Innocent, Sovereign, Silent
Downtown Campus Pastor
This passage is thick with irony—the man in power has no power, and the man in chains is innocent, sovereign, and silent. While it may seem that Satan’s schemes are prevailing, God is in control, and nothing can thwart his purposes.
Study Questions
This passage is thick with irony—the man in power has no power, and the man in chains is innocent, sovereign, and silent. While it may seem that Satan’s schemes are prevailing, God is in control, and nothing can thwart his purposes.Application
God’s purpose trumps any worldly power, even when it may seem to be winning. How can this truth comfort and encourage you? Have you ever felt like you were losing when God was at work in your life? What was that like?
When the greatest act of unfairness is perpetrated against him, Jesus is silent, choosing not to defend himself. How is this a paradigm for the Christian way of life? What does it look like for us to be silent and meek regarding our power?
Key Points
While it may appear that Jesus is losing, the reality is—God is winning. In contrast, when we feel like we are winning in life, we are often losing.
Pilate is the individual with the most perceived power; however, he is fearful, unstable, and ultimately has no control over the situation.
When the Jewish leaders are presented with Jesus as their king, they pledge allegiance to Caesar. Like them, we often want the king who delivers our desired outcomes.
Jesus’ innocence is vital for him to be an effective sacrifice.
We bring all the sin; he brings all the righteousness. He walks away with all the sin; we walk away with all the righteousness. This is the essence of the gospel—the great exchange.