Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble and I'm your host for the Bible recap.

Over the next few days, we're reading about the hinge point of history and the foundation

of our faith.

Even though they may be familiar to you, try not to rush through these readings or gloss

over them.

Sit with them if you can.

Today's reading has a lot in common with tomorrow's reading, so today we'll recap the first

half, then tomorrow we'll tackle the last half.

As the day breaks, Jesus has been through three religious trials and the rulers declare

him guilty.

The next step, if they want to enact the death penalty, is to present him to the Roman

governor Pontius Pilate, because only the Romans can hand down the death penalty.

So he's taken from his religious trials to a civil trial.

With Pilate, the people accused Jesus of claiming to be a king since that would pose a threat

to the Roman authorities.

In Luke's account, they even say Jesus had forbidden them to pay their taxes to Caesar,

but we know that's a lie based on his response to them in Luke 20.

Pilate questions him about being a king, and in John's account, Jesus explains that his

kingdom is not of this world.

Otherwise, his followers would be fighting, and they aren't.

He says he's not there to fight, but to speak truth.

Then Pilate responds with a question that has always been a popular response to the gospel.

...