The Evil Within

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE EVIL WITHIN

John 19:1-6

19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" 6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!"

NIV

A scene or event that is so horrific, exposing the evil that resides with mankind is upon us. Although it would seem Pilate has some shred of rightness, he still handed Jesus over to his soldiers to be flogged. The soldiers show us want man is capable of doing. Of course their evil is minuscule in comparison to that of the chief priests, the religious ones in this scene. The soldiers were men of war, used to killing and death, they are men who may well have little education and little to not regard for God. They are members of the Roman Empire, with a sworn allegiance to Caesar, but nevertheless they are still men, men who when given the opportunity demonstrate their wicked hearts do just that. The crown of thorns, the purple robe, the striking upon his face, not really needed as a part of flogging. Ridicule comes from within, flogging happens without. But the worst demonstration of evil comes from those who profess allegiance to Almighty God. We see their residing evil when they shout “Crucify! Crucify!” as it is certainly based on their wicked hearts rather than their righteous religiosity. All mankind is capable of such evil, we have to understand we are no different, even if we believe we would never be that kind of wicked. For the most part most people are not that wicked, or at least keep that wickedness harnessed. Some perhaps because of the fear of the consequence from the laws of the land, others because of both the laws of the land and the laws of God, but both still have the capacity for evil. This is the war that wages within us, this is that which Paul talks about. The things we wish we did not do, we do, and the things we desire to do we do not. It is the war within good versus evil. If we refuse to accept this part of our being, we ignore the truth. If we think we are righteous within ourselves in any manner we call God a liar, for he is our righteousness. Our righteousness is as filthy rages. Taking pride in our being a “Good Christian” is sinful, as pride is sin. We must understand we are only righteous in the sight of God because of Jesus. Although we have sworn allegiance to God by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Savior, and we have the right to be called children of God, we still have within our being the ability to do evil. The more and more we spend time with God, the more authority we give to him, the less and less we give authority to the evil within, but it is still there and we must always be aware of it, and overcome those temptations with the help and the power of the Holy Spirit. The soldiers gave themselves to evil, the chief priests gave themselves over to evil, we cannot afford to do it, there is too much at stake. When we do slip up, when we do allow ourselves to have authority we must seek forgiveness from our God. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, but we must confess the evil that resides within.