Luke 22:63-71
Notes
Transcript
We have blasphemed the Son of God
We have blasphemed the Son of God
Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.
State: Here Luke takes us into the home of the high priest of Israel, the chosen people of God. And what do we expect to find as we enter into the home of the man who is meant to be the spiritual leader of the people of God? Perhaps a warm welcome, an encouraging atmosphere, Scripture verses hanging on the walls that remind all who enter of God’s perfect and holy Word?
And yet what do we find here? We do find the Word of God, although not in the way we might expect. Here we find the incarnate Word of God, the Son of God made flesh, being utterly brutalized by his own people. They are mocking him, laughing at him, beating him, and the gospel of Matthew even adds that they spit in his face.
Something that has always fascinated me about this string of events is the fact that you have a bunch of dependent creatures torturing the one they depend upon. It shows the depths of our own sinful condition. We are told from the Scriptures that Jesus, the Son of God, is our sustainer. Not strictly in a spiritual sense, but in every sense of the word. The only reason that the hand that strikes Jesus doesn’t disappear from existence is because Jesus continues to sustain it. Blow after blow, insult after insult, the one who is being destroyed is the one who is sustaining the life of his offenders. Every second they are alive is only because Jesus has granted them continued existence.
Here in the house of the high priest we find the Word of God, and though it isn’t hanging on the walls of his home, it is only a matter of hours before they hang the incarnate Word of God on a cross. Through the night, they will brutalize Jesus until morning comes and the elders can wake of from a restful night of sleep at home in their beds.
Jesus reigns in heaven
Jesus reigns in heaven
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “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.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
State: Here we see the rulers of Israel assemble together. These are the spiritual authorities, the ones who have been tasked with the spiritual shepherding of God’s people. And here they have in their midst a bloodied and beaten Jesus, the Son of God. And they ask Jesus what appears to be a very simple question: “if you are the Christ, tell us.”
If we stop to consider this question for even just a moment, we will see how utterly ridiculous it is. These supposed “men of God” seem to be looking for the truth, but this couldn’t be further from what is happening. They have already made their minds up, and they won’t listen to the truth.
They have had three years to witness the miracles Jesus performed, to hear the word Jesus proclaimed, to see all of the evidence that proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that this man sitting in their midst bruised and bloody was in fact the Christ.
If the blind receiving sight wasn’t enough for them, this won’t be either. If the paralyzed people getting up and walking wasn’t enough for them, this won’t be either. If the dead coming back to life wasn’t enough for them, this won’t be either.
What we are seeing here isn’t justice seeking the truth, but sin seeking to kill the Son of God.
Apply: Brothers and Sisters, that was us! Apart from the redemptive work of God recreating us, we also would have chosen to crucify the Son of God. We have also been blinded by our sin and have blasphemed the Son of God. We have also spit in his face as we have rebelled against him. How many times has the Son of God continued to sustain our existence even as we were actively choosing to sin against him? We contributed to the sin that made this series of events necessary in the first place.
We have to identify with these religious leaders in that we have found ourselves in the same precarious position of blaspheming the Son of God.
Which means that we need to listen very carefully to what Jesus is going to say in response to these sinful men.
State:
But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Jesus is recognizing that the time of his humiliation is coming to an end. No longer will he be amongst us as a humble servant that remains silent amidst blasphemy. No longer will he take this mistreatment. He will allow them to do their worst, but even now he is warning them that he will retake his throne. The death they so desperately want to condemn him to won’t be his undoing, but theirs.
Because after they crucify him, he is going to be seated at the right hand of the power of God.
Take a moment to consider the irony of the situation.
Currently, Jesus sits under the judgement of a council. They are deciding his fate based upon the power that they have as elders, scribes, and priests.
But soon, these men will be sitting under the judgement of Jesus as he decides their fate based upon the power that he has as the Son of God. Jesus will be seated at the right hand of the power of God dispensing judgement upon all the Earth.
Apply: Friends, Jesus is reigning at the right hand of the power of God right now as we sit together in this room. Jesus is sustaining each and every one of us even now. Brothers and Sisters, Jesus is coming back again not to be judged, but to judge.
What have you done with the Son of God? What are you doing with him now? Do you sit in judgement over him, blinded by your sin and insisting on your way? Do you remain in rebellion against him? Judgement is coming.
OR have you bowed the knee to the God of Power? Have you submitted yourself to his reign? Have you given yourself over to his mercy? For he is merciful and patient, abounding in steadfast love, blotting out our iniquities and transgressions and forgiving the trespasses of all those who trust in him. Have you submitted yourself to his Lordship? Salvation is coming
Loved ones, Jesus is coming back, but not to be judged by us any longer. Repent, submit yourselves to him, and find mercy through his salvation that will be finally consummated when he comes again.
FCF: our sin has blinded us to the truth and has led us to blaspheme the Son of God
CFC: Jesus is enthroned in power, and he has forgiven our sins against him