PONTIUS PILATE
(This is the third in a four-part series. To read Part 1 and Part 2, click here and click here.)
I want to continue to talk to you about a Roman procurator (governor) of Judea at the time of Christ (A.D. 26-36).
His name is Pontius Pilate.
And the point of this blog post is this: He is right about Jesus in his head, but it never gets down to his heart.
JESUS HAS HIS AFFECT ON PILATE
Please notice in John 18:38 again…
And when he (Pilate) had said this (that is his, “What is truth?,” question), he went out (it goes on) again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.” (John 18:38)
And so Jesus has had His affect on Pilate through his conversation with Him and the Lord’s very presence.
And Jesus can’t help but have an affect on people.
Has He had an affect on you?
He’s a Man like no other man that’s ever lived.
Why else would a centurion whose overseen hundreds , if not more, crucifixions end up finally summing up Christ’s death, “Truly this man was the Son of God”? (Mark 15:39)
Jesus can’t help but have an affect on people.
And if men and women are truly open to the reality of things and what life’s really all about, they’ll be affected by Jesus.
And He’ll make a difference in their lives.
Sad to say, however, in Pilate’s case the difference doesn’t go far enough.
Because it’s just in Pilate’s head and not in his heart, the affect that Jesus has on him.
How do we know that?
Well, we know it simply by how the story turns out.
Pilate gives an innocent man over to be killed and releases a guilty man. (Matthew 27:26)
HEAD VERSUS HEART
And let me just talk for a moment about head versus heart.
(Say it to yourself, “Head versus heart.” Go ahead. “Head versus heart.”)
It’s just so important that Jesus affects us further than just up in this area between our ears.
And you’ve been around people who’ve got Jesus in their head and not in their heart.
And it would be interesting to find out what’s going through your mind – the person or persons that are popping up that fit the description that you know!
But you’ve been around people who’ve got Jesus in their head and not in their heart.
Some of them even go to church on Sunday.
Some of them even give in the offering from time to time.
Some of them even quote Bible verses (and better that the Pastor!).
But something’s not right.
Something’s missing.
And as it was with me before I got saved – it’s true. I was a Christian on Sunday, but I lived like the devil the rest of the week (Monday through Saturday) in my early 20s.
And the reason for that?
It was because Jesus was in my head and not in my heart.
If Jesus is in your heart, it can’t help but show forth in what you do and what you don’t do. (John 14:15)
I want to move on now to talk about one last thing as regards Pilate.
(To read Part 4, click here.)
(Christ Before Pilate picture file above is in the public domain: click here.)
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