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 slapped him in the face.

Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “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 purple robe and the crown of thorns, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall i crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

*******

I just can’t help but think today…about how Jesus must’ve felt as those he loved and cared for were shouting to kill him. The sadness…I just can’t imagine. Then I think about how he must feel every time I choose to follow the world over him. The sadness…I don’t want to contribute to that emotion. I don’t want to be guilty of sin…and yet I am. But Jesus is love…and his sacrifice brings forgiveness and hope. So even as he looked on in pain and sadness, as those he loved were shouting crucify him, he loved them enough to die for them. That’s my Savior…He is worth living for.

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the place of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanliness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to then and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

*******

Jesus said everyone on the side of truth listens to ME. If you want to live by truth…follow THE truth. Jesus is the truth. We tend to seek truth in all kinds of other areas and people…and then can’t figure out why we end up getting disappointed and angry. It’s because there is only one absolute truth…Jesus. You want to seek truth today? Seek Jesus.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

*******

What this speaks to me today is the fact that we, like Peter, are given multiple opportunities to stand up for Jesus. It’s not just a one time thing. It must be a daily decision to live for, and not deny, him. Peter was given three opportunities in one night and turned them all down. That seems bad…right? But what about you and me? We have the opportunity every single day to live for, speak of, and stand up for God and if we are honest…some of us seldom do. Jesus is worth standing up for…even when it’s an uncomfortable situation. So the question for you and me today is this…who will you deny? God…or self?

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

*******

Jesus was being questioned…and to be honest he was being questioned a particular way because they were trying to find a reason to be questioning him. Jesus knows there’s nothing they can find on him…only that he has spoken the truth. He implored them to ask a witness who heard his teaching. It makes me think…how often do we defend Jesus’ teaching in our own life and in the situations and circumstances around us? We know His word is truth…but how often do we present that truth in our own life? Maybe it’s time we become a better witness and testify more boldly daily on the truth of Jesus and his teaching.

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because the disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter was also standing with them, warming himself.

*******

Peter had just got done saying he would die for Jesus…and then without hesitation denies even knowing him. He went and stood with the servants and officials around the fire. Why? Because it was cold and then fire is warm…it was more comfortable by the fire. We are always seeking more comfort. We don’t want to be too hot or too cold…we want to be comfortable. Comfort is a wonderful thing. The problem is…we also tend to seek comfort in our walk with Jesus as well. We don’t want to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations…even if it’s what we feel called to do. This is why often times we give into the temptations and ignore the calling because it’s not the most comfortable decision. Today…let’s pursue Jesus…even if that means letting go of comfort.

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) when Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servants name was Malchus.)

Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. The bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

*******

Jesus said he must drink the cup his father gave him. He had just finished praying that if there was any other way, to take this cup from him. In the end, however, he knew what he must do. Sometimes in life I think we are given cups that are hard to drink. Decisions we have to make, stances we have to take, loss we have to endure…and it’s tough to swallow. We must lean on Jesus’ example and realize that not matter how difficult the cup may be, the outcome is always the best one because it comes from God. Thank goodness Jesus took on that cup…because now you and I have forgiveness and hope. What is God calling you to today? What cup do you need to drink from today?

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one-I in them and you in me-so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

*******

Jesus was praying for you and for me. In the midst of him being overwhelmed at what he knew was ahead…he was thinking of you. So much so that he prayed specifically for you. He prayed for all those who would believe in him based off the message of him. He didn’t just pray for us though…he prayed specifically that we would be one. That we would work together and lift one another up. He prayed that our discipleship would be one…and that our witness would be one. So how has the church done? What do you think? What needs to change? What do we need more of? How can YOU bring about more unity? Be humbled today that you were on his mind as he prayed…but be motivated to honor and live up to his desire as he prayed.

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more then I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that your protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”

*******

Jesus prays for his disciples, saying that the world hates them because they are not of the world. This speaks volumes to me. We are not to be of this world. We aren’t supposed to fit in with the world. Instead, we should be so in tune with God that we no longer connect to a world full of sin and darkness. We should shine in the midst of the darkness even when it doesn’t understand. This is why the world will hate…because it doesn’t understand. How well do you “fit out” of the world? How well do you “fit in” with the world? Maybe it’s time to reconsider that position in your life.

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son my glorify you. For your granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

*******

Jesus says that eternal life is to know God and to know him. What does it mean to know them though? It means we have spent time with them…we understand their desires for us and our life is a reflection of our relationship with them. We can’t just know of them. We must know them personally. Do you truly know them? Eternal life is to know them…to be close to them…to be obedient to them. Are you headed down that path today?

Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

Jesus saw that they wanted to ask Him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when the baby is born she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this king of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the word; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

“Do you believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

*******

Jesus says in this world you will have trouble. It’s not avoidable…you WILL have trouble. Sometimes we think that just because we follow God we shouldn’t have all of this trouble. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Trouble will come as long as we are in this world. But Jesus says take heart…or stand strong…because He has overcome the world. Jesus is greater…and as long as we put our faith and trust in him over the world we can stand strong even in the midst of our struggles. So take heart today! Jesus has overcome the world!