Innocent Though Proven Guilty

"Today's Devotion" For May 10, 2005

Read: Matthew 26:57-68; Psalm 27

INNOCENT THOUGH PROVEN GUILTY

"Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out evidence." (Ps. 27:12)

"Methinks thou protesteth too much" is an old phrase that is often used when someone proclaims his or her "innocence" too vigorously. There is an old saw that holds that the louder the protests the greater the guilt. Currently, in a neighboring county courtroom, a man who was convicted ten years ago, along with his father, for a robbery spree and the murder of a police captain, is seeking to have his conviction overturned. His grounds? He contends he's not guilty by reason of insanity, because he was under the intense influence of his father and not responsible for his own actions. To rational people his claim seems off-the-wall and, dare I say it, "insane." Perhaps he ought to undergo an old practice of some Native Americans. They had a practice of testing the truthfulness and innocence of an individual by means of a hot poker to the tongue. The practice was based on the observation that the innocent had no reason to be afraid and thus would have ample saliva to cool the poker.

Talk about a conundrum. Here's a man, convicted because of eyewitness testimony, caught in the act by television cameras, who's now claiming he's innocent by "reason of insanity" - meaning, of course, that he wasn't responsible for his actions because he was controlled by another. How about you and me? Do you think that argument would hold up to God's scrutiny? An old television program of my youth, starring a man named Flip Wilson, used to poke fun at this idea. Flip Wilson's take on guilt was, "The devil made me do it!" and it got huge laughs and, 30-years later, is still remembered, quoted, and, all too often, lived by. On the other hand, there are many who are falsely accused, whether in a courtroom or in daily living, who are convicted and left without recourse. They're guilty regardless of their innocence. If such a thing happened to you and me, how would we handle it? Could we keep silent in the face of false accusations for the sake of others?

In the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that's exactly the behavior we see. He was the sinless Son of the Father, the second Adam, the faithful Son of God that Israel had failed to be. He obeyed God's Law perfectly in our place so that our sins could be forgiven. He was innocent of every charge the Sanhedrin could muster against Him. Although falsely accused, falsely convicted, and falsely sentenced He didn't defend Himself. Just as Isaiah had prophesied, "as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth" (Is. 53:7b). Jesus knew that man's justice was stacked against Him. Yet He willingly accepted the lies and subjected Himself to such injustice for us. He was innocent though proven guilty.

What a wonderful gift of God to humanity! Despite Jesus' innocence and His ability to call on a legion of angels to defend Him, as He noted to His disciples when He was arrested, He went the way of the Cross, falsely accused and convicted, so that we would be spared the eternally painful death of Hell and eternal separation from our Father in heaven. Through faith in Jesus' blood and righteousness believers have the sure and certain hope that their sins are forgiven, they have been restored to a loving relationship with their Father in heaven, and their future hope is in God's presence in heaven for eternity. No matter what happens in our day, our lives, and our world, we are confident by faith in Christ that nothing can separate us from His love. Each day we live confidently in Him, knowing that His love living in us gives all we need to live joyful, peace-filled, and confident lives of faith and witness in the world. In Jesus, even though we are guilty, we stand innocent before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You so much for Your willingness to be falsely accused and convicted on lies. You went the way of the Cross unfairly and under the gross injustice of men "like a sheep led to the slaughter," silently, without protest. Help me to have the same kind of trust and courage in my Heavenly Father when I am falsely accused or my faith and service in Your name is grossly misrepresented. Lead me to let my actions speak louder than my words, and let my service to others in Your name lead them to know Your love and the salvation Your innocent blood brings to them. Praise be to You, O Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.