Deuteronomy 29-30
Psalm 31
Mark 15
-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)
Other than being selected for jury duty and settling a speeding ticket—both nearly twenty years ago—I have very limited courtroom experience. Most of my perception of trials comes from cinema. Films like To Kill a Mockingbird, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Few Good Men often portray the defense similarly: counsel advises the defendant to remain quiet, not allowing emotion to lead to self-incrimination through testimony or reaction.
In Mark 15, we see Jesus standing trial. Though not advised by earthly counsel, He embodies perfect restraint. Blameless, perfect, and fully justified, He stands before Pontius Pilate, accused for declaring the truth—that He is the Son of the living God. Every defense was at His disposal. He could have commanded, cajoled, or called down divine power. But instead, “Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed” (Mark 15:5). The only One who could offer a true testimony chose silence on behalf of our guilt.
This frames the words of Deuteronomy 30 in a different light. “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Yet before us stands Jesus, choosing the path that lead to crucifixion in order to spare us. He bore our sins, knowing He would be justified by the Father and raised to eternal life. Moses calls God’s people to choose life, but that life is not found in preserving ourselves.
In Psalm 31, we hear the cry that echoes both David and Christ: “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God” (Psalm 31:5). To live in the Spirit of God is to entrust ourselves fully to His care. It means we do not grasp for every opportunity to justify ourselves or defend our image. When pride rises and we feel compelled to prove our righteousness, we may be stepping away from the cross we are called to bear. After all, it was Barabbas—the guilty—who was released, while Jesus, the innocent, accepted his date.
This is the paradox of the Christian life: “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25). Our heart, soul, mind, and strength are not meant to empower self but to surrender fully. Jesus knew that accepting His sentence would yield eternal glory. Likewise, we stand before our Heavenly Father not with arguments, merits, or credentials, but with a desperate plea for mercy—relying on Jesus Christ, our mediator and counselor
Choosing death is not choosing despair. It is the daily decision to lay down our rights, our pride, and our need to justify ourselves—and instead trust fully in the example of Jesus Christ. We choose conviction. We choose meekness. We choose death.
Reflection Questions
- Can you think of a time when you chose to not defend yourself even though you would have been justified to do so? Can you think of a time you did defend yourself but it might have been better if you had not? Why was Jesus silent?
- What could it look like to today live out Psalm 31:5 – “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God”? What do you want God to deliver you from? What does God want to deliver you from? In what ways have you been trying to hold onto your own spirit, your rights, your way of doing things?
- How many times do you think you could read Mark 15 today?
Prayer
Dear God, I praise You for Your amazing love for me and the whole human race, a love so deep you gave us the greatest gift, at the cost of the life of Your perfect Son. I thank You for Jesus who teaches us how to life in obedience to You and how to die to self. I thank You for Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Mark 15. Thank you for the written record of Your love and faithfulness and Your plan unfolding. Help me to love You and Your Son Jesus well today. In his precious name I pray.
Seek Grow Love 