took to the palace of the Roman governor.
By now it was early morning,
and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness,
they did not enter the palace
because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.
So if we're paying close attention here,
we notice that John skips right over the part
where Jesus stood before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.
All the other gospel writers mention this,
and if we compare with them,
we see that Jesus went straight from Annas
and his house to standing before Caiaphas
and the Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin,
and then now they lead Jesus from there to Pilate,
and it's still early in the morning.
Pilate was the Roman governor.
For those of you who are maybe less familiar
with some of the history here,
the Romans had come a while back,
and they had conquered the whole region,
and so they were in power, they were ruling,
and Pilate was the governor of this region
on behalf of Caesar, the Roman emperor.
And with Roman rule, there were, of course,
soldiers present in Jerusalem
where all this is taking place.
So functionally, Pilate is the highest authority
in the land.
But, of course, these large empires of ancient times,
they didn't totally obliterate
all of the local government,
provided that certain conditions were met.
Taxes had to be paid and other things.
And the Jewish people were permitted by Rome
to have their ruling council, the Sanhedrin,
and to have their priesthood
and leaders at the temple.
And even in this region, a king.
They had a man named King Herod.
But, of course, Rome was very choosy
about who they allowed
to serve in these positions of leadership.
They wanted to ensure
that they would have the compliance
of their conquered peoples.
So it was very early in the morning,
and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness,
they did not enter the palace
because they wanted to be able
to eat the Passover.
So according to Jewish law,
if they'd entered Pilate's palace,
it would have made them ceremonially unclean
and unable to participate fully
in the Passover.
So according to John,
that's why Pilate came out of the palace
to them.
Verse 29.
So Pilate came out to them
and asked,
What charges are you bringing
against this man?
If he were not a criminal,
they replied,
we would not have handed him over to you.
Pilate said,
Take him yourselves
and judge him by your own law.
But we have no right
to execute anyone,
they objected.
This took place
to fulfill what Jesus had said
about the kind of death
he was going to die.
So the Jewish leaders,
they present Jesus to Pilate,
and Pilate asks what the charges are,
and here in John's Gospel,
it seems that they didn't really have
a good answer to the question,
at least at first.
If he were not a criminal,
we would not have handed him over to you.
Well, that doesn't answer the question.
It's almost like they're saying,
He's guilty.
Trust us.
Pilate basically says,
Why don't you deal with this yourselves?
Take him.
Judge him by your own law.
And it's here that the truth
of why they've come to Pilate
comes out.
We have no right to execute anyone,
they objected.
Essentially, they're saying,
We have tried him.
He is guilty.
He deserves to die
for what he has done,
but we can't execute him
because according to
the Roman law
and how things are going
in the nation right now,
only the governor
has the authority
for capital punishment.
There's also,
perhaps,
an unstated desire here
for the religious leaders
to have Pilate
do their dirty work
for them,
as if that may lessen
their guilt in the matter.
You see that there's a whole lot
of religious posturing
going on here
on the part of
the religious leaders.
So Pilate takes Jesus in
and he questions him.
Verse 33.
Pilate then went back
inside the palace,
summoned Jesus,
and asked him,
Are you the king of the Jews?
Is that your own idea?
Jesus asked.
Or did others talk to you about me?
This conversation
between Pilate and Jesus
is fascinating.
Pilate asks Jesus point-blank
whether he's the king of the Jews.
Now imagine for just a moment
that you were Jesus' attorney
and you were there in the room.
What would you say
if you had to give an answer
on Jesus' behalf?
Are you the king of the Jews?
Well, that really opens up
a big conversation, doesn't it?
First of all,
there's already a king
of the Jews,
at least in name and position,
a man named Herod.
He probably wouldn't appreciate
somebody else claiming to be king.
Next, we might wonder
what Pilate's getting at here.
Jesus has been very popular
among many people.
Might it be in the best interests
of this whole situation
to replace Herod
with this man
who happens to encourage
people to pay taxes
to Caesar
and whose teaching,
if followed,
could bring some really good change
in this region.
Perhaps Pilate wonders
whether this man in front of him
is of royal lineage.
Is that why so many
are talking of him
as being the king?
There was this whole
triumphal entry thing
that happened
just a few days ago
and they were proclaiming him
king of Israel.
He's been referred to
as the son of David,
that great king of old.
