Unfair Trials: Conquering Others by Sacrifice.
length: 59:15 - taught on Apr, 17 2025
Class Outline:
Thursday April 17, 2025
Conquer by superior force or through humility, love, and sacrifice. What does that look like? (Real life example: Christ forgives the woman who finds Him in Simon’s house. Simon’s heart wasn’t changed, but hers was completely. And what was it changed to?)
"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."
“In the study of Christ in His sufferings and death, one is in a holy of holies, a mercy seat sprinkled with blood, to which only the Spirit-taught mind has access. In His death Christ supremely revealed the holiness and righteousness of God as well as the love of God which prompted the sacrifice. In a similar way the infinite wisdom of God is revealed as no human mind would ever have devised such a way of salvation, and only an infinite God would be willing to sacrifice His Son.” [Walvoord]
Without His death, all other doctrines of Christology have no relevance to us.
Intro: Palm Sunday was an obvious sign that Jesus was the promised King. He will confirm this in His own words during His trials (Thursday / Friday; traditionally).
To say that He has the power to subject those who think they rule to Himself is an understatement.
The strategy of force is revealed through Peter.
Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"
Yet just before Peter saw the Lord’s power on incredible display. Jesus is the King of the city, Israel, and the nations.
So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore He again asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene." 8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way," 9 to fulfill the word which He spoke, "Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one."
He is going to die for them, not overpower them. He could certainly overpower them, but He is the humble King. Even they who abuse Him during the last hours of His life will be offered forgiveness and salvation to enter His kingdom.
"And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
Christ is making a kingdom for sinners who are changed by His redemption. Such a kingdom could not be offered to some, the good ones, or those who did not try to kill Him, or the nicer or less immoral - because all are sinners. You break one law and you have broken the whole.
'Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
If Jesus retaliates, He would be going directly against the spirit of the law and the spirit of the plan of God for sinners. If He harshly dealt with some because of certain sin, by overpowering them and not others, He would stand against the spirit of the law and judgment. He was harsh against lies, but He did not break a bruised reed.
Main Idea: The believer who can suffer trial with dignity and power is one who sees the real kingdom's future as Christ did.
After Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane, he faced a series of trials:
What I want to look at in one class is Jesus’ behavior before the authorities that He faced. Sometimes He spoke and sometimes He remained silent. I think we can see a clear pattern.
1. Jewish Religious Trials:
- Before Annas** (John 18:12-14, 19-23): Jesus was first taken to Annas, the former high priest, for a preliminary questioning about his teachings and disciples. He was then sent to Caiaphas.
- Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54-71): Jesus was tried at night before Caiaphas, the high priest, and members of the Sanhedrin. It wasn’t a trial as much as it was to find a way for the Romans to execute Jesus.
- Sanhedrin at Dawn (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71): A formal session of the Sanhedrin was held at daybreak to confirm the verdict, as Jewish law required trials during daylight.
2. Roman Civil Trials:
- Before Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-7; John 18:28-38): The Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor, accusing him of treason for claiming to be a king. Pilate found no fault but sent him to Herod to avoid responsibility.
- Before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:8-12): Herod, in Jerusalem for Passover, questioned Jesus but received no answers. Herod mocked him and sent him back to Pilate.
- Before Pilate Again (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-19:16): Pilate, under pressure from the crowd and Jewish leaders, reluctantly sentenced Jesus to crucifixion after offering to release him or Barabbas. The crowd chose Barabbas, and Pilate washed his hands of the decision.
Every moment of these trials is fascinating. It is a real petri dish of humanity.
Silence:
Accusations by the false witnesses.
What is it that these men are testifying against You?" 63 But Jesus kept silent.
Charges against Him are repeated by Pilate.
And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14 And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.
Herod wants a sign.
Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.
Pilate demands to know where He is from.
Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?"
Speaks:
Gethsemane: “I am,” “Let them go.”
Caiaphas: “Yes I am.” (quotes PSA 110:1; DAN 7:13).
Matt 26:63-64
And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
Caiaphas: “I have spoken freely, ask My disciples.”
The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. 21 "Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said." 22 When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?" 24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Attendant strikes Him.
Pilate: Are you king of the Jews?
John 18:33-38
Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?" 35 Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"
Warning to the women:
And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 "For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' 30 "Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US,' AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US.' 31 "For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
(He had already taught the Olivet discourse where He warned them to flee)
When Jesus speaks it is always in the interest of the salvation of the other(s).
Jesus is here to save them. He submits to them only to that end - He does not submit to their prideful demands. To those He is silent.
The kingdom would not be one of conquest or retaliation, but of sacrifice and submission to the Father so that the kingdom would be made up of people who would be just as righteous and innocent and obedient as Christ.
Example by Paul:
For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE" — 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Christ redeemed us by hanging on a tree. He became a curse for us - preposition huper which clearly refers to a substitution.
The curse is not arbitrary by God. The curse is a broken law. Just one. All are cursed.
The idea of substitution as the OT understanding of sacrifice - lambs dying on altars. The scapegoat was freed. The Day of Atonement is the center of the chiasm that is the Pentateuch.
The Lord gave Himself for our sins.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Propitiation: the justice of the Father is satisfied by the payment by Christ.
Justification of the sinner is by faith; GAL 3:12.
By this infinite wisdom from God, He builds a kingdom from sinners and Christ, instead of conquering them and forcing them to submit to Him, He because a curse on their behalf and then He receives His kingdom instead of taking it.
How should that incredible truth translate into your life’s journey (thoughts and deeds)?
Application: seek the salvation of your accusers and persecutors as Christ did during His trials.
Remember that this earth and all it contains is not your kingdom.
Pity and love the tares and the bad soil. Pray for them, do good to them, for their salvation is most important to us.
Jesus’ actions during His passion week exemplifies His love for His enemies, while He maintained His dignity before them.
He did not cower. Do not cower, grovel, or even submit to their pride and bitterness.
The only time you succumb or submit to your persecutors is when that submission is a possible path to their salvation.
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