Pilate’s Court

Daily Reading

“Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him.” (Luke 23:14)

PILATE’S statement in this verse is a most enlightening statement. It shows the vileness of man, but it also shows the vindication of Christ.

Vileness of man. “Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people.” The people had accused Christ of “perverting the nation” (Luke 23:2). This was a most preposterous charge, but that did not keep evil people from making the charge. Evil people make charges regardless of the facts. They are still making such charges today against Christ and the Bible. According to these evil people, the Bible is considered such a dangerous book that it is not allowed in our schools. Furthermore, Christ is considered being so bad for the students that His birth cannot be celebrated in our schools. But the same schools that will keep Christ and the Bible out of their classrooms will often allow filthy homosexuals in their school to teach the homosexual lifestyle and will allow wicked books in their library and unsavory people as teachers. It is the accusations and character of evil men that are grossly perverted. Christ is not the One that is perverted; it is man that is perverted.

Vindication of Christ. “I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him.” Pilate gave Christ an open examination in regards to the accusations leveled against Him. The examination resulted in a complete vindication of Christ from the accusations. Whenever you examine Christ according to the facts, you will always vindicate Him. He will always come out without any charge of evil against Him. Pilate was nothing short of amazed about Christ. And anyone who really examines the facts about Jesus Christ will also be amazed at Him. Instead of a perverter, He is the greatest blessing society can ever have. Mankind may call Him a perverter, but the facts call Him Wonderful.

John G. Butler, Daily Bible Reading: Sermonettes, vol. 2 (Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 2004), 306.

Reflection

This passage reminds me how easy it is for people to twist what is good into something evil and how Christ still stands blameless through it all.

While I might not share every expression in the writing above, I see in it a truth we all need: that sin distorts our judgment, and without God’s grace we fail to see clearly. Christ came not to condemn the world, but to redeem it.

I believe that includes everyone. No matter who they are or what they struggle with. Scripture is clear that sin separates us from God, but it’s equally clear that God’s love reaches into every heart willing to receive Him and that we are to follow that example.

Maybe one of the tests of our faith today is whether we can love people fully even when we don’t fully understand them. We can hold to biblical truth and still lead with compassion. Because that’s what Jesus did for us.