Daily Devotional Sunday 26th January 2020
by William Moody
Luke 22:63–23:12
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.”
Jesus Before Pilate
23:1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 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.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
Jesus Before Herod
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
(ESV)
Jesus after Peter’s denial receives a beating and mockery from the temple guards (v63-65). How could they do this to the loving Saviour?
Jesus is questioned by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law (v66-69). His statements about being at the right hand of God and being the Son of God; is enough to accuse Jesus of blasphemy (v70-71).
These were men not wanting to know the truth, but just acting to condemn and get rid of Jesus.
The evidence they share with Pilate is very different (v1-2). They are seeking to manipulate the truth and to manipulate Pilate.
Jesus confesses that He is the King of the Jews (v3) and Pilate realises that Jesus is an innocent man (v4). The Jews are not going to let Jesus go and persist in accusations (v5). Pilate then seeks to pass the buck and Jesus is sent to Herod (v6-7).
Herod looked forward to this encounter as he had many questions (v8-9) but Jesus wouldn’t play the game for John the Baptist’s murderer. Herod then joins in the mockery (v11). He was playing a dangerous game, one that he would not win.
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