Have you ever been accused falsely ? Have you ever been judged by others because you stood up for the truth ? Have you ever spoken out for what is right and yet been treated as a criminal ?
That is what happened to Jesus Christ.
He was falsely accused. He was then mocked and tortured. He was then taken out and hung up naked on a cross outside Jerusalem. There he suffered the torturous pain of suffocation and crucifixion for hours before finally giving up this mortal life.
He had done nothing wrong – but he had offended against certain religious and political expectations. So he had to suffer. Not those who did do wrong – those who told lies; those who perverted the Jewish faith to their own advantage. No they gained by his death. The innocent died and they went free.
In fact a known murderer was released at the Passover festival according to a custom.
Jesus was not released, even though he was innocent.
Instead the murderer Barabbas was released as innocent. He was released at the request of the mob. Barabbas was treated as a hero, and Jesus the innocent was treated as a dire criminal.
Justice clearly failed that day in Jerusalem. The Roman authorities were the ruling power. But the governor, Pontius Pilate, was persuaded to surrender the murderer and to have the innocent Jesus killed.
A total failure of responsible authority and a total injustice. But it happened.
And it continues to happen the world over. Guilty people get away with their crimes, and innocent people suffer as if they are guilty.
It is not fair, and ultimately there is no Justice in this life. But there is Justice in the life to come.
Which is why Jesus had to die. It was why he came. To show the way.
That way is via death. At the cross that death was physical and real. But for most followers of Jesus that death is another death. Yes, it can be the death of the body – literal martyrdom. But it is more usually an emotional and psychological death. The pain of dying to your own desires and wants; suffering the death of our good reputation. Death and suffering can take different forms. But they are real enough for the Christian.
In fact Jesus stated very clearly:
WHOSOEVER WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. FOR WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT; BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPELS, THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT.
FOR WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL ? OR WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL ?
WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL BE ASHAMED OF ME AND OF MY WORDS IN THIS ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION – OF HIM ALSO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE ASHAMED WHEN HE COMETH IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS HOLY ANGELS.
The way to the resurrection power and life of God is via death. That is the symbolism of full immersion baptism – a symbolism accompanied by a real Grace when conducted in real faith from God in the heart of the believer.
But the initial ‘symbolism’ of baptism is but a portent of the daily life of the believer: to die to self in order to live for Christ in his power and strength.
We have to die to what this world counts as important: ambition, position, wealth, power. Instead the Christian is called to be like Jesus: to die to this world’s values and hopes in order to live the life Christ calls us to – a life lived in obedience to Jesus Christ. A life exhibiting the life and power of God – the fruit of the Holy Spirit:
BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW.
Christian Preacher
Christianity 