...But Jesus Died For Cowards Too! ♡♡♡

 

"When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting , he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood, "he said. "It is your responsibility!" - Matthew 27:24

Have you ever seen one of those trending videos, where there is injustice going on? Like an elderly woman being harassed or a poor helpless guy being bullied up thier street or path. To your amazement and utter disbelief, the witness takes the time out in their day, to whip out thier phone camera; capturing that very moment & sharing, but never proactive enough to call the police, or to protect the vulnerable by any means necessary. What in the woot woot is that?! It's one thing to be up in your day minding your own business and staying out of trouble, but another thing to know the truth & the good you ought to do, but still do nothing about it. That was Pilate in his day, on today's episode of - 'when governors and judges are cowards" - Dang!

Pilate was a Roman governor under the emperor of Tiberius. He sat as a Judge of Jesus' trial. Like, he got to be the one to judge Jesus innocent, or hand him over to thirsty mobs. Whaaat? Let that sink in for a moment. Just WOW. I duff my hat, to people who are in the legal field. Those who contemplate criminal cases in our world, especially Judges who decide the trajectory of people's lives. I imagine some of these people battle out all kinds of mind wars & perhaps even struggle with a considerable amount of guilt. What if you are wrong?  Scripture tells us that it was the governor's custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd [err, what what custom? and why is the crowd choosing this? but ok] 

Which one do you want me to release to you? - Matt 27:17

Royal Wifu Mail -"Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him....." - Matt 27:19

"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?......." - Matt 27:21

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?.... Matt 27:22

"Why? What crime has he committed....? Matt 27:23

Tis exactly the kind of confusion that happens, when moral compass is lost in society and popular opinion precedes over truth & common sense. In what will be typical fashion, Pilate presents before the crowd a well known prisoner "Jesus Barabbas" [A well known murderer & thief] and controversial prisoner, "Jesus Messiah" who he believes to be innocent. Yet he asks the crowd to choose. Friends, when you see people choosing what is popular over what is truth, know that it didn't start today. There is nothing new under the sun, but really just life being recycled all over again. Matt 27:18 tells us that Pilate knew it was out of self-interest that Jesus the Messiah was handed over to him. Yet he cops out by some act of "hand washing" drama, symbolizing his detachment from Jesus' death. Also with some well thought out line probably from one of his legal books - "I am innocent of this man's blood, it is your responsibility". Only to read later down in verse 26 -----> - "Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified" - I think Pilate was unto something when he declared himself "innocent" of Jesus's blood lol. Notice how audacious he was declaring himself innocent, but never really able to drop mic - by declaring the real ONE that was innocent, innocent. If you are too coward to do what is right, at least let people know the truth. Great news though, Jesus died for the "Pilates" too. Jesus died for corrupt governors and judges too.

"By Oppression and judgement he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?  For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth" - Isaiah 53:8-9

In our world today, a lot of people are passionate about standing up for all kinds of Injustice. Sometimes even more so the popular ones on display for all to see. Nothing wrong with that. I mean stand up for the oppressed, the poor, those who are unable to stand up for themselves. But everyday before and around us, in seemingly little or large things, we are presented opportunities to stand up for the truth. In your family, at your office, in your relationships, in a gossip situation or in whatever else you do with your life. Can you Imagine that in Jesus's time, no one stood up for him? Not even a single chicken. No one in His generation protested. That is the Man that died for You & I. 

Friends, we didn't get the chance to stand up for Jesus when it mattered, but Jesus stood up for "you & I" before the Father & the whole world when it mattered the most. So, what could be more important than standing up for Jesus in this generation?  My heart to heart question to you this week is this - "what is your matter?" - There is no sitting on the fence with this one. We are either declaring Jesus innocent by upholding the truth of the gospel in a generation that rejects Him, or we are projecting ourselves falsely by appearing "innocent" before it. Don't carry on living your life like Jesus didn't die for YOU! No one stood up for Jesus in that generation, but we get to stand up for Him in this generation. I have also heard it said that - silence isn't empty, it is full of answers.

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" - Luke 9:26

     Honestly, if I were to be there also at the time of Jesus's crucifixion, I imagine I would be too coward to do something too. I never want to Imagine what my life would be like, if not for the CROSS & the BLOOD of Christ that was shed for me.

Love

SR