March 22, 2016
Morning Service

Luke 23:1-25

 

            This morning is traditionally Palm Sunday, first day of the Passion week.  One day in Scriptures, where Jesus victoriously entered Jerusalem, on His way to Calvary.  This has already been discussed, as has the last supper.  This morning we will look at His arrest, and trial before Herod, and Pilate.  Tonight Greg will tell us of the crucifixion, then next Sunday morning of the resurrection.  Let’s begin this morning’s study.

 

In chapter 22 of Luke, we saw Jesus with His disciples at the last supper.  This is where Jesus instituted our communion service.  The only act He requested we do as a memorial.  We know from history, that this was originally done every Lord’s Day, and the cry that the Apostle Paul makes concerning unity, is why we do it every Lord’s Day.  Also, in this chapter Jesus was betrayed by Judas, and denied by Peter.  He is now arrested, and taken to Pilate.

 

And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

·         Perverting the nation?  He spoke the Word, and even magnified the law.  He told all who would hear, “do what the religious leaders tell you to do, but don’t do as they do.”  His message was one of love, and peace.

·         Forbidding to give tribute to Caesar?  When ask if it was right to pay tribute to Caesar, He said looking at a coin, “whose picture is on the coin”?  And they said “Caesars”, “Then give unto Caesar what is Caesars, and unto God what is Gods.” 

·         Saying He is a King?  “Kingdom is not of this world.”  He never said He came to be King of this world.  All these, and many more are false accusations.  God is using these people just as He used Pharaoh, to bring about an event in His divine plan for mankind.

And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

·         And they were the more fierce!   Fierceness, and anger are attributes of satan, not of God.  The spirit of satan will do his best to persecute the Spirit of Christ, as long as he can.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

·         Pilate is passing the buck so to speak, but he has already said that he found no fault in Jesus.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

·         The miracles were to cause some to believe, but not everyone who sees a miracle will believe.  The same is true today.  Some are given to believe, and some are not.  Such Scriptures as these confirm what I say:

1.      No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (Joh 6:44)

2.     What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Rom 9:22)    It should humble us to realize we have been called by the Spirit of God to salvation, and not to destruction.  O how blessed we are.

 

Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

·         The spirit of anger again shown by the religious leaders.

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

(Luk 23:1-25)

·         This account show us, a judge who really doesn’t care for justice.  A group of people that are angry, want one of their friends, who is a criminal, released unto them. 

·         The account of this trial given by Matt. Describes the torture, pain, and humiliation in greater detail than does Luke.

·         Mat 27:24-31  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  (25)  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.  (26)  Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.  (27)  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.  (28)  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.  (29)  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!  (30)  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.  (31)  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew uses a lot of Old Testament Scriptures to convince people of his gospel.  This account lines up very well with Isa. 53.  This prophecy is very accurate of the disgraceful trial that Jesus went through.  Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

 

Calvary is in His future, and glory beyond that.  There are those today experiencing great affliction, and heartaches for their faith in Christ.  It could be that we will have to one day, and then it will be the same for us, death, and then glory eternally.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, HELP US TO GRASP THE TERRIBLE PRICE THAT WAS PAID FOR OUR SALVATION.  IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.