Injustice Luke 22:66-23:25

-Jesus’s trial gives us a picture of man’s sin and God’s mercy.

Life is unjust.  Upon accepting an award, the late Jack Benny once remarked, “I really don’t deserve this. But I have arthritis, and I don’t deserve that either.”

Justice, in its broadest sense, is the concept that individuals are to be treated in a manner that is equitable and fair.

I. Proclaimed as Christ vv. 66-71

As we see Jesus on trial, we see Him stand before the Sanhedrin, the religious court of the Jewish people

They ask if Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah

Everything about His ministry lends itself to this truth and Jesus doesn’t hide from it.

Jesus leads them down a pathway so that they recognize who He is, yet they reject Him

Jesus exposes their unbelief. The problem is not ignorance of Jesus; it is rejection

If He plainly told them who He was, they still wouldn’t believe

If He asked them to acknowledge Him, they would not answer Him

They reject what they recognize!

None of this changes the truth: He is the Christ

He will be seated at the right hand of the power of God

Their relationship with God, for all of their religiosity, ultimately rises and falls on their relationship with Jesus!

II. Accused as Rebel vv. 1-5

Next, we see Jesus sent to Pilate, the Roman official

This is important, because the Sanhedrin has limited political authority

Pilate is the official who can sentence Jesus for a capital offense

In their rejection of Jesus, these self-righteous people stoop to unholy lies

They accuse Jesus of stirring an insurrection against Caesar, but the charges are false

They twist and distort the truth because they prefer the lie; it is convenient and expedient

Interestingly, they are coming at this from very different places:

The scribes and Pharisees project their own hatred of Rome onto Jesus

The Priests and Sadducees are protecting their own financial and political interests

However, they are united in their hatred of Jesus! This may be one of the most powerful indications that He is right and righteous!

And then in a quiet hour a strange thought struck me like a still thunderbolt. There had suddenly come into my mind another explanation. Suppose we heard an unknown man spoken of by many men. Suppose we were puzzled to hear that some men said he was too tall and some too short; some objected to his fatness, some lamented his leanness; some thought him too dark, and some too fair. One explanation (as has been already admitted) would be that he might be an odd shape. But there is another explanation. He might be the right shape. Outrageously tall men might feel him to be short. Very short men might feel him to be tall. Old bucks who are growing stout might consider him insufficiently filled out; old beaux who were growing thin might feel that he expanded beyond the narrow lines of elegance. Perhaps Swedes (who have pale hair like tow) called him a dark man, while negroes considered him distinctly blonde. Perhaps (in short) this extraordinary thing is really the ordinary thing; at least the normal thing, the centre. Perhaps, after all, it is Christianity that is sane and all its critics that are mad—in various ways.

-GK Chesterton Orthodoxy

III. Mocked in Meekness vv. 6-12

Next, we see Jesus moved on to the court of Herod, who has some local jurisdiction over Galilee

The contrast between Jesus and Herod is remarkable:

This is the Son of Esau vs the Son of Jacob

This is the King of the Jews vs. the King of the Jews

This is Earthly power vs. Heavenly authority

We see this demonstrated through Herod’s mockery and Jesus’s meekness

Herod tries to overwhelm Jesus with his power to force a miracle

When that is unsuccessful, he shows his contempt for Jesus with mockery, arraying Jesus in the robe of a King

Jesus accepts the scorn of Herod, and is not moved to either speak or act; His is truly power under control

Herod does not at all understand:

None of his mockery diminishes the glory of Christ

In fact, it reveals the majestic mercy that is poured out on us

Further, it has inspired His people for millennia now:

Hebrews 12:1–3

[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

[3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

IV. Marked as Innocent vv. 13-16

Jesus is returned to Pilate and he wants nothing to do with this holy Man

Pilate declares the innocence of Jesus and the inappropriateness of crucifixion

Pilate attempts to offer a light punishment

Pilate tries to release Jesus as part of an annual tradition for the feast of the Passover

In spite of all of this, Jesus is still crucified

The people cry out for Jesus to be crucified

Pilate acquiesces

This is the greatest injustice that the world will ever know

Matthew 5:10–12

[10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[11] “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV)

V. Made a Substitute vv. 17-25

The crowd chooses Barabbas

This man is a notorious sinner, implicated in an insurrection and murder

He is guilty of the worst kinds of crimes; his is the fulfillment of what the charges against Jesus hint at

Think about the contrast:

The innocent healer who never harmed anyone will die as a criminal

Meanwhile, a well-known criminal will go free as innocent

This is exactly the point:

It turns out that the worst of human injustice does not undermine the purpose of God

It fulfills it: Jesus submits Himself to the sin of man so that man can be freed from the power of sin.

Acts 2:22–24

[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—[23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. [24] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (ESV)

That great American hero, editor, school teacher, and Presbyterian clergyman Elijah Lovejoy left the pulpit and returned to the press in order to be sure his words reached more people. The Civil War might have been averted and a peaceful emancipation of slaves achieved had there been more like him. After observing one lynching, Lovejoy was committed forever to fighting uncompromisingly the awful sin of slavery. Mob action was brought against him time after time; neither this nor many threats and attempts on his life deterred him. Repeated destruction of his presses did not stop him. "If by compromise is meant that I should cease from my duty, I cannot make it. I fear God more that I fear man. Crush me if you will, but I shall die at my post..." And he did, four days later, at the hands of another mob. Not one of the ruffians was prosecuted or indicted or punished in any way for this murder. (Some of Lovejoy's defenders were prosecuted! One of the mob assassins was later elected mayor of Alton!)

However, note this: One young man was around who was deeply moved by the Lovejoy martyrdom. He had just been elected to the Illinois legislature. His name was Abraham Lincoln.