Jesus: The Resolute Redeemer

Introduction

Have you ever seen something and you knew, “That just isn’t right.” ?

If you don’t know what I mean, I think a couple of pictures will help you understand. (Guitar strings, ear earrings, PB & J)

These pictures are uncomfortable. They just aren’t right. Fingers go on top of guitar strings. Peanut butter and Jelly go on the INSIDE of the sandwich. I don’t even want to talk about the earrings.

Our text this morning is Luke 22:63-23:12. And when we read our text we definitely get the sense that what we see happening to Jesus just isn’t right.

That sandwich thing is pretty bad but holy God being dismissed and mistreated is a catastrophe.

And I think that we can get so used to the story of Jesus that the shock of what is happening here gets dulled. We get used to it. We know it’s bad, but in a numb sort of way.

This was God’s plan after all. Read Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53. The servant of the Lord—the messiah—Lord Jesus was going to suffer to save sinners.

And this is true—what we are about to read here—and what happens afterward to Jesus is the sovereign plan of God—but that doesn’t mean that the loving condescension of God is not mind-blowing.

And I don’t want us to miss how outrageous this treatment of Jesus is—what he endured.

My goal this morning is that by seeing what Jesus endured compared to how He should have been treated 2 things will happen.

1. That we will see the glory of God more clearly and worship Him.

2. That we would see the depth of His love for us and worship Him.

This message is a part of our series No Greater Love

Jesus is the resolute redeemer. How resolved He is to save us. Come and see how he loves you.

This is God’s holy Word, every word of it is true and is applicable to our lives.

(Read the passage)

Pray.

I. Jesus Endured Beating & Mockery (63-65)

Luke 22:63-65 on screen

Our passage opens with Jesus being mocked and beaten.

They are treating as powerless the one who in whom all power resides.

Picture it in your mind. Jesus likely has his feet restricted and his hands bound. A company of Jewish temple guards jeer at him. They blindfold him for sport and strike his face. They laugh as they mockingly command him to “prophesy” who struck him.

This is appalling behavior. It’s an appalling way to treat any prisoner. Much less an innocent man.

This would be bad enough if Jesus were only an innocent man—but He is an innocent man who is holy God.

When God the Son took on flesh He did not cease to be God.

He is the God who formed the hands that are striking his face. Their hearts beat at His pleasure. The strength of their muscles is due to His craftsmanship.

In Exodus 19 we see the power of God as he descends on Mt. Sinai—I encourage you to go and read it—the mountain is enveloped in black smoke—thunder and lightening streak through the sky—the earth quakes before Israel’s feet as they witness this—a trumpet blast announces royalty and grows louder and louder—the sight of God’s holiness and majesty descending on the mountain terrifies the people.

This is the God whose mighty power is displayed in creation.

Romans 1:20 “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

All that is—all that we know as existence was created by the power of His word.

This is the God whose mighty power is displayed in his government of the nations.

Babylon. Assyria. Egypt. Rome. The peaks of human power all have been subject to Almighty God. He moves them at His will to accomplish his decrees.

This is the God whose mighty power is displayed over the laws of nature.

Is there a sea in the way? Not for God! Israel needs water in the desert? Just give God a rock. Caught in a storm on the sea? Jesus only speaks and the wind listens like a well trained pet. Even death is subject to the author of life.

That is who God is. This is who they have in their presence. Who they are striking and mocking.

And Jesus endures it.

Not only mockery and beating but…

II. Jesus Endured Injustice (66-71)

Luke 22:66-71 on the screen

Luke 22:66–71 “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.””

After a night of beating, Jesus—exhausted and hurting—now must endure injustice.

The assembly of the elders was made up of scribes, priests, and influential elders. It was meant to be an assembly of justice—of learned men seeking truth. But these men have no interest in weighing facts and hearing defenses. Their minds are already made up. This defendant must die. They are simply seeking for words spoken publicly that will allow them to request execution from Rome.

Jesus sees right through their false question and answers.

“If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer.” He knows they aren’t looking for truth but he speaks truthfully anyway.

