The day after Christmas usually finds parents recuperating and children playing with their new toys or electronics. For me, this day began by reading about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in John 19. Jesus was a truly innocent man, guilty of nothing worthy of death, declared to be so by Pilate, the highest regional governmental authority in Israel (18:38; 19:4,6). But politics often perverts or disregards justice, and that was definitely the case with Jesus. As much as the Jewish leaders hated Rome, they found it convenient to claim allegiance to Caesar as their king and challenged Pilate’s loyalty to Caesar, if he set Jesus free (12, 15). Since Pilate feared Caesar’s displeasure more than God’s, he yielded to the pressure of the people.
Government is supposed to punish evildoers and praise those who do good (1 Peter 2:14). Government is supposed to act as God’s servant carrying out God’s punishment on those who do evil (Romans 13:3-4). But that was not the case with Jesus, the one who only went about doing good (Acts 10:38). However, even this travesty of justice in the unlawful killing of Jesus was part of God’s plan for his Son and for sinners like me (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28). How else could sinners be pardoned of our unquestionable & profound guilt, unless a righteous person should die for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18)? My forgiveness was bought and paid for by the innocent blood of Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders and Pilate (along with Herod) freely acted according to their own sinful will, but they were simply acting out their part in the tragic play written and scripted by God. God’s word recorded in sacred Scripture determined the actions and outcome that dark day (22, 28, 36, 37; Acts 13:27-29).
The day after Christmas is indeed a day to enjoy one’s gifts. One of the best gifts of all is the forgiveness of sins. So, for me, the day after Christmas is a day to remember the death of Jesus, for that’s why he said he came. Glory to God in the highest! Not only for the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14), but also for his death (John 12:27-28).
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