(253) July 18/2016 – Caesar’s Friend

Monday Meditation
July 18, 2016
From the desk of A.J. Higgins

Caesar’s Friend

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.”
John 19:12.

Historians are divided on whether the term “Caesar’s Friend” represented an honorific title, or was simply a general term for someone toward whom Caesar was favorable, standing in his good graces. Whichever way we understand it, the cunning and the maneuvering of the leaders of the nation are evident.

Pilate’s political career was already in jeopardy. His main supporter with Caesar had fallen into disfavor in Caesar’s eyes and this had cast a shadow over Pilate’s political future. The Chief Priests knew this and had placed Pilate into a career-threatening dilemma. If he carried out justice and released Christ, then he would be charged with allowing a rival “king” to exist in Judea. If he caved into the demands of the nation, he was allowing them to force him to act contrary to his instincts. Pilate was a trapped man!

Pilate chose that day to be a “friend of Caesar.” It is significant that only the Apostle John recounts this in his Gospel. While all the Gospel writers frequently use the motif of friendship (Matt 11:19; 22:12; Mark 5:19; Luke 10; 11:5, 6, 8; 14:10), John alone presents the Lord Jesus telling His own, “Ye are My Friends” (John 15:14). John goes further and personalizes the friendship of Christ when the Lord Jesus refers to Lazarus as, “our friend Lazarus” (ch 11:11).

Pilate chose to be a friend of Caesar. Shortly after that fateful decision, Caesar removed Pilate from his governorship and relocated him, an action which spurred Pilate’s suicide death. He chose Caesar over Christ and then lost both Christ and Caesar’s friendship, as well as his soul. His “friend” Caesar really cared very little for him. The friendship Pilate chose led to a tragic suicide’s death.

What a tremendous contrast with the One Who has made us His friends. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). He has chosen to make us His friends. We did nothing to deserve His favor. We did not have to resort to political intrigue or diplomatic maneuvering; it was all on His part and all of grace.

This One Who has displayed the greatest love possible actually died for us! Here is One Whose friendship is not conditional and knows no ebbing and flowing. He is the Friend Who loves at all seasons of life (Pro 17:17). Aging and failure do not diminish His love, and accomplishments and fruitfulness do not increase His love. The magnitude of that love was displayed for the assurance of all when He gave Himself to a cross-death. Recall that it was a band of 11 disciples to whom He first spoke these words. That group would go out that very night and one would deny Him and all would desert Him. Yet He loved His own “unto the end” (John 13:1). The cross reminds us of a love that was overflowing when we were so undeserving. He did not love us for our loveliness but despite all we lacked. His love was not sentimental but sacrificial.

Consider

1. Look at some of the other mentions of friends and friendships in John and consider the implications of their mentions.

2. Can you find links between John 15 and Abraham who was called three times, the “friend of God?”

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