John 19:12 “As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, "If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar."
James, Jesus’ brother, wrote, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Pilate was faced with a decision we all face. Will I be a friend of Jesus or a friend of the world? We can’t be friends of both. We should not be surprised when the world threatens to cancel us if we are friends of Jesus and proclaim that He is God. He is the only way to be saved from the wrath to come.
But if we love them, we must testify to Jesus, the Life. When the angel of the Lord released the apostles from jail he told them, "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life” (Acts 5:20). May we be faithful friends of Jesus when the pressure is on.
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
