The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 16 April 2019 – Choose Life
Click HERE to Read Previous MESSAGES
TOPIC: Choose Life
READ: John 18:28-40 King James Version (KJV)
28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
THE MESSAGE:
Jesus was taken from the Garden of Gethsemane to Annas and then to Caiaphas where selected members of the Sanhedrin gathered. False witnesses came forward to testify against Him. During the examination, no evidence was found against Him. But instead of dismissing Him, they proceeded to hold an illegal court where they condemned Jesus to death on the charge of blasphemy. They took Him to Pilate – the Roman governor where they changed their charge against Jesus from blasphemy to treason! Pilate examined Him and attempted to release Him because he knew that He was innocent, but the people pushed for His death. When given the opportunity to choose whom he should release to them, the Jews chose Barabbas a notorious prisoner, a robber, a rebel, a murderer! They chose to have a murderer and robber live among them than Jesus, the giver of life. Barabbas was set free but the King of glory was sentenced to die!
Today, the choice before us is the choice between eternal life and eternal death. Jesus offers eternal life but the world and its pleasures offer eternal death. You have a choice today. Choose Jesus Christ and you will reign eternally with Him in heaven. This choice begins with a humble confession of your sin and invitation of Christ into your life!
Prayer: Eternal God, give me grace to choose Christ today over and above all others.
The post Choose Life – Anglican Communion 16 April 2019 appeared first on Flatimes.