I FIND NO FAULT, Daily Devotional, Monday, March 17, 2013

MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

13 Days to Resurrection Sunday

Luke 23:4 “I find no fault in this man…”

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 27

 ¹¹And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

¹²And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

 ¹³Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

 ¹⁴And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

 ¹⁵Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

 ¹⁶And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

 ¹⁷Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

 ¹⁸For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

 ¹⁹When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

 ²⁰But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

 ²¹The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

 ²²Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

 ²³And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

 ²⁴When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

 ²⁵Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

REFLECTION: 

Pilate said, “I find no fault in him.”Moments later he sentenced Christ to die.  Why?

The answer lies in Pilate’s skeptical, if not cynical, view of truth.  When Jesus testified that he was sent to bear witness to the truth, Pilate scoffed, “What is truth?”

Having rejected the dictates of truth, Pilate judged on the basis of expediency rather than morality.  The Jews, led by Caiaphas the high priest, clamored for Christ’s execution and finally prevailed.  They won not because they were right, but because they were loud and determined. Pilate’s order would be followed not because he was right, but because he commanded might.

Having lost his moral compass Pilate’s cowardice was inevitable.  Brave men decide and act on the basis of moral conviction. Weak men are pressured and react accordingly.

Is this not the problem of Western men today?  We have jettisoned moral principle and congratulated ourselves for self-serving governance.  It is no wonder that we are standing at the threshold of tragedy.

All this should come as no surprise to students of God’s Word.  When men are demoralized, ordering an execution is only one of many sad possibilities.  The Apostle Paul explains why:  “When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21)  The vain and foolish are capable of the grossest immorality.  Read Romans 1:22-32.

Pilate declared himself innocent. Again, how like a modern man. But we are not our judge.  God is. 

The Apostle Paul wrote plainly:  ^“With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged…of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self…but he that judgeth me is the Lord.”(I Corinthians 4:3-4).

And what of this hand washing?  Could this public display absolve Pilate of his guilt? Not hardly. “What can wash away my sin, Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”

With Pilate we too can say of the Savior, “I find no fault in this man.”  But may we do more than acknowledge his holiness, may we defend His honor.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven.  We stand ready to defend your Holy Name. You are perfect in your love. You are perfect in your grace.  You are perfect in your mercy. Your Word is perfect.  Your will is perfect.  Your way is perfect.  We find no fault in you.  We pray that today we will not blush to speak your name.  We pray that we will not retreat when your cause is under attack. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 24,25). “Our Father. &c”