Message by: Tom Clark
Introduction:
Slide 1 (Title of Series) Good morning, Church. I hope you, like I, have been enjoying and gaining some wonderful insights from our current 12-part series derived from the Stations of the Cross.
At the first station, the Last Supper, we learned about our need for relationship and the importance of Fellowship in our faith. Last week we focused on Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane where we gained insights into intercession thru prayer and spending time to listen to what God has to say to us.
Today we will look at the third station of the cross – the trial before the Sanhedrin – and how we should respond to the fact that we live in a largely imperfect and unfair world.
Today’s message is entitled Slide 2 (Title of Message): The Sanhedrin – The cruelty of Injustice. (Sermon 3 of 12). The Key people we will look at are: Jesus, The Sanhedrin, Pontius Pilate. Our key teaching is PERSEVERANCE/TENACITY. The Key Scriptures are Luke 22:66-Chapter 23:7 and verses 13 to 19.
We’ll look at what we can learn from the unjust condemnation of Jesus before the Jewish, then Roman authorities, then extrapolate the teachings and principles and close with a practical application we can all take way as we strive to apply principles to make us more like Jesus and less like ourselves.
Because not everyone is familiar with the term, let’s help out those that don’t know what the Sanhedrin was. It was the supreme council or court for the Jewish nation. It was comprised of 71 members, all who were over 30 years of age and married, of good reputation and learned in the Law.
Now that is out of the way, let’s look at Luke 22:66 to Chapter 23:7 and verses 13 to 19.
Slide 3a (verse) [Luke 22: 66-71] “At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, (that is the Sanhedrin) met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Christ,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. Slide 3b (verse) But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying that I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from His own lips.” Slide 3c (verse) Luke 23:1-7. Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they 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.” So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. Slide 3d (verse) Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 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.” On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. Slide 3e (verse) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time. Slide 3f (verse) Luke 23: 13-18. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Slide 3g (verse) Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”
Talk about a travesty of justice! Arresting Jesus in the cover of darkness, Caiaphas and a majority of members in the Sanhedrin were able to strong-arm the others and gain approval from the Roman appointed authorities to execute Him. But this should not surprise us.
People fear what they do not understand and hate what threatens what they believe true about themselves. And Jesus was very precise in pointing out their faults and shortcomings, wasn’t he?
Jesus warned all those who followed Him about this Truth. In John 15:18 He tells us, Slide 4 (verse) “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
My dear brothers and sisters, I have to ask you: “Is life any different for us today?”
Besides religious persecution in many nations, Christians find themselves the object of ridicule and hate on a number of issues, from issues like abortion and euthanasia to even in our own neighborhoods and office-politics where we find people who disdain those trying to live righteously, labeling them “fanatics.”
Even within our democratically elected governments, we find that the loudest voices and most influential can strongarm and leverage the masses to institute laws or judicial rulings contrary to our beliefs.
So what are we believers to do when we face the hard reality that life is harsh, people are often cruel, and accusations leveled at the innocent are inhumane? What can we learn from Jesus when people turn against us and say all manner of evil things about us? How do we handle betrayal and condemnation?
The real question is: How do we respond to Injustice? Slide 5 (Subtitle)
First, as we learned last week, we must Slide 5a (Slide build): 1) Remember that God is in control.
God’s master plan will unfold. He foresaw the pain, the suffering and the consequence of evil unfolding against His Son, Jesus, and all His children both now and throughout the ages.
During the trial Jesus was often silent. In fact, we learned from Matthew 26, that He deliberately chose not to retaliate. Knowing what was to come through God’s revelation at Gethsemane, Jesus persevered, understanding that (a) His trial and suffering was the fulfillment of Scripture, and (b) necessary for God to reconcile mankind to Himself.
Knowing this, He was strong and courageous. He demonstrated incredible tenacity to keep pressing on despite the disappointment and the pain. When trials come our way, we should follow the example of Jesus and seek to understand the will of God in our lives.
We need the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit to stay the course when we are innocent yet the world turns against us and the very forces of hell threaten to destroy us.
Second, knowing that God is in control, we need to Slide 5b (Slide build): 2) Testify to the Truth.
We learn from the accounts in Matthew 26:59-60 that Slide 6 (verse), ”The chief priests and whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.”
