Innocent Blood

Jeremiah 26:8-15

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

On December 19, 2023, Glynn Simmons was released from prison in Oklahoma. He had been incarcerated for 48 years, one month, and 18 days, convicted of murder. In 1975, 22 year old Glynn was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to death (which was later changed to life in prison). The only wrinkle is that Glynn didn’t do it. The only witness to the crime picked four different people who weren’t Glynn, before then settling on him. The report about the witness’s inconsistent testimony wasn’t shared with Glynn or his attorney. Glynn wasn’t even in the state when the murder happened, and his alibi was verified. When Glynn was 70 years old, he was released from prison and his conviction overturned. Still, Glynn can’t get back those 48 years. There’s a state-set cap of a restitution for wrongful conviction of $175,000, which seems like a paltry sum for almost 50 years of someone’s life. Glynn also holds the unfortunate record of longest incarceration of someone wrongly convicted before exoneration. This account, and other wrongful conviction accounts, horrify us and pull on our heart-strings. We can’t imagine the trauma of a wrongful conviction for ourselves or a loved one.

The prophet Jeremiah was on trial, and it was a capital case. The Lord sent Jeremiah to warn the people of Jerusalem that the temple would be destroyed and the city of Jerusalem would fall and become a desert wilderness. The officials of Judah put Jeremiah on trial right there in the temple. Jeremiah presented his defense, but to the officials, Jeremiah’s defense demanded that they simply take the prophet’s word for it that the Lord had sent him. Jeremiah didn’t back down from his prophecy, but instead doubled down, calling the officials again to mend their ways and their deeds and obey the Lord. Then, he recognized that he was in their hands and that they might convict him and have him killed, even though he had been commanded to prophecy against them by the Lord. But he did warn them that if they put him to death, they would shed innocent blood.

Death can’t be undone. If the officials put Jeremiah to death, they couldn’t go back on it. Even for wrongly convicted Glynn, he can’t have those 48 years back, and no amount of money can make that right. But Jeremiah’s words serve as a warning and a prophecy, not about the shedding of his blood, but about someone else. For Jeremiah, some of the officials calmed the people to keep him from death, and even one of King Joshiah’s officials was able to keep Jeremiah from the hand of the people. That day, no innocent blood was shed.

But about 500 years later, there was another capital trial. Someone else had spoken against the temple, saying “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” That same One was put on trial for speaking against the temple. Instead of the officials coming to the temple, Jesus was taken to the court of Pontius Pilate for judgement. Pilate asked the crowd why Jesus should be executed, since Pilate could find no guilt in Jesus. He asked the crowd repeatedly why Jesus should be killed. Even Pilate’s wife was aware of Jesus’ innocence, sending word to Pilate, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” (Mt 27:19) But the crowd would not be dissuaded. Finally, Pilate called for a bowl of water and washed his hands in front of the bloodthirsty crowd, saying that he washed his hands of Jesus’ blood. The people responded by saying, “Let His blood be on us and on our children!” (Mt 27:25)

So, the innocent, righteous man was convicted. He wasn’t merely put in prison, but was immediately led out to the Place of the Skull for immediate execution by crucifixion. The innocent man was immediately killed with the full knowledge, consent, and affirmation of the crowd. The death of innocent Jesus, with His holy, righteous blood shed for the crowd and for you, is exactly what sinners need. It’s exactly what you need. Jesus finished His course in Jerusalem, suffering and dying for you. The death of an innocent man looks tragic. Death cannot be undone, and this innocent death can’t be reversed.

At least, that’s the way it’s worked in the past. But this innocent death, warned about by Jeremiah, and hands washed of it by Pilate, is different. This innocent death is reversed. Jesus was raised from the dead, alive and still innocent and righteous. Death could not contain Him. By His innocent death, you are saved. The Lord subjected Himself to death so that you would live forever. Not only does Jesus, the innocent, live again, but so do you. You are not imprisoned nor killed for your sin because Jesus, the innocent man, took your place.

For Glynn, his wrongful conviction was overturned by a judge who declared that he was innocent of the crime he had been charged with, and he was free to go. For you, the Judge of all creation, Jesus, declared that you are innocent of the sins you did commit because He innocently took your place, and He declares that you are free of your sins and will live together because He has made you as innocent and He is. Amen.