The story of the capture of Jesus is compelling even for the 1001st time. As I was listening to a godly lady explain it at a children's ministry, the truth again hit me. She told of the betrayal by Judas. His associate led the soldiers to the teacher, identifying him with a kiss. The disciple had expected a messiah who would liberate the Jews from Roman rule, and who would then take power. When it became clear Jesus would not do this, Judas felt betrayed. He wanted his share of power. He was after all in charge of the money for the group. So the treasurer went out and sold what he had- the knowledge of where to find Him.
She told of Peter, a genuine friend who had promised he would never deny him, but would die with him instead, if necessary. How he had, as Jesus prophesied he would, denied Him three times before the cock crowed.... Of course in his defense, I wanted to say, Jesus told him to put his sword away. Peter was willing to die with Him, but he did think it fair to put up some resistance. He even followed to see what happened, while others just ran away. Nevertheless, he denied Him three times: that he was His friend, that he had been with Him, etc.
She told of Pontius Pilate, the Roman who judged the case. He didn't believe Jesus to be guilty of any sin. He tried to argue with the crowd. But the people were infiltrated by enemies-friends of the high priests and those who wanted Jesus dead. Group think, crowd manipulation, the masses who just a few days before celebrated Him, declaring Him king as He entered Jerusalem, fell to peer pressure to ask for His death. And Pilate gave in, though in his heart knowing Him innocent.
She didn't tell of Barabbas, a rabble rouser, murderer, thief, and rebel who did want to overthrow the Romans. Pilate had offered the crowd the gift of one life to be spared, and offered the choice between Christ and Barabbas. The wise choice would have been Jesus-the gentle Soul who healed folks, doing miracles, and against none had He sinned. Pilate had assumed they would take the best one. But the evil in the heart of man led them to release the murderer.
Nor did she mention that He died between two thieves. She's just starting to tell it, leading up to Easter. So I'm sure she'll get there. It took a long time just to relate what she did. "But," she asked, "What did Jesus do? Did He murder anyone? Was He a thief having stolen someone's goods? Did He take anyone prisoner such as in kidnapping, or rape? Did He hurt anyone in any way?" She pointed out the answer to each question is no. Nor did He commit adultery, or do anything according to Jewish laws that was illegal, deserving of death. (Other than claiming to be God-which would be blasphemy if it were not true. There was also the charge for which the Jews took Him to the Romans, claiming to be their king-the Messiah. However, He'd explained to Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world, so they had no basis to worry about his fomenting rebellion.)
The lesson concluded as she explained that Jesus had the power to remove Himself from their control. Yet He'd chosen to allow it, so that He could take our punishment. The righteous response to awareness of this is thankfulness. Yet, hard hearted as I am, I thought otherwise. Fear, disloyalty, peer pressure, jealousy these killed Jesus.
Even worse I continued: theft, rape, murder these could be levelled against Mohammed by a judge, and killing him would have been just. Why couldn't the story have concluded with him being killed, and Jesus let go? That in my mind would have been fair. But Mohammed wasn't imprisoned, beaten, and killed. He'd been allowed to go his way. But the sins Mohammed may have confessed, (we do know he regularly spent time in prayer confessing sin and seeking forgiveness) and those we all commit were what killed our Lord. And Jesus agreed to it. If not, we (all who claim Him as Savior) would still be in our sins, unforgiven.
It boggles the mind, but thank you, Lord. That is what "amazing grace" means. I deserve death, as do all, instead of Christ. I do not deserve forgiveness (filled as I am with fear, disloyalty, etc.,) but I receive the gift in awe of the love that could go to such extremes. And recommend to all that regularly seek forgiveness to go to the one place where forgiveness is attainable, promised, and verified.
Witnesses through the ages vouch for the efficacy of knowing their sins wiped away. The peace that surpasses all understanding is well documented, as is the power to heal,to deliver from bondages, to make a new creature from an old and weary sinner. The power to overcome is not a one time deal. It is regularly available to all who cry out, who seek the Lord who gives the gift, and will abide in Him. We cannot produce this fruit outside of regular communion with Him because He is the one who creates it. He is the one we proudly proclaim as our Intercessor. The One we cannot deny. Selah.
