Opinion: Jesus shed His blood for all humanity

Religion columnist

I heard a remarkable story that has a parallel for this Easter season.

More than a half century ago, a young single British nurse served her country faithfully in WWII. She had proven herself to be a loyal and fearless nurse who witnessed the unimaginable as the wounded Britain troops were brought into the makeshift hospitals. The nurse dressed their amputation wounds, lovingly worked to administer medication and gently swabbed the soldiers who were running high fevers. In her career, she had held the hand of many dying soldiers. This young nurse worked tirelessly because she felt a calling to the soldiers who had sacrificed for her freedom.

When the war was over, the Allied countries were faced with trying those Nazi men who were merciless in their torture and execution of so many. The nurse, by some directive from British authorities above her, was asked to be an observer at one of the Nuremburg trials. Even though the war was over, the fear of retribution from these heartless men still weighed heavily among those who had just gone through the terrible war. Yet the young British nurse she committed to be an observer.

The day came for the young nurse to fulfill her duty as an observer in the Nuremburg trials. The Allied countries consisting of Great Britain, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union had two dozen Nazi officials with war crimes. The young nurse rallied her strength and put on the outfit she had reserved for serious occasions and she left her tiny apartment to be escorted miles away for the proceedings in Nuremberg.

She watched as the men on trial were escorted in to the room under tight security. Their faces of defiance caught the eyes of the witnesses. Even though guilty of terrible atrocities, they acted as though they were above the law of humanity and the law of justice. The young nurse said those men were defiant and the accumulations of the sins of the accused weighed heavy in the atmosphere in the courtroom. The verdicts: GUILTY.

Another trial was held over 2,000 years ago — Jesus’ trial. Yet, the accused was guilty of nothing but helping feeble humanity. Not only that, the trial was unlawful in several areas. Jewish law said no spies could be used in criminal trials, yet Judas fit that role. Jewish law stipulated there could be no arrests or trials at night. Jesus was arrested at night. The meeting of the Sanhedrin the next morning brought two false witnesses to testify against Jesus. The Jewish law required there be two true witnesses to each fact. They could find no other witnesses. The high priest asked Jesus to speak for himself. Under Jewish law, no prisoner could be asked to testify against himself. Jesus did state that he was the Messiah.

Jesus the accused was mocked, beaten and treated inhumanely. Though it all, He offered no defense. He stood humble and meek and cooperated with the authorities. The verdict: GUILTY.

What a difference in the two types of trials. One group sat in defiance, even showing insolence. Jesus stood before His accusers so humble and meek.

One group hated the Jews. Jesus was a Jew.

One group’s members were filled with hate. Jesus loves all of us and no matter what, always will. The writer of Romans said that nothing can separate us from God’s love: “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38)

One group murdered millions; Jesus shed His blood on the Cross and was the sacrifice for all humanity.

The prophet Isaiah wrote: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

The extremes are obvious and overwhelming. Jesus, the sinless One, took all our sin — even the sin of those that were tried in Nuremberg.

Judy Brandon writes about faith for the Clovis News Journal. Contact her at:

[email protected]