Pilate
made several attempts to release Jesus but the Jews cried out, saying: “If
thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend.” The name of the
reigning emperor was Tiberius. This emperor was, during the latter part of his
reign, the most cruel, jealous, and wicked that ever sat on the Roman throne.
The Jews threatened Pilate that they would inform Caesar that he was protecting
one who called himself the King of the Jews. Caesar would not like to hear it
as he would consider it a threat to his reign.
This
moved Pilate to deliver Jesus into their hands. He feared that he would be
accused of unfaithfulness to the interests of the Roman emperor if he did not
condemn a man whom his own nation had accused of sedition. Pilate was afraid of
being accused, and he knew the consequence if the Jews carried out the threat.
Hence, to save his own skin, he delivered Jesus to be crucified.
The
best friend that anyone can have is the Lord Jesus Christ. But to be His
friend, you must stand with Him against those who oppose Him. Pilate chose
friendship with Caesar over friendship with Christ. Caesar was the mighty
emperor of Rome while Jesus was a prisoner under his power to kill and destroy.
Hence, Caesar was the obvious choice. In choosing Caesar, he lost his eternal
soul.
How
about you? Caesar or Christ? “But bro Jimmy, don’t you know that Caesar no
longer lives today; we don’t have to make the same choice as Pilate.”
When
I talk about Caesar, I am referring to anything that he represents. Caesar can
be a person or a thing. Caesar is someone or something that hinders us from
following Jesus faithfully. He may be a person like choosing a spouse, or your
job, recreation, or wealth. Any one of those things mentioned can affect a
person’s faith.
To
the rich young man who came to Jesus asking for eternal life but left
sorrowfully, Caesar was his wealth and possessions: “But when the young man
heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions”
(Matthew 19:22).
Our
Lord says: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Mammon is
Caesar in Matthew 6:24. It is choosing God or the World. Do you choose to be a
friend of God or a friend of the world? James warns in James 4:4: “Know ye
not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Caesar
can also be the woman or the man you are dating now. Who are you dating? Is
he/she a believer in God? Is he/she a faithful Christian? I emphasize
the word “faithful” because some are not faithful. There are some who are
worldly and may cause you to be worldly too. Caesar can be this person you are
going to marry who will cost you your faith: “He that loveth father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter
more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37).
It’s
a common saying that you can’t choose your parents, but you can choose your
friends. And the friends you choose affect the direction of your life. So,
between Caesar and Jesus, who will you choose to be your friend? But remember
this: The choice you make will determine not only the direction of your life in
this world (how you live and conduct yourself here on this earth), but the
destination of your next life (heaven or hell). Therefore, choose wisely: “Choose
you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15).
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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