Innocent?

     Shakespeare quoted:
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exists and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts..."

I stopped here as I considered Pilate, his part, Jesus' part, and our part in the stages of life.  Pilate was a man who set the stage, and he played his part well, or so he thought, when he proclaimed, "I am innocent..."

Scene 1:  The stage is set as Pilate makes his entry.  He stands above a jeering and angry crowd.  Not far away is Jesus and another man, named Barabbas.  Barabbas is a murderer while Jesus is only being imprisoned for telling the truth; however, the crowd wants Jesus released to them to be crucified.  They care nothing about punishment for Barabbas.  Pilate, fearing not pleasing the people, takes water, washes his hands and states, "I am innocent of this man's blood."  Pilate then commands Jesus be flogged and given to the people to be crucified.  Jesus is allowed to not only be beaten until his flesh is torn and bleeding, but is mocked, spit upon, patronized, and then nailed to a wooden cross. 
     The curtain falls, but where am I in all of this?  I wish I could say, "I wasn't there.  I am innocent."  However, in reality I was there.  I was among the crowd.  I was an unbeliever.  Even as a Christian today, I have the ability to crucify my Lord by not acknowledging Him and by going my own way apart from Him.

Scene 2:  The curtain opens and the stage is set with three crosses, the center one illuminated.  Jesus, the innocent Son of God, is there upon that center cross.  He is in agony and pain.  His blood flows freely and jammed upon His head is a crown of thorns.  Yet, He is enduring it all as he shows mercy to one of the thieves hanging on the cross beside Him.  He shows love as He instructs one of His disciples to care for His mother.  He forgives all when He prays, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."  He shows obedience to His Father by finishing His task here on earth.  He actually takes on the sin of all mankind as He cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Then as the curtain falls, a loud voice is heard again crying, "It is finished!"
     What, again, is my part to play?  I wasn't there. "I am innocent of Jesus's pain and suffering."  Or was I?  Or am I?   What options do I have in the character I must play?  I can either turn away in unbelief and add to the stripes on Jesus' back.  I can insult and mock Him, or I can choose to believe that Jesus died for me.  I can choose to believe that Jesus was and is the very Son of God.

Scene 3:  The curtain opens.  There is darkness and silence.  Why?  Could it be that the Light of the World was given up in death?  Then suddenly an eruption occurs.  The earth begins to quake and shake, the rocks split, and the temple veil splits from top to bottom.  Graves open up and many bodies of the saints arise.  This brings terror to the faces of His persecutors.  I see tears of grief on the faces of those who loved Him.  There is a sense of awe all around.  The curtain falls, but not before we hear the truth spoken, "Truly, this was the Son of God."
     The part I have to play is obvious.  I am no longer blind to the truth.  I am not innocent in all that has taken place.  Jesus took the beating and the pain for me.  He took the mocking for me.  He took the nails and hung there on that cross for me.  He didn't just die; He died in my place.  When He went to the grave, He lifted me up out of the grave. 

Praise God, Jesus rose the 3th day and is Alive!