Standing with Christ

Our Theme for 2025 is “Live Like Jesus”

It comes out of a simple desire to follow Jesus - and to learn better what that means.

We are spending the entire year in the Gospel of Matthew.

Three weeks ago began the season of Lent - it is 40 days leading up to Passover and Resurrection Sunday.

It is a time of self examination and of repentance.

So during this time we follow Jesus through the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection.

It is a season normally referred to as “passion.”

We think of passion as a strong feeling or emotion.

But it comes from the Latin root meaning “suffering.”

This season of passion is a time to allow ourselves to experience what Jesus experienced as he fully entered into the human experience.

We want to fully enter into His passion - His experience.

Galatians 2:20 TPT

20 “My old identity has been co-crucified with Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with him. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine!

Last week we talked about fellowship with Christ’s sufferings.

We identified some of the contrasts and tensions that we feel as we identify with Jesus heading toward the cross.

This week we will be discussing Jesus’ arrest and trial.

An artist once painted a scene of the Crucifixion, but rather than depicting Jesus alone, he included his own figure among the crowd, blending in with those who turned away. This reflects our own propensity to shy away from standing with Jesus when it matters most. As we look at today’s passage, we are called to confront our own complacency. Standing with Jesus invites us into vulnerability and courage, challenging us to live visibly in our faith, reminding us we are never truly alone.

As we move through these texts, I challenge you to imagine yourself in them.

As part of the crowd.

As one of the disciples.

As a Jewish leader.

Or as a Roman soldier.

Put yourself into the story.

What would you do?

Would you defend Jesus?

How would you define Jesus?

Would you even decide for Jesus?

Would you do anything different than what they did?

Does it make a difference that you are reading this two thousand years later with full knowledge of what happens next?

Now apply it to today.

How do you stand with Jesus in your story and in your context?

How do you respond when Jesus’ name is mentioned?

How or when do you ever bring Jesus into the conversation?

It’s easy to criticize the characters in the gospel narrative for how they acted toward Jesus.

However, when we look at them in context, I doubt if we would do anything different.

But we can learn from them and apply what we have learned as we stand with Christ today.

Defending Jesus

Matthew 26:47–56 ESV

47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Imagine you are in the garden that night when Jesus is arrested.

Judas - who you know very well is giving Jesus the customary greeting - a kiss on the cheek.

But as soon as he does, soldiers move in out of the shadows.

Peter whips out a sword from underneath his cloak.

He swings for a guys head and clips off part of his ear.

Jesus, instead of taking advantage of the moment to break away and run, turns and rebukes Peter.

Another passage says that he healed the servant’s ear.

In all the chaos and confusion, the only calm presence is Jesus.

Jesus is not caught up in the chaos - this is exactly what the scriptures said should happen.

Jesus is not leading a rebellion - He is using this as a teaching moment.

Jesus is not being captured - He is going willingly.

I would like to think that if I were one of the disciples, I too would defend Jesus.

However, what we learn from the text is completely different...

Jesus doesn’t need us to defend Him.

Your fake kisses don’t impress him.

You’re concealed weapons just get in the way.

All he really wants is for you to stand with Him,

But when our attempts at taking over fail, like the disciples… we run away.

Or, if we are really brave like Peter, we follow stealthily at a distance...

Matthew 26:57–65 ESV

57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.

Peter is sitting in the shadows around the edge of the courtyard.

The courtyard of the High Priest is like a local courthouse.

This is where you go when you need a legal matter settled.

The Jews had a special status in the Roman Empire, they were allowed to practice their own religion provided that they were self-governing.

That means all of the local disputes are going to be handled here.

Historically and traditionally the Jews tried to avoid any Roman interference in their own matters.

The Old Testament prescribes penalties for people who injure or steal.

Worst case scenario- they become a slave to the person to whom they owe the dept and only up to seven years.

The high priest just recently however, began turning Jewish criminals over to the Roman authorities to be executed.

This served as a more effective deterrent,

but it also received a lot of push back from devout Jews who were opposed to Roman thirst for violence,

so it was usually reserved for the worst of the worst.

