Matthew 27:11-14 Kings and Power
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 11, 2019 Matthew 27:11-14
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
(Understanding the Text) Here Matthew once again summarizes a lot of action and leaves out many details. He wants to make a point: Jesus did not defend Himself before the governor.
(Revelation of God) Pilate thought that He was the most powerful man in the country. He was answerable directly to Caesar who he considered the most powerful man in the world. What he did not realize is that he was facing the most powerful man in the universe, in fact, God. Jesus deferred to the Father, but He was God. Jesus knew who He was and what He needed to do. Everything else was irrelevant. Pilate and his delusions of power were only relevant in that Pilate was a child of God. Many times we judge people’s position in life based on money or authority or birth or talents. The reality is that the only claim to position anyone has is that we are children of God. Everything else is sadistic children playing games. When the King of Kings faced the representative of Caesar and the highest religious authorities of Jerusalem, there was no need to defend Himself. Their accusations and power games were irrelevant to the mission of saving all humanity.
Our talents and position and knowledge are irrelevant to God in that He has no need of any of them. Our value to God is that we simply are. He loves us because we exist and He wants us to exist well. As long as we are not connected to Him, we will cease to exist. Once we are connected to Him, we need to be brought to maximum health so that we can live well. That is God’s concern, not power games and petty squabbles.
(Application / Prayer) I need to learn to keep my mouth shut for these power games that people always play, but it’s difficult not to get caught up in their idiocy. How do I love them and yet stay out of their squabbles? How do I sympathize with their grief while not becoming involved with the conflict that inflicted the hurt? I pray to stay focused on you and that you will guide me through the minefields of human relationships.
(Revelation of God / Application) The governor was amazed because most people either valued their lives so much that they wanted to appeal to him or they felt outraged at unjust claims and felt the need to set the record straight. Jesus felt neither desire. He was in a different race than the one that Pilate and the priests were running. He was facing a different foe, and His was a different goal. I need to remember that my goals, my race, my foes, are different from those of my worldly friends. Or more accurately, I have a clearer vision of what their lives should be focused on than they do and should not get caught up in their blurred goals, erratic races, and paper opponents. I have to remember that Jesus has called me out of that confusion to fight on the real battlefield with love and supportiveness rather than dominance and oppression.