Jesus Stood Condemned, Though He Was Innocent

What Did Jesus Do?

“I find no guilt in him…
So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”
John 18.38b-40

Pontius Pilate may have had a hard time recognizing the truth, even when it (actually, He) was staring him in the face (see John 18.38a), but he knew an innocent man when he saw one (John 18.38b). The trouble was, the Jews had already in their hearts condemned Jesus, they simply wanted the Roman authority to affirm their verdict, and carry out the capital sentence they were not permitted to impose (John 18.30-31). So, innocent though he was, Christ stood before Pilate a condemned man. Still, Pilate sought to set Jesus free (John 18.39)

But the Jews would have none of it, they wanted Jesus out of the way and dead, even if it meant letting a known and convicted criminal, the notorious Barabbas, go free (John 18.40). With hearts set on the death of Jesus, what need of evidence? With minds determined to see that Jesus was executed, what did it matter that he was innocent?

Actually, Christ’s innocence mattered a great deal. You see, there is nothing atoning about the death of one who is guilty. The blood of one who has sinned has no power to redeem. The execution of a thousand, a million, Barabbases (Barabbi?) could not purchase salvation for anyone. Only one who had done no violence, who had never had so much as a single deceitful word in his mouth, could be the satisfactory offering for the guilt of the world (see Isaiah 53. 9-10). Only the One who stood condemned by men, but righteous before the Father, could make many be accounted righteous by bearing their iniquities in his body on the cross (see Isaiah 53.11).

From the collusion of the hard and hate-filled hearts of the Jews with a corrupt, jaded, and weak Roman governor, the ultimate injustice was used by God to ultimately accomplish his perfect justice. Of course, it also took the Son’s willingness to stand condemned, though he was innocent.

I wonder, how many of us, who claim to follow Christ, would be willing to be condemned, to accept blame, for something, anything, we were not guilty of, for the sake of another? How many of us would do so for the sake of Christ? I wonder? If unmerited suffering is redemptive, how many of us would be willing to stand condemned, though we were innocent? That’s what Jesus did.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4