And then we, of course,
add to all that
the expectations of the people
regarding the Messiah,
a coming king
of God's choosing
who would rule the nation
according to the word
of the prophets long ago.
Is Pilate asking
whether Jesus is the Messiah?
So this is not
the easiest question
to answer,
is it?
Depending on what Jesus says,
there could be
some serious consequences.
Notice what Jesus
does say in reply.
He doesn't answer
the question.
Instead, he asks
a counter-question.
Is that your own idea?
Or did others
talk to you about me?
He probes deeper
into where Pilate
has even got this notion
that he might be
the king of the Jews.
Pilate replies,
Am I a Jew?
Your own people
and chief priests
handed you over to me.
What is it you have done?
Pilate won't answer
Jesus' question either.
And if I had to guess
at what Pilate means here,
it's probably something like,
I'm not a Jew.
I don't understand
what's going on here
between you
and the Jewish leaders.
All I know is that
they're the ones
who have handed you
over to me.
So what have you done?
Pilate knows
that the Jewish leaders
have a problem
with Jesus.
But now he's trying
to figure out
what's the problem?
Is it something wrong
that he's done?
Or is it the problem
with the religious leaders?
And again,
amazingly,
Jesus doesn't give
a direct answer
to the question.
He gives Pilate
something else
to think about.
Verse 36.
Jesus said,
My kingdom
is not
of this world.
If it were,
my servants
would fight
to prevent
my arrest
by the Jewish leaders.
Jews.
But now my kingdom
is from another place.
Fascinating.
Jesus claims
point blank
to be a king.
To have a kingdom.
Even to have
servants or subjects.
But not in the way
that we might expect.
He claims to be king
of a kingdom
that's not of,
not from
this world.
That's quite the claim.
We could follow
Jesus' logic here.
If Jesus' kingdom
is not from
this world,
then where is it from?
Out of this world.
Heaven.
That's what Jesus
has been teaching.
The kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of God.
Now I'd love
to ask Pilate
just what was going on
in his mind
as Jesus
heard,
said this to him.
Most people
claiming something
like Jesus
just claimed
you wouldn't
take too seriously.
You might think
they were mad
or crazy.
Or was there
something
about this Jesus
that made
Pilate wonder
deep down inside
if Jesus
was speaking
the truth?
Pilate comes back
with these words
in verse 37.
You are a king
then,
said Pilate.
Now we don't know
the tone of these words.
Was Pilate
just trying to
pin Jesus down
as claiming
something?
By your own words,
you admit it,
you are a king.
Or was Pilate
saying this
with a tone
of mockery?
You are a king
then.
Perhaps because
he thought
Jesus' claim
was laughable.
Or was it
more inquisitive?
So then,
you are a king?
We don't know
how Pilate
said this,
but Jesus
replies,
you say
that I'm a king.
In fact,
the reason
I was born
and came
into the world
is to testify
to the truth.
Everyone
on the side
of truth
listens
to me.
Wow.
Again,
what a reply
from Jesus.
And here again,
there's more debate
about what Jesus
meant when he said,
you say
that I am a king.
It's possible
that Jesus
means,
yes,
you said it.
I am a king.
Some don't agree.
They think
he means,
you say
that I'm a king.
Those are your words,
not mine.
I think the first option
makes more sense,
that this was sort of
a colloquial way
of saying to Pilate,
you're right.
You've said it.
I am a king.
And then Jesus
goes on to explain
why he has come
into the world
and what he has
come to do.
The reason
I was born
and came
into the world
is to testify
to the truth.
Everyone
on the side
of truth
listens
to me.
What a thing
to say
to the most
powerful man
in the region.
I love it.
Jesus
is fearless.
He knows
exactly
who he is.
He knows
why he has come.
He doesn't hide
the truth.
He doesn't
pretend to be
just an ordinary
human being.
He says,
my birth,
my coming
into this world
has a purpose.
I'm here to testify,
to bear witness
to the truth.
And everyone
on the side
of truth,
everyone
of the truth
listens.
to me.
Another
amazing claim
of Jesus.
And think
about this.
Jesus is
basically saying,
there's two
kinds of people,
Pilate.
There are those
who are on the
side of truth
or of the truth
and there are
those who
are not.
And Pilate,
I myself
am the line
in the sand
between the two
sides.
Everyone who
listens to me
is on the
side of truth.
and everyone
who doesn't
implied
is not.
