June 2 – Reading Luke 22:66 – 23:25

 

Read and believe in Jesus.

“I find no fault in this Man.”  Luke

.

The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus is arrested and taken away. Peter, following into the courtyard, denies his Lord three times.  Jesus looks at him, and he remembers, running out and weeping bitterly. Jesus is mocked and blasphemed.

.

Vss. 15:66-71.

At Caiaphas’ house, Jesus was questioned and abused (see Matthew’s account). Witnesses were called, but none could agree. When morning came, the “official” trial began with the full 70-member Sanhedrin meeting. They’d already decided to put Jesus to death; this was simply the formal charge.

Caiaphas: “IF you are the Christ, tell us.”

Jesus: “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer.  But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

The whole council: “Are you the Son of God, then?

Jesus: “You said it.”

The whole council: “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from His own lips.”

.

(There was at least one member who voted ‘nay,’ Joseph of Arimathea. It’s possible the ‘secret believer,’ Nicodemus, also did not vote ‘yes.’ But they had all they needed in this illegal trial.)

.

Vss. 23:1-5.

Settled in their own minds and law, they also needed to ensure the death penalty.  The Council took Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate, for this.

The Council: “We found this man misleading our nation…”

The Council: “…and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar…”

The Council: “…and saying that He himself is Christ, a king.”

Pilate: Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus: “You said it.”

Speaking to the chief priests and the crowd, Pilate declared, “I find no guilt in this man.”

The Council: “He stirs up the people…”

The Council: “…teaching throughout all Judea…”

The Council: “…from Galilee even to this place!”

Pilate: “Galilee?”

.

Vss. 23:6-12.

When Pilate heard that, he asked if Jesus was a Galilean. And when he heard that Jesus belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod… who himself was in Jerusalem at the time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see Him, because he had heard about Him, and he was hoping to see some miracle done by Him.

Herod questioned Him at some length, but Jesus made no answer.

The chief priests and scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him.

But no deal. Jesus remained silent.

Miffed, Herod, with his soldiers, treated Jesus with contempt and mocked Him. Then, arraying Him in splendid clothing, he sent Jesus back to Pilate.

(“And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.”)

.

Vss. 15:13-17.

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people (the Sanhedrin and a growing crowd).

“You brought me this Man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining Him before you, behold, I did not find this Man guilty of any of your charges against Him. Neither did Herod, for he sent Him back to us.

“Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.  I will therefore punish and release Him.”

.

Vss. 15:18-25.

But they all cried out together, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.”

(Now Barabbas was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.)

Pilate tried to release Jesus instead.

The crowd: “Crucify, crucify Him!”

Pilate: “WHY? What evil has He done?  I have found in Him NO GUILT DESERVING DEATH. I will therefore punish and release Him.”

The manic crowd chanted: “CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY!”

So, Pilate granted their demand. He released Barabbas and delivered Jesus over to their will.

.

(Ultimately, this was God’s will and plan (see Acts 2:23). The true Lamb of God was killed for the sins of the people.  Jesus, indeed, had ‘no guilt deserving death.’  But he carried our sin to the cross and was killed in our place.

2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake God made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.”)