Pastor: If you would remain standing and turn to the Scriptures we are in Luke. We have been making our way through Luke. Now we have entered now into chapter 23 and we will look at Luke, 23 verses one through 25 this morning, Luke, 23 beginning in verse one, reading down to verse 25 and let's go to the Lord in prayer before we read, let's pray our Heavenly Father. Again we thank you. You are not silent, but that you speak through us, to us, through Your Word, by your Spirit, and Lord, I pray by the power of your Spirit, you would open up our blind eyes that we could see and behold Jesus Christ, who is willingly suffering and going to the cross on our behalf. Lord, I pray that you will unstop our deaf ears that we might hear of the glory and power of Christ, Lord, would you break our hardened hearts and give us new hearts to receive and rest upon Christ, crucified and risen And now reigning for sinners like us. Bless your people. That's in Jesus's name. We pray, Amen, people of God, hear God's word for you this morning from the Gospel of Luke beginning in chapter 23 then the whole company of them arose and brought Him before Pilate, and they began to accuse him, saying We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king. And Pilate asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? And he answered him, You have said so.
Pastor: Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowns, I find no guilt in this man, but they were urgent, saying he stirs up the people teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee, even to this place. When Pilate heard this, he asked whether this man was a Galilean, and when he had learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at the time when Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad for he had long desired to see him, because he heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priest and the scribe stood by vehemently accusing him, and Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and mocked him, then arraigned him in splendid clothing. He sent Him back to Pilate, and Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this, they had been in enmity with one another. Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said to them, you brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him, neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him. But they cried altogether. They cried out together, away with this Man and released to us Barabbas, a man who had been thrown in the prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate dressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus.
Pastor: But they kept shouting, crucify crucify him a third time, he said to them, why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him. But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed so Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder for whom they asked. But he delivered Jesus over to their will. He who has ears let him hear the Word of God. Please be seated. We have just confessed in the Nicene Creed, and maybe you called it, he was crucified, also for us, under Pontius Pilate. Do you recall repeating those words, saying those words, and we come to the text that deals with that particular individual, Pontius Pilate. Now why do we mention in both the apostles and Nicene creed that he was crucified also for. Us under Pontius Pilate? Well, one of the main reasons the early church insisted Pilate's name be included in those creeds was to reinforce to us that we have just heard an historical account. That is what you have heard is not a myth. This is not a legend. This is not a good story. This is a accurate historical account that Jesus suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate. If you know, we're in Christmas season, if you remember even at the beginning of Luke, which might be a while, because it's been a little over two years since we started Luke. But if you recall, even in how Luke begins, his gospel is with another politician. Luke informs us that Jesus was born in that first registration, when corinius was governor over Syria. And again, Luke is earmarking for us the historicity of this account by putting Pilate in focus that Jesus was crucified and put to death when Pilate governor, a Roman governor of Judea, was in power. Now in our text, Pilate has to make a decision about Jesus, and I think that's what our text is calling us to have to do this day too, that your two will have to make a decision about Jesus. Will you reject him, or will you embrace Him as King, as CS Lewis once said, If this is a historical and accurate account, which it is, Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or Lord, if you recall, where we are in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus has been betrayed by Judas. He's now been denied by Peter and he has been mocked and beaten. The Sanhedrin, which was the Supreme Court of Jerusalem, they have convened in secrecy, really, at night. And this, the Sanhedrin is made up of Sadducees and Pharisees, which never agree on anything. They always disagreed, especially on the resurrection. But here they are unified. And what unifies people that never are unified on anything else, hatred for God and His anointed, the Lord Jesus Christ, they are unified in their decision and conclusion that Jesus must die, and they don't hate him because Jesus did miracles. They hate him because he's the son of man, as he claimed to be, even if you recall just in our previous text, in Luke 22 this is the Son of Man. Was Jesus's favorite title to give to himself. In fact, Jesus mentions that over 80 times in the gospels He refers to himself as the Son of Man, and they say, ha, we got him. Remember, Son of man is not just an offspring of a man. Son of Man has that rich biblical vision that Daniel has in chapter seven. So whenever you hear Jesus referring to Son of Man, you should think, Daniel seven. Daniel seven. And just to refresh you too, what Daniel's vision is of the Son of Man, it says, 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 in 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.
Pastor: Because Jesus is the Son of God, Son of man, they seek to put him to death, but the right to execute. The death penalty has been stripped from Israel only Rome now the oppressors could execute someone. Rome didn't allow Israel to do that anymore, so they go to Rome to put Jesus to death. And I want you to notice something here that Israel now is willing to go to its oppressors and captors, willing to go, you might say, to the house of bondage to kill their Messiah.
