SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 26
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing. [Jeremiah 26:15]
Jeremiah has dared to speak against the temple, the religious establishment, and the government.
The leaders of the people are divided – the prophets and priests want to kill him, the officials and elders do not.
In the end, even though another prophet was killed for saying the same things (Uriah son of Shemaiah), Jeremiah finds an advocate (Ahikam son of Shaphan) and is spared.
But the words “innocent blood” stuck with me from today’s reading.
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. [Matthew 27:24-26]
Jesus does not find an advocate, like Jeremiah – Pilate is too weak a leader to stand up to the people.
But what strikes me here, as with the reading from Jeremiah, is the guilt for “innocent blood”.
“Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
What were they thinking, how could they lay this burden on their children.
In reality, they did not think they were wrong; this was their way of saying that they were right, and they had no fear of bringing this guilt on themselves or their children.
But they were wrong, and what a price to pay, what a burden to bear.
Are we aware of the serious of our actions, and their consequences?
Do we realize that our choices affect not only ourselves but also those near and dear to us?
This is true for everyone, since all people are interconnected and interdependent.
What I do, what I fail to do; what I say, what I fail to say…
This is a huge burden of responsibility, made worse by the fact that we KNOW we will fail.
Everyone does, in small and big ways, and “innocent” people are affected.
The point of all this is to show us why we need God’s mercy and God’s help.
If parenting (or leading or teaching or any social relationship) depends on us, we will mess it up.
We need to recognize with humility our need for God’s mercy, grace and help.
We need God’s strength to cover for our weakness, we need God’s wisdom to cover for our folly.
We need Jesus’ innocent blood (as a symbol of grace, not guilt) to be on us and our children, to cover our failings and weakness.
God is able to overcome our weakness, and turn it to good, but we need to be humble and honest.
It is folly to try to bear it ourselves, to say – ‘may my children carry the full weight of by choices!’
It is wisdom to entrust ourselves and those we love to God’s mercy and grace.
So that we will not be guilty of “innocent blood”, we need to ask to made “innocent” through His “innocent blood”.
PRAYER:
Lord, I know that I have hurt others by my words and actions. Forgive me, and turn them to Your good purpose. May Your blood be on us and our children, in the grace way!