Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Today’s Scripture Focus: “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.” (John 19:12).
Complicity. It is a word few understand in principle, yet live in practice. Here is an example. If you see a man beating a woman and do nothing, you are complicit in her further injuries. If you hear that your friend is planning to commit a crime, and you do nothing to dissuade that friend or somehow intervene/interrupt, you are complicit in the outcome. Are you getting this? If you see that injustice is on the rise and you do nothing to stem its ascendency, you are complicit. If I do nothing, I am complicit. We cannot be blamed if our efforts fail; however, we can, if we fail to exert viable effort.
You Can’t Wash Away Guilt Like That
When Jesus was railroaded and brought before Pilate to face the death penalty without guilt, Pilate should have done something! He saw something, but did nothing! He saw that Jesus was innocent. He said that he could find no fault with Him. He was even warned by his wife to have no part in the execution of Jesus, but he did nothing. At the risk of seeming to contradict myself (I will call it irony), perhaps Pilate did do something. He failed Jesus. He failed the high standard of justice. He found that Jesus was innocent and pushed off the responsibility of letting Him go to a bloodthirsty mob. He attempted to preserve his governorship when the mob threatened to pit him against Caesar. He murdered Jesus by literally trying to wash His hands of the matter (Matthew 27:24). So, I suppose he did “something.” His something was just not the right thing. His something was to try to avoid the issue rather than use his power and influence to deliver an innocent Man from death. Instead, he set a murderer free at the behest of the crowd (Luke 23:18-19).
I am finding the Scriptures to be more-and-more pragmatic these days. I am finding its counsel to be quite helpful. In this case, I realize that I need to steer clear of complicity in injustice, oppression, and the status quo. I am committed to doing my part to make a difference where I can; are you?
