Good Friday: He is guilty and must die!

Good Friday: He is guilty and must die!

Dr. Fr. Davis George

Terror struck again of the fateful 26/11.  Innocent people were killed; brave police officers became martyr for the nation.  The entire country was paralyzed and terror stricken.  In an encounter with the police at Girgaum Chopatty, Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist in the attacks, was caught injured and is still in police custody.   Though he has confessed his involvement in the heinous crime and the entire country judging and awaiting for his death, still he has not been given the deserving punishment.  A terrorist caught in the act of crime.  But what is the verdict?

Jesus was found guilty by the High Priest, scribes, Pharisees and the unruly crowd during his life-time, gave the verdict that he is guilty and must die.  Guilty of what?  Guilty of telling he is the Son of God and the Messiah.  Guilty of telling them he has to suffer and die for the sins committed by others.

Guilty of healing people on a Sabbath day, guilty of giving hope and life to those who live in darkness of sin and death, guilty of going about doing good, guilty of criticism outward show of religion, guilty of showing that God is their loving father and they in turn are brothers and sisters, guilty of telling that He is the way, the truth and life, guilty of telling that even after crucification and death, He will rise again on the third day.  What a paradox of life, God who came not to condemn the world but to save the world, has been condemned and crucified just like any other criminal of his time.  Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not came to be saved, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous.”

Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of Christ, in some ways represents the very heart of Christianity – the voluntary, substitutionary and propitiatory death of Jesus Christ.  Gibson did not find any meaning in worldly riches and fame.  He became an addict of drugs and alcohol and even contemplated committing suicide.  Then he reportedly turned to the Bible and found purpose and meaning in Jesus Christ.

The big question is not ‘Who crucified Christ’; it is ‘Why Jesus was crucified’.  The answer this movie provides us is, as Gibson himself reported to Diane Sawyer of ABC, “He was pierced for our transgressions, and he was wounded and we are healed”. (Is 53:5).

Jesus Christ died for our sins.  He did not defend himself, Isaiah 53:7-9 speaks about the silent suffering servant of the Lord.  Verse 7 can be translated this way, “Though He was oppressed, He was submissive and did not open His mouth.”

He submitted to being arrested, mocked, spat upon beaten, stripped, struck down, forced to carry His own cross, and crucified.  The question we must ask is about the nature of his response.

Isaiah says, “He did not open his mouth”.  Why did he not protest his great injustice?  Why did he not open his mouth and defend himself?  Why did he strand there and take all this abuse submissively?

Even Jeremiah, the great prophet protested.  Even Mahatma Gandhi called for non-violent resistance.  But Jesus Christ offered no resistance at all, violent or non-violent.  The gospel accounts tell us that He did not defend himself before Annas, Capiaphas, the Sanhedrin, Herod Antipas, or the Roman governor Pilate.

In Mt.27:12-14 we read, “When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge to the great amazement of the governor.”  Isaah predicted this non-defensive and non-complaining attitude of the suffering servant.

“Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.  A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.   In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” (Is 42:2-3).

“The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.  I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my break; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” (Is 50:5-7)

Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.  They sought false testimony against him.  Two came forward and said,  “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build in three days.”  And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus said to him, “You have said so.  But I tell you; hereafter you will see the son of an sated at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, “He has uttered blasphemy.  Why do we still need witnesses?  You have heard his blasphemy.  What is your judgment?’

They answered, “He deserved death.”  Then they spat on his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, later they shouted again and again, “Let him be crucified.”  (Mt. 56:57-68).

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus in to the practorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him.  And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand.  And kneeling before him they mocked him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.  And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “you who would destroy the temple and built it in three days, save yourself!  If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

So also the chief priest, with the scribes and elders, mocked him saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.  He is the king of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  Jesus could have come down from the cross and saved himself.  But then, he would not have been Savior of the world.

After forty days of fasting as He came out of the desert, the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to became loaves of bread.”

Jesus did not succumb to playing to the gallery and taking short cuts.  Jesus, thus, followed the eternal plan of salvation and showed the unconditional love of God.”

While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man-though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die.  “Bust God show his love for us in than while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”  (Rom 5:6-8).  And yet, he was found guilty of death.  What a paradox?

Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world (Jn 3:16-17).  He did not condemn the women caught in adultery but showed His compassion and forgiveness.  Jesus visited the house of Zacheous which made the latter repent and change his life.  Mathew the tax collector detested by others, was chosen as his apostle.

The repentant thief who sought forgiveness was promised heaven while dying on the cross.  On the cross Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those who were persecuting him.  All those who touched him in faith were healed.  All those who encountered him were transformed.

His life, suffering death and resurrection changed the history of the world.  By dying on the cross, Jesus destroyed death and by rising from the death on the third day.  He established that He is the resurrection and the life and that those believe in Him shall gain eternal life.”

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know He holds the future, my life is worth the living just because He lives.”