Devo John 19:1-16

1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a
crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and
went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck
him in the face. 4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am
bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against
him.” 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe,
Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6As soon as the chief priests and their
officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You
take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7The
Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because
he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8When Pilate heard this, he was even more
afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he
asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10”Do you refuse to speak to me?”
Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you
from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater
sin.” 12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If
you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king
opposes Caesar.” 13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down
on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic
is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth
hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I
crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests
answered. 16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

Meditation
Read this passage slowly. If it’s possible, read the whole Chapter. Try to see
and hear the story. What do I think and how do I feel? Talk to God about it.
Wait for His response.

Personal Note:
I was my sin along with the sins of the religious leaders that put Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is part of God's plan for Jesus to go on the cross. "you would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."