Today’s reading: Num 13:1–33, John 18:25–19:16, Ps 13:1–6

Today’s theme: Purpose over position

True faith in God can only be built on a relationship with God, which itself can only grow through experiences and with trusting in God’s word. Like Caleb we should have bold faith in God because of His relationship with us. A lesson we learn from Jesus is that we should prize purpose over position.

Numbers 13:1–33

Lets go up.. NOW!

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30 (ESV)

Caleb’s name means bold, he had bold faith and trust in God and in God’s promises. Through faith he issued a threefold challenge to (1) immediately go up to the land as he had just done, (2) possess the land in line with God’s promise and (3) believe they are well able to through God’s power and presence among them.

For today’s conquest and the advancing of God’s kingdom, we should have direct and bold faith like Caleb and declare that we are able to take all that God has promised and not be afraid to fight.

Don’t be cowardly

So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. Numbers 13:32 (ESV)

As opposed to faith, these men displayed cowardice, dishonesty and no faith in God and His promises. A lesson for us is that if we do not put our trust in God, we will walk in sin and even cause others to sin. Romans 14:23

John 18:25–19:16

Purpose over position

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. John 18:37–38 (ESV)

Jesus has already made clear that His kingdom is beyond this world and that He is indeed a king, but not in the way the Jewish leaders or the Romans would have perceived Him to be, as the Messiah. Jesus focuses not on the positions men so easily gravitate towards, but focuses on Purpose.

His purpose for coming into the world was to bare witness to the truth and to call those who are on the side of truth, to Himself… moving away from position to purpose. This truth makes Pilate very uncomfortable.

As followers of Jesus let us seek purpose and not position.

Jesus was flogged

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. John 19:1 (ESV)

Do not read this too quickly, think about what Jesus went through for us.

The Son of God

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” John 19:7 (ESV)

Further evidence that is clearly understood from Jesus’ time until now is that Jesus was not just a prophet, but the Son of God.

God is Sovereign

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” John 19:11 (ESV)

Jesus affirms God’s sovereign rule even at the crucifixion. God rules over all political and military powers of the earth. Jesus is the true king.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 19