In Mark 14:56, we learn that although many testified falsely against him, their testimonies did not agree. As he remained silent, they discredited one other. In the end, none of the charges brought by false witnesses provided sufficient grounds.
Instead, it was Jesus’ admission to the truth under questioning by Caiaphas that He was the Son of God, that the Sanhedrin reached the decision that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy. This is an important distinction which we’ll develop later.
Now, as many of us know, Roman law granted many freedoms to the Jews, including the right to their own court system, overseen by the Sanhedrin. However, as the Sanhedrin had no authority to order the death penalty, his opponents sent Him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
Isn’t it interesting that neither Pilate, nor Herod, although believing that Jesus was innocent of crimes against Rome, decided not to use their authority to save Him? Instead of standing up for justice, they washed their hands concerning the matter and caved into the demands of the Sanhedrin and the mob in exchange for the religious leaders acknowledging continued subservience to Roman rule.
In speaking the Truth, Jesus focused very clearly on the heart of the matter: who He really is. There was no skirting around the issue: the Sanhedrin had to either accept He was the Messiah or condemn Him to death.
You know, when God begins transforming us our lives stand in stark contrast to the ways of the World. Our words, our decisions, our actions proclaim our Master.
John 3:19 explains this phenomenon. It says Slide 7 (verse), “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil.”
The third point we can take in Jesus response to injustice is to Slide 5c (Slide build): 3) Take courage.
Strengthened by what He knew to be true, by His desire to fulfill God’s purpose, Jesus was able to face His opponents, endure the cruel injustices they heaped on Him, and remain steadfast.
It takes courage to stand firm for what is right and what is true, especially if that decision or issue is unpopular. It requires Godly character, confidence in God and an understanding that the victory has already been won over evil, regardless of what unfolds before our own eyes.
As God’s plan unfolds, both Heaven and earth will eventually bear witness that we testified to the Truth. Unlike the Sanhedrin, who rejected Israel’s Messiah, and Pilate, who will never be able to wash away the blood of an innocent man, may our testimony in the face of injustice reflect the Almighty God that we serve.
You know, although Jesus easily could have, He did not react or retaliate. While injustice is cruel, we mustn’t cave in, we mustn’t capitulate. Instead, like Him, we must keep going forward, going about our Father’s business! We must persevere.
Dear brothers and sisters, it is a fact that cruel injustice is active in this world. As God’s children, we must recognize it and guard against its ills. We have to ask ourselves if we, like Jesus, will live up to our name: children of the Most High God.
When we experience or see injustice, will we decide to remember that Slide 5d (Slide build): God is in control as we rise to meet it? Will we Slide 5e (Slide build): Testify to the Truth? And will we Slide 5f (Slide build): take courage to remain steadfast to God’s Word and His purpose for us to reach out to an evil, lost World?
As we grow closer to our Lord, may we ask Him to help open our eyes to the injustice in this world we live in so that we can ask Him for discernment to take appropriate action. Whether we face injustice ourselves or we see others grappling with it, may we always remind ourselves that He is a righteous God who loves the defenseless and will richly bless and protect the Righteous who call upon His name.
As the band comes up, let’s take a moment to reflect on the times in our lives where we faced injustice. What did we do or fail to do? Looking back, do we see how God used that situation to build our character and discernment? Did we gain a better understanding of who He is or how He works? If things didn’t go as we anticipated, we can rest assured that God used or is using that situation to develop our character and impact others in ways we have yet to realize. Will you join me as we take this time to pray?
Father God, we thank you. We thank you that you are sovereign. Nothing happens that you did not foresee and did not allow to accomplish your amazing plans. Open our eyes Lord to see the injustice around us and give us the courage to stand for your Truth in all we say and do.
Lord, we pray for perseverance, the fortitude to drive on when all seems to be lost. When we face injustice, give us the heart of Jesus to confront it, fully aware that the battle is a spiritual one against the very devices of our enemy, the devil.
The battle is already won God and we thank you that your name will be glorified and that the World will one day see true accountability for you are a just and Righteous King.
Help us to see past the people accusing, attacking and skewing the course of justice. Help us to forgive them and see them as you see them: blinded children that desperately need you but don’t even realize it yet. May you reach them through us and our loving response. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
