Luke Passion 3

Intro

before Brian gives the obligatory Easter lesson, we will see the lead up to the crucifixion

Jesus betrayed, passed around like an object, mocked and beaten unjustly, and being condemned in the place of another

you and I are in this story in a way we might not normally think of or want to be

Betrayal

no sooner than when the words to the remaining apostles had left his mouth

the irony of temptation and Judas

Jesus asks two questions and gives one command

with kindness you betray me

not the kind of revolution they are looking for and a feeling of defeat

as against a violent criminal? in the only situation that he could be caught in

the power of darkness over it all

Denial

Peter and likely the other apostles in their own ways feel defeated

The Christ was not supposed to be arrested he was supposed to be king and overthrow all of their oppressors

without a fight he gave himself into their hands

why did he even follow him

what if someone finds out he was a part of that movement

Trial

before the council he is proclaimed guilty to all the people

before Pilate and Herod he cannot be found guilty of anything worthy of death

Before the mob and compared to Barabbas he is condemned despite the pleas of Pilate

for the sake of avoiding unrest, Jesus is condemned without cause

Application

you and I fit into this story well

just not in the place we want to be

we are murderers and insurrectionists just as much as Barabbas

we are the reason the perfect one was given up

we are the reason his kingdom is still not the one established in this world but other bodies of power are still the priority

Jesus takes our place and there is joy and relief in that, but its important to know why

for everything there is an opposite and God provides it here as well as anywhere else

the guilty is released and the innocent is condemned to death

once and for all the sin of man is born by the one who suffered in our place