Dear Christian friends:

It is terrible when an innocent person must go to prison or the electric chair for a crime he did not commit. Sometimes this happens. It is hard for that person to not feel bitter and anger and hatred.

But tonight we think about the innocent Jesus and how He suffered although He had done nothing wrong. We feel to be angry against the Jews and Pilate because they blame the innocent Jesus. But don't be too fast: We are joined in His sufferings too. So let us see how:


This was fulfilled in the trials of Jesus before Pontius Pilate. Our text speaks of a mob or lynching where the accused is condemned and executed without a fair trial similar to our history in the old west.

Jews sought false witnesses against Him but their witnesses did not agree. "The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree." (Mark 14:55-56) It was an illegal trial. Annas was both judge and prosecutor.

Pilate was not fooled. Three times he stated Christ's innocence. We who have heard His words and life know Him to be true and good.

Does He suffer innocently only because of the Jews and Pilate? No! False accusations against God are a common sin of man. Adam blamed God for falling into sin. "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." (Genesis 3:12) Israel blamed God in the desert for not having food and drink.

How about us? Do we blame and accuse God, the holy innocent one? In times of trouble do you feel God is not fair? Have you prayed for something and when you didn't get it did you blame God? Do you ever feel that God is asking too much of you?

When you kick and complain about serving and pledging and giving are you not falsely blaming God or the pastor? Why not confess your greed and laziness? Why blame me or the church or God?

We often blame innocent people while we are the sinners and so we all have blamed and condemned the innocent Jesus. Our heart, our thoughts, words and deeds are not any better than the Jews and Pilate.

But let us look again at the innocent Jesus. He suffers not because of His own sin. He is innocent. Pilate said so and our text says so. "he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth" (verse 9)

Why must He suffer? Why does He let them blame Him? Why doesn't He defend Himself? Our text answers: "For the transgression of My people was He stricken." (verse 8)

He the holy, innocent Son of God bears our sins and the sins of the whole world. He the innocent Jesus suffers for us and pays to God for us.

His suffering and death is worth so much because He Himself is innocent. He takes our sin and suffers; we take His innocence (goodness and holiness) and stand before God without fear or shame! Truly a very wonderful exchange!

Truly a wonderful wise God and wonderful is His love and mercy for us. In Jesus He calls us His holy children. Surely His wonderful love should help us to stop kicking and complaining and wrongly blaming God and other innocent people.

May His love help us to be honest and confess our sins and rejoice in His forgiveness and may it help us to forgive others, not blame and criticise!

Amen!