Pastor: It would be like Israel pleading. With Pharaoh back in Exodus, Pharaoh, would you put Moses to death? That's what's happening here. Except it's infinitely worse, because Moses and everything in the Old Testament was just a picture of Jesus. Because Jesus, as you've already heard, is the real Passover Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus can give true and real and eternal deliverance and redemption.
Pastor: Moses was just a picture of Jesus, but here they take Jesus now before the Roman Governor Pilate, hoping that he will do their will, and look what they say about Jesus, we found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar and saying that he himself is Christ, a King. Now taxes, paying taxes to Rome was very unpopular. Even more unpopular than paying taxes is now because Rome was an oppressor, and many of people in Israel thought they've conquered us, and this is our land. Why should we be giving money to our oppressors and those who put us down? But now it seems no, no, we badly want to give our money to Caesar. We really want to give it to Caesar, but Jesus, that Jesus, he says, he says, We can't do that. And you see the complete lie that is taking place here. And if you even look back and in Luke chapter 20, you remember they're even trying to trap Jesus with that question, should we pay taxes to Caesar or not? Because they know that it's really unpopular to pay taxes, but if you don't pay it, then you're seen as an insurrectionist. You remember what Jesus says. He says, render to Caesar, the things that are Caesar, and to God, the things that are God, Jesus says, pay the taxes, give it to Caesar, whose picture is that, give it to Caesar, but give to God the things that are God, that is, give your worship, give your life to God. And then they also say, well, he, he's also Christ.
Pastor: Remember, Jesus's last name is not Christ. Christ is a title.
Pastor: It means anointed. It's the Hebrew equivalent of Messiah, the Anointed One and the three offices in the Old Testament that were anointed were Prophet, Priest and King, and the Messiah would be a fulfillment of those three offices, but they recognize. Rome doesn't care about prophets. Rome doesn't care about priests, but Rome might care about kings. So let's focus on that. Let's focus on again on that kingly aspect, because we want Jesus to die, and we just have to figure out how to get there. So let's focus again on that kingly aspect.
Pastor: Rome certainly wouldn't want to a rogue King running around in their land. So we're going to focus he says that he's a king.
Pastor: Certainly that's important to you, Pilate. So Pilate looks at Jesus and says, Are you the king of the Jews? And in the Greek, the first word there is you. And I think that's a good translation. I think you could also, it could be said this, in this way, you king of the Jews, where he looks at Jesus and he says, This guy, you, King of the Jews there. There's no form or majesty about this man that anyone would look at Him as King. There's no beauty here that anyone would desire him to be king. No. Now this man, he's despised, he's rejected. He's no king. But Jesus answers there in verse three, you have said so, and this phrase is not Jesus saying whatever you want to say, but it's more like it's as you say, or yes, you have said, what is true? Jesus, again, is affirming his kingship here now he's not again, the type of King that many people thought the Messiah would be. Remember, people thought that Messiah would be that political ruler.
Pastor: And I think that one might be one of the reasons why Judas was so upset about Jesus that he comes in to Jerusalem, not on the stallion, conquering Rome.
Pastor: That's the Messiah. We want the conquering king, not a suffering King, not a humble King on a donkey. I don't want that Messiah, but that's what a lot of people thought the Messiah would be. But he is the king.
Pastor: Not only is he the king, he's the king of kings and the Lord of lords, but his kingdom is not of this world. As Jesus says.
Pastor: Then Pilate said to the chief priests and crowds, I find no guilt in this man. And this is important. This is the first of three declarations by Pilate, no guilt, no guilt, no guilt in Jesus. Jesus is not guilty. He's innocent, he is pure, he is blameless. There is no shame.
Pastor: There's nothing worthy of death.
Pastor: There is no guilt in Jesus. And so after Pilate makes that declaration as the judge of Rome, there is no guilt innocent Pilate declares. Then the people say, Pilate, we respect you. We trust your judgment Pilate. And you know what, even though we disagree, we're going to move on. Is that what happens? No, no, he stirs up the people throughout all of Judea and even here. No Pilate, we will not listen to you. You got it wrong.
Pastor: No, now it's true. Jesus has made quite a stir, hasn't he? In Galilee, much of his ministry was in Galilee. What are some of the things Jesus has done? He will. He's cast out demons. He has made the lame walk. He has cleansed lepers. He has made the blind see. He has calmed storms.
