The Justice of Jesus

Today, we are invited into the courtroom where Jesus of Nazareth is on trial for claims made that go against the law of the Hebrews as well as Roman. We know that He is telling the truth although the statements may contradict the rule and boundaries set by the Sanhedrin and the Roman Empire.

Jesus, at the very last hours leading up to His death, faced the worst opposition and disgrace from the very ones He came to save. He is the Son of God, but He most definitely did not look the part nor did He act like a King or strong military leader as they though the Messiah would or should.

So let us go back to the beginning of this day. The day, in Hebrew time, begins at sun down. He has a final meal with His friends, the Passover meal that all good Jews have at this time of year. That night, He is arrested and first brought before the Sanhedrin where many false accusations are made against Him. The only accusation that they can prove is that He said He was the Messiah, the Son of God. So by morning they drug Him to Pilate, the roman governor to have Him tried in the eyes of the Roman government. Pilate talks to Him and cannot wrap His pagan head around exactly what is the issue. All he can tell is that the Jewish leaders are very upset with Jesus.

We know the truth, but they didn’t. Jesus did not fit the part of being a son of a deity in the eyes of Pilate. He most definitely did not fit the part of being the Messiah in the eyes of the Sanhedrin. But our question today is “was justice served?” In a surprising turn of events it was. If justice was served, then how?

Pray and Read John 18:37-19:17

John 18:37–19:17 NRSV

Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

You just heard a summary of the trial and sentencing of Jesus of Nazareth. I want to ask you a question, but I want you to really think before coming up with an answer. So, did Jesus get a fair trial? Was justice served? It is actually a little tough to fully answer those questions. So let’s take a look at the statements made and each act taken here and figure out what was truth and what is wrong. The beginning of chapter 18, which is 40 verses long begins the moment that Jesus was arrest. So let me summarize this as best I can. When Jesus is arrested, He is first brought before the Sanhedrin Council. This is the business and political gathering of the Hebrew leaders, all priests and officers. They question Jesus about who Jesus claims that He is, all that He teaches, and His reasons. Jesus stated that He has always been open about what He teaches and that it is from God the Father. They have seen He heal and cast out demons. The Sanhedrin needed Roman approval to punish Jesus as they desired so they took Him to the governors palace and demanded that Pilate crucify Him. Pilate although a violent and careless leader, was still fair when it pertains to the Roman law. So He takes Jesus aside and asks Him some pretty blunt questions. Is Jesus really the prophesied Messiah or King of the Jews? Jesus’s answers to Pilate are spiritual in nature. Jesus says, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If I were an earthly King, my soldiers would be fighting to protect me.” “But, you are a King, right?” Pilate replies. Jesus replies that this is the reason He came to earth in the first place. “People who know me, know the Truth.” Being confused at this point, Pilate tried to pawn this whole trouble back to the Jewish leaders by saying something to the effect of “Well, He is you King, you deal with Him!” In other text, Jesus is then sent to Herod to be judged even future. Yet even then no judgement is found against Him.

The Jewish leaders remind Pilate that he is supposed to uphold the Jewish law as well as the Roman law. Also, the fact that many Jews were in town for passover they needed to ensure that things were done strictly and swiftly. Trying to appease them, Pilate had Jesus flogged. But they wanted His death. Passover was also a time where criminals could be acquitted. Pilate gave them the option to release a terrible criminal named Barabbas who killed, pillaged and plundered or they could release Jesus who obviously hadn’t done such terrible things, instead have healed and restored many. But they still demanded Jesus be crucified even though that meant that a serial killer would be released. So the verdict was set and Jesus is sent to be crucified.

Did Jesus deserve the sentence He was given? Truly, His crimes were nothing to terrible. I mean sure, with the beautiful Spirit-filled teachings and the healings He had given could invoke a passionate response from the Jewish people looking for the Messiah to free them from the Roman rule. So, maybe they were worried about a riot during Passover. But why not just lock him in prison if he is that kind of threat?

Besides, what was He guilty of really? He truly is the Messiah, we know that. Jesus was the perfect Human being. He was fully Holy and Righteous! Barabbas was a terrible human being. The abuse he gave to others and stealing and killing people. He deserved death.

But we don’t really know all that Barabbas did in his life. Who knows, if the Sanhedrin knew of the things I have done, they would have stoned me. But come on, don’t leave me alone up here! None of us is perfect. I think it is safe to say that we have all had our time of being a “bandit” like Barabbas. Some of us have put people on trial in our minds as though we can decide their fate. But we know, or we should know that no one can judge like God is judge over us.

But why then should the Messiah be wounded for OUR transgressions? Isaiah 53: 3-5

Isaiah 53:3–5 NRSV

He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

Like a lamb to the slaughter, or laid on the sacrificial table He went quietly to His death. Justice was served, not for Jesus’s sake, but for our own. Justice was not given to Jesus, but through Jesus for all of us. So Pilate asked, “what is Truth?” Sometimes you can be judged harshly for speaking the truth. But through the name of Jesus, speak it anyways. The Jews assume that the Messiah would look the part, but they assumed wrong. What assumptions of others have you misjudged? What wrongs have you done where you know that you deserve punishment? Jesus already paid the price. We are free from our sins and our brokenness. Justice has already been paid. What is Justice but that which is done in Truth. Jesus is Truth and Jesus gives Justice! Isn’t that Good News? How can you administer Justice like the justice that Jesus has given you?

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