Risking Intimacy
Scripture – John 19:1-5: Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) How could Pilate allow such treatment of an innocent man? As much as I dislike what’s described in these verses, I read them over and over – remembering Jesus chose to follow this path. I live with the assurance of God’s grace and the hope of eternal life today because of that. It seems to me, in his personal conversation with Jesus, Pilate was touched at a very deep and intimate level. Something in Christ reached out and connected with him. Perhaps it caused him to glimpse something inside he had been avoiding or something he’d never seen before. Of course, I don’t know any of that. It just looks to me like Pilate moved quickly from a personal, face to face moment with Christ to a great emotional distance.
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I know that experience. Sometimes God will show me something inside that I don’t really want to see. So I change the subject or look in a different direction. Sometimes intimacy with Christ is a scary moment. I feel vulnerable and afraid. The next time a moment like that comes, I will stay with it. I will stay with Him. For even in the fear and/or pain, great transformation happens. Good Friday leads to Easter.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Give me courage, Lord, to risk true intimacy with you. Help me open myself to you at ever-deepening levels. For you have nothing but the best in mind for me. I trust you. Lord, help me trust you more.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) How could Pilate allow such treatment of an innocent man? As much as I dislike what’s described in these verses, I read them over and over – remembering Jesus chose to follow this path. I live with the assurance of God’s grace and the hope of eternal life today because of that. It seems to me, in his personal conversation with Jesus, Pilate was touched at a very deep and intimate level. Something in Christ reached out and connected with him. Perhaps it caused him to glimpse something inside he had been avoiding or something he’d never seen before. Of course, I don’t know any of that. It just looks to me like Pilate moved quickly from a personal, face to face moment with Christ to a great emotional distance.
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I know that experience. Sometimes God will show me something inside that I don’t really want to see. So I change the subject or look in a different direction. Sometimes intimacy with Christ is a scary moment. I feel vulnerable and afraid. The next time a moment like that comes, I will stay with it. I will stay with Him. For even in the fear and/or pain, great transformation happens. Good Friday leads to Easter.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Give me courage, Lord, to risk true intimacy with you. Help me open myself to you at ever-deepening levels. For you have nothing but the best in mind for me. I trust you. Lord, help me trust you more.
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