Looking out for #1

Reading the following passage makes me think of how the world has us trained to self. There are many sayings about this in society today, but one rings out more than others.

"Look out for #1"

You see Pilate knew and admitted that Jesus was innocent, but was worried about his job as governor, and what a revolt would do to him. So instead of doing what is right, he did what the crowd and the Jewish leaders wanted, and what benefitted him.

Jesus on the other hand, knew what was ahead of him, and instead of running, was in the garden where they knew He would be. He even prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”  After praying this He followed the Father's will and was taken away by the Roman soldiers.

We have a choice, to live selfish lives, like Pilate, and think only of ourselves when making decisions in all aspects of our lives, or be like Jesus, and think much bigger when choices come our way.

John 18:28-40
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.  29 Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”
Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”  32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.
39 “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
40 Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.