Three Trial Questions to Grasp Christ's Suffering & Reign
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We have left the orientation to the cetnre of world history behind. Passover, battle with Satan. And the action of the Cross has begun already in the garden - Christ in becoming sin for us, isdrinking the cup of God’s wrath, His Father is withdrawing his presence. But there our mediator bearingour sin, withstanding our punishment, is praying and is sterengtheneed. He regains his composure and march’s into his betrayl his arrest, denial of his closes friends. And look now in our text, endures a painfiled night of false witnesses and kangaroo style court, led from Gethsemane - to where?
We have left the orientation to the cetnre of world history behind. Passover, battle with Satan. And the action of the Cross has begun already in the garden - Christ in becoming sin for us, isdrinking the cup of God’s wrath, His Father is withdrawing his presence. But there our mediator bearingour sin, withstanding our punishment, is praying and is sterengtheneed. He regains his composure and march’s into his betrayl his arrest, denial of his closes friends. And look now in our text, endures a painfiled night of false witnesses and kangaroo style court, led from Gethsemane - to where?
Here across to the nice par tof town - hig piresshouse - Caiaphas and Anas father-in-law. And do you see his treamtent by the priest’s gaurds - mocking him. Later when tried and sentenced he will be mocked as a king. But what is it the Jewish nation is mocking himfor - ofice as Prophet. They blindfold the Saviour of the World, the Son of God who came to reveal greatest truths of God, saving truths, promises - and they strike him and say prophesy is a game tell us who hit you!
And now as his blood flows not from spiritual anguish of his soul beioffering like I53 says, but now as his he egins to endure the phing on our behalf - in the middle of the suffering - there is disorientation again -
You feel it in your own life - suffering diss- discombulates us - don’t know what end is up -what is good, darkens everything, we become negative ,we lose perspective on life; you can bet that this is happening in Jesus huan nature too - you can bet it is happening in his disciples likeyou and me - this man is the Saviouur - dreams is over - no form of msjesty, or saving, all a tragedy - does it have to end this way. Peter v.62 weeping bitterly. And that is how many thk o this time tragedy of Bad Friday - and fairy tale of Jesus rising but so far awy and the world hasn’t changed- and God is just as far as wayas ever.
But the sun is braking now and amid all this disorientation at the very minute when the forces of darkness - for it is Satan’s hour -a s they put there wheels in motion, because no official decision can be made by the Sanhediren to execute a man - at night. Infact requires two days to be put ito effect, but the crack of dawn comes and they texted around through the night to get witness es and decisions, can’tagree on witnesses, but now whoel counril gather - and in a hall like this for official trial.
The Chamber of Hewn Stone: Sanhedrin
Now there have been famous trials in history of the world - Socrates - hemlock, like Miroslav , the NurembergTrails - important aren’tthey - for the truth to come for justice to prevail. Scopes mockey trial - Roe-v Wade, Paul Bernardo. Don’t loose sight in all the suffering that the most ipmortan trial and verdict - and if you were a a victim, or you lost a family ember - you can bet you’d be hanging on every word of the trail and awaiitig the verdict - Well you tooare pariticipatnt in this trial - and need the verdict of the trial at the cetynre of world history. And before Christ takes the guilty verdict for us, takes upon himself curse of all sin, before the judgment falls - and die on a tree forsaken by heaven and earth - won’t you listen to his testimony? Won’t you listen to who he clais to be, whether he is innocent, and hi mission is Oh, they seek to have him in the dock, prosecuting, accusing, dedicdiing, but Christ in this most remarkable court room drama, he asit were is out of the dock were rethe accused is to be questioned, and it is as if He in his majesty now turns to his judges, he turns to you and me and he questions us. And understand as he asks you about three key titles - nderstand he is doing exactly what those guards asked him to. Now he is prophesying. In these three titles - he is giving you the pinnacle of the most important revelation, from, the message from heaven condensed into three titles, just eight words(Christ, Son of Man, THE Son of God) that ought to re-orientate ourselves in the middle of the suffering.
Oh, you don’t have to stay as Peter weeping bitterly, as you see what happens to our LORD, like all in the gospel couldn’t understand it,Christ gives you this prophesy that you might see the Cross, the grave, the empty tomb - with new eyes That you might see what the Messiah of the world does in the middle of the darkest night of all. Come with me then into this most important legal drama, and ear the testimony the prophesy yourself - and turn to Jesus in fuller way as he goes to the Cross!
