Reflecting on Good Friday, I'm reminded of the central act of the love that Christ did for us - his death on the cross.  It was there that he paid the death penalty for the sins of the world

(and on a personal level – my sin and yours as well).  While there was a political process that had to play out to make this event occur, Jesus went there voluntarily of his own accord.  The council of Pharisees had to coach and bribe witnesses, tamper and twist evidence, and then manipulate the crowd in order to come up with a political conviction.  By the time He was brough before Pilate, the crowd was worked up into a frenzy, shouting out the cry of “crucify him”. 

According to Jewish law, Deuteronomy 17:6 had to be fulfilled in order to put Jesus to death – “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death”.  These witnesses had to be so convinced of his crimes that they were willing to cast the first stones.  Verse 7 is very clear about this – “The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people.”

Notice what this passage tells us about how God wants to ensure due diligence is followed before making accusations that lead to condemnation.  The matter had to be “enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain” (v.4) before it could be brought before a judge.  Two or three witnesses were required to then testify to the crime after it had been brought forward.  And finally, the execution of judgment had to be initiated by those who witnessed against the accused.  Imagine if we had the same measures of constraint placed upon us before laying blame and witnessing against those people, practices, and policies that we don’t like? 

Now, more than ever, as we are stuck in our homes and quarantined from personal interaction, we have been forced to turn to online interaction.  Online interaction can be a great way to encourage and edify, but it often used in other ways.  Social media is often used as a platform to spew out hatred or disapproval of one thing or another.  The internet has often become a soap box for people to criticize our leaders.  The online communities have become a breeding ground for conspiracy theories, gossip, and the purveyance of “snake oil” cures.  The anonymity of interacting online often lowers our guard, removes our filter, and makes us too quick to cry “crucify” from our armchairs at home with the effect of working others in the online crowd into a frenzy.

Have you ever wondered just how many of these online “witnesses” today would be willing to press charges and be the first ones to execute judgment of their accused?  How might the witnesses against Jesus reacted if they were the ones being asked to begin the crucifixion process?  The truth is that the crowds today aren’t much different than those in the courtyard that stood before Pilate on the day of Jesus’ death.  Don’t take the bait to share that post full of gossip, hatred, or mis-information.  Cling to the same message that Jesus had for the crowd as he hung on the cross – “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”