The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 10 April 2020 – TOPIC: SOCIAL INJUSTICE
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DATE: FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020
(Good Friday)
TOPIC: SOCIAL INJUSTICE
READ: MATTHEW 27:1-2, 11-31 (NKJV)
1. When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.
2. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
11. Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “ It is as you say.”
12. And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13.Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”
14.But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
15. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.
16. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
17. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
18. For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
19. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
20. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
21. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
22. Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23. Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
24. When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it. ”
25. And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
26. Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him.
28. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
29. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
30. Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.
31. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.
THE MESSAGE:
The Chief Priests, elders and Sanhedrin planned to use legalistic means to achieve the wicked deed of killing an innocent man. This shows the wickedness of some religious leaders which is evident even today. Verse 20 says that the Chief Priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas (a notorious criminal in prison – (verse 16) and to have Jesus executed.
Many innocent citizens are languishing in prisons and in many communities because they have nobody to speak for them. Some are labelled “armed robbers and criminals,” executed or punished severely without any chance of fair-hearing. Truth has fallen apart in our judicial system (Hosea 4:1; Micah 6:12). As the religious leaders preferred a criminal to Jesus (verse 21); our society today is repeating the same behaviour. Does this not explain why oftentimes, men of questionable character occupy high political positions? See Pilate’s position (verses 21-26). He condemned an innocent man to please the people and maintain his position. Do you support criminals and deny Jesus to preserve your position, please friends, associates and the world? Remember that heaven records our works and we shall be judged by them (Revelation 20: 11-12).
PRAYER: Pray for sanity in our judicial system.
