Welcome to Hank’s Place
I’ve been sharing chapter titles from Michael Card’s wonderful book, “A Violent Grace.”
Our chapter title today is, “He stood trial alone so I might have an advocate.” After Jesus’ arrest He faces a hastily convened council of Jewish leaders.
His religious enemies want to hear Jesus claim to be the Messiah and the Son of God for that claim was heresy, punishable by death. Well, He said it my friend, it was true, and in a moment those Jews brought Jesus before Ponticus Pilate, the Roman governor.
Pilate had no interest in Jewish laws – they knew that, so they tell Pilate, “We found this man subverting our nation and stating that He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be a king. Well that’s hardly any different from most of the Jews who hated their Roman oppressors!
So in all these proceedings we have the enemies of Jesus making their accusations, but where was the council for the defense? There was none. In those days the sole responsibility for fairness in a trial fell to the magistrate – who in this case was Pilate. Scripture records that Pilate 3 times declared he found no fault in Jesus and desired to set Him free.
Pilate knew Jesus was not guilty. He knew it was out of envy that they handed Jesus over to him. Matthew 27:18.
BUT — Pilate’s political position was very tenuous at this time. His concern had nothing to do with governing justly, or fairness, or truth — and everything to do with using his position to stay in power. Sound familiar?
Someone shouted, “If you let this man go you are “no friend of Caesar.”” “A friend of Caesar” was a formal title for a Roman governor. Whoever shouted this knew that Pilate was standing on a slippery political slope. When Pilate heard this he abandoned his defense of Jesus and readily handed over a man – he knew to be innocent – to the murderous mob.
So Jesus had no legal counsel and stood alone before His enemies. For us. And now today He is in our Father’s presence as OUR eternal advocate. 1 John 2:1. Because of Jesus we never will stand alone before our accusers. There is Jesus, always standing alongside. Not to protest our innocence, but to offer Himself as the One who has already stood trial for our sins.
Share this perfect defense with a needy believer today friend. Help them COME ALIVE!
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