HOW TO KEEP FOLLOWING JESUS

"KING OF THE JEWS"

And they bound Him and led Him away and delivered Him over to Pilate the governor. ... The governor asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." But when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" But He gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. (Matthew 27:2, 11b-14) There are times when talking will do no good. Pilate asks, "Are You the King of the Jews?" and gets less of an answer than he expected. For Jesus to answer that question fully, it would take hours ... maybe days. A king in what sense? By whose standards? Why do you want to know? It would take a theology lecture! Pilate isn't much interested, anyway. But we ought to be—because who Jesus is makes all the difference to us. Who is this King of the Jews? Isaiah gives us the answer: "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer ... I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you'" (Isaiah 44:6a, 22). Jesus is the Lord, the King of Israel and Israel's Redeemer. He has come in Person to save His people—and not just Israel alone, but all the world. He is our Redeemer too, because He Himself took away our sins on the cross. Because of His death and resurrection, all our sins are like mist that blows away on the wind—gone forever. WE PRAY: Thank You, Lord, for becoming our Redeemer. Amen.