“But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

Jesus is referring to himself here with a messianic title that was all too familiar.

Daniel 7:13–14 ““I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

In Matthew 16 Jesus referring to Himself asks the disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” To which Peter replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The assembly keeps pushing. “Are you the Son of God, then”?

This is the right question asked with wrong motives. Jesus is right—they will not believe.

Jesus responds, “You say that I am.”

This is the height of irony—they say the true words but instead of being an act of worshipful confession they use the words to condemn. the Son of God. Even though Christ is speaking truth they label him as a heretic and a blasphemer.

The whole court consists of two questions aimed at trapping Jesus.

Deuteronomy 32:4 ““The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”

There is never a moment when God is not just. In His perfect righteousness all of his decrees and ways are upright. Justice flows from his character—it’s who He is.

In their midst is the just judge of all the earth and they have abandoned any semblance of justice as they prosecute Him.

When I’m the recipient of unjust behavior—when I’m accused wrongly—I become incensed. I can easily become deeply offended.

But the holy God of the universe—who can see the hearts of these men—endures it—He is resolute to redeem all of those who will trust in Him.

Jesus endures mockery, beating, unjust prosecution, and …

III. Jesus Endures Rejection (1-5)

Verse on the screen

Luke 23:1–5 “Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.””

Here before Pilate Jesus endures more injustice. Pilate was the prefect of Galilee* and was responsible for keeping peace and adjudicating court. The Jews had to come to Him if they wanted Jesus to be crucified.

And our text tells us that Pilate’s own opinion was that Jesus was innocent. “I find no guilt in this man.” The other gospels reveal more. Pilate’s wife has a premonition of sorts in a dream and tells Pilate not to have anything to do with “this righteous man”. *

Later, when the Jews are crying for the crucifixion of Jesus Pilate cries out, “Why what has he done?!” So injustice continues as we move to this encounter with Pilate. Jesus knew that the cross was His destination and He wouldn’t defend Himself here either.

“The whole company” of the assembly of elders goes to accuse Jesus before Pilate. They outright lie about Jesus misleading Israel and spurring a rebellion against Rome.

“He’s says he’s a king, Pilate! He encourages people to not pay taxes to Rome, Pilate! He’s a usurper—he’ll be trouble for you!”

And Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” We could understand Pilate to be asking—”Are you what they say you are?”

And Jesus responds, “You have said so.”

Jesus will not defend himself out of His predicament. He could have silenced all the accusations. He could have proven their accusations to be false and full of malevolence. But he doesn’t. He will die as a sacrifice to redeem His people.

But he won’t say what is false either. He is not a false king He is the the true king.

But what I want to highlight more in this portion of the text is the rejection that Jesus endures.

These men—Jesus’ brothers in Israel—are so committed to his painful, humiliating, death. They hate Him so much.

Matthew 23:37 ““O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

The love of God is the most precious treasure that can be had. When Jesus describes it in a parable he says,

Matthew 13:44–46 ““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

The love of God is worth everything that you have and more. Human language is inadequate to express the immeasurable value of fellowship with God.

Jesus came to bring these people into the kingdom—but they would rather live in a kingdom built by their own hands where they are on the throne.

Jesus endures the rejection. Even though they should have adored him. Even though they should have loved Him and bowed before Him they rejected Him as something to be thrown away—as a nuissance to nail to a tree.

Jesus endured mockery, beating, injustice, rejection, and …

IV. Jesus Endured Insolence (6-12)

Luke 23:6–12 “When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that 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 sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him 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.”

Pilate wanting to be rid of the problem of Jesus sends him to King Herod. This is Herod Antipas—the son of Herod the Great. In Israel he was known as, Herod the Fox which was not a compliment. It wasn’t speaking to his cunning wit. In Israel a fox was considered worthless. This was the same Herod who killed John the Baptist—Jesus’ cousin.

