Not Guilty

We know Jesus was not guilty of the acts He was accused of, and we know that the charges were lies put forth by the religious leaders. We are not the only ones who knew this as we see in the following verses in John 19:6 When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”7 The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”8 When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. 9 He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. 10 “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”

11 Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

Even Pilate could not find anything wrong with Jesus and in telling the religious leaders of his decision, they pulled their trump "our law." This frightened Pilate and He took Jesus back to his headquarters and said the following John 19:“Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. 10 “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” The power did not belong to Pilate, even though his political power seemed to be the power Jesus was to bow before. As with us, Pilate did not realize the power was in the hands of God, and Jesus. He may be held by the religious leaders and the Roman leader, but they had no power when compared to the power at the beck and call of the Son of God. Matthew's account of what happened tells us what Jesus says about the true power in play. Matthew 26:52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[g] of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

Jesus was fulfilling the perfect Word of God, the scriptures, and the perfect plan with the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. This power was going to be seen in the days ahead, and praise God, we would be the recipients of everything that was going on. Jesus wasn't guilty because Pilate said He was not guilty. JESUS WAS NOT GUILTY. The next part of this sacrifice we will see in the days ahead, so stay tuned as we proceed toward Passion Week and find out where the true lies for Jesus and for all of us.

Today's Message,

David Warren