What an
amazing claim.
Jesus sets
himself up
as the
ultimate
authority
of truth
in this
world.
And that
before
the Roman
governor.
Pilate
responds,
what is
truth?
Again,
there's
speculation
about
Pilate's
tone here.
Some think
Pilate was
sincere in
this question.
Some not.
Some see
Pilate as
kind of a
philosophical
thinker in
this moment.
You know,
what is
truth?
Most people,
I think,
take Pilate's
words as a
sort of
rhetorical
dismissal of
Jesus.
Like,
what is
truth?
death?
Like,
can we
even know
it?
Whatever
Pilate meant,
he had
already come
to the
verdict in
his mind
for Jesus.
With
this,
he went
out again
to the
Jews gathered
there and
said,
I find
no basis
for a
charge against
him.
But,
it is
your custom
for me to
release to
you one
prisoner,
at the
time of
the
Passover.
Do you
want me
to release
the king
of the
Jews?
They
shouted
back,
no,
not him,
give us
Barabbas.
Now,
Barabbas had
taken part
in an
uprising.
So,
whether
Pilate
believed all
that Jesus
said to
him in
private,
we don't
know,
but he
made it
quite clear
that he
had found
no basis
for a
charge
against
Jesus.
And it
seems in
the moment
he tried
to come
up with
a way
to release
Jesus.
According to
Matthew's
gospel,
Pilate knew
that it
was out
of envy
that the
Jewish
leaders
had handed
Jesus over
to him.
And so
Pilate tries
to make
a play
here.
He tries
to do
the opposite
of what
the religious
leaders want
and release
Jesus and
he tries
to do
this by
appealing
to the
crowd.
Let's
give them
a vote.
Maybe
they really
like
Jesus and
it's just
these leaders
who don't
like him.
He gives
them the
chance to
make a
decision
based on
this annual
custom of
releasing a
prisoner
each year.
He gives
them the
option.
You can
have
Barabbas
or you
can have
the king
of the
Jews
released to
you.
You can
have an
insurrectionist
who's been
thrown in
prison for
his part in
an uprising
and another
gospel,
murder,
or you
can have
Jesus,
the king
of the
Jews.
Probably
Pilate
thought this
would be a
sure way to
secure Jesus'
release.
After all,
Jesus might
have made a
few enemies,
but many
loved him,
right?
But Pilate's
play fails.
The crowd
shouts back
in response,
No!
Not him!
Give us
Barabbas!
Matthew
actually tells
us in his
gospel that
the chief
priests and
the elders of
the Jews went
around in the
crowd and
stirred up the
people to
ask for
Barabbas instead
of Jesus.
So Pilate's
first attempt
here to
release Jesus
failed.
chapter 19
verse 1.
Then Pilate
took Jesus
and had
him flogged.
The soldiers
twisted together
a crown of
thorns and
put it on
his head.
They closed
him in a
purple robe
and went up
to him again
and again
saying,
Hail,
king of
the Jews!
And they
slapped him
in the face.
Now we
might wonder,
well,
why did
Pilate decide
to have
Jesus
flogged?
Luke gives
us the
clue.
According to
Luke,
this was
another
attempt by
Pilate to
have Jesus
released.
He knew
that Jesus
hadn't done
anything to
deserve death
and so he
had this
hope of
satisfying the
Jewish leaders
by having
Jesus punished
and then
releasing him.
perhaps this
will be
enough,
a sort of
public
humiliation
that will
squelch
Jesus'
public
following
and make
the Jewish
leaders
appear in
the right.
Now what
kind of
flogging
was this?
The Romans
had three
kinds of
floggings
that they
would
regularly
administer.
The
fustigatio
was a
less
severe
beating
that they
gave for
relatively
light
offenses,
troublemakers.
The
flagellatio
was a
brutal
flogging
that they
gave to
criminals,
people whose
offenses were
quite serious.
And lastly
there was
the verberatio,
the most
terrible
scourging
of all,
one that
was always
associated
with other
punishments
including
crucifixion.
Now the
exact
sequence of
events is a
little unclear
here when
you compare
all four
gospel
accounts.
Was Jesus
flogged
once before
Pilate
presented him
to the
crowd and
then led
away to
be crucified
or was
he flogged
before and
then after
flogged
again?
It's difficult
to make a
judgment about
these things
and see how
these accounts
all fit
together but
if indeed
Jesus was
flogged
twice then
likely the
final flogging
would have
been that
most severe
form.
