May 30
John 18:25-19:22
Each of us has been given a sphere of authority and are to lead within the areas which God has given to us. So how well are you leading where God has placed you? In John’s depiction of Jesus’ trial, we encounter two different sets of leaders. The religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their religious-political system. They had slowly lost followers and fanfare throughout Jesus’ ministry, so they wanted his life to end. They used their power to drag Jesus to Pilate and were willing to lie, deceive, and manipulate to get what they wanted. They had power but used it to lead the Son of God to his death.
Then we are introduced to Pilate. As the Roman governor, he was the only one who had the authority to enact capital punishment. He had power to do what was right, but rather than leading, he simply followed the voices of the crowd. He had the power to free Jesus, but not the will to do so. In the end, he listened to a fanatical crowd, rather than his own conscience. In our places of leadership we must stand for what is right. We may be tempted to take shortcuts to get what we want—like the religious leaders— but that is failed leadership. Or we may be tempted to cave to peer pressure like Pilate, but God instead calls us to courageous leadership where God is glorified.
Father God, help me to lead like you and for your glory. Amen.
Where do you see yourself falling into the failed leadership of Pilate and the religious leaders?
Each of us has been given a sphere of authority and are to lead within the areas which God has given to us. So how well are you leading where God has placed you? In John’s depiction of Jesus’ trial, we encounter two different sets of leaders. The religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their religious-political system. They had slowly lost followers and fanfare throughout Jesus’ ministry, so they wanted his life to end. They used their power to drag Jesus to Pilate and were willing to lie, deceive, and manipulate to get what they wanted. They had power but used it to lead the Son of God to his death.
Then we are introduced to Pilate. As the Roman governor, he was the only one who had the authority to enact capital punishment. He had power to do what was right, but rather than leading, he simply followed the voices of the crowd. He had the power to free Jesus, but not the will to do so. In the end, he listened to a fanatical crowd, rather than his own conscience. In our places of leadership we must stand for what is right. We may be tempted to take shortcuts to get what we want—like the religious leaders— but that is failed leadership. Or we may be tempted to cave to peer pressure like Pilate, but God instead calls us to courageous leadership where God is glorified.
Father God, help me to lead like you and for your glory. Amen.
Where do you see yourself falling into the failed leadership of Pilate and the religious leaders?
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