Jesus Christ, The Son Of God
Day Two
The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ
Location:
People's Court
Shekinah Fellowship
Room 101
Ms Suzy, Jurist in this court room:
By reference to the second chapter of Luke, from the first through the fourteenth verses, we find this beautiful story of the humble birth of Christ the Lord:
"And it came to pass in the days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own City.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the City of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them: Fear not: For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born, this day, in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And it shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and peace, good will toward men."
(The Jurist seemed to be deep in thought before continuing)
The birth of Jesus, in a borrowed stable in the little village of Bethlehem, was also the birth of Christianity. And the humble surroundings of His nativity were typical of His manner of living thereafter; for He had no desire whatever for earthly possessions. And this accounts for His having been buried in a borrowed tomb through the thoughtfulness and kindness of Joseph of Aramathea.
C.P.J. Mooney, on December 22, 1912, in a beautiful editorial appearing in the Memphis, Tennessee Commercial Appeal, under the caption: "Jesus, The Perfect Man," concluded with this inspiring appraisal of Him:
"Jesus spoke the truth; He lived the truth., and truth is eternal."
"The human experiences of over 2,000 years show that Jesus never made a mistake.
"History has no record of any other man leading a perfect life or doing everything in logical order. Jesus is the only person whose every action and whose every utterance strike a true note in the heart and mind of every man born of woman.
"No poet, no dreamer, no philosopher loved humanity with the love that Jesus bore toward all men.
"Who, then, was Jesus?
"He could not have been merely a man, for there never was a man who had two consecutive thoughts absolutely in true perfection.
"Jesus must have been what Christendom proclaims Him to be- a Divine Being- or He could not have been what He was. No mind but an infinite mind could have left behind those things which Jesus gave to the world as a heritage!"
(The Jurist hones in on her point)
One of the most saddening revelations of the human heart is found in the base and cruel attitude of those early Jewish religious leaders toward Jesus. In all His life on this earth He had never done them a single wrong.
Repeatedly, they sought to entrap, humiliate and embarrass Him- and finally, with equal determination, to destroy Him- for no reason, except complete misunderstanding of His teachings, and the real purpose of His ministry upon this earth. Their hearts were as cold as their heads were hard.
Certainly it would be a great truth to say that the life, character and personality of the Lowly Nazarene transcends every person of all ages. He yet stands alone against the entire background of human experiences as reflected in transitory, human history. No one can possibly be compared to Him. Even the greatest of men appear in pitiful contrast with the Christ. And this will, of course, remain true to the very end of time.
One may easily appreciate the unquestioned greatness of Jesus by reading the things which He taught, and the manner in which He taught upon all occasions. Down through the unfolding centuries He has been truthfully called "The Great Teacher."
The confession of Simon Peter was the affirmation of the New Testament when he said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" Moreover, it explained the life of Jesus and His reign in the hearts of Christian men and women since the advent of His great ministry which culminated upon the cross at Calvary.
Further confirmation of His Divine nature came from the voice of God. When Jesus was baptized by John, God spoke up and said: "This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." Then, again, at the transfiguration, the same voice of God said: "This is My beloved Son, hear Him!"
And what about His absolute dominance over the forces which produce death? This, alone, is ample proof of His Divinity and His being truly the Son of God. Yes, His command to Lazarus to "Come forth," alive, from a four-day-old grave, was something far more than mere magic- it was the revelation of the power of God!
In considering the life of Jesus, and considering His great character and personality, we must never overlook the fact that, while He was truly Divine, He was also human.
There reposed in the heart of Jesus a deep and abiding love for a lost world. And He shared His Father's redemptive purpose. His willingness to openly and publicly identify Himself with known sinners and publicans, and to share their shame of iniquity, shows the unmeasured compassion which He always bore towards all of them. On no occasion was He ever known to turn a deaf ear to some plea for relief of distress, pain or anguish.
As we read of His willing sacrifice on the rugged cross of Calvary, for the sins of mankind, we there find the world's most beautiful example of unswerving devotion to the Father's will. And it was positive evidence of heroic, sustained courage and triumphant faith. With Him there was never a thought of turning back from the bitter ordeal of inhuman torture, suffering and anguish to which He well knew He would be subjected. Obedience to the will of His Father was His only concern and His only desire!
While Jesus was upon this earth, He plainly enumerated the high cost of discipleship. When someone glibly offered to follow Him, Jesus meekly reminded him: "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of God hath nowhere to lay His head." This, then, was certainly no elaborate promise of a life of ease, but rather, one of great sacrificing and privation in a spirit of unselfishness and abiding humility.
As may be expected, uncounted thousands were so closely wedded to the duties and relationships of the world that they were unwilling to renounce those ties and follow Him. Others found His words to hard to accept. And they, like the rich, young ruler of Biblical days, refused to give up his earthly accumulations, and turned from His majestic leadership to finally drift back into the ways of common-place existence- soon to be forever forgotten, and lost amid the hurley-burley of sinful men.
The great love which Jesus bore for all humanity was truly without parallel; and His eternal compassion for the lame and sick and blind, and even the wretched sinner, knew no bounds. His hands were ever ready to heal, and His heart ever ready to forgive.
This, then, was the Christ whom the Jews, in the year A. D. 30, spat upon, ridiculed, slapped, scourged, crowned with thorns, and then brutally nailed to a cross, to die alone!
After experiencing the untold agonies of inhuman brutalities, and while conscious that life would last but a short while longer, this same Jesus, with blood-filled eyes and parched lips, raised His precious head in the direction of His Heavenly Father and uttered a fervent prayer of pardon for His brutal murderers by saying:
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Shortly afterwards, all was silent. Then the Master drooped His weary head, and was heard to whisper:
"It is finished, Father. Into Thy hands I commend My Spirit."
Even in the fleeting, last moments of life, Jesus was not unmindful of great compassion, nor for His unfailing sense of forgiveness.
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