Is Believing Enough?

No. Believing in God is just not enough. Sorry. I don't "believe" so. Why not?

Because, the devil also believes in God! AND trembles! And we all know where he's going to end up.

No. Believing in God is not enough. Getting others to believe in God is not enough.

It's more important to love God. As it says in Matthew 22. When a lawyer asked Jesus what was the "great" commandment in the law. (What's the most important commandment?)

37. "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

How can God command us to love Him? In fact, how can a human being love God? In fact, WHAT IS LOVE?

Love is many things. Most of what love is, we do not comprehend. I think we have a better understanding of what hate is. We can understand violence as a manifestation of hatred. But, exactly what is love?

If you've ever been "in love", you know that a lot of that euphoria is, well, it's almost, intangible, inexplicable, unreasonable, maybe even "insane" and you even wonder sometimes whether it's imagined. Why would we love anyone? Is it sympathy? Is it a common understanding of life? Is it a smell? Is it what we see when we look at that person? Is it the sound of their voice or the atmosphere they carry with them?

If you've ever been in love, you may have also experienced falling OUT of love! Crashing on the rocks of "reality" and finally "waking up" to the facts. Of COURSE they were not worthy of your love! You were tricked, hood-winked, suckered in, won-over, deceived, misled and you probably imagined the whole thing.

Love lost is heart-breaking. It's a shocker. It destroys self-confidence, motivation, creativity, inspiration and hope. It can cause some to want to commit suicide.

So, we do understand when we've lost love, even though we can't actually understand what love is. If you love your son or daughter, mother or father, it's a kind of love that exists just "because". You know each other so well, you have built a relationship. In the case of a mother, that love comes in the form of a helpless child that needs love and nurturing and a mother naturally responds to motherhood in most cases.

I'm asking you a tough question. I realize that. In fact, I don't have the answer. But, here is what the Bible says about LOVE.

I John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

In other words, "He that does not love does not know God."

GOD IS LOVE.

Ahah! So! THAT'S what love is! THAT explains it ALL. And that explains why we just can't quite comprehend exactly what love is, because we can't comprehend exactly what God is, can we?

You may tell your son or daughter or niece or nephew that there is a God, a Creator. He made everything. He even made us. And if they ask,

"WHY?" as children usually do, you can tell them,

"Because God wanted us to love Him." Simple. Crazy. But true. God wants us to love Him.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart and with ALL thy soul and with ALL thy mind."

Now that is a BIG, HUGE job. HOW to do?

Understandably, we can only try. It's going to take a LOT of love. Not just a little. Not just human love. But, the kind of love that Jesus believed was worth dying a terrible death on the cross for. He died for LOVE.

Again, we cannot comprehend that. Our brains were apparently not built to wrap around the concept of dying for LOVE.

(Dying for love, by the way, is not strapping an explosive to your body and allowing yourself to be blown up in order to kill those who don't believe in the same God as you. But, I don't need to tell you that. DO I?)

So, let's dig a little deeper to try to understand what love is. There is more on the subject in the Bible...

The Final Chapter of the book of John

I have memorized a few chapters from the book of John. John 14 and 15 are favourites, as is John 1. I personally know people who have memorized the entire book of John. And I also have read about people who have done so. There's a movie that focuses on a man who has memorized the entire Bible, if that is even possible...

Here we are, at the end of one book of the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible.One book. Twenty-one chapters copied out on this blog because I believe the Bible is the Most Important Book in the entire world.

It's a book that changed my life. It directed me to a new life. In fact, I was reborn, as you can read in the book of John, chapter 3, verse 3. (Three is one of God's numbers, as is 7 and multiples of those numbers.)

So, here is the final chapter of John FYE.

1 After these things Jesus shewed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed He Himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go afishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children have ye any meat? They answered Him, No.
6 And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid theron, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask Him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yeah, Lord; thou knewest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed My sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? And he said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake He, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth Thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these thing: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Incidentally, Jesus spent 40 days walking around on this planet after His resurrection.

Acts 1:3 "To whom also He shewed Himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."

That makes it very hard to deny that Christ rose from the dead, doesn't it?

John 20

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him.
3 Peter therfeore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her.
19 The the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

I would think that that is a bit of an understatement: "the disciples were glad". I imagine they were thrilled, ecstatic, elated, amazed, shocked and unimaginably mind-blown!

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.

We are all "sent" to carry this good news to everyone, just as it has been brought to us!

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.

(Some people seem to want to proclaim their lack of faith. Ever meet anyone like that?)

26 And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

The doors were shut. No problem, Jesus just walked through the wall.

27 Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither they hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

(And that is why they call Thomas "Doubting Thomas".)

28 And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.

Perfect Love Nailed to a Cross

Imagine if you loved someone enough to die for them. You just love them. You can't explain it or change it, you just do. The love is drawn from you without your permission, without being able to stop it.

Now, imagine that the focus of your love does not love you back.

That's the most unimaginable pain. But, still, no matter how you try, that love won't stop. You feel insane. You feel humiliated, even ashamed of yourself. Yet, you still love them. Even more than before!

Isn't that a microscopic sample of what kind of love Jesus had for mankind? We humans get to experience love in a lesser form than what He had for us, but, yet, it's still painful at times.