Pastor: He has forgiven sins. He gives life to the dead. He receives sinners and eats with tax collectors and adulterers. Jesus hasn't made a quite a stir. And if you have been with us for any time, I hope and I pray that Jesus has stirred your heart, but they haven't. Jesus hasn't made the political stir that they are accusing him of. And what does Pilate do? Well, he does what most politicians do.
Pastor: He punts. He's not going to take responsibility here. I'm going to, I'm going to pass this on to someone else. I don't want to deal with this. I don't want to take responsibility. Oh, Herod, oh Galilee. Herod. Herod, yeah, okay. Herod happens to be in town Passover, Jerusalem. Let's send him to Herod. Let Herod deal with it. So he sends him to Herod. So Jesus now stands before Herod. This is Herod Antipas. He's the son of Herod, the Great. Herod, the great was king. The Great King Herod when Jesus was born. But this is Herod Antipas, who's the man who sleeps with his brother's wife, who John the Baptist preaches against, and then he cuts off John the Baptist head and Herod, we're told, is excited to see Jesus, not because he has any interest in salvation. We're submitting to Jesus. He wants to be entertained, put on a show for me, Jesus. Do a sign. Do something cool. You know what? I would really love that whole water and the wine thing. Let's do that. That sounds great.
Pastor: Let's do something neat on my terms, when I want it, how I want it. Now, he questions him at some length, but makes Jesus makes no answer. And so Jesus, we see, isn't playing Herod's game like a sheep before his shears. Is silent, so Jesus opened not his mouth. And remember, if you recall even from our previous text, that Jesus is silent for your salvation again, if it was you or me, I'm calling down my angels. I'm calling down destruction. I'm calling down judgment, and they will be torn from limb to limb. Those soldiers that slap me around, they will never touch me again, but Jesus is willingly subjecting himself through all of this that you might be saved.
Pastor: Remember, it is not poor Jesus.
Pastor: It is not pity Jesus, it is hallelujah. What a Savior as First Peter two reminds us He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, He did not revile in return, when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued to entrust himself to him who judges justly.
Pastor: And Peter says. Setting an example for us too, that we too can entrust ourselves to the one who judges justly. Now, Herod doesn't convict Jesus of anything either. Excuse me, he mocks Jesus. He dresses Jesus up like some clown, like a jester in his court, and he sends him right back to Pilate. And I think that's how many people see see God and view God just like how Herod does God do something cool? I need a sign, and if you don't do it now, I'm just going to mock you. Going to make fun of you. Isn't that how often the world sees God? If God only did that well, then I would believe, and that's exactly what Herod is doing. But again, the problem is not in the signs. It's not in God's word. It is a darkened and deadened heart. Jesus even has said, Even if I bring someone back from the dead, you would not believe. It doesn't matter what sign Jesus would have performed. Herod would not and could not believe. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, as verse 12 says, because before they were at enmity with one another.
Pastor: Again, you see a unity of hatred of Jesus, Sadducees and Pharisees coming together, Herod and Pilate coming together. And is that not this a fulfillment of Psalm two the kings of earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed. Again, if there's one thing that unites the world and all the the political discourse that happens in our country and the world, there's one thing that can unify it all, hatred against Jesus, Christ and Herod, rather than being reconciled to God, is reconciled now to his new friend, Pilate. So Jesus now ends up back before Pilate, even though Pilate has tried to get rid of Jesus and not deal with him. And verse 13, he says, Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, you brought me this man as one who was misleading the people.
Pastor: And after examining him before you, Behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of the charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us.
Pastor: Look, nothing deserving of death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him. Look, he's innocent. Pilate is saying, I've examined him, and so has my new my new friend, Herod, examined him too and and didn't find any guilt in Him.
Pastor: And that should be the end of it. That should be it. The child should be over. The people should say, Okay, since both you and Herod have found him not guilty. Will yield. But what do the people do? They cry out all together in unity, away with this Man. Crucify. Crucify him.
Pastor: And a third time Pilate addresses the people and says, why? What evil has he done? I have found no guilt deserving of death three times guiltless, no guilt innocent. So what is Pilate going to do now, though, with this innocent man? Well, he tries to compromise. It says, Well, let me just beat him up and release him. You know, I'll teach him a lesson and I'll let him go. But they were urgent.
