** Matthew 27 **
** Verse 24 **
*
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing,
but rather a riot was starting,
he took water & washed his hands
in front of the multitude, saying
" I am innocent of this Man's blood:"
"see to that yourselves".
(Soul Winners New American Standard New Testament)
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Grace be unto you, from me my beloved Christian brothers & sisters. Giving Him thanks for allowing the fellowship of His word through this group once more.
Take out some time in your daily schedule to give God praise & glory for all He has done for you. For God has been good to me & if you can read this letter, God is being good to you, so let Him know through your praise worship today, that you thank Him for giving us His precious son, Jesus Christ.
It is because of His daily mercy & compassion that
You & I
are not consumed.
(Lamentations 3:22-23)
Dear friends, a favorite show of mine on television is Judge Judy. O, I can already feel the boos & hisses, LOL, but let's be nice & stay with me. Some of the cases are those that the litigants come before her, with as it is called "Unclean Hands." A prime example is a plaintiff bringing forth a personal friend (defendant), whether they have been long time friends or just business acquaintances for a certain purpose. Trying to recoup a loss incurred by the knowingly fraudulent activity of each of them. The judge instructs the plaintiff that they cannot recover any losses that their friend has stolen or backed out of the bargain, because they both have unclean hands. Come go with me back into a trial of old ages past of our Lord Jesus Christ, where here stands before the court with clean hands, nevertheless was He given the unthinkable punishment.
For this brings me to my topic this week:
(Do YOU Have Clean Hands)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In this passage of scripture, we have a picture through the minds eye if you will of Matthew, of Jesus' mock trials. He was to undergo two trials: before the Sanhedrin & before Pilate, the Roman governor. In that day Judea was subject to the authoritative rule of Rome. So we can see that execution of a death sentence could not be carried out until there was consent from the Roman governor. Stay with me my beloved brothers & sisters, for in a short while we shall take a look at not only Pilates' hands, but our own. After being mocked of Herod, the one who had killed John the Baptist, Jesus was sent unto Pilate for the last time. With all of the calamity about the court, they chose Barabas to be released & our Lord Jesus scourged, hoping that would satisfy the crowd. Friends, just like this present day, there are those who are never satisfied in anything & seek to involve themselves even in the pleasure of someone's death. The religious leaders despised Jesus & wanted Him crucified, the riot was growing & threats of a report going forth unto Caesar, for this was Pilates' friend & he did not want to upset that balance & thus declaring a death sentence unto Him that knew no sin, He came to serve,
gave His life a ransom for many,
for He had clean hands.
**Am I Right About It**
O, how lonely Jesus must have felt at this time, no one to represent Him in this sham of a trial. Judas, a disciple had already betrayed Him. Peter, his most intimate of a friend, who would have thought, never would he leave the masters side, but alas my brothers & sisters, he too was not there to raise his hand & say, "I know Him, He is the true Christ, rather he chose to deny the relationship of the savior. Have you ever needed someone to be there in your hour of trial(s), whether it was a literal one & just having someone to speak up for you, being a character witness for you, maybe even dispelling the fate to come? Having someone to be with you, to comfort you, surrounding you with hope of better things to come, but no my beloved, we often face as Jesus did our day in court,
ALONE.
Help Me Lord
Hallelujah
Thank You Jesus
I want to pose some questions to each of you,
as you walk in this life as a Christian.
Do You Have Clean Hands?
Are your fingers & nails dirty from pawing & scratching, trying to eke out seemingly an illusion of the American Dream, financially prostituting yourself at any cost, to acquire what others have, to be like them, not being satisfied with what God has already given you?
Have You Washed Your Hands
Do you get muscle cramps in your palm, from writing indecent proposals, letters, memos, & e-mails of slanderous improprieties against those who seem to stand in your way of any personal gain or satisfaction?
I Am Talking About Clean Hands
In your wrist, is there pain from flipping the pages of sexually immoral periodicals, reading & implementing the self proclaimed words of motivational speaker guru's, talk show hosts in your life, only finding your bible on Sunday, taking it with you as a token of fashion, not finding out for yourself in your bible what is the right way to pattern your life, to educate & set an example unto your children?
Do You Have Dirty Hands
There might be some of you saying, what does this have to do with Pilate? Well, let me try to explain dear friends. The bible says that after finding no fault in Jesus, he washed his hands & asked others to do as such, but in the heat & passion for blood on that day, Pilate was thrown into a state of sin as we often let ourselves. He could have easily backed out & let someone else have innocent blood on their hands. Pilate was more concerned in his friendship with Caesar & peer pressure. Pilate committed murder in that hour as if he had nailed Jesus to the cross himself. He should have said " NO," I shall partake in none of this sin, thus keeping his hands clean. We as Christians must do likewise in some of the things facing us today, not to be a pawn in Satan's game of chess work, but to stand on the word of God & trusting Jesus as our Lord. Not being liken unto the sinners of this world, but to be a beacon unto those who have unclean hands. There is not much said about Pilate, whether he got saved or not, but when he turned Jesus over to be crucified, he shed innocent blood & being in the Holy presence of the very one created him, formed him from the dust of the earth & breathed life into his body, he was right there in front of the one who sprinkled the stars about the heaven as if they were diamonds, brilliant & full of majesty, but instead he uttered words of a foolish man, that he was the one who had the power to destroy him. Even worse the words spoken in
v.25
For this is ever present in our day.
Jesus laid down His life, no man could take it. If Pilate did not repent of his sin, he shall remain in hell for not having clean hands.
Am I Right About It
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The words of this Ole Tyme Hymn ring out through my soul at this time:
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Emmanuel's veins;
and sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains,
lose all their guilty stains;
and sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.
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On the cross was our debt finally paid, our hands cleansed not by soap or perfume, but by the precious, merciful, & gracious blood of Jesus. I pray that if any of you have unclean hands, wash them with the blood. Ask God to purposely send you or allow you to meet someone, even a family member or friend(s), to share with them, there is a place where they can go to wash their hands, clean as white as snow for eternity. Will you do that, my beloved Christian brothers & sisters? This has been another encouraging lesson giving unto to me by the Holy Spirit. I pray this lesson will inspire you to witness unto those you know needing the savior, even unto those of you who have for some reason having unclean hands. Continue to pray for this ministry & me as I shall always pray for each of you. Pray for one another in the uplifting of spirit & healing. If you enjoy any of the lesson, please send me a note of that reflection. Those of you who wish to be opted from this fellowship, let me know, as I shall delete your name, in that, I wish not to offend any of you.
May God always walk with you & you with God.
Thank You Lord For My Salvation
O Lord
Peace
Don
Such As I Have,
I Have Because Of
Thee.
Copyright ©Donald J. Roy
**Dare To Be A Disciple For Christ **
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