Bringing Up Your Past To Bring You Down- Jesus Understands

When Jesus is on trial before his crucifixion... they can't find anything wrong.
The only thing they can do is hold his past words and sermons against Him,

"He said he would tear down and rebuild the temple in 3 days..." 

In a time where people and leaders have to be more conscious about what they publicly say, stand for, or write, we must remember: this is a part of walking the path of Jesus.

With the un-erasible internet and digital media trails, anything can inevitably be dug up and used against leaders today.  This is a different pressure, but not a new problem.  People will inevitably try and hold your words and your past against you.

It is not a matter of having the perfect past, but of God redeeming us and taking us to where He wants us to go.
Of standing strong and pushing through what we don't deserve towards what matters.
Jesus' focus was not about defending his past words but in loving forward to the cross.

To keep from stumbling as Christians,

 we must make every effort to possess God's qualities 

and never forget we have been cleansed from our past sins.

    For this very reason, make every effort to possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ: add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

      But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.  Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

2 Peter 1:5-11