No Fault
Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” John 19:4
After Jesus was arrested and scrutinized by the priests, the elders and the scribes, they took Him to the Roman governor of that region, Pontius Pilate. This scene reminds me of what it might look like in heaven one day, but there is one big difference. There will be no beating, scourging or crucifixion.
The scene may play out something like this: I will be taken up to heaven and stand before my Lord Jesus at the throne of God. He will stand between me and the judgement. There will be an accuser to try to condemn me and take me away from my Savior for all eternity, by my heavenly Father will say: I find no fault in her. The price for my life has already been paid! There was a verdict, a brutal beating and death penalty paid for all my transgressions. So, when I stand at the judgement seat, God will look at the spotless lamb and see that I have been made whole and clean from the stains of sin by His blood that was poured out for me.
When Jesus took that sentence condemning Him to death, it was my sentence. He didn’t have to stand condemned; He didn’t have to take the beating and He didn’t have to die on a cross. He could have stopped it at any one of those moments, but He took it for me. He kept me in mind. He thought: “If I don’t do this for Lynette, she will have to bear this shame, humiliation and pain. I love her too much to let her suffer so I must bare the whole penalty!”
He thought that about you too! In fact, He had all people in mind as He took on the punishment for all people for all time. He paid the price for every sin, for every person that sinned, that’s all of us.
If you have never received His salvation through the payment He made in your place, it is not to late. As long as there is breath in your lungs, you can surrender your life to Him and exchange it for the sacrifice of His love and eternal purpose. He wants all people to receive the gift of living for all eternity with Him in that glorious, beautiful place and have a home there with Him forever.
Today I want to encourage you to be so thankful that Jesus stayed in His place to take on your sin. Remember what HE went through, now you do not have to. He took your place and mine so we can live forever with Him in His glorious kingdom. If you have never receive His gift of grace and forgiveness, don’t wait another minute. Pray this prayer from your heart and receive Him into your life right now.
Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new. I know Your Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward. I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 15:1-15
1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.
2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.
4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”
5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.
8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.
12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”
14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
The Daily Dose 