I Didn't Do It
And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” Mark 15:2-4
"For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you." 1 Peter 2:19-20
Have you ever been accused of something you didn't do?
We can probably all think of a time when we were wrongly accused of something. Just this week I was reading an article about a number of people who were exonerated after being executed for crimes they didn't commit. I can think of few things more tragic.
While it pales in comparison, I remember vividly a time as a child when I was wrongly accused. It was during Vacation Bible School after snack time when sweet Nancy Melchor told me that my father wanted to see me in his study right away. When I arrived, there in the pastor's study were my accusers--several kids, all angry and much bigger--only one of whom I knew.
While it pales in comparison, I remember vividly a time as a child when I was wrongly accused. It was during Vacation Bible School after snack time when sweet Nancy Melchor told me that my father wanted to see me in his study right away. When I arrived, there in the pastor's study were my accusers--several kids, all angry and much bigger--only one of whom I knew.
"Is this the girl?" My father asked.
"Yeah, that's her," they said. "That's the girl that pushed us down and beat us up."
"No, I didn't!" I said, looking at my dad for support.
"Did you do this, Priscilla?"
"No! I didn't!"
"She says she didn't do it. What would you like me to do?" My father asked.
"You need to kick her out!" They said.
In the wisdom only a God-fearing father could have, my dad reminded them of what Jesus would do. He would forgive. But then, he asked me to apologize.
"But, I didn't do it!" I protested, looking desperately into his eyes for some assurance that he believed me.
When he insisted, I apologized, and then ran crying from the pastor's study as fast as I could. I felt betrayed, forsaken and wanted to run as far away as possible. But, sweet Nancy Melchor caught me. She scooped me up in her arms and held me tight. She told me that she loved me, and reminded me of how much my daddy loved me, too.
Then, she reminded me of another man who was falsely accused. This man was executed for crimes He never committed. He never did one thing wrong in His life--ever. And, this man felt forsaken by His Father, too.
Matthew 27:46 tells us, "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Mrs. Melchor reminded me that the Heavenly Father knew what He was doing. And, on a much smaller scale, my father did, too.
Have you been falsely accused of something today? Let Jesus Christ scoop you up in His loving arms and remind you that He sees. Let Him remind you that He will take this terrible wrong and He will make it right--someday, somehow.
I'm glad that what Jesus did do is yield His life for all humanity.
In this broken world where people are often accused of all manner of things falsely, God sees, and He will make it right.
One day, the Judge of All the Earth will make all things right (Genesis 18:25).
Goodnight, Runners.
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