Daily Verse: Mark 15:3-5

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

 

It’s interesting how we think we are in control of our lives. We think we decide the path that lies ahead and that we can control the outcome. We have grown accustomed to over-stretching our abilities and exaggerating our level of control. Pilate, the Roman leader that agreed to the crucifixion of Jesus, must have thought that he was pretty powerful. He must have thought that he was in control of this whole Jesus situation. But it was clear that he misunderstood the situation at hand when Jesus was placed before him by the chief priests. In the text above, Pilate asks Jesus to essentially give a guilty/not guilty plea for all the charges that were slung at him by the angry mob. He thought that he was at the controls, that he had the power to save or sacrifice this Man that stood before him. Except that Pilate didn’t really hold that power. Sure, it appears that way given his stature in the Roman Empire, but the real control was in God’s hands. God had a plan that had been in the works for quite some time and it involved Jesus taking a beating and being hung from a cross, so that sinners like you and me would be rescued. It was going to happen whether Pilate pardoned him or not. Jesus likely didn’t respond to Pilate because the power didn’t really rest in Pilates hands. All the power was in God’s hands…and God had a plan that had to be carried out to completion by Jesus. There was simply no other way. God was at the controls…and when God is at the controls, his plan prevails in the end. In this life, we have the choice to foolishly operate under the assumption that we are in complete control…or we can bow before the One God that is truly in control…recognizing his presence, and welcoming his direction in our lives. And when we do, we will find that we no longer desire to seek control in our lives. We will realize that God is infinitely better suited to set the course for our lives…and no matter what comes around the next curve, whether rain or shine, with the Lord as our guide, we will not be alone, we will not fail, and we will not perish. For God is at the wheel and God wants nothing but the absolute best for our lives. To God be the glory!