he could accomplish it. Jesus had correctly called these rulers, “Hypocrites.” regarding God’s laws, justice and mercy.  And they were proving Jesus’ words true. Particularly pointed is Jesus’ rebuke in Matthew 15:7-8 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” 
   Now before Pilate, the supposed law-focused Caiaphas and his associates became a lawless lynch mob. They take Jesus to an unclean place. They claim now their desire is to obey Rome’s rule, pretending not to break their own laws. But they used Rome as a tool to sweep away their guilt. Caiaphas claimed Jesus is a criminal. But he has no charge against Jesus. Caiaphas told Pilate Jesus must be executed. He has no evidence, though, against Jesus breaking Rome’s law.
   In Judges, there actually was a King in Israel. His name was I AM, the living God, who formed his people and gave them the law’s way to righteousness. But Israel’s hearts denied his authority, justice and mercy. God’s people in the time of Judges lived amid chaos, and they missed the King’s care and peace over their lives.
   On that dark morning in Jerusalem, there, too was a King in Israel, but the Jews accused him. They denied his authority, justice and mercy. They did as they pleased, and they missed the King’s care and peace over their lives.
   How about you? How is your church? Do you know there is a King who has come to rule your heart with authority, justice and mercy? Do you know the King has come to offer you his care and peace over your life?
 
Prayer: I pray, Father, the King of Kings is truly my Lord of lords. Amen.