This week we remember Christ’s crucifixion. When we read the gospels we are reminded that Jesus himself was no stranger to injustice and abuse. If we look with a “legal” perspective, what do we see in the final week before Jesus’ death?
We see that he was wrongfully accused, and had no one to speak for him. We see the full force of a justice system, meant to punish wrongdoers, being corrupted to serve the desires of those in power. We see Jesus convicted despite His innocence. We see him sentenced to death. We see his friends abandon him, deciding that they don’t want to be associated with a criminal. We see a final opportunity for clemency denied. And, on Good Friday, we see him suffer the ultimate injustice: He is tortured and executed, despite having done no wrong.
When we remember Jesus this week, we realize that He is well acquainted with injustice and suffering. He is not standing far off, unconcerned or indifferent to our pain. He did not rest comfortable in privilege, confident that the system would work out for his advantage, or relying on his own power to protect himself. As we are reminded in Philippians 2:6-8,
[He] did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
As you think about the crucifixion this week, are the injustices that Jesus suffered still relevant today? What does the fact that Jesus allowed himself to be the victim of injustice mean for our faith and our lives?