And the
earlier would
have been
likely less
severe given
that Pilate
intended to
release him.
This
most severe
flogging,
the verberatio,
was horrific.
The victim
was usually
stripped,
naked,
tied to a
post,
and beaten
until the
soldiers were
exhausted
or until
the commanding
officer called
them off.
For victims
who like
Jesus were
not Roman
citizens,
the favored
instrument was
a whip with
leather thongs
and these
thongs were
fitted with
pieces of
bone or
lead or
metal.
These
beatings were
so savage
that the
victims sometimes
died just
from them.
eyewitness
records report
that such
brutal
scourgings
could leave
victims with
their bones
and their
insides
exposed.
But John's
emphasis as he
tells the
story is not
so much on
the brutality
of this,
but on the
shameful
humiliation
of it.
John tells
us of how
they mocked
Jesus.
They dressed
him up like
a king with
a purple
robe.
They put a
crown of
thorns on
his head
and they
said,
Hail,
King of
the Jews,
and repeatedly
slapped him.
literally gave
him blows.
Once more
Pilate came
out and said
to the Jews
gathered there,
Look,
I am bringing
him out to
you to let
you know
that I find
no basis
for a
charge
against him.
When Jesus
came out
wearing the
crown of
thorns
and the
purple robe,
Pilate said
to them,
Here is
the man.
Behold
the man.
As soon
as the
chief priests
and their
officials saw
him,
they shouted,
Crucify!
But Pilate
answered,
You take
him and
crucify him.
As for
me,
I find no
basis for a
charge against
him.
So
Pilate's
second attempt
to release
Jesus
failed.
the Jewish
leaders were
not satisfied
with this
punishment.
They wanted
him dead.
Notice the
details that
John gives
us here.
In verse
six,
As soon
as the
chief priests
and their
officials saw
him,
they shouted,
Crucify!
It was
the Jewish
leaders,
the chief
priests,
Annas,
Caiaphas,
and their
family that
led the
charge.
They didn't
leave an
instant for
the people in
the crowd to
have pity or
compassion on
Jesus or to
have a differing
opinion.
They just
started shouting
right away
and in no
time the
entire crowd
was shouting,
Crucify!
Which means
kill him,
execute him
on a cross.
Crucifixion was
the way the
Romans did
their executions.
They nailed
people to
wooden crosses
and hung
them up to
die.
Pilate
answered,
You take
him and
crucify him.
As for me,
I find no
basis for a
charge against
him.
This is the
third time
Pilate has
spoken these
words.
I find no
basis for a
charge against
him.
This man does
not deserve
to die.
He hasn't
done anything
deserving of
punishment.
Pilate seems
to be saying,
Listen, if you
want to crucify
him, go ahead,
I give you
permission.
Go and
execute him
yourselves.
What's going
on here?
It sounds like
Pilate is fully
aware that to
execute Jesus
would be an
injustice.
To just
sentence him to
death without a
criminal charge
would make
him guilty
of injustice.
So this
seems to be
Pilate saying,
I don't want
any part of
this.
You kill
him if you
want to.
Leave me out
of this.
Pilate was
not known in
the history
books as an
upright man,
but at the
least it seems
that he had a
conscience.
He knew that
this was not
right.
Verse 7,
The Jewish
leaders insisted,
we have a
law and
according to
that law he
must die
because he
claimed to
be the son
of God.
When Pilate
heard this,
he was even
more afraid
and he went
back inside
the palace.
Where do you
come from?
He asked.
But Jesus
gave him
no answer.
Pilate now
seems quite
conflicted
inside.
I can't
help but
wonder what
was going
on in his
mind right
here.
What if
it's true?
Could he
really be
from heaven
sent by
the gods
or by the
God of
the Jews
to be
their king,
to speak
the truth?
What if
he is the
son of
God?
Remember,
Pilate was
no stranger
to all that
had been
happening.
The stories
of miracles
and healings
abounded.
The teaching
of Jesus
had spread
like wildfire
through the
nation on
the lips
of Jesus'
disciples.
What if
it's all
true?
So he
questions
Jesus.
Jesus does
not answer.
When Pilate
heard this,
sorry,
where do
you come
from?
He asked.
Jesus gives
him no
answer.
Pilate says,
do you
refuse to
speak to
me?
