John 18 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“So Pilate told them, ‘Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law.’ ‘It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,’ the Judeans declared. They said this so that Yeshua’s words might be fulfilled signifying what sort of death He was going to die. Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Yeshua, and said to Him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Yeshua answered, ‘Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?’ ‘I’m not a Jew, am I?’ Pilate replied.” John 18:31-35a

There was a time when a Gentile’s following of Yeshua was tantamount to converting to Judaism. The idea of “Messiah” was a purely Jewish thing. Understanding Who Yeshua was and the importance of His ministry, required certain knowledge of G_d’s Word, which could only be obtained through close affiliation with Jews.

Perhaps, no one understood that idea more than the guy who presided over the trial of Yeshua. This concept was not just the opinion of an ignorant Roman Governor. The question of, “What do we do with Gentile believers?” is, perhaps, the most hotly-debated issue in the B’rit HaDasha (New Testament).

Strange, how the modern “Church” has mostly lost a Hebraic understanding of the Scriptures. Given its almost exclusively Hebrew beginnings, perhaps, the most blaringly obvious question in the “Church” today should be, “Why are there so few Jews in the pews?”

There are two kinds of people who read the Bible, looking for information about Yeshua: Those who seek Him plainly, and those who seek Him vainly.

The first type finds Yeshua. “So Yeshua said to the Jews who had believed Him. ‘If you continue in My Word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.’” John 8:31-32

The second type, can’t find Yeshua, because they’re not looking for the truth. They are looking for loopholes, so they won’t have to believe in Him. Pilate was looking for loopholes, enough information to strike a political compromise. Instead of a platform of conviction, Pilate chose one of fear.

Matthew’s Gospel testifies that Pilate’s wife warned him against convicting Yeshua. Matthew 27:19 But, as is the case with all people, when confronted with the facts of the Gospel, the kingship of Yeshua was ultimately a personal decision for Pilate to accept or reject. Sadly, Pilate wasn’t looking for truth. He didn’t know what truth was. Yeshua is the Word of God, made flesh. Apart from God’s Word, there is no spiritual truth. By rejecting Yeshua’s personal testimony, Pilate was rejecting the authority of God’s Word.

“‘You are saying that I am a king,’ Yeshua replied. ‘I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.’ ‘What is truth?’ said Pilate.” John 18:33-38

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Assistant Rabbi
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Sunday, July 14, 2013