Behold The Man

Send us a note!“We have no king but Caesar.” That line is meant to win an argument, but it ends up revealing a heart that will say anything to get what it wants. We open John 19 with Jesus brought before Pilate, and we watch a governor who knows Jesus is innocent still try to manage the crowd through violence, politics, and half-measures. Pilate’s fear of Rome and the threat of unrest presses in on every decision, and it raises an uncomfortable question for all of us: what do we do when following Jesus feels costly in public?We take time with the scourging, the purple robe, and the crown of thorns, then connect that crown back to Genesis 3 where thorns and thistles enter the world through sin. That one detail becomes a clear picture of the gospel message: Jesus takes the curse and the consequences of sin upon Himself so we can receive forgiveness and the righteousness of God. We also explore the back-and-forth with Pilate, the meaning of the judgment seat at Gabbatha, and why the Passover timing matters as the Lamb of God goes to the cross.Finally, we land on the warning hidden in plain sight: it’s easy to deny Christ without announcing it, through our words, our entertainment, our comfort, and our compromises. If you’ve felt the pressure to blend in, stay quiet, or choose convenience over obedience, this teaching brings both conviction and hope, pointing us to John 3:16 and the call to be born again. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us: where do you feel that pressure most right now?What makes a Calvary Chapel a Calvary Chapel. Join Pastor Carl as he goes through one of the Calvary Chapel Distinctives on The Mountain Cross Minute. The 20th anniversary of Facing the Giants, Monday September 14 - 6:30PM at the Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville.Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.