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Continuing our analysis of the penultimate chapter of Luke’s Gospel, this week, please read verses 3-12. If possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 23:3-4 (New International Version – NIV)
‘So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”’
A few years ago, there was a lot of press coverage about someone who had been fired from his job. Thousands of people get dismissed from their posts every year so why was this one any different? Well, this was all about the use of social media and how it reflects on the employer.
This man had been out one night and after logging into Facebook, he decided to post something that was mildly offensive. Once the post had been shared by his many friends, his manager found out about it and initiated dismissal proceedings. Even though the man insisted that the post was a private one, the company argued that the man was actually representing the company at all times and therefore, this one offensive post would bring the company into disrepute. All potential suppliers and customers could regard this man’s opinions as representative of the company and possibly would not trade with them. Despite months of legal wrangling, eventually the man was fired.
When I was reading our verses today, I was very saddened as I began to think about how to apply things. The story about the man’s Facebook post came to mind because of Pilate’s words “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” I’m sure that I’ve said this many, many times over the course of these daily devotions, but I have to repeat it again today – Jesus was the perfect man. Even before we consider His birth at a lowly place in Bethlehem, we know that He was completely and totally One with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. He chose to be born on this earth and volunteered to be the Saviour of the World. God loved the world so much that He gave Jesus to be our Redeemer. There was no fault in Jesus. Everything that He said and did was completely in line with the will of the Father. Every thought was completely captive and He was the Sinless One.
Pilate didn’t know any of that and yet, after one brief meeting, he could declare with certainty, that Jesus was without fault. So, why was I saddened when reading it? Quite simply, because just like the Facebook story, Christians so often bring our Saviour into disrepute. He is without blame and yet we as His followers on so many occasion, bring so much shame to His Name and His Church. I’ve spoken to so many people who have left the path of Christianity and so many blame the people. Jesus is without fault but we are His representatives and so often bring offense to those we meet. Every Facebook post and every conversation is read by so many people. My prayer is that the people of Oasis Community Church take up the challenge and do we all we can to represent our King in the best way we can.
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