“Why are you in here? What have you done?"

Jesus did not reply.

“Cat got your tongue? Do you have anything to say to me?"

Again, no answer.

The judge was becoming irritated. “Do you realize I can have you put to death at the drop of a hat, Prophet?”

All around the audience heckled and hollered, “Death sentence! Death sentence! Give him the death sentence!”

The judge responded to the hecklers, “Where is your recorded evidence? Are there any eye witnesses that will step forward regarding these accusations? Show me proof! How can I possibly give him the death sentence without any proof?”

The hecklers replied, “You have to because that’s how the law is written! This guy claims he is the Son of God!”

“Where are you from? He asked the prophet. Where were you born?”

No answer.

“Can you not hear me? Are you deaf? I said I can rule that you receive the death sentence.”

Jesus spoke, “You don’t have the authority to do anything unless my Father allows you to. All of your ‘power’ comes from above.”

“Are you, or are you not, the Son of God?” the judge asked.

“You say that I am.” Jesus retorted.

The crowd became deafeningly loud and aggressive. The judge was soon persuaded by their taunting shouts and yielded to their demands. He feared they would come to hate him. The judge glanced at his wife and paused. In this moment, he reflected on the advice she had offered to him just before Jesus had arrived.

“I had the most vivid dream. This man whose life you hold in your hands, he is innocent. Do not sentence him to death under any circumstances.”

The judge was overcome with conviction realizing the prophet was not guilty of the accusations brought against him.

The judge spoke loudly, “I have found this man to be innocent! There is not one smidgen of corruption in him, therefore, I am washing my hands of this unjust trial.” With this the judge handed him over to the crowd to do as they wished with him. They beat him, bruised him, tore his flesh, and hung him from a tree.

Death. Bloody, malicious, victorious death. He offered up his life for his friends. This soldier of faith never thought twice of his decision. He endured physical, emotional, merciless pain. He was beaten, thrown, denied, and betrayed by his best friends. He suffered a debt the world owed to God, that only God could pay. However, this story is not about death, it is about life. Gracious, righteous, beautiful life.

In the latter years of his life, Jesus began his controversial movement to promote the Kingdom of God as it should be on Earth. He started by finding a few good, devoted, indispensable men that he could trust. After finding a dozen loyal friends he coached and utilized them to advance his mission.

One day while Jesus was walking along the roadside he spotted a man lying behind a fence just outside the boundaries of the town. Exhausted due to his illness and fever, the man was laying down in his own vomit and defecation. Everyone in the town knew this man and of his infectious disease. The townspeople shunned him and ordered he be placed in this quarantined location. When the contagious man saw Jesus he grabbed the chain link fence and struggled to his feet. He pleaded with Jesus, “Lord! Lord! Please alleviate me of this flesh-eating disease.” Jesus walked over to the fence, held the man by his hands and said to the man, “I am willful to cleanse you, be clean!” and immediately the man was cured. “Go, and show yourself to the quarantine curator. He did so, and he followed Jesus all his days for the rest of his life.

Social media buzzed across the town with the news of this man who could restore health yet was not a physician. Some people were appalled that a man would travel around and call himself the Messiah. They agreed to work together and conspire against him.

As Jesus continued his mission he gathered a multitude of people who followed him and listened to his teachings. One night while gathering in the courtyard of the town they all assembled around him. Jesus sat down to begin his teaching when a good deal of men dragged in a woman who had been caught sleeping around with many men.

They addressed him, “Prophet, this woman has committed many acts of immorality.” Ashamed, they made the woman stand in front of all the listeners. To entice Jesus and his retribution toward the woman so that they would have evidence to accuse Jesus, they asked, “It is mandated that she be rejected and ridiculed and that she make public her sin. Will you allow us to punish her?”

Jesus spoke, “If there is one of you that has done no wrong, let him be the first to cast judgment and hateful words upon her.”

The crowd began to disperse as they heard what Jesus had said. At once Jesus was alone with the woman and asked her, “Is no one going to judge you?”

She hesitated, looked up from her feet and answered, “No sir, no one.”

“Then I do not judge you either. Now go, and turn from your immoral ways.”

With this the woman fell to her knees, and wept. She followed Jesus all her days for the rest of her life.

Jesus spoke of eternal life through believing in the Father. A rich man involved in politics stood up and asked, “Jesus, how can I gain eternal life?” as he snickered.

Jesus answered, “How do you interpret the law?”

The man was caught off guard, “Umm, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

“You are correct.” Jesus awarded.

“Well who is considered my neighbor?” the man retorted.

Jesus began, “A soldier was on his way home to his family when he was stopped, robbed, beaten, and left to die on the road. A rich man passed by and did not so much as glance down at the man. As did a Woman with two children, they hurried on by fearing he was a beggar. However, a man of God was walking near, saw the beaten soldier and stopped, bandaged him, and took him in his own car to the nearest hospital where the nurses took care of him. He also paid for the expenses. Which of the three passerby's was the soldiers neighbor?” Jesus asked.

The rich politician replied, “The man of God. The man that had sympathy for him.”

Jesus agreed, “Live correspondingly.”

As Jesus spoke to a crowd of thousands he proclaimed the good news, “The time is now! The Kingdom of God will be soon. Ask forgiveness and repent so that you may live with me in paradise for eternity.” The Lord oversees all life and praises those who believe and repent and criticizes those who do not. However, those who did not believe saw Jesus as a threat. And they feared him. They continually plotted against him and spoke of him in disgusting ways. Yet, Jesus never feared. The Lord was for him, therefore no man could be against him.8 Jesus lived his life accordingly so that we may mimic his ways and live and love as he did. We are encouraged to go and clothe the wounded, heal the sick, feed the hungry, and forgive the broken. Accomplishing the latter will bring about the Kingdom of God on Earth.