Don't you
realize I
have power
either to
free you
or to
crucify you?
So Pilate
gets upset
that Jesus
won't answer
his question.
He tries to
intimidate
Jesus.
how dare
you,
you refuse
to speak
to me?
Don't you
realize your
life is in
my hands?
I can set
you free
or I can
have you
killed.
Answer my
question.
And I
marvel at
Jesus'
response here.
Jesus
answered,
you would
have no
power over
me if it
were not
given to
you from
above.
therefore the
one who
handed me
over to
you is
guilty of
a greater
sin.
Amazing.
Jesus
acknowledges,
yes, you
do have
power over
me, but
only because
God, my
Father, has
given it to
you.
In other
words, yes,
my life is
in your
hands, but
you will
answer to
God for
what you
do with
me.
Jesus
says,
therefore the
one who
handed me
over to
you is
guilty of
a greater
sin.
Now, I'm
not going to
speculate about
all that
means, but
at the
very least,
notice what
Jesus is
saying here.
He's saying,
Pilate,
should you
crucify me?
you will
indeed be
guilty of
sin.
And this
time it
seems Jesus'
words leave
an impression.
Verse 12,
from then on
Pilate tried
to set
Jesus free.
And the
tense of
that verb
is not
just a
one-time
thing, but
he was
trying, he
was making
continual
effort for
some span
of time
here to
set Jesus
free.
But the
Jewish leaders
kept shouting,
if you
let this
man go,
you are
no friend
of Caesar.
Anyone who
claims to
be a king
opposes
Caesar.
When
Pilate
heard this,
he brought
Jesus out
and sat
down on
the judge's
seat at
a place
known as
the stone
pavement,
which in
Aramaic
is
Gabbatha.
It was
the day
of preparation
of the
Passover.
It was
about noon.
Here is
your king,
Pilate said
to the
Jews.
But they
shouted,
take him
away,
take him
away,
crucify him.
Shall I
crucify your
king?
Pilate
asked.
We have
no king
but Caesar,
the chief
priests
answered.
Finally,
Pilate handed
him over to
them to
be crucified.
Right to
the end,
we see this
reluctance of
Pilate to
give in to
their demands.
In fact,
it almost
seems as if
Pilate's ready
to install
Jesus as
their king.
Here's your
king.
Shall I
crucify your
king?
Are you
sure you
want me to
do this?
And the
answer of
the chief
priests,
Annas,
Caiaphas,
and family
is we
have no
king but
Caesar.
Wow.
We are
loyal subjects
to the
emperor alone.
I mentioned
before how
there was a
lot of
religious
posturing
going on.
Well,
here's a
different kind
of posturing.
Here the
religious leaders
are posturing
saying,
if you don't
give us
this thing
that we
want and
put him
to death,
if you
don't execute
him,
we're more
loyal to the
Roman emperor
than you
are.
This
statement
represents the
outright rejection
of Jesus
as their
Messiah.
Just as
John told us
right at the
very beginning
of his
account,
back in
chapter 1,
verse 11,
Jesus came
to that which
was his own,
but his own
did not
receive him.
And with
that,
Pilate finally
gives in to
their demands,
and he
does what
he knows
is sin
and hands
Jesus over
to be
crucified.
We're going
to continue
the story
next week,
but let's
take a moment
to reflect
on what
we've heard
this morning.
How should
we respond
to this?
There's lots
of different
ways this
could touch
us.
This is the
very heart
of the gospel
that we're
getting to.
John really
does seem
to highlight
the utter
wickedness
of these
Jewish leaders,
their blatant
rejection of
Jesus.
They will
not have
him as
their king,
even though
he is
God's
Messiah.
They will
not be
content with
his being
punished and
humiliated.
They want
him dead,
and they
want Pilate
to do it
for them.
The hypocrisy
here is
staggering.
In the
midst of all
this,
John highlights
Jesus'
innocence,
Pilate is
no saint,
he's no
righteous man,
but even
Pilate,
the Roman
governor,
a Gentile,
knows that
Jesus has
not done
anything to
deserve this.
Three times,
I find no
basis for a
charge against
him.
He hasn't
done anything
wrong.
Yet even
though Jesus
suffers greatly
here and is
the victim,
we also see
through John's
eyes that
he is in
fact the
hero of
this whole
story.
Isn't it
awesome how
Jesus responds
to Pilate
again and
again?
