Hold on to the Truth, Even if You failed Before
Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 31 2024 | John 19:19-22
KEY VERSE:
Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written.” John 19:22 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
Sometimes in our battle with evil, falsehood, negative pressure and darkness, we may find ourselves on the backfoot, in a disadvantaged position, to have lost ground to the enemy. Pilate was in such a losing position when he was compelled to yield to the Jewish demand for the crucifixion of the man that he, Pilate, on three occasions declared to be unworthy of the death sentence. However, he was compelled to give up and to give Him out to their schemes because he was out-numbered.
Pilate however found a way to strike back and to attempt to redeem his conscience. The notice he caused to be fixed on the cross of the dying Saviour reflected some of the thinking that he had developed in the process of the trial; Jesus of Nazareth was the king of the Jews, rightly or wrongly considered, either to acknowledge the wrongness of the Jewish demand for His death or to make a mockery of the Jews, to have a king that is so weak in the face of the Roman power. Pilate’s notice read “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” John 19:19 (NIV), and Pilate’s response to the Jews rejecting this inscription was "What I have written, I have written." (19:22).
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
When we have the opportunity to reclaim our right thinking and right behaviour, we must grab it with both hands and refuse to be pushed back into the mode of moral defeat. Strike back to stay right!
PRAYER:
Dear God, thank you for giving me the opportunity to reform and make good the mistakes of my life. I pray that you will help me to see the opportunities to make up where I have failed, and to stand firm when I reform. For Christ’s dear Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: WRITTEN
The word "written" comes from the Greek gegrammenon (γεγραμμένον), which means "to inscribe" or "to record permanently." This implies a deliberate and enduring act as if setting something in stone. Pilate’s statement in John 19:22, “What I have written, I have written,” shows his decision to make a lasting declaration about Jesus’ identity, regardless of opposition. Pilate's action reflects a profound theological truth— God’s word and the identity of Christ are immutable. It also serves as a reminder that true conviction, once inscribed on our hearts, should not waver in the face of pressure or past mistakes. Reflections: When you have the chance to reclaim integrity, will you take it? How can you ensure that truth remains firmly inscribed in your life, even in difficult times?
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