Key Truth: Grasp Christ, believing in His three titles in the trial at the centre of world history!
Key Truth: To grasp Christ believe in the three titles of the trial at the centre of world history!
Title #1: I am the Christ, but not your kind of Christ
Now even before you here there prosecuting question, hear there tone. If you are the Christ , tell us! They are calling the shots, they are the rulers, guides, gatekeepers of the community politically and spiritually! But undertand that they are on shaky ground, they had t wait to take him at night in secret for fear of the rowds who would follow him. They keep him up all night, but can’t produced two wtinesse to agreee on his crimes and what he had said. They had determined long before that this false teacher who challenged their authroty and saw through their hypociry had to go .
Even more recently he had theolgoically undressed them - In on the temple stems as he stood preaching th gospel, the authorities came around, and cornered him “Tell us by what authroity you do things or who it is that gave you this authority.”
And do you remmber Jesus answer?
He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”
And they for fear of the people woudln’t answer because if they said from heaven - why don’t you believe, and from man - the people will stone us! Jesus tells the story of the wicked tennants who killthe son,and do you remember his punch line: The building block that was rejected hasbecome the cornstone - of a whole new world! again they try to layhands onhim butthey can’t!
Later that day or at least that week, Saducees, main part of priesthood and Sandherdrin - try to trip hi pu on questionof the resurrection, and Do you remember Jesus stups them and they dare to ask no more questions, and Jesus goes on to tsay to them:
But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
Jesus is saying the Christ/Messiah saviour, remember not Jesus last name, o Nazareth, of Joseph, but Christ is the title of the anointed king, deliverer, prophet, priest! And Jesus is pointing out the Christ is Davids Lord and will have an everlasting throne and rule until all the enmies of God are defeated!
Now remember Jesus avoided this title used 25x in Luke, but usually by others like Peter you are te Christ the Son of the living God. Point of the gospel to prove this. But this wasn’t Jesus favourite title for himself, that comes next. He didn’t rush to call himself Christ because had become almost a military, political title - that a leader of teh Jews would set them free from Rome - and that’s the role of the Messiah! They only saw ason ofDavid more militaryand political than David himself!
And while they tried all sorts of theire claims the night before that coudn’t stick, this was the one they are accusing him of, because they can’t sentencepeople to death any more, only the Romans can - so what better accusation thanhe clams tobe Messiah King who threatens Caeasar -
Well, how will Jesus answer? Look at it:
“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.
And again please hear his tone first. He isnot defensiev, he isn ot scared, he knows dying condemend before Goand mean is how he must become the Lamb of God. But listen to him turn the tables. He as it were leaves the docket of the accused, oepns the doorsteps out for a mement and walks in front of them.
If I tell you …tell them what - Jesus has proven from the Scriptures what Messiah must be and do. He has told them all the Scripture speak of him as Messiah Christ Rescuer - you search them - evenstrain out gnats with your rules - but you refuse to see the Messiah in his gloryin the Scirpture they all speak of me. If I tell you won’t listen.
And if I askyou - If I as the prsecutig lawyer were to ask you about all the miracles the healing, the forgiving, the commanding of nature and demons - would you believe?
Do you get it? He is syaing yes, but so different than you think a Messiah is or should be. It is so interesting that the claim of the Messiahto do all the rescuing works - not thought of to be claiing to be God divinnity. Barkova reevolt in 125AD - another one claming to be Messiah was judgedbu this claim not worthy of death!
And so this morning Jesusis prophesying to be a king , a messiah - but not an earhtly or political iilatry one - Will you receive his prophesy. Let him lead you to sharpen his idneity on his own terms who He is and why He is here - willing to be judgedandcondemened! Do you see it there, what is the second title that Jesus asserts as he goes on the offensive - to make crystal clear what he is up to! It is the favourite title he used i describing himself . Used 8x and the last and most dramatic time he will use it!
But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Title #2: I am the Son of Man, But Coming into Glory
Now why did Jesus call himself the Son of Man. It is a title that stresses his human nature - the prophet Ezekiel often called by God ashuman messenger of God’s will and gospel - Son of Man. Jesus is stressing that they may be eamining Him, but Jesus as the hcheif propthet more than conquering king, he i playinga prophetic role - confessing the truth to the world . Do you get that cliam that Jesus is the Son God as a messenger to you and me.
