Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You over to me. What have You done?" John 18:35

It's only been a little over a month since those pre-election political advertisements came to a grinding, screeching halt.

And although the election is over, I cannot but believe that those ads have not been forgotten. I say that because a new Gallup survey says that only one in ten Americans rate the honesty and ethical standards of Congress as being "high" or "very high." That same survey showed that 54 percent of Americans think those lawgivers in Washington have very low ethical values.

That's probably what happens when you take months of time, spending millions of dollars, telling people how unreliable and untrustworthy your opponent is. No matter who gets elected they are going to enter office looking like a rapscallion and scalawag. Still, when Congress is ranked just a smidgen above car salesmen -- who are at the bottom of the list -- that is a sad thing.

This got me to wondering how would people rank you or me?

If somebody like Pontius Pilate came up to us and asked, "What have you done wrong?" what would we say?

If we were being honest, we all would have to confess we've made our fair share of mistakes, and we've all committed a multitude of transgressions. Scripture says there isn't a just man on the earth, who always does good and doesn't sin. You and I, my friends, are not the exception to that rule.

But there is an exception.

That exception is Jesus. Jesus is the only Person who has ever lived and never did anything wrong. Indeed, if He had done wrong, He wouldn't have been our Redeemer. In order for Jesus to save us, His entire life from beginning to end had to be perfect. Not the smallest infraction of God's laws was allowed; not the least of the commandments could be broken.

In spite of temptations to sin, in the face of opportunities to think only of Himself, Jesus did what was asked of Him. His life was perfect, as was His fulfillment of the prophecies made about the Redeemer. His suffering, His death, and our sins that He carried were all done according to the Father's plan of salvation.

Now, because of what He has done, and because of what He never did wrong, you and I have been saved, forgiven and granted an eternal home in heaven.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for all Jesus did and for the sins He didn't commit when He ministered here on earth. May I, in the way I live my life, show my appreciation and reflect His importance to me. In His Name. Amen.

PS - The groups which were highest rated in the survey were nurses, pharmacists, medical doctors, engineers, police officers, college teachers and clergy.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Esther 1-2    Matthew 1    Luke 3

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