Scripture
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Reflection
In this passage, Jesus shows us that we should not fear the authorities and principalities of this world. Throughout the Bible, we are commanded to fear nothing but God Himself. The verse “Fear not” (or “do not be afraid”) is found 365 times in the Bible, emphasizing how important it is Biblically (and perhaps how often we need to be reminded).
Another common verse found throughout the scriptures is “Fear God.” Does this contradict the command to not fear? The simple answer is no, because the ‘fear of God,’ is not about anxiety and dread. It is a command to revere God, to honor His holiness and to have no other God before us. And as we ‘fear’ God, we are given the fruit of His spirit, which is not fear-based. By fearing God (and not this world), we are given wisdom, joy, peace, patience, and love, among many other gifts.
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell you about God or Jesus?
- What does this passage tell you about humanity?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- How can you apply this message in an area of your life that needs transformation?
- Is there anyone you think should hear or will benefit from this message? Go and tell them.
Prayer
Authorities. Pray for wisdom in dealing with containment of the virus and in making decisions for the masses of people.