In this trial a window is opened up through which you must peer to see who the true Messiah really is and what he wil do. Yes he is the Son of Man and in his humannature he is going to go through suffering and death , he is going to suffer being rejected Jesus uses it to show that he is like the first Adam, the prootyppe of huamnity. But if that was all this title communicated why do they not go ballistic when he says, you’ve said I am Christ/Messiah, but what he says about Sn of Man is where they say he is claiming to be God!
To Jewish ears who is the Son of Man. Mysterious figure in
“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.
“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.
Do you remember that propehtic vision, Daniel is interpreting the riddle of history for Daiours, winds of heaven blowing, four great beasts - the empires of this world come of the sea - the last a beast of iron, horns, a little boasting horn - But then this Son of Man does his work on earth - and he though in form man - is a picture of God Himself - and he approaches teh Ancient of Days -ascending to his throne - he s given all power and authorty - and a kingdomform all nations. That’s the Son of Man! And where is he seated: rightand of God the Father Almighty.
Do you understand Jesus testimony here - right now I am bloodied and condemned and look like the scum of the earth - but I am forsaken and suffering Servant of for a purpose
When else did Jesus repeat these prophetic words about his kngdom of nations and his authroity and power until the end of the age?
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
This is mind blowing - Jesus is climaing that through this suffering he will emerge as King of nations of disicpoes from everynation. Listen toh is words again inthis trial each one chosen so carefully:
Yes Christ, but a sufferingone. But listen, “But from now on ....you SHALL see”
From now on where will the Christ be seen. Where do we see him otday, he was despised and rejected for a while, andwe esteemed him not …but listen says, Jesus the work of the Christ, is not ultimately on earth in a political military way.
And it may be that you don’t want that kind of Messiah, but that you really just want a Messiah for your earthly life, make life easy, give us peronsal fulfilment, health, riches - best life now!
Jesussays to you and me and to the world, the Christ, the role of the Messiah is not ultimately for all the earthly stuff -
In a littlewhile you will see me,as the transcendet Christ, the Christ who accopmolishes salvation on the Cross, and then takes up power to reign.
And that is the signifiance of those words you shall see him SITTING AND COINITNUING TO SIT on that throne. That’s the prophesy of , the winds of earth still blowing today, the kingdomstill raging, but now Christ from heaven - bpatize and teach and disciple - building a spiritual kingdom of those redeemed by forgiveness and moving to the world not with physical power, speiritual power to set people free from sin and ge them to enter and wlak in the Kingdomo f Righteousneess.
And it is ture that this Jesus once despised,but reigning now , willcome on the same clouds of glory that he ascended- and it is commmitted tohim to judge. And so this morning do you see this Sonof Man at the Father’s right hand - ruling by grace to grwo - Do you hear what Jesus is sayingthrough his testimony even200 years ago , but echoihng in your ears from him today.
You sitthere evaluating me, you sit their thinking you can size Jesus up. You repackage thegopsel to make it more appealing to earhtly sense. But thebig deal is not what you thk of the Son of Man. The big dealis what the Son of Man will think of you. And Luke rocords it with no anger, no despair, noaguihs. Luke even leaves out the prohescy of hi returning judgment that Matthew and Markinclude toemphaize through his gospel that - through out his eartly life - even to those condmning him,thenadministrating his execution - he remains
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Do you see his claim to be the Messiah and to be the Son of Man - and do you see how he patiently suffers for you and me, and calmly calls you to find Him as Saviour even in His trial!
But now comes the most unexpected twist in this courtrooom drama. They haven’t gotten any hard evidence to convict him on, and hisanswer while agreeing have been spins ontheir interpretations. But when He has dientitifedhimself astheSono f Man, they actually go baliistic and askthe killer question
3rd Title: I am the Son of God Whom Every Tongue Must Confess
So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
And inhis answer we have the ultimate prophesy and revealtion of God to us. Notice the question isn’t are you a son of God. That’s atitle too for those made in God’s image for hiuman, a title for angels. But that defintie article are you THE SON OF GOD, shows that they connected the dots with Jesus saying , he was this divine figure with an everlasting kingdom and where was he coming to be? On which side of the ancient of days? Right hand of the power of God. Who sits there? Look again at
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
It is the Lord, David’s Lord, the SecondpersonoftheTrinity, the Son of God in human flesh- taking on our position in our sin, but being raised up in new and resurrected humanity - that gets the throne and the ssceptre at the Father’s righthand. And they at least get that Jesus is saying He is God!
