The Passion of Christ: The Trial of Three Rulers: God's Sovereignty in the Face of Injustice

Bible Passage: Luke 23:1–7

“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.” 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.”

In 1994, a court in Singapore sentenced an American teenager, Michael Fay (born 30 May 1975),[1] to be lashed six times with a cane for violating the Vandalism Act. This caused a temporary strain in relations between Singapore and the United States.[2]

Fay was arrested for stealing road signs and vandalizing 18 cars over a ten-day period in September 1993. Fay pled guilty, but he later claimed that he was advised that such a plea would preclude caning and that his confession was false, that he never vandalized any cars, and that the only crime he committed was stealing road signs. Although caning is a routine court sentence in Singapore, Fay's sentence garnered controversy and was widely in the media in the United States, as it was believed to be the first judicial corporal punishment involving an American citizen.[3] The number of cane strokes in Fay's sentence was ultimately reduced from six to four after United States officials requested leniency, and the sentence was carried out on May 5, 1994.

Do you think this was a fair treatment for vandalism? Was justice served?

Over the past few weeks we have been walking through passover week. The week began on Sunday with the triumphant entry of Jesus on a donkey as the long awaited king. Monday Jesus cleanses the temple removing the money changers and merchants. He tells them “Take these things away and do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” Thursday brings the Passover and the Last Supper and later that night we find Jesus in the garden praying “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” This is where our study picked up about the passion of Christ. We talked about passion meaning suffering and that the cup of Gods wrath was a path to redemption.

As the night began to move more quickly we talked about the betrayer, the denier and the redeemer. Last week we spent time looking at the injustice of thee trial before the Jewish Counsel in which Christ suffered for our redemption.

Tonight in our passage tonight we will see Jesus before Pilate and Herod. Both were political rulers who were more concerned with perceived power and control than they were interested in truth. The counsel, Pilate and Herod were three kings who thought they had control over their kingdoms. This doesn’t go unnoticed by a sovereign God who uses what they intended for evil to bring about the salvation of many. Genesis 50:20

Big Idea: God's sovereign plan is realized through the actions of earthly authorities, demonstrating that even in our darkest moments, He is still at work for our good and His glory.

1. Pilate’s Political Pressure | Herod’s Jurisdiction | Jesus’ silent sovereignty

Luke 23:1–3 “Then the whole company of them arose and brought Jesus 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.””

The context of our passage shows us that the company that Luke is referring to is the Jewish Counsel who had unjustly pronounced that Jesus deserves death for blasphemy. Matthew 25:66 Caesar had long removed the Jewish Counsels ability to pass capital judgement. If they were to kill Jesus they would need the Roman authorities to do the deed for them.

The whole company arose and brought Jesus before Pontus Pilate who is the Roman governor of Judea. They began to accuse Jesus of “misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” If you think back or look up the page to Jesus before the council you will find that they had convicted Jesus of blasphemy. Here we see the counsel in a three fold attack against Jesus designed to manipulate Pilate to their advantage.

First they say, “We found this man misleading our nation.” The council accused Jesus of leading the nation away from the true doctrine of Moses and the prophets. This was untrue. What Jesus taught was Matthew 15:9 “in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”” In reality it was the counsel who was leading the people away from the true doctrine of Moses and the prophets.

Pilate had a very low view of Jewish doctrine. He really didn’t care what they taught but he did care about power and control. A divided nation meant civil unrest and the possibility for an uprising.

Second they accused Jesus of “forbidding the Jews from giving tribute to Caesar.” What Pilate and Caesar had in common is they loved the money that was given by the Jews in taxes. This would have gotten Pilates attention because if the Jews quit paying taxes it took away what he loved, money; and would draw unwanted attention from Caesar with a reduction in the tribute paid. This was far from the truth of what Jesus thought an taught which was to give to Caesar what is Caesar and give to God what is God’s. Matthew 22:21

Third the counsel accused Jesus of “he himself is Christ, a King.” Christ is a term that means the messiah or anointed one. Since Pilate didn’t normally play into what the religious leaders thought and taught, the counsel added a king. The last thing any leader of that time wanted was another king to come along. One would have to go, and most likely forcefully and possibly by the death of one or the other. This prompts Pilates question “Are you the King of the Jews?” Luke’s answer is brief with Jesus saying, “You have said so.” John gives a more detailed account of Jesus’ answer.

John 18:36–37 “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.””

