Daily Devotions
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this Man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered Him over to them to be crucified. (John 19:12-16)
What a horrifying thing to admit. For these are God’s chosen people, the descendants of Israel—and God is supposed to be their King. But now, faced with Jesus, God come in the flesh, they won’t have Him. They will do anything rather than receive Him as Messiah and King—anything, up to and including crucifying Him. They would rather have Caesar—because Caesar, they think, will not threaten their position. (They learned otherwise about 40 years later, when Jerusalem fell to Titus and Vespasian.)
But we face this same choice too, don’t we? We can put our trust in earthly powers—in politicians, in rich men, in those who command troops and weapons. Or we can put our trust in Jesus, who shelters those who trust in Him by laying down His own life for us—and who rises from the dead to give us everlasting life in His kingdom.
WE PRAY: Jesus, You are my King. Keep me trusting You forever. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- Why would earthly rulers see Jesus as a threat?
- Who has your first allegiance, above everyone else?
- Why?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Readings:
Numbers 20-22Mark 15:26-47
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