March 31st, 2023: Facing Condemnation

Being condemned is another aspect of human suffering that Jesus understood well. We can imagine the mocking and the gossip spreading around when the Pharisees saw him being with a prostitute, eating with a tax collector, and performing miracles on Sabbath.

The ultimate condemnation happened at the court of the Sanhedrin, presided by Pontius Pilate. They condemned Jesus to death by hanging on the cross. It was a form of execution reserved for criminals. Two thieves were also executed at the same time as Jesus.

It is a lonely experience to face condemnation. Many followers left him. Judas betrayed him. Peter denied him. Others shouted out: "Crucified him."

Nowadays, it is not hard to face condemnation. We have witnessed the mob mentality on many university and college campuses in our nations when students don't share the same worldviews with professors or invited speakers. It is a shameful decline in higher education. We are witnessing the new indoctrination of the masses.

"So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. 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.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." - John 19: 1-6