The police in Los Angeles stop a black man for a traffic violation. The man, Rodney King, is allegedly beaten up by the four white policemen. The “police brutality” case goes to court and the jury acquits the policemen. The people feel it is so unjust that they riot, start fires, break store windows and steal from stores. Anarchy breaks out. There is no control. It is terrifying to the residents of that area.
Feelings are so strong that the violence spreads to other cites. Leaders of minority groups make speeches saying that unless something is done to stop the injustice there will be more violence.
So it goes in this world. Early in this world’s history the earth was filled with violence and corruption. The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence. (Genesis 6:1111The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. (Genesis 6:11).) At that time God intervened in judgment with the flood.
The judgment did not stop the wickedness and injustice of the human race. There have been many cases of injustice, but the worst took place over nineteen hundred years ago.
It was like this: Jesus was born into this world. He never disobeyed, hurt or destroyed. God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:1717For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17).)
Jesus’ mission in this world is summed up in Matthew 4:2323And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23): Jesus went about . . . teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. He also fed crowds of people. He raised the dead.
His perfect sinlessness was declared: He knew no sin - He did no sin - In Him is no sin. At last God had One in this world who pleased Him. The heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16,1716And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16‑17).)
How did the world treat this holy, harmless, undefiled One? They took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk. The religious leaders assembled together . . . and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him. They spit in His face and buffeted Him. One of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand.
Pilate, the Roman judge, asked, What evil hath He done? and the people cried out, Let Him be crucified. Pilate washed his hands before them and said, I am innocent of the blood of this just person.
Pilate then ordered Jesus to be whipped and commanded his soldiers to crucify Him. The soldiers took Jesus and stripped Him and put a crown of thorns on His head and spit on Him. There was more that was done to this innocent One of whom the judge declared three times, I find no fault in this man.
Enough has been recounted to show that there was a gross injustice done that day, the worst this world has ever seen. Even the sun stopped shining for three hours and there was a great earthquake, BUT no one rioted or caused a stir on behalf of this holy Sufferer!
What was the result of all this?
Rodney King pleaded with the people to calm down and stop causing a disturbance.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the victim of hatred and injustice, pleads with you now to come to Him for pardon for your sins. Even though we are guilty, He wants to forgive us. He will not only forgive you, but will give you eternal life and a home in heaven to be eternally with Him in His Father’s house.
He says, Come unto Me. . . . Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.
Have you come to Him, believing? If not, why not?
Do it now!
vvv
I am standing outside your door tonight,
Seeking your heart to win;
The world for a while has withdrawn its light -
Will you open and let Me in?
I am standing to plead with you tonight
While the dews of evening fall;
O’er the moaning and surging wave of life
Do you hear My yearning call?
From the glorious heights of heaven I came
To seek you and to save,
But the world, it gave Me a cross of shame
And a lonely, borrowed grave.
You have wandered far in the paths of sin;
You are weary and sad and lone,
But My blood can cleanse, and My blood can win;
May I make your heart My own?
The world, it has given you care and pain,
Often famine and misery;
I can offer the treasures of priceless gain -
Will you open the door to Me?
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.