- There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. John 19:18 – You can be found doing the most holy of things stuck in the middle of sin all around you. Jesus, in between two criminals, was doing the most holy of things, dying for the sins of the world. I feel like we can find ourselves avoiding places of sinfulness due to the fear of ourselves falling into the sinfulness, yet Jesus showed us here that doesn’t have to be the case. We can remain faithful even when sin is all around us and in order to help some people see Jesus we’ll have to step into these places of sin. Be wise as you step into these places because our enemy wants to trip you up and be sure to lean on the other faithful followers around you to help you remain standing. Just know you don’t have to fall into it even if you find yourself surrounded by it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1411
- They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” John 19:15 – Likely even if you didn’t read along with me the chapter, you can guess the context of this passage. Jesus is about to be crucified. Pilate, the Roman governor at this time, pressured by the Jewish people and leaders, is asking what exactly to do with this “king” of the Jews. As we see in our passage the chief priests, the ones who would speak on behalf of the whole of the people, declare Jesus is no king of theirs and a worldly man is instead. Such a verse echoes of Israel in 1 Samuel 8:7 when they reject God as their King and choose a man instead. ”And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.“ Whether it was with Saul, Caesar, or self, the story of humanity is choosing a different king of their life than the Lord. Our call is to make a different choice and to guide others into a different choice. Jesus raising from the dead has established Him as King of Kings seated on the throne of Heaven. And while crowned with all majesty, power, and splendor, we can still choose to submit and bend our knee to another king. When in your choosing of your king, remember where King Saul and Caesar are today, and then remember where Jesus is today. Two are buried in the dirt, One is seated in glory. Praise King Jesus He has made our choice an easy one! I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2769
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