by: Carole L. Haines
I was struck by a truth I had missed before as I re-read the powerful story of Jesus before Pilate this morning. I was overcome with emotion when the story said this,
“His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover.”
(John 18:28b)
The Passover Lamb of God was standing right before them, but they couldn’t see Him. The Perfect, Spotless Lamb of God was handed over by them by to be beaten, bloodied, scourged and crucified.
“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.”
(2 Corinthians 4:4)
God’s Word tells us What Jesus’ response was to this mock trial and these false accusations.
“While being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
(1 Peter 2:23)
That word, “entrusting” is paradidomai, which means to betray, hand someone over to, or deliver oneself over. This same word is used 5 times in Matthew 27: 2-4, 18 and 26). In this chapter, the word was used in reference to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, the handing over of Jesus to Pilate, and in reference to the envy the Jewish leaders had toward Jesus which led them to plot His death.
When we look back at the verse in 2 Peter 2:23 we can see clearly that while humankind was trying to deliver Jesus over to death, Jesus was choosing to deliver Himself over to God, His Father, the only one who judges righteously.
Wow, I mean just WOW! When others come against us, or betray us, we must choose to deliver ourselves over to God our Father, the only one who judges righteously. We must not respond as they do, but turn the other cheek, not revile in return and utter no threats. God will give us the power to do this, and He will deliver us. What was thought to be satan’s greatest victory, the death of Jesus, turned out to be the killing blow to satan’s evil scheme. Jesus trusted God and God raised Him from the dead. We will be raised up too, when we trust God in the face of enemy attacks.
Are you facing an enemy determined to drag you down? Entrust Yourself to God. Completely yield and surrender all control over to Him. God is faithful. Can I get an Amen to that?
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