The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 19 November 2015 "God Pause Daily Devotional" Scripture: John 18:33-37

The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 19 November 2015 "God Pause Daily Devotional" Scripture: John 18:33-37John 18:33 So Pilate went back into the headquarters, called Yeshua and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Yeshua answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have other people told you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and head cohanim have handed you over to me; what have you done?” 36 Yeshua answered, “My kingship does not derive its authority from this world’s order of things. If it did, my men would have fought to keep me from being arrested by the Judeans. But my kingship does not come from here.” 37 “So then,” Pilate said to him, “You are a king, after all.” Yeshua answered, “You say I am a king. The reason I have been born, the reason I have come into the world, is to bear witness to the truth. Every one who belongs to the truth listens to me.”[Complete Jewish Bible]
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Imagine the frustration Pilate must have felt trying to understand a different kind of king. He certainly had experience dealing with a king. As governor of the Palestinian outpost of the Roman Empire, so distant from Rome, he had to placate Caesar. But this Jesus--this "King of the Jews"--was very different. No earthly king would be standing in front of a governor in chains, nor would an earthly king be willing to face the fate Jesus knew was coming. But our God does things differently. Our God does the unexpected--like sending his son to die for us so that we can be in relationship with God. As children of God we have an intimate relationship with God the Father because of our risen King and Savior Jesus Christ.
Savior King, thank you for your truth that sustains all who believe in you and for the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
Tracy Hinkel
St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Northglenn, Colo.
Master of Divinity , 2009
John 18:33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
34 "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
35 "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."[New Revised Standard Versiion]
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