January 18th, 2009; 2 days before the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.

As a believer in, and follower of The Lord Jesus Christ I take Biblical admonitions very seriously. I find my guide and path for living within the pages of the Holy Scriptures, especially as those pages illuminate the life and Character of Jesus, the God-Man from Heaven-Nazareth.

Even in His darkest hour, forsaken by His own creation and forsaken by His Heavenly Father, the divine character of Jesus shines through the darkness. Standing before the highest governing authority in the region, Jesus remained respectful and subject to that authority. In all four gospels, and amplified in the gospel of John (Chapters 18 & 19), Jesus remains submissive, and respectfully answers the questions of His unethical and unjust inquisitor. Why? As Pontius Pilate's creator(John 1:1-3), Jesus was by far the higher authority, and as Supreme Judge of the world (John 5:26), by far the more righteous judge. Why did Jesus submit to Pilate? Should not have Pilate submitted to Him? The answer can be found in Jesus's own words in John 19:10-11.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Jesus was actually submitting to His Father, recognizing that all power and authority comes "from above". He had no need or inclination to resist, denigrate, or veto the judgment of Pontius Pilate. Jesus rested in the understanding that Pilate’s power and authority comes from above and it is to the One who is above all that Pilate will ultimately answer. I believe that Jesus could have paid for my sins by is own death even if he never appeared before Pilate in the process. I'm not suggesting I know a better way, or God should have consulted me when He devised this perfect process, but I'm only saying I think Jesus appeared before the governing authorities for some reasons that are not essential to our salvation, but are instructive for our life in Christ. This jurisdictional part of the Holy Passion process can, and should have a profound impact on how we live our lives today. I can ask myself the question "Am I following Jesus in my attitudes and respect for the authorities God has placed over me?"

The idea of a "disciple" means a follower, imitator, student of a “master”. There can not be one without the other. As disciples, we take Christ into ourselves; we adopt His values, we obey his commandments, we imitate His life, we follow His lead. "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (1 John 2:6). Through the years great disciples of Christ have also encouraged us and taught us how to follow The Master in a practical way. Two places we have been taught the same lesson that Jesus modeled before Pilate are here:

• Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1)
• Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1)

Therefore, I urge all Christians to follow The Master and to obey God in this same way. If you can do this, then you are serving God. If you can not do this, you are not following The Master, but actually resisting the ordinance of God. Let's trust God by living and acting like Jesus, not resisting, not disrespecting our God ordained authority, but praying and giving thanks for them, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence for the next four years.