V Indicates Scripture or other reference

The closing verses of the Gospel according to Matthew are commonly called “The Great Commission.” After Jesus had given His disciples more than three years to walk before Him and learn His ways, and after He had proved to them that He is Lord by rising from the dead, He gave them (and everyone else who would ever become a Christian disciple) this Commission:

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye there-fore, and teach (make disciples in) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Matthew 28:18b-20

Many people set out to fulfill this Commission with good intentions ... and fall flat on their face. Some doom themselves to failure because they just try to “make believers”[18] – but that’s all they can do if they are only “believers” themselves. Others set out to teach a doctrine based on an experience, or a Spiritual revelation, that God gave them – and end up starting a man-centered “movement” or a new religion (something that Jesus Himself did not do!). Such people often shut themselves (and others!) out of the Kingdom of God, because they make disciples for themselves.

Why is there so much failure and confusion surrounding these clear and simple directions by the Lord Jesus Christ? We believe it is because many Christians overlook (or choose to ignore) the foundational words of the Great Commission: “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” “To Me!” Jesus says. Not to the Pope. Not to Martin Luther or Billy Graham. Not to any high-powered preacher we see on TV these days. And certainly not to our ministry. All power in Heaven and in earth is given to Jesus and to Jesus only. Only Jesus has the power to save us from sin and death and hell. Only Jesus has the power to overcome the world and destroy the works of the devil. And only Jesus has the power it takes to convert us from weak, undedicated, love-less “believers” into effective, soul-winning, world-changing disciples!

Since no ministry has any legitimate power to do any kind of disciple-making other than to point people to Jesus, let us do just that. Let us show you the Man Jesus, as captured by four of His faithful disciples: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As you read these Scriptures, imagine you are walking alongside Jesus, watching everything He does, measuring His words by the integrity and the love that you see in His life. Is this the kind of life that you would like to live? Then it is high time you pray for the Holy Spirit to perfect you into the glorious image of Jesus.

Let us step out of your way now, and let you “Behold the Man!”

1. Jesus begins His ministry by submitting to the righteous will of His Father.

Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized by him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Allow it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfil all righteous-ness. Then he allowed him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Jesus: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3:13-17

2. Jesus declares He came to do His Father’s will and only His Father’s will.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he [the Father] doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

John 5:19,20

3. Jesus stands boldly upon the Word of God.

 

And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted by the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Luke 4:1-13

4. Jesus challenges all who doubt Him: You can read all about Me in the Old Testament!

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (Jesus is referring here to the antichrist.)  How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John 5:39-47

5. Jesus chooses “the poor and downtrodden” to be His disciples.

As he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Mark 1:16-20

6. Jesus explains where His Father’s heart is really at.

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with tax collectors and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6): for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:10-13

7. Jesus emphasizes the Love of God over the Law of God.

And Jesus entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Jesus, how they might destroy him.

Mark 3:1-6

8. Jesus tells us how much His Father loves lost people – and why we should too!

The Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that [even] one of these little ones (lost lambs) should perish.

Matthew 18:11-14

9. Jesus says it’s what’s in the heart – not what’s in the bank – that counts with God.

Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all of them did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Mark 12:41-44

10. Jesus calls us to be pure in heart, not just “innocent until proven guilty.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:27-30

 

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whitewashed sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 23:25-28

 

11. Jesus calls us to rise to His Father’s level of perfect love.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the tax collectors do so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

12. Jesus explains why it is so important for us to pray!

And Jesus went, as He usually did, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Luke 22:39-46

13. Jesus – not Aristotle or Confucius, but Jesus – first teaches the Golden Rule.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:12 

14. Jesus teaches: revenge always loses; love always wins.

And [Jesus] sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did? (in 1st Kings 18:20-40) But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

And they went to another village.