And we quickly find out that Herod is glad to see Jesus but for the wrong reason. For a moment it seems good. Herod was glad to see Jesus (good), He had long desired to see him (good), Because he had heard about him (good) and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. (So dissapointing)

Herod would have been asked if he wanted to receive Jesus. And he gladly does but not to seriously inquire about who he was—he didn’t receive Jesus to seek forgiveness for his sins.

Herod brings Jesus in like a court jester—Herod seeks to be entertained by the true King of all the earth.

And I struggle here to even describe the insolence that is shown. To have the Son of God in your presence and to question him for entertainment hoping to see something miraculous—not to help your belief but to combat your boredom is the height of arrogance.

Listen to Isaiah’s vision of God on His throne.

Isaiah 6:1–5 “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!””

This is a proper response.

He is the King of glory—He is the sovereign, Almighty, ruler. He is the King of our hearts. He is the Alpha and the Omega. All things are from him, and through him, and to Him. There are none above Him and everyone owes him their loyalty. All knees will bow to Him but here before Herod the Fox the God of all the earth endures the insolence of one who should bowing and trembling.

It’s an outrageous scene that gets worse. Jesus won’t answer a single question from this murderous, arrogant king of men. All the while the scribes are still there vehemently accusing Him—thirsting for his death. And here too Jesus is subjected to mockery and contempt. They mockingly dress him as person of great importance as He is led back to Pilate in chains. Everything he has endured up to this point resurfaces in this one room in a crescendo of evil.

Jesus—God in the flesh—endures this.

Conclusion

And the persistent question in my heart and mind is why? How can a holy God endure such a disparity between how He was treated and how he should have been treated?

When I think about this—I want to see satisfaction—I want Jesus to put them in their place. I want Jesus to confound them with his wisdom leaving them speechless. I want to see Jesus display his power and glory in such a way that all mouths are shut and all heads are bowed to Him.

With Peter when I see these scenes I want to cry out, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But I along with Peter would be in league with Satan trying to prevent the lamb of God from freeing the people of God from their sin.

Why did Jesus endure these things?! Friends look around—-look into the eyes of the people that Jesus loves. Why did he endure outrageous evil?!

He loves you! He truly loves you! His love drove him to be the suffering servant—his love drove him to put aside equality with God as a thing to be grasped.

Jesus is the Resolute Redeemer: D you see how he loves you?!

When mocked he could have silenced them. When subjected to their violence he could have displayed his power. When faced with injustice he could have condemned his accusers. When insolently treated as a garbage he could have revealed his majesty. But he endured.

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

And friends let us not get it twisted—you and I have been the soldiers—we have been the assembly—we have been Pilate and Herod

We have mocked—and disdained—and accused—our hearts have joined theirs and their hands could have easily been ours.

But Jesus didn’t die for the righteous who didn’t need a savior—He died for us who desperately need Him.

So what is our response to God’s glory revealed? What is our response to such love poured out for us?

Briefly, three ways to respond to our text this morning:

1. Let this text encourage you to come to Him.

Whatever you thought God was—this text reveals to you the heart He has for you. He loves you and desires to save you. You don’t have to have your whole life figured out—you don’t have to wait to be good enough—you don’t even have to wait for all of your answers about God to be answered. You just need to fall into the embrace of the one who is waiting for you and desires to cast his love on you.

2. Let this strengthen your resolve to live your life for God.

Jesus is the king and his kingdom is forever. Are you living your life for his kingdom? It can be so easy to begin building our own kingdom. It can be so easy to desire control. We believe the lie that we are a better kings over our lives than God—but it’s a lie. See His love for you and commit all of your life to Him in every area. Where do you need to abandon rebellion and follow your ki

3. Let this text remind you to meditate on the love God has for you consistently.

Strength for living in Christ is found in Christ. And nothing strengthens our hearts more than being reminded of God’s great love for us displayed in Jesus. God really does love you. He loves you as you are with all of your struggles and hang ups. He didn’t make a mistake in saving you—he purchased you with His blood.

Romans 8:38–39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

He wants you to come to Him and to find your greatest treasure in Him.

Jesus is the Resolute Redeemer who loves us so completely. Let us worship Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen?

Pray.