Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Wednesday, December 4th

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Revelation 3; Hosea 5-6
Today's scripture focus is Luke 22:63-71

Luke 22:63-71

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Is Mocked

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

Jesus Before the Council

66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

Accompanying Mark Driscoll sermon: Jesus, the Son of God
Accompanying John MacArthur sermon: The Sinless Saviour Before the Sinister Sanhedrin Part 1 and Part 2

The scene described for us in the first 3 verses of our passage is horrific.

Jesus.  Blindfolded.  Beaten.  Mocked.   Blasphemed.

Can you even imagine that?  Close your eyes and imagine a vicious mob encircling you, helpless to defend yourself against blows that will come from any direction, as they laugh and insult you - mercilessly.  For hours.  This possibly lasted all night long.

To Jesus.

It's horrific.

Then, when day came, when the night of torture had ended, when Jesus was exhausted, beaten, dehydrated, they are ready for His "trial".

Two groups of religious men - who basically are now subscribing to the theory that the enemy of your enemy is your friend - are conspiring against Jesus in order to kill Him.  They need to get Him to admit once again, as He had previously proclaimed over and over again in His ministry, that He is God - this would be all the confirmation they would need that He was blaspheming and should be put to death for religious reasons.  And for Him to admit that He was God would also be Him admitting to be above Caesar, which would prove that He should be put to death for political treason.

And so they demand - Are you the Christ?

He answers - Yes.  I've told you that I am repeatedly, but your hearts are not receptive to me.  So, if I tell you again, you still will not believe me.

He answers - Yes. I am the Son of Man.  Just as Daniel prophesied (Daniel 7:13-14).

He answers - Yes.  You're echoing back to me what I've been saying to you all along.  Yes, I am the Son of God, the Son of Man.

Emphatically, yes.

If He was not God, this was the time to recant.  If He was just a man - he had no earthly reason to lie and everything earthly reason to tell the truth.  Because if He was just a man and He admitted that He was just a man, He would be set free.

But He was/is God.  And even though the truth would cost Him His life - He spoke the truth.  Yes.  I am.

The Ancient of Days devised a plan to send the Son of Man into humanity.  He came humbly, resisting all temptation, enduring every possible opposition.  He was willing to be blindfolded, beaten, mocked, and blasphemed by the very people He created, the very people He came to save.  He showed us how good He is, and how bad we are. He stood before that mock trial and boldly declared the truth - He is the Christ, He is the Son of Man, He is the Son of God.  And He died without ever recanting that claim.  And then He proved it by rising again, defeating death, conquering sin.  And now - if we let Him - He gives us new hearts, He renews our minds, He gives us an eternal future with Him.

Thank you, Jesus!


Tomorrow's scripture focus: Luke 23:1-7
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Revelation 4, Hosea 7-8

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