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Jesus Was Innocent

Jesus Was Innocent
Pilate asked those calling for Jesus’ death, “Why, what evil has He done?”
(Luke 23:22)

When an angry mob drags someone to the authorities, we might assume they did something wrong. But not Jesus. When wild accusations are hurled at someone on trial, we might assume they are guilty. But not Jesus. When someone is killed by capital punishment, we might assume they must have been evil. But not Jesus. Listen closely to what happened.

It looks bad that Judas, one of Jesus’ own apostles, turned Him in to those who arrested Him. But later Judas said publicly, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Mt 7:3-4- he did it for the money). Jesus was innocent. The Jewish court found Him guilty. But in the first secret night trial they “sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none” (Mt 26:59-60) because “their testimonies did not agree” (Lk 14:56). They accused Jesus of blasphemy  when He admitted to being the “Son of Man” and in the morning they held a formal trial where they found Him guilty because He admitted to being the Christ, the Son of God (Lk 22:66-71). Jesus was innocent.

When the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, they hurled accusations at Him: “perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King” (Lk 23:2). Pilate responded, “I find no fault in this man” (Lk 23:4). And after questioning Jesus about being a King, Pilate said to the crowd, “I find no fault in Him at all” (Jn 18:38). Pilate “…knew that they had handed Him over because of envy” (Mt 27:18). Even Pilate’s wife said she had had a dream about Jesus and advised Pilate, “Have nothing to do with that just Man” (Mt 27:19). Jesus was innocent.

When Jesus was sent by Pilate to King Herod, who was in Jerusalem, he questioned Jesus extensively, but found nothing. Pilate said, “You have brought this Man to me as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.” (Lk 23:14-15). As the crowd shouted, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”, “…He said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done?” (Lk 23:21-22). “Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified…” (Jn 19:16). Then even the thief on the cross and the Roman Centurion who crucified Him said Jesus was innocent (Lk 23:41, 47). Jesus was innocent.

Provocative headlines and unsubstantiated accusations can warp our understanding of what really has happened, but objective research can find the truth. And the truth is that Jesus really was innocent. He was the sinless Son of God. That’s important because it makes it possible for Him to be the sacrifice “without spot or blemish” (1 Pe 1:18-19) Who could die for our sins to make us sinless and spotless – to make us innocent (just). Jesus was innocent. You can be too if you will truly believe in Him.  dd