Good or Innocent

I love the way this testimony begins. Jesus declares the truth and it might be a surprise to some as you look at the conversation.

 18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Luke 18:18-19 (ESV)

Jesus Himself never claimed to be good. He denies that he is a good man and points directly at God as the only source of anything good. Now we understand that Jesus was God’s son and that His divine nature makes Him good but His human nature is sin bearing because of the fall of the first Adam. If He had not been able to bear our sin were would that leave us. I know that might sound different but Jesus makes it clear that every Good work He worked was under the authority of His Father and that the Son was given power to bring Glory to Him who sent Him.

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Matt 11:26-27 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matt 28:17-18 (ESV)

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 17:1-3 (ESV)

We often forget that Jesus was sent as a sacrifice for our sin. He became like us living in a human form so He could pay that price on the cross you see Jesus was not a good man but He was an innocent man having no fault before his executioners or any other man.

24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

Matt 27:24 (NLT)

You have to look at sacrificial law to understand the requirements for the sin offering. It was to be a first born without blemish innocent lamb. Jesus was that for you and I He came to be that sacrifice so we could have relationship with God once again. Jesus was the sacrifice that was required for our salvation. Without the shedding of innocent blood there is no forgiveness of sin. I hope you have a wonderful day in the Lord and that you are found innocent in the eyes of both God and man in your days to come.