Summary: The counsels heart in their judgement is revealed in the charges they bring before Pilate. They didn’t care how but Jesus has to go so they appeal to Pilates desire to stay in power and his love of money pressuring Pilate for a judgement.

2. Herod’s Jurisdiction

Luke 23:4–7 “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.” 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.”

Pilate finds the answer he needs that Jesus kingdom is not of this world. It sets him at ease and yields Pilates answer, “I find no guilt in this man.” His judgement unhinges the council and they begins to say urgently that he stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place. When Pilate heard of this he asked if Jesus was Galilean.

The answer had dropped in Pilates lap. He found no guilt in Jesus but the council cried out all the more for resolve.

Rather than make a hasty decision and pronounce judgement, He passes the buck to Herod. Pilate did this for three reasons.

Jesus being Galilean put him under Herod’s jurisdiction.

Pilate sought to keep from usurping Herods authority.

Pilate also likely knew of Herods interest in Jesus for his miracles.

So he sent Jesus over to Herod who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.

Summary: Pilate relieves his political pressure by sending Jesus to Herod. This doesn’t change the counsels goal but increases the intensity of their pleas as we will see.

3. Jesus’ silent sovereignty

Luke 23:8–12 “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.”

Herod had wanted to meet Jesus for sometime. He had heard many things about him including signs done by him. Herod was curios as to what they were and how they came about. Jesus saw Herods heart and said nothing. This didn’t stop the chief priest and the scribes from accusing him all the more.

Herod wasn’t indiscriminate with his time. He didn’t want to see Jesus so that he could believe but rather that Jesus would put on a show. Herod wanted to see the signs and wonders Jesus had done elsewhere and when Jesus fails to comply Herod and his solders treat him with contempt and mock him. If Jesus won’t give us a show we will make a spectacle of him. They put him in splendid clothing and sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate and Herod became friends that day because it pleased Herod that Pilate should respect his authority and power by sending Jesus to him. Pilate also knew Herod wanted to meet him and this pleased Herod.

Psalm 2:1–3 “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.””

Jesus wasn’t caught off guard by the Jewish Council’s, Pilate’s or Herod’s actions. Jesus knew it was the good will of the Father that he would suffer for the sins of many. That in eternity past the Father had ordained a perfect plan to bring his redemption to those who would believe. Trusting His fathers will he remained silent as he continued to bear the cup that was chosen for him. John reminds us as to Jesus purpose, For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.

Summary: Jesus trusted the Father regardless of circumstances. The arrest was false, the Council had no evidence of any wrong to bring Jesus to answer for. The Council’s trial was rigged. Caiaphas John 11:50 was recorded previously saying, “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.”” The trial before Pilate was influenced by political pressure from the counsel. As was Jesus time before Herod because Herod wanted to be entertained by Jesus works. Justice had been adverted at every corner. And yet what each of them had intended for their own selfish and evil purposes, God intended for good to bring about the salvation of many. Jesus knew this as the only Son of the Father and he endured trusting God’s sovereign plan, suffering silently to save His people from their sins.

Who do you trust when the circumstances are dire? When the world is stacked against you, where do you turn?

These three rulers turned to the things they knew and understood things we could say make up who they are as a person. Much the same is true with us. When things get difficult, or something comes against something we love we will do what it takes to defend it.

The council loved the power they held over religion. They need to get rid of Jesus to maintain it so they found him guilty of blasphemy and sentenced him to death. The problem is they lacked the authority to execute the sentence. They found someone who could, So the council placed political pressure on Pilate. Pilate loved his political position, rather than standing behind his judgement “finding no guilt in this man”, Pilate relieved this political pressure by sending Jesus to Herod. Herod loved to be entertained and he wanted a show that Jesus wouldn’t give him. So Herod dresses him up and sends him back to Pilate. They trusted in themselves instead of the living God who made them.

Jesus on the other hand turned to the Father. He trusted Gods sovereign plan. Sovereign means God is above and reigns over everything. He has the ultimate power and authority. Nothing happens without him allowing it or directing it. He is the ruler of all that He created. Jesus trusted the Father to the point of death even death on the cross. It was the Fathers good will to put Jesus to death and to raise him on the third day showing death and sin have no hold on Jesus. If we will trust in Jesus not only will he give us the strength to endure whatever may come our way but what is true of Jesus will become true of us. We can have eternal life because he endured the cross. Have you put your trust in Jesus?