Are you willing to suffer for Love? That's the question He asks of us all.

And, really, we cannot bear the suffering love causes unless we cling to Him through it all. He wants to give us a heart of flesh to replace our heart of stone. He wants us to love freely the way He loves. He wants us to go all the way for love no matter how much it hurts.

Imagine Jesus, His perfect arms stretched out and covered with blood. His perfect hands pierced with terrible nails cutting open the flesh, holding the weight of His body.

What was He thinking as He hung there?

Was He embarrassed? Ashamed? Disgusted? Remorseful?

I think He felt He had to go to the max, the climax of giving all His Love and pass through that agony of suffering pain caused by the heart-break in knowing that those He loved and died for could never return that love to Him. But He had to give that love even though it killed Him.

I believe that every day that Jesus lived on this earth, His heart grew larger and the love inside of Him grew until He could no longer bear it in a physical body. He had to pour it out in death.

When the soldiers pierced his side with a sword, water came out along with the blood. This water on his heart was the result of emotional stress: Love.

So, are we willing to suffer for Love?

John 19

Get out your tissues, all you softies. This is going to make you weep. Anyone who has ever loved will cry reading this chapter. If you have seen "The Passion of the Christ", you know what Christ must have gone through. It seemed a bit extreme the way it was portrayed and hard to believe people would really go that far, but, pain is pain. And love is love. And suffering to prove love seemed the only way for God to show us the extent of His love for us. There were no magic tricks, no pain-killers or numbing of that pain. It was real.That's what I believe.

I used to think, as a new Christian, that, well, you know, Jesus was God, so He probably didn't really suffer all that much. He didn't really have to suffer.

No, He didn't. He even told the temple officers that He could call down legions of angels to fight for Him. So, why couldn't He also have had the pain taken away in an instant? I suppose He could have. But then, what would have been the point of it all? Like the saying goes,

"Anything that's worth something has to cost something."

Our salvation, the salvation of all of mankind (whoever accepts it) was worth a heavy, heavy price. And it could only be paid by one man. The God-Man. The Sacrificial Lamb.

This is a hard saying. It's very difficult to understand salvation from a human perspective. Humans always ask, "Why?" And, for this question, there really is no one complete answer except to say, "Love".

Love. That's why.

But, what's love? Exactly. Apparently, it's something that hurts. A lot.

But, not to worry. In the end, God will wipe away all of our tears and we'll understand love and pain and the whole kettle of fish. So, let's get on with John 19, shall we?

1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him.

Somehow, those eight words don't seem to do justice to what actually happened to our Lord. The word "scourge" in my Oxford Dictionary means "whip" and "cause of great suffering". If you look into Roman history, you'll find that they used a "Cat o' Nine Tails" as a whip. It was made up of nine strips of leather that were laced with pieces of glass or metal.

2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.

Since the scourging was meant to totally humiliate a person, this robe was a big mock.

3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote Him with their hands.
4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him.
5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

Take a look at this guy. He's totally debased and at the point of death. He's not going to be a threat anymore or go around saying He's a king. Let's let Him go, now.

6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him.
7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.

They had a law, but they were not allowed to put anyone to death, which is why they wanted to convince the Romans to kill Him for them.

8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release Thee?

We humans think we have so much power. We think we're in control. Pilate is about to learn a lesson.

11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.

So, here Jesus is not only teaching him that God is in control, but that he (Pilate) is not the one fully to blame, so he shouldn't be too hard on himself. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Ooh! Come on, you guys. Don't try to pretend that you are loyal to Caesar.

16 Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away.
17 And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
18 Where they crucified Him, and two other with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Now, here's a guy that was in tune. I really believe he was won over by Jesus. He knew He was a king. Maybe he didn't fully comprehend the whole nine yards, but he felt something for Jesus and had tried hard to save His life.

20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I am King of the Jews.

It sure seems that Pilate wanted the message to get out because he translated it into three languages. I don't believe he intended it as a mockery, but for some kind of an atonement for his own guilt.

22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also His coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then said he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
30 when Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.
37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Nicodemus sure didn't spare any expense, did he?

40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

John 18

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which He entered, and His disciples.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples.
3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

(Who pushed them, I wonder?)

7 Then asked He them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which He spake, Of them which thou gavest Me have I lost none.
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound Him.
13 And led Him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high preist, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
19 The high priest then asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine.
20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
21 Why askest thou me? Ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 And when He had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?
27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They answered and said unto him, If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up unto thee.
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye Him, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto Him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

So, here they are breaking the law so that they can put Jesus to death even against the will of the Romans. Imagine that. They had already judged Him in their hearts without any evidence or a hearing.

32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spake, signifying what death He should die.
33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto Him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

(Seems like the word's been going around.)

35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Do you hear the voice of Jesus? Are you of the truth? Or not?

38 Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth?

A famous line from the Bible. A common question. People have been asking it forever.

And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in Him no fault at all.
39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

Not only did Pilate try to save Jesus, but he thought quickly of a plan of how he could release him without actually declaring Him innocent. But, the Jews would have nothing to do with it. It was not the Romans that crucified our Lord that day. They were merely being used to do the devil's own business.

We all put the nails in His hands. We are all guilty of the death of Christ. Not just the Romans or the Jews.

40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.