Did you ever watch America’s Most Wanted? The show still with an internet presence is used by Host John Walsh to expose dangerous fugitives in hopes the public would recognize them and lead authorities to make an arrest.
The stories are so sickening and sad they leave you outraged that someone could commit such crimes. Absolute utter disdain is what we feel toward the perpetrators.
Now transport your mind back 2,000+ years to the scene of John 11:54-57
“Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.”
JESUS. KING OF THE JEWS.
This is what is happening the days leading up to what we are about to celebrate on Easter. Jesus is THE MOST WANTED.
This should’ve led to true outrage, really. The Son of God being hunted down; treated as a fugitive. He didn’t commit such heinous crimes that warrant a “Most Wanted” status. In fact, He didn’t even commit one sin.
His “crime”… claiming to be God. Who He is indeed!
But the “good” law-keeping Jewish authorities, the Pharisees, would have none of that kind of talk. Instead they began whispering among themselves “Who does he think he is claiming to be equal with God? And performing miracles on the Sabbath! We must stop him!”
Not just stop him, but kill him.
Shortly thereafter Jesus is betrayed and captured in a garden at night, the ideal secret setting for which the Jewish authorities conducted an illegal trial with no witnesses before unjustly arresting him. But like a lamb to the slaughter, Jesus gave himself up willingly.
After being interrogated by the High Priest, Jesus was taken to Governor Pilate. And though he knew Jesus to be innocent of all charges, he neglected the truth out of fear of the Jews. Instead handing him over to be tortured, humiliated and ultimately crucified.
And yet from Pilate we see God’s point…
After Jesus had been brutally beaten, crowned with thorns and dressed in a purple robe, Pilate brought him out to be mocked and said to the Jewish chief priests and officers,
“Behold the man! Behold your King!”
To which they cried,
“Away with him, Away with him, Crucify him!”
Bloody.
Bruised.
Broken.
Humiliated.
Rejected.
Deserted.
The man who left his throne in heaven to endure a life of suffering for your sake.
The man who became the spotless lamb of God sacrificed on your behalf.
The man who willingly endured the ultimate rejection of His Father so you would not have to.
The man who gave up his robes of righteousness to clothe you in them.
The man who after three days rose again in triumph over death.
BEHOLD YOUR KING!
And See Him as Your MOST NEEDED!
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