Being Confident of God’s Plan

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
— Matthew 27:2

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt you were surrounded and besieged by control freaks who were obsessed with keeping everything that moved under their monitoring control? If you have been in a situation like this, you know how hard it is to function in that kind of environment. It could happen at work, at church, at home, or at school. Think on that!

Well, Jesus' walk in life overwhelmed and rocked the boats of the leaders in the political realm and in the leadership within the Pharisees! Those two realms wanted to hold on to the reins of power they felt they had and the mere presence of Jesus' power and authority threatened them. They were loosing control. They were paranoid that Jesus was gaining popularity.

There is no difference today. The institutional Church leaders are threatened when people begin to find out who they really are in Christ and begin taking His teachings seriously. Jesus left us all with His power and authority to be used, functioning in our lives and the lives of those we reach for Christ.

Because the Pharisees at that time could not contain Jesus, they decided to turn him over to the political leaders. Pilate knew the Jews were jealous of Jesus. (Read Luke 23:2) They knew exactly what political strings to pull to get Pilate to do what they wanted — and they were pulling every string they held in their hands.

How often do Christian leaders turn people away to be judged by lawyers or doctors before they turn to the Lord for showing us His righteousness and allowing the Lord to heal? How often do religious leaders tell people if you do not like what is done or said here, LEAVE.  The Jesus in you is no different then the Jesus who walked this earth.  He –Jesus is still being scrutinized and most often being scrutinized through us!

The word "bound" makes me think of a rodeo. You know when the cowboy hog ties the cattle? They bound Jesus so He could not make a move or escape them. I am confident this was what Matthew had in mind by that word. Oh yea, if you have ever been to a circus, you know circus horses are tied with some sort of harness so the caretakers can lead them around the ring. I do believe there is no freedom in those harnesses! That is how Jesus was led off. Little did they know that what they did to Jesus in the physical fulfilled His purpose on earth.. The only harness we should have is the yoke of Christ!

Just as the soldiers had led Jesus to Caiaphas, now they slipped a rope about His neck and walked our "King" to Pontius Pilate. Jesus was just handed over to Pilate. Humiliating wouldn't you think? Little did they know that Jesus was above them all yet at the same time committed to fulfill the will of the Father. He submitted to this human cruelty so He could set us free. Pilate's roll in this was to find Him guilty and crucify Him! I believe we are not to wear the harness of man, yet together be in agreement according to the Word of God.

 Read Matthew 27:1-14

 Notice the Bible says Pilate "marveled greatly or was greatly surprised" at Jesus' silence. I believe that Pilate was at a loss for words;  shocked and amazed.

Mat 27: 11, 12, 14 Jesus had opportunities to respond and clarify who He was and what He was doing here on earth. Yet He remained silent. Finally Pilate asked "Art thou the King of the Jews? And He answered him and said, Thou sayest it" (Luke 23:3).

There are many times I have wanted to defend myself and the work the Lord has given me. As the days go by it becomes easier and easier to let others speak whatever they so believe. I know the truth and that truth will someday become real to them also. I stand confident in what the Lord has placed within me. Like Jesus, I stand before judges and critics and so will you!

When Jesus finally answered Pilate's question, He still did not defend Himself, knowing it was the appointed time for Him to be slain as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. Timing in our lives is just as important to the Father. But Pilate did not want to crucify Him. In fact, the Roman governor began looking for a loophole — for some way out of putting this man to death.

There might be those in our lives who are looking for a loophole—an out so they do not have to face the truth we stand for. See your plan and mine is not vain; the plan of Jesus could not be changed because it was time for the Son of God to offer the permanent sacrifice for sin. As Hebrews 9:12 says, "Once for all time he took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever". And so with your plan and mine, the Lord has a purpose for the call placed upon our lives and it will not come back void!

Are you certain of God's plan for your life? Consider whether or not you are able to say with conviction: "I know what God has called me to do, and I am willing to go where He tells me to go and pay any price I have to pay.. My greatest priority and obsession is to do the will of the Father!"

 If you are not able to say this yet, ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow to the point where doing God's will, regardless of the cost, becomes the most important thing in your life. Even if a life of obedience takes you through hard places as it did with Jesus, the end result will be resurrection and victory!

So until that day, press forward, press onward, press inward, press upward! There is a victory dance for s all as we join with the Father and the Lover of our souls in the things He has prepared for us!