Innocent?

 

For Tuesday, March 26, 2024:

Mark 15:1 NLT: “Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire Sanhedrin—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.”

The Jewish leaders couldn’t legally execute their own prisoner. That sentence had to come from a Roman authority, in this case Pontius Pilate. They awoke early to accomplish this. Time was of the essence. Shabbat would arrive at sundown, when they could do no more work. And the people were all preparing for Passover. The entire evil deed needed to be completed in one-half day while the sun was shining. So they started early.

This was the last official daylight trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. The verdict in this kangaroo court was predetermined, and Jesus was the loser. Now the Jewish officials needed a stamp of approval from the Romans, so off they go to Pilate. History shows us he was a cruel, ruthless man, completely insensitive to the moral feelings of others. The Jewish leaders thought this would be a slam dunk. It was not.

Pilate found Jesus to be innocent of the charges, but thought he needed support for his position. So Jesus was delivered to Herod, who also found him innocent, but considered this a local matter. So Jesus was returned to Pilate for the final decision.

The custom was for the governor to release one prisoner at Passover. Pilate hoped this would be his ‘out.’ He offered Barabbas, a revolutionary and murderer, and Jesus, King of the Jews. Pick one. The crowd illogically demanded the release of Barabbas.

"What should I do with this other man, Jesus,” asked Pilate.

"Crucify him,” shouted the people!

"Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”

 But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

  So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. Jesus was delivered to Roman soldiers for torture and eventually crucifixion.

The people shouting, “Crucify him,” were the same crowd that shouted, “Hosanna! Save us now!” a week earlier. Don’t be a fickle mob like these people. When we make a decision for Jesus, we need to be “all in.” We’re 100% for Jesus, and we’re not changing our minds!

Don’t follow the mob – follow truth!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Lies!

For Wednesday, March 20, 2024:

Mark 14:56 NLT: “Many false witnesses spoke against Jesus, but they contradicted each other.”

The trial of Jesus was bogus. The outcome had been decided before the trial began! The ministry of Jesus had been a thorn in the side of the Sanhedrin, who wanted to put an end to this matter.

The leading priests, religious teachers and high council of the temple didn’t know as much about God, heaven and the Torah as Jesus. It made them appear inadequate. Large crowds would gather to hear Jesus teach truths they’d never heard before, and quite a number believed him! Before Jesus, the pecking order at the Temple was set in stone, but now Jesus was disrupting everything. Temple loyalty was being divided. “But,” thought the Temple leaders, “if Jesus was eliminated, it would be easy to once again rein in the populous!”

The only good thing to come of all this is that it was fulfilling Jesus’ mission on earth. It was completing God’s vast eternal plan. At the end, from the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” His mission was finished; his task completed; his goal accomplished. Jesus would take the sins of the world to the place of the dead, leaving those who repent and return forgiven, acceptable for an afterlife in the presence of their creator.

That’s why it’s called, “Good Friday!” It’s the day mankind was given a second chance! It’s the day mankind was rescued!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship