St Louis UBF UBF Bible Study : Luke 22:63:23:25 (2012)

Bible Study Materials

Luke 22:63:23:25 (2012)

by Paul Choi 03/04/2012

Question

JESUS WAS TRIED AND CONDEMNED FOR US

Luke 22:63-23:25

Key Verse: 23:69-70

1. Read 22:63-65. How as Jesus treated by the guards? How might this unnerve most men?

2. Read verses 66-69. Who interrogated Jesus at daybreak? What question was he asked? Even though he knew that they would not believe him, or respond to his answer, how did he answer? What did his answer in verse 69 mean?

3. Read verses 70-71. What did they ask him? How does this question reveal their understanding of who the Messiah is? What was his clear confession of his own identity? What then is their charge against him?

4. Read 23:1-3. What charge did they bring against him to Pilate? (23:2) What did Jesus answer? What does this mean? (Mt 2:2; Mic 5:2; Jn 18:36-37) Contrast Jesus before his interrogators with Peter before his (22:54-62).

5. Read 23:4-12. What did Pilate initially conclude about Jesus? Why? How did Pilate try to pass the buck? What was the result? What kind of man was Herod?

6. How did Pilate try to defend Jesus? (23:6,7; 13-16; 18-23) Read verses 18-25. How and why did Pilate compromise? What was the crowd’s demand? Why did Pilate finally surrender Jesus to their will? What kind of man was Pilate? How was Jesus different?

Attachment

JESUS WAS TRIED AND CONDEMNED FOR US-questions.doc

Message

JESUS’ VICTORIOUS TRIAL

Luke 22:63-23:25

Key Verse:22:70 “ They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

Last week we learned about Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The night before he was crucified, Jesus went up to the Mount of Olives and prayed earnestly to obey God’s will. Jesus prepared for his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection through earnest prayer. Our church members have started special prayer meetings to prepare for the coming Easter Conference. We meet at the Bible house day and night to pray. We pray because Jesus showed us an example of how to prepare for God’s work through prayer. Through prayer Jesus overcame himself and obeyed God’s will for world salvation. We believe that God will bless our prayer meeting. We believe that we will overcome our limitations and experience the power of resurrection when we pray. Amen.

Today’s passage is about Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and King Herod. Through his trial, Jesus teaches us who he really is, why he was tried, and how we should live as Christians in this perverse and sinful generation.

First, Jesus was tried before Sanhedrin. (63-71). Look at verses 63-65. “The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.” Jesus was seized by the temple guards and brought into the house of the high priest. (54) The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded that he tell who hit him. They said many other insulting things to Jesus, too. Insults are the most difficult pain to endure. When I served in the army in Korea a long time ago, I was beaten and tortured by senior soldiers in the name of discipline. At that time, I was able to endure all kinds of physical suffering except for insults. When I was hit and insulted by these cruel soldiers, I was tempted to jump up and knock them all out with a Karate kick.

Why was Jesus beaten and insulted in this way? How did the prophets describe this? The Prophet Isaiah said, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.” (Is 53:4) The Prophet Isaiah said that Jesus was beaten up and humiliated for our sake. In other words, Jesus took our shame and condemnation in his body. By taking our shame and condemnation, Jesus gives us real freedom and peace. A woman was caught in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus to be condemned. She was filled with shame and fear of death. But Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you…Go now and leave your life of sin.” (Jn 8:11) When Jesus said to her, “neither do I condemn you,” he meant that he took all her guilt and shame as his own. Jesus took the condemnation in her place to give her new life. We praise and thank you, Jesus, who was tried and suffered in our place. Amen.

Look at verses 66. “At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.” Here the council of the elders indicates the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. It was unlawful for them to meet at night for any reason. So they waited until daybreak. At daybreak all the Sanhedrin members met together in order to find a basis for a charge against Jesus. They asked, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” (67) They asked Jesus if he were the Christ, not to believe in him but in order to accuse him.

How did Jesus answer them? Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” (67b-69) Jesus knew that they had already decided to kill him. No matter how Jesus defended himself, they would not listen to him. The words ‘the Son of Man’ is a messianic title. Jesus often called himself, ‘the Son of Man’, showing his humanness and humbleness as the servant of God. (Mk 2:17, 10:45) However, according the prophet Daniel, the Son of Man will appear in the clouds and judge between the living and the dead. (Dan 7:13, Lk 13:26). He will be given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language will worship him. And his dominion and his kingdom will last forever. (Dan 7:14) Jesus was tried by evil people. But the day will come when every man and woman will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Co 5:10)

Look at verse 70. “They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” Jesus taught them that he himself is the fulfillment of all the promises and prophecies about the Christ. But they asked Jesus if he were the Son of God in order to find a basis to charge him as a blasphemer. According to Mosaic law, whoever defiles God’s name or claims to be God will be condemned to death. (Lev 24:10-16) The religious leaders were waiting for Jesus’ answer like lions crouching to devour their prey.

How did Jesus answer them? Jesus said, “You are right in saying I am.” Jesus meant that he is the Son of God. Indeed, Jesus is the Son of God. Although he was born of Mary, he is in very nature God. He did not grasp equality with God, but he made himself nothing and appeared as a man. Colossian 1:15-16 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created… all things were created by him and for him.” Jesus knew what would happen to him when he said so. He was well aware of his future when he identifies himself as the Son of God. Nevertheless, he clearly identified himself to be the Son of God. Jesus did not compromise. He was not withdrawn by their death-threat. He had already decided to obey the will of God. His faith was not moved. He told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I was moved by what Pastor Ron Ward in Chicago UBF said, “As disciples of Jesus, we must accept the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus as God’s absolute truth.” Do you know what he meant? I believe that he meant that we Christians should believe the gospel of Jesus Christ as God’s absolute truth. We live in an age that does not believe the words, ‘absolute truth.’ Last week, some WU students celebrated ‘Pluralism Weekend.’ Pluralism opposes a single absolute truth. Pluralists claim that there is no absolute truth in this world. They say that there are many ways to find truth according to what each person experiences and believes. It sounds intellectual and reasonable. However, they are ignorant. There is an absolute truth which is the word of God. We believe that Jesus is the truth. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6) Jesus is the only one who died on the cross for the sins of the world. There is no other name given to us under heaven for our salvation but Christ Jesus.(Ac 4:12) Nevertheless, people reject believing in Jesus because they are deceived by Satan’s lie. They reject Jesus because they love the darkness of sin and their deeds are evil. (Jn 3:19,20)

Last week my son Sam, who recently takes a religion class in his middle school, said to me. “Dad, there are many religions in this world made by people. But Christianity is not a religion.” I asked him what he meant. He answered, “Christian faith is ‘truth’.” Hearing his words, I thanked God with all my heart. What my son Sam said is true. Christianity is not a religion, but ‘truth’ about salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What I want to say here is that we should not compromise with this ungodly consensus. Temptation for compromise comes to us everyday. Satan whispers us to compromise with this world. Satan tempts us to put down our cross, the cross of mission, and go an easy way. Life without the cross, life without mission, and life without struggling seem to be attractive and easy. However, we must not compromise. We should listen to Jesus, not to Satan. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mk 8:34) We should live according to the word of God, not by worldly consensus. Our UBF church inherits a good spiritual legacy from our spiritual fathers. We believe the Bible as an absolute truth of God. So we emphasize the importance of Bible study and writing testimonies. We also accept Jesus’ world mission command as God’s heart desire and with it we struggle to participate in world mission by all means. Because of our absolute attitude toward the Bible, we are often regarded as Jesus freaks or fundamentalists. We are proud of being disciples of Jesus and of participating in the remaining suffering of Christ. By this spirit, we overcome all human limitations and temptations. Our uncompromising spirit and absolute attitude toward the Bible become our merit and our testimony. I pray that we may pass this spiritual heritage to our children and to others until we meet our Lord Jesus Christ face to face. Amen.

Jesus said, ‘If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mk 8:38) Jesus did not compromise under death-threats. He clearly identified himself to be the Son of God. We Christians also should not be ashamed of identifying ourselves as Christians. Persecution may follow us. Opposition, rejection, and discrimination may confront us when we mention the name Jesus in public. Nevertheless, we should identify ourselves clearly as men and women in Christ Jesus and pray out loud in the name of Jesus. “I pray in Jesus’ name.” Amen.

Daniel and his three friends were exiled to Babylon. They were well treated by the king. However, they did not compromise. They did not defile themselves with royal food and with glittering things of the kingdom. They kept their hearts pure and their identity as people of the living God. Their faith was tested in the fire, in the den of lions, and under death-threats. Still they kept their faith and lived according to the truth.

Second, Jesus was tried before Pilate. (23:1-25) When the religious leaders heard Jesus’ answer, they were furious. They said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.” Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. (22:71-23:1) Pilate was a Roman governor. At that time, the headquarters of the governor was in Caesarea, but Pilate came to Jerusalem during the Passover Week to watch out for trouble with the Jews. The religious leaders brought Jesus to Pilate and began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.” Their charges against Jesus were three things: The first charge was that Jesus was subverting their nation. They meant that Jesus was a threat to Caesar. But, in John’s gospel, Jesus clearly said to Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world. His kingdom is from another place. Jesus meant that he is not a political king, but a spiritual king. So, their first charge is nullified. The second charge was that Jesus opposed paying taxes. Their charge was wrong because Jesus told them to pay taxes. Jesus said, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.” (Lk 20:25) The third charge was that Jesus claimed to be Christ, a king. It is right that they said that Jesus is a king. But he is a spiritual king, not a political threat to the Roman authority. All their charges against Jesus turned out to be wrong.

Pilate’s investigation started. “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “Yes, it is as you say.” (23:3) By this one reply, Pilate realized that Jesus was innocent. Pilate was a veteran governor who had judged numerous criminals. It would not take long to distinguish an innocent man from criminals. So he announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” (4) He meant that Jesus was innocent and deserved to be released. But, they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” (5) The religious leaders and the crowd did not give up. But, on hearing this, Pilate decided to send Jesus to King Herod because Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction. At that time, Herod the tetrarch also was in Jerusalem because of the Passover. Pilate wanted to pass the buck to King Herod. Pilate was a smart politician, but not a man of truth.

Jesus was tried before King Herod. How could the holy Son of God be judged by such an evil and immoral king? But Jesus became silent before Herod. There was no reason for him to answer his questions, but to fulfill the prophecy of God. Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Jesus could have defended himself to save his life. But he did not open his mouth in order to save us. Look at verse 11. “Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.”

Pilate realized that he could not escape any longer. So he called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people and announced the innocence of Jesus one more time. (13-16) How did the crowds respond? Look at verses 18-19. “With one voice they cried out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) For the third time Pilate attempted to release Jesus, but the religious leaders and the crowd shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (20-21) Look at verse 23. “But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed”. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released Barabbas and surrendered Jesus to their will. (24,25)

Unlike Matthew and Mark, Luke emphasized Pilate’s defense of Jesus’ innocence and his attempt to release Jesus. However, Pilate could not avoid blame as an executor of Jesus’ death. In the Apostles’ Creed, there is saying, “And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate…” Pilate has been regarded as a coward and as a man of compromise. We should not be like Pilate who compromised and is regarded as accountable for the Messiah’s death. We should stand on the side of truth and live according to the truth. Truth always wins despite any cost. Amen.

The insurrectionist and murderer Barabbas was released instead of Jesus. Jesus took his place and Barabbas was set free. To the eyes of God, we are not much different from Barabbas. The Bible says that there is no one righteous, not even one.(Ro 3:10) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.(Ro 3:23) We are destined to die due to our sins. We are like Barabbas who was sentenced to death and waited to be executed. But, Jesus took our place and we are saved. We are released from eternal condemnation because of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus died for our sins on the cross. We call this “Jesus’ substitutional death”. We praise and thank God for Jesus who died in our place. We eternally praise him, thank him and live for him.

Today we learned that we should not compromise, but tell the truth, stand on truth and live according to the truth. Corruption begins the moment we compromise. May God help us to live as men and women of absolute truth in this pluralistic post-modern generation. May God make America a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Amen.

Attachment