So this impromptu courtroom was suddenly filled with people who are accusing Jesus,

most of them lacked credibility according to the text.

However there were a couple of people who heard him say that he would destroy the temple.

John tells us how that went.

John 2:19–21 ESV

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

If only there were someone present who actually heard what Jesus said?

A threat against the temple might be a plausible charge for turning Jesus over to the Romans, except Jesus himself gave them and even better reason.

When they asked him if he was the Son of God, Jesus quotes from Daniel’s vision.

Daniel 7:13 ESV

13 “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.

In this vision Daniel sees one expression of God talking to another expression of God.

One, the Ancient of Days is on the throne.

And another, Like the Son of Man, is representing the Ancient of Days

It’s a picture of God coming to rule the earth.

Jesus says that this heavenly vision is beginning to be fulfilled.

That infuriated the Pharisees and gave them a plausible threat on which to execute him- he threatens their divine claim of rulership.

The problem is, Romans are not going to understand a complex argument from Jewish apocalyptic literature.

Who is going to explain it to them? And how?

Jesus doesn’t need us to defend Him, but He does need people who will speak for Him.

Jesus wants you to testify about Him.

Matthew 26:69–75 ESV

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Have you ever been there? - God gives you an amazing opportunity to bear witness to Him and you blow it.

I have. I miss lots of opportunities.

Sometimes I only realize it afterward.

And sometimes I know it, but I just freeze.

God knows why … I don’t always know why I do the things I do.

All Peter had to do was tell what he had seen and heard.

All that was needed was for him to tell his story.

If he just told the truth about Jesus, he could counter the false witnesses that were being brought against him.

But God knew what He was doing.

He had a plan for Jesus to go to the cross.

And He had a purpose for Peter to see that he wasn’t as brave as he thought he was.

What about you? What opportunities has God given you to tell about Jesus?

Everyone needs to know who Jesus is!

Defining Jesus

Matthew 27:1–2 ESV

1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

Caiaphas is sending Jesus to Pilate, the Roman Governor.

Caiaphas can condemn a prisoner as guilty, but only Pilate can sentence a person to death.

But Pilate doesn’t know Jesus.

Someone has to define Jesus - who says He’s the Son of God.

Pilate has a completely different concept of God.

Caeser is also said to be “a son of the gods.’

An not just Pilate, we each need to define for ourselves, what we think about Jesus.

Who is Jesus?

And if it is true that Jesus is God, what are the implications for my life?

As we follow the text, I am breaking the question down into more practical questions that will help up to define, not only who Jesus is, but what that means.

What is Jesus’ worth to you?

Matthew 27:3–10 ESV

3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

So, apparently to Judas, at least at first, Jesus is worth thirty pieces of silver.

That is the value of a slave.

Exodus 21:32 ESV

32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Now Judas realizes his betrayal and he no longer wants the money.

But he can’t give it back because now it’s “blood money.”

The coins are now associated with death - you can’t put a price on death.

But you can use them to buy a burial plot for people who have no family ties - their lives are still worth something, just not to anyone we know.

It’s a potter’s field.

Potters do not need a field to grow pots.

No maybe its where they dump all the wasted shards of broken pottery?

A historical site associated with this passage since mid-evil times contains a giant cave with bones strewn about.

The price paid for Jesus was used as a resting place for discarded pot and/or discarded people.

Everyone is worth something to God?

Even a slave.

Even foreigners.

Even Judas.

Yes, even you - you are worth the life of God’s son.

If you are worth so much to God, then what is Jesus worth to you?

Is He worth your time?

Is He worth your allegiance?

Is He worth your obedience?

Is He worthy of praise?

Who you think Jesus is, begins with how much you value what Jesus has done for you - and what He continues to do for you.

What is Jesus’ role in your life?

Matthew 27:11–14 ESV

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Pilate doesn’t ask Jesus if he said the He is the son of God (or son of the gods).

He goes right for the interpretive question - are you a king?

In his thinking, divine equals ruler and ruler equals authority.

If you are a ruler, then you must have some domain.

Jesus is a Jew, so He must be King of the Jews.

