One unusual visitor to our garden during this week was a Peacock, which was noticed by Daphne. I was watching the Drongo, while Daphne kept looking towards the gate and tracking the movements of the Peacock. I missed getting better photos as I was not ready with the zoom lens.
The Peacock might have lost its way to our garden!
A Drongo family might be resident in our garden as I spot them almost each day around our cottage.
The Holy Week, when Jesus was tried and condemned to death was full of unusual and disturbing events.
One event narrated in John's gospel, chapter 16 verses 12-40 is just one of those unusual situations, which is a shock as it points to an unfair justice system prevalent at that time.
After Jesus was arrested and bound, following Jesus voluntarily surrendering to the Roman cohort, who came to capture Him (v6 and 12), Jesus was brought to Annas. The soldiers had a shock and fell to the ground, when Jesus surrendered to them, by saying, 'I am He' without any resistance!
One disciple who knew Annas entered the chamber with Jesus to be tried by Annas. While the questioning was going on, Jesus said, 'Why do you question me? Question those who have heard what I have spoken to them; behold these know what I sad' (21). This provoked an officer and struck Jesus with a blow (v22).
Following this, Jesus did not slip into a victim state, but raised His voice against unreasonable intimidation: 'If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong, but if rightly why do you strike me?'(v23).
It was following this Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas, who was the chief priest (v24). Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas 9v13).
Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, the governor's official residence, where Pilate was ready to interrogate Jesus. The passover meal was not yet over and many did not enter the Praetorium to avoid being defiled (v 28).
Having heard Jesus, Pilate returned to the Jews waiting outside, 'I find no guilt in Him'(v 38). It was then Pilate offered to free Jesus, but the Jews said, 'Not this man, but Barabbas'. Barabbas was in prison for having been convicted for robbery (v40).
What was unfair about this justice system?
Annas and Caiaphas were members of the same family.
An officer struck Jesus with a blow for the answer Jesus gave, requesting to enquire about what He spoke from those who heard Him.
Pilate found no guilt in Jesus
Pilate had the authority to free Jesus.
But Pilate consented to the 'demand' of the jews not to release Jesus.
Pilate subjected jurisprudence to public opinion and made a mockery of justice.
A break down of the justice system !
As if this was not enough, Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him (John 19:1). The soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus and gave Him blows on His face (v 2, 3) !
This Friday became a Black Friday for failed justice in human history!
It is this unfairness that we see due to the unilateral approach, of exercising power without strands of justice, when the presidents of the USA, Russia and the Prime Minister of Israel act the way they do while they lead justice to a precipice! I have similar thoughts about the government of India on certain matters of its approach to justice.
Pilate finally gave in to the cry of the Jews to crucify Jesus, having categorically stated, 'I find no guilt in Him' (John19:6). Pilate delivered Jesus to them for Him to be crucified (v16).
I wonder whether this justice system would ever return to be fair towards those who are vulnerable and at risk of suffering due to the majority opinion going against them!
Recently a large stock of unaccounted money was found in the house of a Supreme Court Judge in the capital of India. The civil justice system is frail, fragile and fallen from its high standards.
How relevant is the text in Romans 12. 14-21 in this context ! The text suggests, 'Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good' (v21). 'Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men' (v 17)
The exhortation, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty give him a drink, for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head'(v 20) This call is like the 'voice in the wilderness'!
The natural justice of fair trial was denied to Jesus.
The distributive justice of fairness towards Jesus, who was vulnerable, disadvantaged or displaced was denied to Him. The on lookers and passers by hurled abuse at him (Matt 27: 39), slapped him and ridiculed while Jesus remained silent. Peter describing this behaviour of Jesus wrote in his first epistle, chapter 2 verse 23: '...while being reviled He did not revile in return, while suffering He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously'.
The Black Friday became the Good Friday, because, the divine Justice was offered to the thief who turned to Jesus in repentance and confession, saying 'Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom' to which Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, today you shall be in paradise' (Luke 23: 42-43) !
At the end of admonition to wives and husbands, in I Peter 3 1-7, Peter had this to say to all of us:' To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you inherit a blessing' (v 8-9)!
Peter summarised the substance of divine justice!
The Good Friday is the day when Jesus manifested the diving justice in all its fullness and completeness !
I noticed this Cormorant in our garden this morning, with its wings fully stretched and jubilantly perched with a fish between its beaks!
It is this state of jubilation which all people will experience when they turn to Jesus in faith and hope!
Jesus manifested the divine justice to humankind once and for all, from the cross that 'whoever will believe in Him will not perish but will come to everlasting life'.
Jesus from the cross with its pain and humiliation made this provision for all people to enter into the fullness of life from then on.
I hope all followers of Jesus will seek to pursue divine justice as their
calling!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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