Justice?

Justice? As we continue with the session of Jesus before Pilate, we are faced with a sobering truth. There is no righteousness apart from God. Equity in the eyes of the world is always related to the question, "Which ruling brings the greatest gain?"

37. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

38. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

39. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

40. Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

John 18:37-40, King James Version

Justice?

As we continue with the session of Jesus before Pilate, we are faced with a sobering truth. There is no righteousness apart from God. Equity in the eyes of the world is always related to the question, "Which ruling brings the greatest gain?"

Pilate's reaction of taking an innocent man (Jesus), and being willing to bend to the pressure of the Jewish religious leaders, is shocking to us. Yet, should it be?

Lest we feel totally hopeless, we must remember that everything that happened went according to God's plan. It was God's will that Jesus should die to save a people for himself. Does that mean that God made Pilate agree to Jesus' death? No. Rather, it means that God did not prevent Pilate from making the decision he did.

In our day, how do we view the courts? Does every person who stands before the court system, anywhere in the world, receive justice? Knowing the true nature of man, of course not. Does that mean no one receives justice? No, thankfully our courts have not deteriorated to that level.

How, then, does God work in the lives of Christians, especially if they must appear before the courts of their country? Is God powerless to intervene? Just as God worked on behalf of his children during the days of the early church, God has continued even to this day. However, we must remember that it is not always God's will that His children be delivered from evil judgments made by the courts.

We, as His children, are all part of God's plan for this world. None of us, no matter how close we are to the Lord, understands God's greatest purpose for this world, or how He will use us in the future to fulfill that purpose.

But, we do know that we are in the palm of His hand. No matter where we are in the world, we know that we are safe in the arms of Jesus. If His will is to bring us home to Him through suffering or persecution, oh what a blessing that will be.

Was justice served for the Lord Jesus? In the end, yes! Through Jesus' death and resurrection, we are able to stand before God, unworthy though we may be, for God only sees the righteousness of Christ in us.

How amazing is that?

Next: Behold the Man - John 19:1-6