We just see
this great
wisdom of
Jesus,
carefully
deciding when
to answer
and when
not,
when to
answer directly
and when to
counter with
a question.
We see his
wisdom.
we see
Jesus'
confidence.
He knows
who he is.
He knows
why he has
come.
He's not
embarrassed or
ashamed one
bit to tell
Pilate the
truth.
I am a
king and
of a kingdom
that's not
from this
world.
And I have
been born,
I have come
into this
world to
testify to
the truth.
And everyone
on the side
of truth
listens to
me.
What
confidence,
what boldness
to speak
like this
to the
most powerful
man in
the region,
the man who
stands judge
over him.
I love it
when it comes
to verse 11
of chapter
19.
And Jesus
says this,
you would
have no
power over
me if it
were not
given to
you from
above.
Therefore,
the one who
handed me
over to you
is guilty
of a greater
sin.
Notice what
happens in
this moment.
It's like
Pilate's
the judge
and Jesus
is the one
on trial.
And it's
almost like
they switch
places for
a moment.
One minute
Pilate's
claiming to
have power
over Jesus
and the
next minute
Jesus is
telling
Pilate what
his verdict
is going
to be.
He's going
to be
guilty
before God
if he
crucifies
Jesus.
Suddenly
Pilate's
the one
on trial.
What will
he do
in this
moment of
testing?
And he's
trying and
trying to
set Jesus
free.
It's
amazing.
Jesus
just has
this
authority.
This way
of bringing
God's
truth to
bear on
any
situation
and it
unseated
Pilate
from his
judgment
seat.
Jesus is
the hero
of this
story.
We see
his wisdom.
We see
his confidence.
We see
his boldness.
We see
his authority.
We hear
his penetrating
words.
And all
of this
in the face
of injustice,
cruelty,
hatred,
envy,
corruption,
slander.
It's
amazing.
Perhaps
the greatest
emphasis here
though in
John's
telling of
this story
is on
whether or
not Jesus
is king.
That's what
all of this
turns on.
It's the
first question
Pilate asks.
Are you
the king
of the
Jews?
It's the
subject of
Jesus'
conversation
with Pilate.
My
kingdom
is not
from this
world.
It's the
title
Pilate
gives to
Jesus.
Your
king.
It's what
Jesus is
mocked for
with the
robe and
the crown.
It's why
the religious
leaders say
Pilate must
condemn him
or be no
friend of
the emperor's.
We have
no king
but Caesar.
And the
clear message
of all the
gospel accounts
is that
Jesus is
the king.
God's
chosen
king.
The
Messiah.
Do you
hear what
Jesus said?
My
kingdom is
not of
this world.
It's from
another place.
Yes.
He really
did claim
to be a
king.
Heaven's
king.
Do you
believe
Jesus?
We saw
and heard
how they
treated
Jesus
here.
Rather than
accepting him
as king,
they rejected
him.
Rather than
bowing reverently,
they mocked
him.
Rather than
listening to
him and
obeying his
word,
they conspired
against him
and put him
to death.
But as we
hear it today,
what about
you?
how will
you respond
to Jesus,
your king,
the one that
God has sent
from heaven?
Will you
receive him
as your
king?
will you
worship and
honor him?
Will you
listen to
him?
Will you
serve him?
Will you
obey him?
Will you
let the
truth that
he is
king change
the way
you're
living?
The reason
I was born
and came
into this
world is
to testify
to the
truth.
Everyone on
the side of
truth listens
to me,
said Jesus.
Are you
listening to
him?
Are you
taking his
words seriously?
Are you
on the
side of
truth?
These
words spoken
long ago to
Pilate
penetrate even
us today.
And so I
want to urge
you this
morning,
open your
life,
open your
heart to
Jesus.
your king.
Let him
examine you.
Let him
speak his
truth to
you.
He loves
you.
He's going
through all
of this
because he
loves you.
Let's pray.
Lord Jesus,
we marvel at
how you
conducted
yourself in
these
horrible
moments.
It
reminds each
one of us
that we
are guilty,
we are
sinners,
we fall
short of
your glory.
But we
thank you
that you
came to
save us,
that you
loved us
still,
that you
are a
merciful
God,
and that
you died
on that
cross for
our
forgiveness.
Lord, we
put our
trust and
our faith
in you,
and we
say thank
you.
Amen.