Pastor: The text tells us demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed, so Pilate decided that their demands should be granted. Now Pilate knows the truth. He knows Jesus is innocent, but he's too afraid to stand for it. Pilate succumbs to fearing people rather than God, and this is many people, and this might even be you afraid to stand for the truth of the gospel, whether you go to work or to college, afraid that if you stand for what is true, that you will then be mocked, that you then will be despised, that you might lose your livelihood, or even that you might be crucified. And you could but the Scriptures tell us, do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both body, who both soul and body and hell. You. Uh, Peter's Pilate is afraid. Peter was afraid too, but it was Pilate, and he does not stand for the truth, and he lets the crowd run roughshod right over him. Now, I want you to notice out here in that last interaction with Peter Pilate and the people, there's also an exchange that happens in our text Mark's account tells us that it was customary to release a prisoner at Passover, and that's possibly a symbol and a reminder for the people of being released from the bondage of Egypt. Pilate would free whatever prisoner the people wanted, and here he's possibly hoping that they will just let Jesus go. But the people cry for Barabbas, who also means son of the father. That's what Barabbas means, and Barabbas is guilty.
Pastor: He's actually guilty of the crimes they are accusing Jesus of insurrection and also Barabbas is a murderer. These two men, Jesus and Barabbas couldn't be more different.
Pastor: Barabbas is guilty, guilty, guilty. He's sustained with many, many crimes, and Jesus is Holy, holy, holy. There is no guilt undefiled, and an exchange takes place. Jesus the innocent is punished and crucified, where Barabbas, the guilty is pardoned and set free. Now, when the people shout Crucify, crucify Him, they are shouting it in hatred. But for you in the Lord Jesus Christ, we, too, in many ways, must also shout, crucify.
Pastor: Crucify Him, not out of hatred, but out of hope, because he must be condemned. Jesus must die if we will ever be saved, His death is what will set us free. Like Peter, we've denied our Savior.
Pastor: We've succumbed to public pressure like Herod, we've been given over to sensuality and pleasures and even like Pilate again, fear afraid of people and Barabbas here is also a representative of us that we are in rebellion against God and that we hate God naturally, in our hearts, we want God to be put to death, and we are bound and imprisoned in our sin and misery. We are under God's judgment and wrath, waiting for death, but then suddenly we are set free because Jesus takes our place. My sin is credited to him, and he dies on the cross, innocent and his innocence, His righteousness, is credited to me. If you've been here at Bay Haven, you know this double imputation, right? As Paul says, For our sake, he made him to be sin, taking our sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God, the double exchange. The innocent becomes guilty, the guilty become innocent. And that is our hope. That is the gospel.
Pastor: There is no other way that you will be saved unless Jesus is crucified. No other way he must be crucified, and the text ends with this ominous line, but he's delivered Jesus over to their will. And what is their will that he be put to death? Is Jesus in control? Has God lost it?
Pastor: No, he hasn't. In fact, this is the will of God that you and I might be saved. This is God's plan, as Isaiah 53 again, reminds us, yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him why he has put Him to grief when his soul makes an offering for guilt. This is the will of God that. That the Son is working together, and that the Spirit then applies to us, that you and I might be saved as Romans five says God shows His love for us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This is salvation. Pilate has had chance after chance. Remember, Jesus is put before him, he pushes them away. And guess who comes back, Jesus. And Pilate does not repent. He does not believe. He does not embrace the truth, even though he knew it. And you, in many ways, are like Pilate this day Jesus is being pushed back in your face. What will you do with Jesus? Will you believe and put your faith in Him and rest upon him alone for your salvation, or will you reject him? Will you be too afraid of what people might say what people might do. There is a day coming when the good news of Jesus will no longer be proclaimed to you, and you will either be dying on your death bed or the Day of Judgment when the Son of Man, Son of God, Jesus himself returns, and you will stand before Him, and He will no longer be silent, and he will either pronounce to you, guilty, guilty, guilty, or he will declare To you, you have been washed in my blood, my innocence, my righteousness, has been given to you. Well done, good and faithful servant, you may go to your place of rest for all of eternity. Those are your two options. Choose this day whom you will serve. Do not reject the Lord Jesus Christ, where you will be condemned to die, for that is what you and I deserve. But believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon his merit, His righteousness and be saved. Let's pray Father, we thank you for giving us Jesus, who is willingly being cursed and dying, that we might have life, willingly drinking the dregs of the cup of your wrath, that we might have the cup of blessing. Lord, help us this day to embrace Christ, to not be afraid of people, but to look to you and to rest upon Jesus, and it's in his name we pray. Amen.