A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’” vs. 23
Luke 24:1-25
The gospels present the trial of Jesus as being a complete miscarriage of justice. The charges presented by the religious leaders were misrepresentations of his words and actions and some were outright lies. Neither Herod or Pilate were convinced of his guilt and both believed him to be innocent. Yet by sheer belligerence and persistence the chief priest and scribes got their way – Jesus was handed over to his executioners.
Because we’ve heard the story so often, the outcome doesn’t surprise us, probably because the same sort of thing continues to happen in our world. Justice is as elusive today as it ever has been, and lawyers have become adept at using the courts for political or economic gain. Innocent people are jailed without due process or cause. Guilty folks with deep pockets can escape consequences for nearly any crime or behavior. Some would even say that justice itself has been perverted. For those who have come to put their trust in government or world leaders such news is deeply upsetting and disturbing. We wonder where we can turn. Jesus doesn’t seem to have had such misgivings. Having put himself in the hands of God long before, he was silent before his accusers, and continued to trust God even in the face of death. He reminds us that there really is a Higher Power!
Thought for the Day: How can a justice system be perverted?
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