I AM INNOCENT
THEY DEMANDED THAT JESUS BE CRUCIFIED
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Romans 1:18 |
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For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. KJV |
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness. NIV |
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Zechariah 9:9 |
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Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. KJV |
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. NIV |
God is a just God and a Saviour. When the Lord Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a little donkey, the prophet declared: Behold thy King cometh unto thee: He is just and having Salvation.
Did you notice that the Just one who has Salvation has already come to YOU?
There is, therefore, only one question to ask:
Have you come to Him?
Yes, He has come to give.
Have you come to Him to receive?
If you have not, you are not just, and you are not justified.
Man will do anything to avoid the claims of justice.
Pilate gave us a master class in avoiding justice, or so he thought, in washing his hands of the Lord Jesus Christ thinking that all is well, and he will no more be bothered with Him.
In His humiliation, justice was denied Jesus.
Men hit Him, spat on Him, mocked Him and tore His back to ribbons.
Then they blindfolded Him and beat Him with their fists and pounded His head with a reed.
The furthest thing from all their minds was JUSTICE.
As Pilate went about his despicable and shameful deed, he had the words of his wife ringing in his ears when she said:
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Matthew 27:19 |
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| Have nothing to do with THAT JUST MAN, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him. KJV |
Don’t have anything to do with THAT INNOCENT MAN, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him. NIV |
What was Pilate thinking when he handed the Holy and Just One to the mob?
Did he really think that by saying the following words it somehow cleared him of any wrongdoing?
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Matthew 27:24 |
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I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. KJV |
I am innocent of this Man’s blood. NIV |
- Was Pilate really innocent?
- Was he not guilty of handing over the One that he declared innocent?
- Was he not accountable for giving Jesus up to be tortured and treated with utter scorn,
- And by doing so, indicated that he had no concern?
The truth is that Pilate’s conduct made a mockery of his claim that he was innocent, and so it is with each one of us who claim to be guiltless of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and we refuse to do anything about the claims His blood makes on our lives.
Yes indeed, God has a claim on our lives.
His claim is that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ to suffer for the sins of the world that He might bring us to God, and if you have not allowed Him to bring you to God, you are not just nor are you justified.
Will you let Him do that today before it is too late?
He is just and having Salvation and by trusting Him and surrendering to His claims on your life, you will then do justly which is God’s first claim on your life.
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Micah 6:8 |
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He hath shewed thee, O man what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. KJV |
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. NIV |
God requires this from you, and if you do not do what is just toward Him, He will do what is just toward you.
He will say: Depart from Me, I never knew you… and you will go away into everlasting punishment.
Never to hear the words: Come unto Me and I will give you rest.