Good morning, everyone. I pray you are well. Thank you for reading.
Today we will continue our journey with Jesus to the cross and beyond.
As an introduction over the past few weeks I have spoken what to some may sound hyperbolic, but that I believe is quite true, it’s all about Jesus.
For an individual to understand the point I am making here, that individual would need to understand and truly grasp just who Jesus is. Jesus is. Jesus is. Say this out loud, Jesus is.
Jesus is ________. Jesus is, fill in the blank. Go ahead, fill it in,
Jesus is: Lord, God, Creator, Savior, Messiah, Deliverer, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Alpha and Omega, the Ancient of Days, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Lord of all, Love, Joy, Peace, Goodness, Patience, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control, the Way, the Truth, the Life, a tender shoot, a lamb to slaughter, lamb, Lamb of God, despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, the punishment that brought us peace, oppressed and afflicted, our Sin, and our Death.
This is quite a list, and the amazing thing is that this list is not close to being complete. The final two, our Sin, and our Death, must be listed this way, because Jesus was sinless until our sin was cast upon him, and he subsequently died our death and was resurrected, which means he did not stay dead.
He did die; he had to. This was his mission. But he did not stay dead. Which was also his mission.
If you do not agree with me about it all being about Jesus, just read this short, incomplete list every morning for a month. See if you do not agree with me after that month. Because it is all about Jesus.
Now today we are going to look at Jesus’ arrest and trial. What is amazing is that if this were a play, it could not have been written to be any more dramatic, any more passion filled.
The bad guys have their way with Jesus. He allows them to. It is evident in what takes place. This is evident in what is said by Jesus and what is not said by Jesus. The Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law do not have the political authority to kill Jesus. Annas and his son-in-law Caiaphas do not have the power to order the crucifixion of anyone. But the Roman Governor, Pilate does have the authority to crucify Jesus. But what seems quite obvious to me is that he really doesn’t want to be the one responsible for ordering the execution of the king of the Jews. He senses something special about Jesus, maybe he even realizes it’s all about Jesus too. We’ll be reading from John’s witness of Christ’s arrest and trial. Mainly because I love the interaction between Jesus and the governor. Just a note: I will be skipping over Peter’s three denials of Christ, so that we can remain focused on the arrest and trial.
Please pay attention to this: Jesus is in control throughout this process. It is God’s will that Christ is going to die on a cross. John 18:1-11,
“When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the Chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.”
“Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I am he,’ Jesus said. And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ And they said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’”
“‘I told you that I am he,’ Jesus answered. ‘If you are looking for me, then let these men go.’ This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: ‘I have not lost one of those you gave me.’ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”
Jesus is not in shock, nor wondering what is happening here. He knows all that was going to happen to him. In fact, he seems as though he’s in charge of his own arrest, which he is. So much so, that when Jesus admits that he is Jesus of Nazareth for the first time, the crowd draws back and falls to the ground. Remember, all knees will bow at the name of Jesus. Could this be a detachment of demon led soldiers? I do not know. But it is possible. Evil Spirits must bow to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whenever and wherever his name is spoken, or when in His presence.
Jesus was not some meek peasant or fisherman that was to be arrested. This man in the gloam of darkness was a majestic person. He was somebody, he was Jesus of Nazareth. A name known to every fallen angel and minion of Satan. A name that was and is feared.
I imagine that whenever Jesus said that ‘I am”, some of God’s power revealed itself in some way.
Jesus of Nazareth is in so much control of his own arrest, that he tells the soldiers to let the disciples go, and they do just that. John 18:12-14,
“Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.”
John here hinting at the bias against Jesus of the very ones who would stand in judgment of him. But, unbeknownst to John, it would be Pilate, at the urging of the Jews, who would ultimately pass judgment on Christ. John 18:19-24,
“Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ‘I have spoken openly to the world,’ Jesus replied. ‘I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.’”
“When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. ‘Is this the way you answer the high priest?’ he demanded. ‘If I said something wrong,’ Jesus replied, ‘testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth,
why did you strike me?’ Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.”
This all takes place to confirm (for history) the illegality of the process. Jewish law demands that witnesses were supposed to be brought in first, to establish guilt. Jewish law dictates that the accused was not required to prove his innocence. John’s version has no reference to the Jewish trial before Caiaphas. So, let’s go to Mark 14:57-62, Jesus is now before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin,
“Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’ Yet even then the testimony did not agree.”
“Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’”
“‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”
I am going to stop here because I want to explain what Jesus just said, and why it so upset Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.
