From the Desk of Paul Chapman

"We Have No King But Caesar!"

Pilate stood in the part of the Praetorium they called "The Pavement." Jesus the Christ was by his side, sitting in the judgment seat. This was the fourth time during the momentous day that Pilate faced the angry crowd of Jews which he governed. It would also be the fourth time he would try to convince them to spare Jesus, in whom he could find no fault, from the torturous death of crucifixion.

Pilate asked the multitude, "Shall I crucify your King?" The religious leaders among the assembly, the chief priests, answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" (John 19:15)

The Romans had ruled over Jerusalem for approximately 100 years by this time and Tiberius was now the Caesar. He was a cruel and vindictive man who, during the last several years of his life, secluded himself on the island of Capri. During this time, Tiberius reveled in numerous lusts of the flesh and brutalized and killed those he perceived to be his enemies.

"We have no king but Caesar!" What an eye opening statement! What a revelation of the intense hatred these men had for Jesus! What enmity they displayed toward the Messiah! What loathing captured their hearts as they betrayed the King of kings! Why? Why would these men forsake Christ, who had no guile, and award their allegiance to an evil dictator who oppressed and robbed their people?

After Jesus performed the amazing and indisputable miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, the plot to kill Him intensified. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, 'What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation'" (John 11:47-48)

Selfishness, pride and jealousy are among the main reasons for the hatred of the Jewish leaders toward Christ. He was healing people of disease and speaking things that gave them hope. As a result, people were beginning to believe that He was the Son of God and His popularity grew. Surely this man must be stopped. The Jewish leaders were more concerned about their status, their position in life, than they were about their own souls, or the well-being of the people they were to serve.

If someone asked you who or what was the king in your life, what would your answer be? Just fill in the blank. "I have to king but _______."

If you didn't put Jesus in the blank, why? "For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn among the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:16-20).

Shortly after the Jews proclaimed Caesar as king over Christ, the Romans took Jesus and crucified Him. When it was finished and Jesus cried out with his last breath, a Roman soldier of Caesar's army proclaimed, "Surely He was the Son of God!" (Matt 27:54)

~ PJ Chapman