Politics Gone Wrong

Human government was first instituted by God in Genesis 9:6. Coming out of the Ark, God instructed Noah that humans were given authority to carry out His purpose among all humans. However, when leaders serve themselves or only part of their constituents, Politics goes bad.

Peer pressure is not only a High School problem! The more decisions are based upon fear of man, the further we get from God’s justice.

Luke 22 concludes with 70 Jewish leaders who are determined to have their own way. Luke 23 begins with their attempts to persuade Roman leaders to yield to their wishes.

Three hearings turn into a lynching. In the first scene Pilate examines what Jesus had done. In the 2nd and 3rdscenes the question seems to be about who Jesus is. Finally in the last scene neither Jesus’ actions or personality matter; the mob had made up their mind and they would not be swayed by the facts.

Ever since the attacks on the World Trade Center, we have learned to live under a color-coded threat system. In today’s text the threat to Jesus moves from Green to Red.

Transition: In this first scene Pilate gives evidence of a spine.

Pilate Renders a Green Verdict (23:1-7)

False Accusation 1: Misleading our People (Dt 13:1-5)

1. Prophets who prophesy in name of other gods – death

2. Unpopular prophet

a. We don’t like what he says, he should die (Jer 33:11)

b. He speaks for God even if we don’t like it, he lives (Jer 33:16)

3. False prophets who demand worship – death (Dt.13)

a. He does signs & wonders

b. He demands worship

Deuteronomy 13:1–5 ESV:2016

1 “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

4. The Sanhedrin in Jesus’ day could not admit that they got it wrong, just as in Jer 33:16.

False Accusation 2: Forbidding Taxes (Lk 20:25)

· Jesus did the opposite -

Luke 20:25 ESV:2016

25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

True Accusation: Inciting the People (Lk 19:37-38)

1. The people were not riled up in revolt, they were stirred up that the kingdom was at hand!

2. The Kingdom of God threatened the kingdom that the religious leaders had established.

Transition: When their accusations ring hollow, Pilate rules on the evidence and gives Jesus the green light, but the mob continues to press….

We have all seen politicians who grandstand or flip-flop. With video being so prevalent in the last 30 years, long term politicians find themselves standing against things they once promoted, or standing for something they once decried. In a world of political expediency some pass the problem on to others so that they can make the unpopular declaration. That is what Pilate does in vv.6-7

Pilate (& Herod) Renders a Yellow Verdict (23:8-16)

Herod sought to be entertained, but Jesus is not a plaything (vv.8-10)

1. Herod is watching

2. Jesus (having been beaten by the Priestly guards) stands in silence.

3. The priests and scribes try to goad him into self-incrimination.

Herod responds immaturely (v.11)

1. Contempt

2. Mockery

3. Ridicule by extravagant clothing

Herod & Pilate form a political alliance (v.12)

1. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” is an ancient proverb.

2. Both Herod and Pilate disagree with the accusations of the priests, but neither one wants to give the impression that Rome is flinching to the Jews.

An attempt to appease the mob (v.16)

1. Pilate proposed what he perceived to be a win-win proposition.

2. He says that Herod agrees with him (v.15) then rules cowardly:

3. I will punish him so the Jews can claim victory

4. I will release him so that it appears I rule according to evidence.

Transition: The aggression of the mob rachets up to intimidate

Pilate Delivers an Orange Verdict (23:18-22)

The mob shows their appetite for blood, knowing it is unjust (vv.18-19)

Pilate knows (and desires) the right thing (v.20)

The mob increases because they feel like they are making progress (v.21)

Pilate repeats v.16 (v.22b)

1. In verses 14-15 Pilate expresses that they have failed to prove their charges.

2. The statement in v.15 is now becoming a question in v.22a, so the people sense a crack that they can exploit.

Transition: Once the crack has been exposed, the mob pushes harder so that the orange becomes bright red.

Pilate Grants a Red Injustice (23:23-25)

The appeal of the Sanhedrin now escalates to prevailing demands (v.23)

Pilate concludes that the irrational demands of the mob are more significant than his own sense of justice (v.24)

Pilate releases a guilty man and condemns an innocent one (v.25)

1. This one verse is a summary of the exchange that happens when every sinner places trust in Christ.

2. We, the condemned ones, are released from our guilt.

3. He, the innocent one, endures a death He does not deserve in the least.

Conclusion:

Last week we saw Christ being beaten before he was even tried. The week we see Jesus being condemned by those who admit that He is innocent. All of this was done according to God’s plan to show His love for us. The Father’s Love is so great that the Son willingly endured injustice. He died, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. All He requests of us is that we admit our need, believe that Jesus dies in order to make us acceptable to God, and Confess Him as our Lord.

Our final song this morning is a declaration of the depth of God’s love for us. Join me as we stand and testify.

Song of Response ......... “How Deep the Father’s Love”

Benediction: Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV) — The Lord bless you and keep you; 25the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26the Lordlift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.