Lesson 70L Luke 22:63- 71 The Mockery of Those Holding Jesus in Custody

The Savior is Blindfolded and Blasphemed, 22:63- 71

63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. 64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? 65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. 66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, 67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: 68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. 69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. 70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. 71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Lk 22:63–71.

Depravity prevails

There is a list of the things that the men did to bully the Savior:

-They imprisoned Him in chains or shackles-v. 63 “held”

-They mocked (made fun of, or ridiculed Jesus) v.63

-They whipped or beat Him (smote or struck) v. 63

-They blindfolded him - for the purpose of hitting Him in the face.) v.64

-They struck Jesus in the face: v. 64

-Made fun of His prophetic gifts v.64 (Prophesy, who smote you?)

-Blasphemed God’s Son maliciously- this is truly adding insult to injury. v.65

This was done all under the cover of darkness. It had been a long night and the brutal mob of soldiers were no doubt looking to see what they could do to keep themselves awake. So, they started their systematic torture on Christ. The soldiers who attended him while being held had few social graces, absolutely no concern for individual civil rights, and few instances in which they would be accountable unless Jesus would have been a Roman citizen. It was Jesus against the world. The morning is slowly approaching.

Daytime brings together the elders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes. Their business was to rule and reign against the King of the Universe. He is led in front of them and they demand Him to tell them if He is truly the Messiah, the Anointed One, God’s Special Choice: Matthew 2:4, John 1:41 “This one first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated “Christ”).” ; John 4:25

They wanted more than just Jesus Christ of Nazareth, which was His proper name. They believe they have Jesus right where they want Him so they press in and in their hot breath they say in His face “Are you the Christ?” His response is :

King James Version Chapter 22

If I tell you, ye will not believe: 68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. 69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God

Jesus is telling them that He is going to eventually bypass all of them to be at the right hand of God the Father. They press Him more and ask if He is the Son of God. His response to that is like Him saying “It is as you have already said.” Jesus did not deny himself. His answer was what they wanted hear because this was the guilty statement they were looking for. If ever there was a true statement it is “be careful what you say because it can and will be used against you.” Cyril of Alexandria said sometime after the fourth century, words that could easily be said today about this terrible treatment:

A Commentary upon the Gospel according to S. Luke Sermon CL

HERE too let the prophet Jeremiah say of the race of Israel, “Who will grant for my head to be waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I may weep for this people day and night?” For what lamentation can suffice for those who fell into the pit of destruction because of their wicked conduct unto Christ, and for guilt so great, that not with words only did they grieve Him, and mock Him with blasphemous cries, but even laid sinful hands upon Him, and made ready for Him the snare of death?

Many have said before, the heavens were astonished at what was happening here on Earth before their very eyes. This is the One from the Father’s right hand, the only begotten Son of God being striped of His earthly honor by their cowardly acts. Jesus endures, the rebuke and cruel treatment so that He will still be the Son of God and our sacrifice for sin, the sin of the whole world. It does challenge our very hearts and minds to wonder how men could be so wrong about one who was so right!

Jesus before Pilate 23:1- 5

English Standard Version Chapter 23

23 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 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.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “

The crowd drags Jesus into the 23rd chapter, (they did not know about the chapter change at this point, but we do) going by the name of the whole multitude/company/mob. It was mob rule by now. They are setting up their straw man arguments and then they knock down the truth one by one. The accusations are forced and they over-inflate certain details:

“misleading our nation.” Nope. The things He performed and preached were in the open. No one could refute Him.

“Forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar.” No, Jesus even said to give tribute to Caesar and God or to whom tribute is due.

“Saying he himself is Christ, a king.” He did say He was God, and the Son of God. God the Father said this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” they assumed He was king because of saying “if you have seen the Father, you have seen me.” It would have been punishable, only if this last statement were not true.” Remember, no one could dispute who or what Jesus was and is and shall be.

Pilates questioning brings us to verse 3 and the yes response to “Are you the King of the Jews? After Jesus responds, Pilate says, “I find no fault/guilt in Him.” But the crowd is not satisfied as their thirst for the quench of their envious hearts cannot be satisfied. The urgency is based upon all of the people who came to see Jesus and went away changed. Jesus is now charged with stirring up the people. We need this Jesus to be doing some stirring today. Stir our hearts Lord. Stir our lives. We have parted ways with this crowd in so many ways, but one thing is true. It was just as much our sins that sent Jesus to the cross as it was the scribes, chief priests, temple elders, Roman soldiers, and any raucous crowd that shouted down. For this we grieve at our sins, but rejoice in the hope that is firmly within us by Jesus who died in our place. It’s a wonderful thing and we are glad. This is the day the Lord has made and He finished the mission!