WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
APRIL 08, 2026
TOPIC: EXECUTE JUSTICE
BY T. O. BANSO
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken” (Isaiah 53:7-8 New King James Version).
Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mark says that Judas, accompanied by a great multitude armed with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders (Mark 14:43). John 18:13 says that they led Him away first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest, that year. However, Matthew 26:57 and Mark 14:53 show that Jesus was brought directly to Caiaphas. There is no contradiction. John only provides extra details.
According to John’s account, after questioning Jesus, Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas (the high priest) (John 18:24). The scribes and the elders were already assembled there (Matthew 26:57). The Council, presided by Caiaphas, in its desperate plot to kill Jesus, engaged in the illegality of seeking false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death (Matthew 26:59). Unfortunately, the testimonies of their false witnesses didn’t agree (Mark 14:56). This should have warranted the dismissal of the case. But because the trial was a charade, they continued working towards achieving their premeditated result.
Then they procured two witnesses who claimed that Jesus said He was able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild another, made without hands, in three days (Matthew 26:60-61). They didn’t provide any proof, but Caiaphas asked Jesus to defend Himself. Jesus kept silent. Mark 14:57-58 also records this false accusation.
The witnesses claimed Jesus said, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands” (Mark 14:58 New King James Version). That was a misquotation. Jesus never said so. Here are the exact words of Jesus: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19 New King James Version). The two statements are not the same. Jesus was referring to His crucifixion and resurrection, not the Jewish temple.
But suddenly, the Kangaroo court changed the charge against Jesus from the issue of temple destruction to blasphemy, which was contrary to the Hebrew law. This followed Jesus’ answer to the high priest’s question to tell him if He was the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 26:63). “Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death’” (Matthew 26:64-66 New King James Version). Just like that! What a travesty of justice! But they were ignorantly fulfilling the Scripture.
The next thing they did was to arraign Jesus before Pilate since they had no power to kill anyone without the approval of the Roman authority. And realising that Jesus could not be condemned on a charge of blasphemy by Pilate, since it had nothing to do with the Roman government, they changed the charge to treason. They were desperate to kill Him and went about it in such a crude way, changing charges. This showed that they were not interested in doing justice.
Before Pilate, they accused Jesus of subverting the nation, forbidding people to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming to be the Messiah (Christ), a King (Luke 23:2). They also said that He stirred up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to Jerusalem (verse 5). These were lies. It is condemnable that the leaders of the people, who should be doing justice, were the ones perverting it. Even when, eventually, Pilate found Jesus innocent, they pressured him to deliver Him to them to be crucified.
When Pilate tried to release Jesus by allowing the people to choose between releasing a criminal, Barabbas or Jesus, an innocent man, they influenced the people to demand Barabbas’ release. If the chief priests were sincere that Jesus was guilty of treason, why did they ask the people to demand the release of Barabbas, who was guilty of insurrection and murder, and was subsequently imprisoned? (Luke 23:18-19, 25; Mark 15:7).
Jesus never led any insurrection against Rome, but the Jewish leaders falsely accused Him. Barabbas was convicted and imprisoned for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem. However, the people demanded his release. Was Barabbas a better choice than Jesus? The chief priests were not honourable. They allowed envy to becloud their sense of justice. They succeeded in crucifying Jesus, but this was in fulfilment of the Scripture.
Jesus’ trial and crucifixion were a perversion of justice. Jesus did not get justice before Annas, the Sanhedrin headed by the high priest (Caiaphas), Herod, and Pilate. Annas, a deposed high priest who still wielded considerable influence at the time as the father-in-law of the serving high priest, Caiaphas. As the power behind the scenes and still referred to as high priest, Annas questioned Jesus at night and privately at his home – a preliminary examination, not a formal trial. However, in his presence, one of his officers slapped Jesus. The Jewish law forbade this.
Also, the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin, in Jesus’ trial, violated the law, such as the time of trial, the venue, and the speed of passing a guilty verdict on Him. The trial was conducted illegally at night rather than in the daytime, and on the eve of the Sabbath. It was held in Caiaphas’ house instead of the official court, since it was a capital case. Caiaphas was already biased. He had earlier advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people (John 18:14). As stated previously, the Council procured false witnesses whose testimonies could not agree.
It was not surprising that the Sanhedrin rushed the trial of Jesus and passed a death sentence on Him. According to the ancient Jewish law, Jesus could not be convicted based on his own testimony. But the Council convicted Him.
There are other proofs that the trial of Jesus was a perversion of justice. What about the trial before Herod? After Pilate had sent Jesus to Herod because Jesus’ case was within his jurisdiction, Luke 23:11 says Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Him. They treated Jesus like a convict when He had not yet been pronounced guilty.
In his prophecy about Jesus’ suffering, the prophet Isaiah said, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken” (Isaiah 53:7-8 New King James Version). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.
Although God ordained the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, learn from the perversion of justice that took place while the prophecy was being fulfilled. Peter said in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost, “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2:23 New International Version). Similarly, the early church in their prayer in Acts 4:27-28 said, “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen” (New International Version).
Jesus was denied justice. Perpetrators of injustice may enjoy it, but they should know that whatever anyone sows, he shall also reap (Galatians 6:7). Therefore, it’s always good to obey the Word of God and execute justice. Promote justice; don’t pervert it. The people who pervert the course of justice often cry the loudest when they become victims.
God is a God of justice. He gave the Israelites laws that had to do with justice for all, including the poor and needy, strangers, afflicted, fatherless, and widows. The laws related to bribery, false witnesses, fair hearings, sanctions, etc. These are still relevant today (Exodus 23:2; Deuteronomy 1:17; 16:19; 24:17; 27:19; Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 17:23; 21:3). Execute justice; don’t pervert it.
God does not pervert justice (Job 8:3). “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4 New King James Version). Emulate Him. Whatever you are and wherever you are, don’t pervert justice. Whether you’re a magistrate, judge, leader, or whatever, don’t pervert justice. Do justice to all and injustice to none. As Amos 5:24 says, let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Execute justice.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: I shall not pervert justice in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit, enable me to do justice to all and injustice to none. I pray that in our courts, societies, and the world in general, justice shall run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. We shall execute justice and not pervert it in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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