“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back. [John 19.15]
What we see here are ignorance and prayerlessness in the leading priests. Had these religious leaders been people of the Word and Prayer, they would not have killed the King of Glory.
Let's rewind a bit and consider Simeon and Anna in the Temple in Jerusalem when Jesus was just a baby and being dedicated to God by His parents. These two are both on record as being upright devoted people who were actually anticipating God's Messiah.
It was the anticipation of Simeon and Anna that revealed their belief in God's Word and prayer.
It was the belief of Simeon and Anna in God's Word and prayer that caused them to recognize the Messiah.
So, why did the leading priests not recognize Jesus? Because they were not devoted to genuine prayer and they were not true students of God's Word. Oh, to be sure, they were religious, but they had no relationship with God in His Word and prayer.
The lesson here for us is obvious and simple: We need to be in God's Word and prayer.
Father, thank You for this simple reminder to be faithful to Your Word and prayer.
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