                              Luke 9:52-56

15. Jesus explains the direct connection between authority and faith.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under [Rome’s] authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. [And, since I recognize authority when I see it, I do not hesitate to place myself under Your authority.] When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Matthew 8:5-13

16. Jesus gives good advice: let God deal with other people’s shortcomings ... and our own!

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why behold thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceive not the beam that is in thine own eye? How canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself behold not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye (through prayer to God), and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Luke 6:37-42

17. Jesus explains life to a woman who was “looking for love in all the wrong places.”

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, ask a drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou would have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye [Jews] say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.  And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seek thou? or, Why talk thou with her? The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

John 4:6-30

18. Jesus helps a poor woman who had “no place left to turn.”

A certain woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came into the crowd behind [Him], and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes,

I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that power had gone out of him, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Mark 5:25-34                       

19. Jesus denounces those who turn the worship of God into a “profit-center.”

Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Matthew 21:12, 13

20. Jesus encourages us not to fear men or the devil, but to be bold in the Lord.

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:24-28

 

(The devil can not send you to hell. God is the One who will send the devil, and all of his disciples, to hell on the Day of Judgment.)

21. Jesus warns us to “put our loves in priority-order.”

When he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:17-27

22. Jesus advises us to focus upon eternity, not the world that is passing away.

When Jesus had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8:34-38

23. Jesus gives us some practical teachings on Proverbs 16:18 –
“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

And Jesus put forth a parable to those which were bidden [to the feast], when he noticed how they chose out the chief places; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest place; lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man your place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have honor in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou make a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Mark 14:7-14

 

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:9-14

 

Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:25-28

24. Jesus sets an adulteress free. Don’t miss the point-line: “Go and sin no more!”

Jesus came into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law command-ed us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without [this very same] sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

John 8:2-11

25. Jesus explains “Kingdom values” to His disciples.

Jesus riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all [of you]. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was sat down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9) Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

John 13:4-20

26. Jesus says only those who love one another can ever be His disciples.

When he (Judas Iscariot) was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:31-34

27. Jesus always spoke openly and honestly.

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

John 18:1921

28. Jesus preaches on Forgiveness – and practiced what He preached!

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Luke 17:3,4

 

When they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Luke 23:33-34a

29. Jesus gives His disciples a prime responsibility: “Take care of one another till I return!”

This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

John 21:14-17

The story of Jesus is a love-story from beginning to end. He loved the woman at the well more than any of her “husbands” ever had – or ever could (see 17 above). He loved the rich young man enough to warn him to get rid of the money that was keeping his heart God (see 21 above). And when it came time for Him to die on the Cross for our sins, He had so much love in His heart that He went willingly to the Cross (see 12 above) ... because that’s the kind of Man He was!

The Roman politician, Pontius Pilate, who probably knew more about the world and its ways than anyone else in Israel, had never seen such a Man as Jesus. The confrontation between  Jesus and Pilate is a remarkable demonstration of how the power and glory of God can conquer a brutal-but-open mind ... and how not even the love of God can touch the hearts of people who do not give a hoot about anything or anyone but themselves. Here is the Apostle John’s accountof that historic confrontation. Read it, and be amazed.

John 18:28  Then led they Jesus from [the high priest] Caiaphas unto the [Roman] hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves [the religious leaders] went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover.

29  Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

30  They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

31  Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The [Jewish religious leaders] therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

32  That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

33  Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

34  Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

35  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

38  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

39  But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one [convicted criminal] at the Passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

40  Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

2  And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

3  And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

4  Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

5  Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

6  When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

7  The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

8  When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

9  And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

12  And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the [Jewish religious leaders] cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

13  When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

14  And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

15  But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

16  Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

 

Those religious leaders wanted Jesus out of their way and they saw Pilate as their “hatchet man.” They knew the Romans didn’t care who they killed, so long as they preserved order in their empire. So they went to their foreign rulers and said, “We have no authority to kill this trouble-maker, but you do; you need our political support, and we want Him dead.” (John 18:31) 

Pilate began not with action, but with intelligence-gathering. He interrogated Jesus to find out, “Who are You? What are Your goals? Who are your followers? How much power do You have?” When Jesus said His Kingdom was “not of this world” but was higher than the power of the Jewish religion, Pilate understood that Jesus was also setting His power above the authority of Rome. (John 18:33-37)