You may not realize it, but Jesus just prophesied to the chief priest and the Sanhedrin. “And you will see the Son Of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
This is a direct reference to a vision of Daniel, 7:13 and Psalm 110:1-7. Caiaphas and all the Teachers of the Law would know and understand these references. In a way, Jesus is telling them that he will see them at his second advent, and that he will be there on the throne, at the right hand of his Heavenly Father, when he (Jesus) will proceed to conquer the nations and pass judgment on the lost, of which, Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin will be included. Unless they have a change of heart.
This is a mic drop by Jesus.
Jesus is not going to lie. Think about it. He is not going to blow smoke and exaggerate, anything about anything. He must die on the cross sinless to complete the mission correctly. What he is telling the Jewish leaders is this: When this is all over, I will see you, and you will see me, as I judge you for your sins at the judgment. Look it up in Daniel 7 and Psalm 110.
I cannot emphasize how much this truthful prophecy by Jesus inflamed the emotions of these Jewish leaders.
Remember, Jesus is in control of his arrest and his trial. This prophecy from Christ has lit the flame of anger and revenge in these Jewish leaders. Without any doubt, they are now raging mad enough to crucify Jesus, no matter what.
Caiaphas tears his clothes, the group condemn Jesus, and now they begin spitting on Jesus and hitting him. They’re now going to take Jesus to Pilate. John 18:28-32,
“Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man?’ ‘If he were not a criminal,’ they replied, ‘we would not have handed him over to you.’”
“Pilate said, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.’ ‘But we have no right to execute anyone,’ the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.”
Now, Pilate is a smart guy. Mean, ruthless, cruel, and vengeful, but he’s a smart guy, a shrewd politician. He, at first glance, wants no part of this trial, and this is a smart initial reaction. However, Jesus and the Jews politically, trap Pilate in a corner here. He wants no problems with the Jews, for it will look bad in Rome. But first, he wants to talk with Jesus. I’m going to read now, what I believe to be one of the most surreal, fascinating, and consequential personal interactions in all of the Bible. John 18: 33-40, Jesus and Pilate are now speaking to one another.
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’”
“‘Is that your own idea,’ Jesus asked, ‘or did others talk to you about me?’’(Obviously, Jesus has no fear. In fact, this is a rational question.)
“‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate replied. ‘It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?’
(Please note that what Jesus now says is all truth). My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’”
“‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked. With this he went out to the Jews again and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release the king of the Jews?’”
“They shouted back, ‘No, not him! Give us Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.”
Pilate found nothing at all to charge Jesus with. He did not want to convict him of anything, much less to crucify him. My understanding of what is written here is that Pilate did believe that Jesus was the king of the Jews. Meaning: that Pilate was right. However, for his own political expediency, he chose to condemn an innocent man to crucifixion. Which is wrong, very wrong, and about as wrong as one could get. To placate his Jewish population he will have Jesus crucified.
Looking back, over the fascinating dialogue in scripture that we have covered today, I find this one fact to be interesting, Jesus allowed all of those in power to convict him. But, he allowed this to happen by allowing the sinful nature within these various sinful leaders to bring about his death. Jesus allowed the sinful nature of these individuals to win, so to speak. Remember, Jesus’ mission (God’s will) is to die, on a cross, horribly, and then in three days be resurrected. But first, he had to die.
But our story is not quite finished. John 19:6-12,
“As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted ‘Crucify! Crucify!’ But Pilate answered, ‘You take him and crucify him.” As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.’ The Jews insisted, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.’” (Romans believed in all kinds of gods. So, this revelation to Pilate would be very unsettling. I can understand how Pilate would believe that Jesus was a god, but maybe not God.)
“When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid and went back inside the palace. ‘Where do you come from?’ he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ‘Do you refuse to speak to me?’ Pilate said. ‘Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?’”
“Jesus said, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’ From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free…” John 19:16,
“Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.”
Please understand the intentionality with which Christ operated throughout the arrest sequence and then that of his trial.
Arguing that this process was rigged is a moot point, because Jesus wanted to perform God’s will. Nothing was going to prevent him from accomplishing his Father’s will. His purpose was to be crucified.
The last words that Jesus spoke to Pilate, John 19:11,
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
Jesus is not speaking about Judas, he was just a means to an end, brought about by his own sin. Jesus is speaking about Caiaphas, who as leader of the Jewish nation, would crucify their Deliverer, their Redeemer, for his own political expediency.
The blood of Jesus is on all of the Jewish people’s heads, who had rejected him. But it had to be. Hebrews 10:26b-28,
“But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
My prayer is that you are indeed one of those waiting for Jesus to return.
We began today with a fill in the blank. Jesus is_____. My answer for today is this: Jesus is the King of the Jews. For he laid his life down in sacrifice for his kingdom.
Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.