The Passion of Christ: Suffering for Our Redemption

Luke 22:63–71 “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.

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.””

As we have been walking through the passion of Christ, remember passion comes from the Latin word passio which means suffering. Christ passion occurs during the week of passover just prior to his death. Passover for a Jew is a festive time which they remember the bondage of Egypt and the deliverance of the nation of Isreal from the Egyptians. It was a festive time possibly comparable to 4th of July. The Hallel was sung Ps 113-114 before the meal and Ps 115-118. Hallel literally means “praise” and is where we get the hallelujah. It means to boast or to rave.  To shine.  To Celebrate.  And it was in this meal Jesus reveals one of his chosen disciples will betray Him.

This sets the disciples on edge wondering and questioning “Is is I Lord who would betray you?” As was His custom, Jesus leaves the meal and goes to the Mount of Olives where he prays “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 This cup Jesus would drink was filled with the very wrath of God. We learned God’s wrath or anger is toward sin and a price must be paid if God is to be just and Jesus would endure the suffering to pay the full price for those who would believe in him.

As he finishes he finds the disciples sleeping for sorrow. Their sorrow or grief was over the conversations Jesus had with them that night. Peter was likely sorrowful, wondering how he would deny Jesus, his master, three times. The others who would betray him and they all wondered where he was going without them. The disciples didn’t understand the fulfillment of scripture and they had much sorrow at the implications it had on each of them. Returning from praying to the father he finds them asleep. Jesus awakens them and as he was still speaking there came a crowd with Judas Iscariot leading the charge. Jesus had taught publically in the temple but here come the religious rulers of the day by night to take Jesus by force if necessary. In one of very few interactions between Jesus and Judas, Jesus asks Luke 22:48 “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?””

Jesus is handed over to the high priest and led away to his house for interrogation. As they lead him away the disciples scatter and Peter follows at a distance. Coming into the court yard Peter sat among them and a servant girl seeing him and states “This man also was with him!” Peter denies it saying “Woman, I do not know him.!” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”  About an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. It is here we learned about Godly Sorrow..

That gives us a bit of context about where we have been which leads us to our passage tonight in Luke 22:63-71 .

The world is a tough place today as it was in the time of Jesus. So many things happen too us, and many are just not good. If you read or watch the news you would find stories of abuse, mistreatment, cruelty and hate. Each of us in one way or another have experienced the depravity that is in this world.

Maybe like me when you were young you were bullied. Or as a young man losing a friend to carelessness. Maybe someone of authority took advantage of you. So many are physically and psychologically injured. So much fear. Vulgar language directed at you or someone you love. So much hate and discontentment in the world, I’m sure you can relate. Men given power and then miss use it. How are we to cope with a fallen world full of fallen people?

AW Tozer wrote “Jesus didn’t come to show us his divinity but to teach us perfect humanity.” Jesus is “a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He endured the same mistreatment many of us have and he remained sinless.

1. Mocked but Mighty Savior | Firm against falsehood

Luke 22:63–65 “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.”

Our passage opens in a sense of urgency with the word “Now” and we find men who are holding Jesus. These men could have been just part of the crowd that went with the chief priest, officer and elders or they could have been an contubernium of Roman soldiers. Regardless of if they were trained like solders or not what we do know is that they held Jesus.

Could Jesus have overpowered them? Certainly, vs 53 “but this was your hour and the power of darkness.” And Isaiah 53:10 “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; “ As we discussed earlier, Jesus had resolved that the Fathers will would be accomplished so he submitted to those as they beat him. This beating was likely with fists and a rod in which they struck his face and body even blindfolding him and asking Him to “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you? Later he would be scourged by Pilate before his crucifixion.

Those who held him knew exactly whom had submitted to them. They had seen his works mending the bones of the lame, causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear and casting out demons from the afflicted. Why else would they ask him to prophesy? Those holding him spoke vile and evil things to him, even blaspheming him. Saying he wasn’t whom he had shown them that he was. Saying his works were done because he had a demon vises seeing that he truly was the son of God. "Blasphemy" means expressing something disrespectful or evil about God. Among the worst forms of blasphemy are those which twist sacred truths about God into lies. And those holding him wanted nothing of the truth!

Jesus gets our suffering because he suffered. Whatever your going through Jesus can relate and is able to have compassion on you. Do you know the suffering servant? Have you asked him to save you from your sins?

2. Firm Against Falsehood

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.””

Authority and power are synonomus in our understanding of the world we live in. Power often brings corruption when it is not held fast under the authority of the ultimate authority of the one who created all things. Jesus trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin was anything but a just trial. As we have already seen, Jesus was beaten and mocked yet the facts of the case hadn’t been established. Caiaphus the high priest had already prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation.

John 11:49–51 “But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,”

Luke 22:2 “And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.”

Now was their chance. They had enticed Judas with his hearts desires Jn 12:6 and Judas led them to Jesus. He was held overnight and as day broke the Pharisees knew if they were to get rid of Jesus they would need to do so quickly. They brought the assembly together and began asking questions trying to get a conviction in this unjust trial.

What is it that makes this trial unjust?

Jesus was arrested illegally.

John 18:3–5 , 8 “So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.””

Luke 22:52 “Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?”

The trial took place at the high priest home and not in the temple.

Luke 22:54 “Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance.”

vs 66 says that the led him away to their council. We might think this is a different location but it is before the 71 members of the Sanhedrin who were the supreme judicial and religious of Jerusalem.

Jesus was tried without a defense.

Mark 14:55–61 “Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But he remained silent and made no answer. ”

Luke 22:66–68 “And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he(Jesus) said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer.”

John 18:21 “Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.””

Jesus was accused of blasphemy without actually blaspheming.

Luke 22:69–70 “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.””

Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”

The verdict came in the stretch of one day, when two days were required for a capital trial.

Jesus was tried on a feast day...

No trial was permitted in private, in a house or on a feast day (the members celebrated Passover from sundown Thursday to sundown on Friday. If your following the time line the trial occurs early Friday morning.

Contradictory testimony nullifies evidence.

Mark 14:56 “For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.”

Mark 14:58–59 ““We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.”

Matthew 26:60 “but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward”

A pronouncement of guilt by the high priest is contrary to the normal order and the law of Moses

Matthew 26:65 “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.”

Leviticus 21:10 ““The priest who is chief among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose nor tear his clothes.”

I don’t know where your at today nor do I know where you have been. I don’t know what has or hasn’t happened to you. The difficulties you have experience, the trials you have endured possibly even unjustly. What I do know is a savior who was tempted in every way we have been but yet remained sinless. Who endured harsh Who of an unjust mob, their beatings and mockery. Who encountered the horrors of a prejudice trial who found him guilty of bogus charges. Who would give the ultimate price of his life and would experience the cup of Gods wrath. Who was raised on the third day which was Gods good and perfect plan to bring about the salvation of many! Do you know this savior? Have you confessed in your heart that Jesus is enough to be Lord of your life, not that you have done anything but that he paid everything for the penalty of your sin. Have you believed in your heart God raised him from the dead? Are you being changed by Spirit through the word. Jesus endured such hardship so that we could be redeemed to the God who made us!