“The blood of this upright man is not on my hands: you are responsible.” (Matt 27:24, BBE)
The previous few teachings were all centered around our indebtedness concerning the blood that was shed through us and our forefathers, whether it be word or deed that killed, by rock or by tongue. These Scriptures state that we, with our religious fathers who thought that they were busy protecting the work and church of God, are collectively carrying the blood of the brothers which was innocently shed. This is the main reason, we gathered, why we do not prosper. We are the “betrayers and murders” of Jesus and all the other prophets who were part of the unfolding of the revelation of Christ, which we, in our limited religious understanding of things, were not willing to accept. Rob Bell, in his book Velvet Elvis, uses the image of a beautiful painting of Elvis Presley that he owns. He says that he could say that it is the most amazing artistic capabilities that made this painting possible. And actually, he says, one could argue that there is no way in which the painting could be improved upon, and thus there is no reason why anybody else should be doing any further painting at all – this is the absolute ultimate in the art of painting.
You will agree that it is completely ridiculous to argue such a point. Regardless of the beauty or technical perfection of a painting, it will never limit the myriad of other possibilities open to paint and canvas. Even the work of children is sometimes of greater worth than the most expensive painting of an old master. Yet, Bell argues, we have exactly the same attitude when it comes to issues of faith. Our spiritual convictions are our Velvet Elvis. From our perspective our religious convictions are perfect and complete and hang framed against the wall of our lives. No one is interested in again going back to repaint certain patches – the picture you have is just too complete.
The danger of this is that we eventually box God into our absolute limited understanding of Him. The irony even extends further – this has long not been a painting, but is a mere copy of a copy of a copy of the original painting. We can’t even still discern whose signature is at the bottom of the painting, but this does not faze us – we feel safe when we are able to secure God between four frames, enabling our control over Him. Often our faith is more about the security and doctrine that allows us to control God so that He cannot control us. To a great extent our understanding of the cross of Jesus is a beautiful example of a Velvet Elvis. We know that it is important, but it is hard for us to consider why Paul would state in 1 Cor 2:2 that – “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” This is Paul’s way of saying that the cross is the most important facet of any knowledge concerning God. Alas it has been so jaded by tradition that it has lost the full power of its meaning.
Why did Pilate, when he had to condemn Jesus to a crucifixion, say “The blood of this upright man is not on my hands: you are responsible.” (Matt 27:24)? Exactly the same words were spoken to Jude when he became remorseful of his act of betrayal towards Jesus – “’I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’‘What is that to us?’ they replied. ‘That’s your responsibility.’” (Matt 27:4, TNIV). Yes, that is our responsibility, mine and yours – it is our business to deal with it.
- Sela: Consider this teaching prayerfully at the hand of Zech 12:10.
- Read: Lev 7 (very important in the context of this teaching); Neh 4; Isa 47
- Memorise: Neh 4:15
- For a deeper understanding: Read chapter 2 of John MacArthur’s The love of God.