They have connected at least at some level, that Jesus is claiming to be the Anointed the Christ of
,7-8
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
And of
I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
And this is the dramatic part of the trial. They can hardly believe their luck, theyhad been stuck, but Jesus - didn’t use the 5th amendment. He actually gave them the evidence they lacked,and he offered it from their own lips. But what was it Jesus had said, they jump at it to push the Son of God away from their lives and even Satnically from this world!
The highpirest - we read in the other gopsels - here what he believes is blasphemey dramtically begins to rip his robe - this one who has becomethe scum of the earth - he claim tobe God!
But what was Jesus reply, though his answer sealed the execution order, Christ knowkingly offers himself upwith no one taking hislife, he is going to alyit down. But look at how he answered them:
So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
Yes, techinicallytrue I claim to be God, as you have said, but not what you mean. What do you mean Jesus, You are the Christ, but not as they mean. You are God but not as they understand it. And you can see Jesus is the one who is in controlwho knows what it is to be the Christ of the world and to truly be the Son of God - and it isall in that but now, but soon, you will see.. I am the Christ now precisely because I wil lbeear this world’s sin and guilt, and I am the Son of God because in my huan nature I will die doin ghte will of the Father for -to save us even while enemiesof that kingdom of grace.
Doyou see it now this was Jesus at his lowest, in his suffering make the good confession that the Christ had to suffer, had to be condmened -that is the Sonof God in his glory. And this trial is really asking the same question to the world today,
These officialsof earthly kingdom never really did answer Jesus nor didthey believe. But Luke from beginning to the end of his gospel, and God the Father from the beginning of Christ’s earthly life to the very end - he is calling you to recognize jesus as Christ, Son of Man, but ulitately as the Son of God.
Listen to his coming:
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
And listen to the voice again from heaven but this time God himself speaking:
and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
And listen when Jesus glory shone on the Mof Tranfiguration: when he wasin the cloud of God’s Shekinah glory…
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
And the irony and twistat the end of this legal drama, in that judgmenthall that day, was not Jesus surprisinglygivingthem the evedience they longed for. It was in the emphasis in Jesus words, didn’t have to say it this way,inGk, but double ephasison YOU
Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
Jesus is fullly incontrol and he is the one really asking the questions and not just to the snahhedreinbut to all of you sitting here this morning, and to the whole world. Like to his disicpleswho dopeople say that I am. Not prophet , not relgious oropotical hopeful, not spiritual guru. You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.
But now at the heart of world history - Jesus has had to connect the dots and flesh out for us what that really means. And they willl not confess him - bleievein Him, but Jesus in making this good confession of who He is and what He is up to is saying: do youget who I amand what I am doing?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
As John would later put it
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
That is me especially in my suffering for you. Butnow in these next few hours, now at thecrisis of humanhistory undestand that the Ancient of days God the Father, with whom I am one, he is offering me for you, for your sins, for your salvation.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Or later as Luke would record the resurrected Jesus words
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
Conclusion of Trial:
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
These three questions are asked of you this morning - do youseeHImand blieveas theChrist, the Sonof Man, the Son of God. Christ could have kept his mouth shut, maybe they would have cruified himanyway.s But he chose topen hismouth and confessteh central truths needed to understand his death resurretionhis mission and his glory !
And he opened his mouth not to save his own skin, but to save yours. And at the end of this trialhe turns andasks will you too confess me? He said it in the gospels:
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
You won’t have to go out of your way to confess Christ and thesetruths. Ina hundred waysevery day - in your regular dtuies and struggles and vicotries in life - opportunity to speak of the mission of the Christ who sufferanddraws nears to suferrer you will have oppotuntiy to speak of your hope of the Son of Man - madeaway through death and the glory of kingdom of heaven. have opprutnity totestitfy of this forgiveness that involvedthe Sno f oGod absorbing all the injury and shame and guilt of another
Jesus didn’t just make this good confession so he could get to the ross, he made it also as an example of how you too are tonot take hold of your robes and rip them like the high priest, but as
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
This was the trial at the centre of world history, but there will be another one when the Sonreturns and will need know riddles- whenHis full idnityt and his full plan for the kingdomthroughthe Cross laid, bare, and the hearts of allmen will open before him. Onthat day we read:
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
That is our opproutnity nnow aswegotothe Cross, before he returns to confess Him unto ourslavation, and to confess him before this world,ouf families,neighbours andcoworkers - thatthey mightanswerGod’s question and receive hisgift of eternal life. Receive ethn the Christ, the Sn of Man, the Son of God dying and rising for you! Amen.