Because of this, Pilate try to release am; but the Jews shout say, “If you release am, you no be Friend of Caesar. Anybody wey make imself king dey stand against Caesar.”
When Pilate hear these words, e bring Jesus come outside and make Am sit for the judge bench, for the place wey dem dey call Stone Pavement, wey be Gabbatha for Hebrew. Na preparation day for Passover, and time don reach around noon. E tell the Jews, “See una king!” Dem shout, “Carry am comot, carry am comot! Crucify am!” Pilate ask dem, “Make I crucify una king?” The chief priests answer, “We no get any king apart from Caesar.” Then e hand Jesus over to dem make dem crucify Am. John 19:12-16
Yes, Jesus na King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Mama wa wey God bless know this truth deep inside her heart. So, as she watch Pilate bring her Son wey dem don beat and wound come outside make everybody see Am, then announce say na King He be, she for don hear and believe. Pilate talk these words to mock Am and make jest of Am, but Mama wa wey God bless know say the words na true.
Na so everybody see two sides wey different well-well. For one side, Pilate dey, the governor for this world wey get authority to crucify Jesus or release Am. For the other side, Jesus dey, with His hand and leg tied, as dem treat Am like criminal and make Am sit for the judgment seat. One ruler for this earth dey about to condemn Am to death. But as God see am, Jesus dey about to take His throne for the true Judgment Seat of Grace. He wear crown of thorns, but as heaven see am, na crown of glory. He dey about to receive death sentence, but as heaven see am, na sentence wey set all sinners free.
As Mama wa wey God bless stand before her Son Cross, she for don dey turn these words of Pilate over and over for her heart: “See una king!” Mama Mary do this one perfectly. She look Am with her eyes and worship Am with her heart. She acknowledge say na King He be, and promise to submit herself completely to His rule. No be only her Son He be; He still be her King for every way. The grace and mercy wey dey flow from His throne for the Cross guide every moment of her life.
Too many times for life, we dey make the mistake to value power for this earth pass power from heaven. But the way Jesus be King suppose teach us say power for this earth small compared to the authority from heaven wey Jesus use. He allow people treat Am like criminal. But He use authority wey pass by far the influence wey these “kings” for this earth get for this passing world. Jesus Kingdom no be of this world. Na Kingdom of grace and mercy. Mama wa wey God bless know this, think deeply about am, and choose her Son as her King forever. She for don pray say, “See my Son, my King!”
Today, think deeply about which kingdom you dey take part in more fully. The one and only Kingdom of God need to transform the kingdoms of this world. We must live for this world, but we no must belong to am. We must allow the commands of the King of Grace and Mercy rule our lives, and we no must allow the temporary “power” wey this world dey offer to intoxicate us. Choose Jesus as your King as you stand beside His mama wey get love.
My dearest Mama, you understand well say the words wey Pilate talk without sincerity carry truth wey deep pass wetin e understand. Your Son truly na King. He na the King of Heaven, and one day His Kingdom go transform even the world wey eye fit see, when every knee go bow before Am.
My dear Mama, pray for me make I always keep my eyes on the true Kingdom of Heaven, and make the corruption wey dey inside power for this earth no ever draw me enter. Pray for me make I be instrument wey go carry out the commands of love wey dey pour from the throne of your divine Son.
My dear Lord and King, I dey look You, and I acknowledge You as the ruler of my life. Make every breath wey I take, every word wey I talk, and everything wey I do follow Your gentle command. Today, I choose You as the only One wey go rule every part of my life.
Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Day Twenty-Three – The Death Sentence
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