Vesicle of the day: Yet they yelled: Out! Get out, crucify him! Pilate said to them: Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar, and Pilate handed him over to be crucified. (John 19: 15-16)
Pilate’s authority to crucify Jesus did not intimidate him, why not?
Not because Pilate was lying. Not because he had no authority to crucify Jesus, he crucified him.
On the contrary, this authority did not intimidate Jesus because he was derived. Jesus said, “It was given to you from above,” which means that he is truly authoritarian. Not less, but more.
So how come that’s not intimidating? Pilate not only has the power to kill Jesus, he has the authority God has given him to kill him.
This does not intimidate Jesus because Pilate’s authority over him is subordinate to God’s authority over Pilate. Jesus receives his comfort at that time not because Pilate’s will is powerless, but because Pilate’s will is guided. Not because Jesus is not in Pilate’s terrifying hands, but because Pilate is in the hands of the Father of Jesus.
This indicates that our comfort comes not from the helplessness of our enemies, but from our Father’s sovereign rule over his power.
This is the point of Romans 8: 35-37. La tribulation, anguish, persecution, hunger, nudity, danger, and sword cannot separate us from Christ, why?In all these things we are more than victors, through whom he loved us?(Romans 8. 35-37).
Pilate (and all of Jesus’ adversaries? And our people) intended to do evil, but God did well (Genesis 50. 20). Have all of Jesus’ enemies been united with the authority God has given them to do all that [God’s hand] and [God’s] plan have foretermined?(Acts 4. 28). They have sinned. But, by his sin, God saved.
So don’t be intimidated by your opponents who can only kill the body, not only because it’s all they can do (Luke 12. 4), but also because it’s done under your Father’s watchful hand.
“Don’t you sell five birds for two donkeys? None of them, however, is forgotten before God. Even the hair on your head is all counted, don’t be afraid!Much more valuable than many birds?” (Luke 12:6-7).
Pilate has authority. Herod has authority. Soldiers have authority, Satan has authority. But no one is independent. All his authority is derived. All of this is subordinate to God’s will. You are precious to your sovereign Father, much more precious than birds that are not forgotten.