Sometimes, job applications ask for the names of "character references." Why? Before hiring a person, prospective employers may wish to know about his character. Let me share with you some of the "testimonies" regarding the character of Jesus Christ.
God, the Father. "And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." {Matthew 3:17} "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" {Matthew 17:5} Could anyone receive higher testimony. God the Father testified to His Son's faithful obedience and voiced His pleasure in Him.
Demons from Hell. "Saying, Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" {Mark 1:24} Often, there's much to be learned from a man's enemies! Even the demons, Satan's messengers, knew that Jesus was holy. According to James 2:19, they even trembled, understanding His true identity-the Son of God.
Judas, the traitor. "...I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us? You see to it." {Matthew 27:4} A member of the inner circle, one of the twelve, had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. When he realized they were going to do more than "beat him and release him," Judas felt remorse. He knew that Jesus was innocent of the false charges they brought against Him.
Herod, the king. "No, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him." {Luke 23:15} When Pilate learned that Jesus was from Galilee, he attempted to transfer his problem to King Herod. Yet, having a purely selfish reason for seeing Jesus (he hoped to see Him perform a miracle), Herod released Him because he found nothing worthy of death in Jesus. He was an innocent man.
Pilate, the governor. "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." {Matthew 27:23,24} On three different occasions, Pilate pronounced Jesus not guilty! Yet, being cowardly he gave Him over to be crucified, even though He knew He was a just Man! Pilate may have washed his hands, but the blood of Christ was still on them.
The penitent robber. "Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, if You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." {Luke 23:39-41} Even the thief knew that Jesus was a just and innocent man.
All of this testimony speaks volumes about the just and righteous character of a godly man. Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and even those who treated him badly could not find fault with His character. Dear reader, can you?