Self-Defense

I went to court when I was around the age of 21 to defend a citation that I had received in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  I was accused of running through a yellow light. I remember a couple of friends from college went with me. I made my case that the light was yellow, and the judge told me that running through a yellow light was a violation of the law and I was to pay the court $5.00.

I have defended my behavior before when I’m wrongly accused. I do know that I must accept responsibility for my actions. I still struggle a bit with the speed limit part of the driving law. I have paid my fair share of “safe driving awards”.

When Jesus was capture by the religious leaders of the day, they strategized over some manufactured charges to try to get Rome to kill Him. They had no idea that this was part of a bigger plan from God. Check this out….

¹¹ Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.

Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

¹² But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. ¹³ “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. ¹⁴ But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise. (Matthew 27:11-14 NLT)

It is ironic that the chosen people of God rejected God’s plan to save them and the world. Jesus did not defend Himself against the charges of the religious leaders. Rome didn’t hesitate to execute any perceived enemies. They didn’t value the lives of the Jewish people. The religious leaders knew exactly what they were planning to do.

It is also a bit ironic that Jesus is my Defender today as I battle the enemy.  I love this song Defender.

You go before I know
That You’ve even gone to win my war
You come back with the head of my enemy
You come back and You call it my victory, oh-ooh

When I thought I lost me
You knew where I left me
You reintroduced me to Your love
You picked up all my pieces
Put me back together
You are the defender of my heart

Jesus who didn’t defend Himself defends me every day and I need His help every day.

Pressing On!

Dwayne