The administration of justice aims to ensure that truth governs human behaviour. A ruler or king deemed to neglect justice is labelled as evil, while one who administers justice truthfully is seen as righteous. Thus, God’s righteousness is achievable when justice prevails over favouritism. In recent times, Zimbabwe has witnessed various injustices perpetrated by politicians. It has been noted that judges are vetting criminals in the courts based on political ties, often under duress.
Often, individuals who commit crimes are seen as victims, while those who report victimization are treated as offenders. It takes rational individuals to challenge such behaviour, as only the malevolent would tolerate injustice. Righteousness is defined by the ability to administer fair justice. History’s most profound miscarriage of justice is symbolized by the substitution of Jesus’ death sentence for that of Barabbas.
Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified (Matthew 27:15-26 NKJV).
One factor leading to miscarriages of justice is identified as stemming from envy. Governor Pilate recognized that the desire to execute Jesus was born out of envy. Remarkably, even with this knowledge, he could not challenge those individuals. Envy, which arises from pride, is often the sole reason for people to act unjustly towards others.
No other description could suit the contemptible drama that unfolded that day. How could the masses so fervently prefer the condemnation of Jesus over a notorious criminal like Barabbas? Ironically, Barabbas’ name means “son of the father,” a stark contrast to Jesus, the true Son of the Father. The event laid bare the worldly condition where good is often depicted as evil, and vice versa.
The episode highlighted the clash of principles that make life exceedingly uncomfortable. Pride, driven by Satan, breeds envy in people’s lives. On the day Jesus was crucified, it seemed as though Satan had triumphed, the very force that would lead to Jesus’ ultimate victory. The spirit of Satan incited the crowd to kill Jesus. Yet, each person, despite their actions, understood the importance of justice. Absent Satan’s influence, they would recognize what true justice is.
The concept of justice is intrinsic to humanity, not just a divine decree. Those who seek truth in their judgments stand apart from those who dispense justice with bias. In Christianity, denominationalism exposes the challenges of upholding righteousness in religious affairs. The law of affinity often biases conclusions towards one’s own denominational ties.
Individuals within a specific denomination may lack impartiality when comparing their group favourably to others. Envy stems from pride, and humanity often administers justice based on personal biases. True justice, however, disregards personal gain and seeks the greater good of the majority. The warm feeling that comes with being part of a specific Christian congregation could be influenced by negative forces rather than divine ones. Aligning with God means seeing things from His perspective.
Christianity is meant to demonstrate Jesus’ love, yet often it exhibits the contrary. It’s not just the legal courts that are guilty of justice miscarriages; they occur in all human endeavours. Unfair promotions at work, parental favouritism, and teachers’ biases towards certain students are examples.
Even a married couple might plot evil under the guise of love. A judge could compromise justice due to racial or class biases. Judging by appearances is another form of injustice. In theory, the administration of justice should not tolerate any error, no matter how small.
“Better is a little with righteousness, Rather Than vast revenues without justice. A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps. Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s; All the weights in the bag are His work. It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right” (Proverbs 16:8-13 NKJV).
Similar to truthfulness, justice cannot be influenced by one’s interests. Had the consideration of self-interests been the factor, Jesus could not have died on the cross. Proper justice disregards one’s interest but focuses on benefitting others, rather than oneself—a condition commonly mistaken for stupidity. Putting self-interests ahead of everyone else is commonly, considered to be wisdom. Truth is a spiritual term that cannot be shaken by falsehood, whereas, falsehood cannot stand the test of time.
“Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice” (Psalms 37:27-30 NKJV).
The above Scripture surmises two categories of rulers. The first category projects the mind of Satan, rather than God’s mind. The second group surmises the existence of people who think like Christ. Barabbas was a descendant of Satan, unlike Jesus who considered the interests of others, thereby, representing God. Therefore, truth is not difficult to discern, for any normal human being.
The multitudes who vociferously demanded the release of Barabbas were not driven by fair justice. They were demonically driven by Satan through the medium of envy, thereby demonstrating a failure to confront the truth. No person with self-interest can administer fair justice. In his letter to Timothy, Paul suggested that the love of money was the root of evil. Paul had observed the advancement of the false gospel.
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can certainly carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV).
Greed is attractive to physical humans. Anything that benefits the physical body is assumed to contribute to survival. However, the factor of survival is not found in the physical body whose destiny is the grave. Hence, Jesus said, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). Life cannot be found in the physical body, but in the spirit.
The body is drawn to receiving, which can be a source of negativity, while the spirit creates the life that upholds virtue. The principles of living are rooted in the act of giving, as receiving can lead to stagnation. Those who find guaranteed joy in life are those who are devoted to giving. The more they give, the more joy they experience. Conversely, the more one receives the deeper one sinks into unhappiness.
Lacking this knowledge, impoverished nations often attribute their struggles to divine will. They view wealthier nations as blessed, while they themselves grapple with the discomforts of poverty. This belief is widely held, albeit erroneously, and reinforced by the continuous acceptance of aid from developed countries. The cycle of dependency deepens their poverty; the more aid they receive, the more entrenched their indigence becomes.
The principles of nature hinge on active participation in one’s own sustenance. Life can be likened to a game where the joy comes from being an active participant. Ultimately, it is the act of contributing to the well-being of others that holds the greatest significance for such individuals. Relying on others for one’s existence is detrimental, as it strips away the essence of life. True survival is achieved by fostering the survival of others.
Truth can be established through various methods. In matters of survival, the domain of science is considered paramount. Objects designed scientifically are deemed reliable, provided there is adherence to the discipline of maintaining technological standards. Digital communication systems stay operational, provided they are applied technologically. It is a notable fact that consistent focus on truth yields results that are consistent and without variation.
Truth requires technological applications if desired results can be achieved. Any other way of handling information supplied by Jesus cannot produce the required results. After giving His lecture, as documented in Matthew, Chapters 5, 6 and 7, Jesus gave a parable that summarized the significance of Jesus’ teachings. Scientifically speaking, there cannot be any structure that stands without a foundation on which to stand. True Christianity implies taking cognizance of the fundamentals provided by Jesus.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.” And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:24-28 NKJV).
There is truth in that when trusting Jesus’ words, the purpose of attaining salvation becomes achievable. But when accessing truth, as the only factor that leads to righteousness, the technological application of everything said by Jesus becomes necessary. Otherwise, each Christian is not different from Jesus, who preferred calling such Christians His brothers and sisters. The term “brother” should be understood as implying equality, among those concerned.
Miracles often captivate those who express their love for Jesus, inspired by the wonders performed in His name. This is beneficial as long as it leads to a transformation in that individual’s life, paving the way for an appreciation of Jesus’ teachings. The gift of life grants us the chance for such transformation. Yet, without spiritual awareness, mere physical communication can leave humanity in bondage.
Simon Peter and his brother Andrew were drawn to Christianity by witnessing Jesus’ miracles, which led to their conversion. Among all the miracles Jesus performed, none is more profound than the miracle of self-discovery. This pivotal truth alters one’s outlook, as one starts to assume complete accountability for their surroundings.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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