He’s being provocative, because the very idea of having a king would be repulsive to some Jews and a political trap for others.

“Those are your words,” Jesus slips the noose with his answer.

But Pilate's question is relevant.

If you are an important person, surely you have a purpose.

You have a reason for being here.

You have a role to play in the grand scheme of things.

Important people do important things, otherwise they are not really all that important.

What makes you so important? - Jesus?!?

Then why is Jesus important to you?

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

If Jesus is at the center of the universe, holding all things together, what is his place in your life?

Who is at the center of your universe?

Who is holding you together?

If that is true, then what is our appropriate response?

Deciding for Jesus

Matthew 27:15–23 ESV

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

This is one of those scenes that must have been so surreal, like out of a movie.

Pilate is looking for a way out, because he’s not too keen on crucifying someone who seems to be more of a personal threat than a criminal.

So he gives them a choice between releasing Jesus or a known criminal.

You would think the choice would be obvious.

But in the moment, something else happens.

People start shouting for Barabbas.

And other people just go with it.

It’s an echo chamber - nobody is thinking it through - its mob rule.

People are whipped into a frenzy - it doesn’t make sense - but everybody is doing it.

It’s just fun to say, “Barabbas!”

Which voice will you listen to?

Matthew 27:24–26 ESV

24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

What is happening here?

This is clearly not what Pilate intended to happen.

His wife warned him that she had a bad feeling about it.

The text says that the chief priests and elders were somehow behind it.

Maybe they started the chant.

Maybe they had “paid protesters?”

Have you ever noticed that most people tend to just go with whatever other people are saying?

Does anybody stop and ask, “what’s your source of information?”

Or even if it’s true, “Is that the whole story?”

How is it that the people who were cheering for Jesus riding into Jerusalem just week before are shouting for his execution?

That doesn’t sound like people who are critically evaluating the news.

It sound like people who will dance to whatever tune happens to be playing.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “whose voice am I listening to?’

Not necessarily “who is speaking” but whose voice is behind whomever is speaking?

Pilate is not the good guy here, but he seems to be the most level-headed - if only he listened to his wife!

The Chief Priests are the driving force behind a mob who is demanding the very thing that they say they are against - release an insurrectionist!

When what people are saying makes no sense or when their words don’t line up with their actions - you have to know that there are other voices behind what they are saying.

Which voice are you listening to? - quick-tip: don’t go with the loudest one.

Whose lead will you follow?

Matthew 27:27–31 ESV

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Have you ever noticed that when you make a wrong choice, next thing you know, you don’t have a choice anymore.

Or at least it doesn’t feel like you do.

Choices have consequences, they start you down a path and you don’t always know where that path will take you.

These Roman soldiers are charged with carrying out an execution, but what they get caught up in is a humiliation ritual.

Maybe it was the crowd?

Maybe someone put them up to it.

Maybe it’s just what Roman soldiers do - just because they can.

And maybe it was all of the above plus a demonic manifestation of evil.

I don’t know if these soldiers knew what was driving them, all they cared about was that no one could stop them.

Have you thought about what drives you?

Whose lead are you following?

Are you just going with the mocking crowd?

Or are you on a little power trip yourself?

It is easier to understand and identify with the people in the story when you consider that they only knew a little bit of what you know.

You know how the story ends.

But even though we know about Jesus’ death and resurrection, we still find ourselves with the same temptations and the same choices.

Will you stand with Jesus?

And will you move with Jesus toward the cross?

Questions for reflection:

1. Think for a moment about how privileged you are to know Jesus. There are people in this world who have never heard the gospel, even once. There are people who have heard the gospel, but don’t know that it’s real. And then there are those who know the gospel, know its real, but don’t think it’s for them. Who are those people in your life and what part of your story do they need to hear?

2. Who is Jesus to you? What is His value to you? What role does He have in your life? Is what you believe about Jesus reflected in the way that you live your life?

3. Think about a recent choice that you made. What voices influenced that choice? What aspirations or desires were behind that choice? How are all of the choices in your life influenced by the choice to follow Jesus?