Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
June 26, 2002
Introduction
Jesus had spent His last night in the Garden of Gethsemane praying. He knew what was coming. In the middle of the night, Judas showed up
with a crowd of people, coming to arrest Jesus. Judas pointed Jesus out by giving Him a kiss. Jesus was arrested and taken first to the
house of the high priest. Early in the
morning the Sanhedrin got together to conduct the first trial of Jesus. When they asked Him if He was the Messiah,
He responded by saying,
(Luke 22:67-71 NLT) …"If I tell you, you won't believe me.
{68} And if I ask you a question, you won't answer. {69} But the time is soon
coming when I, the Son of Man, will be sitting at God's right hand in the place
of power." {70} They all shouted, "Then you claim you are the Son of
God?" And he replied, "You are right in saying that I am." {71}
"What need do we have for other witnesses?" they shouted. "We
ourselves heard him say it."
With that, the Sanhedrin was ready to take the next step, having Jesus
turned over to the Roman authorities so they might have Jesus put to death.
:1-7 Jesus before Pilate – first time
:1 And the whole multitude of them
arose, and led him unto Pilate.
the whole – hapas – quite,
all, the whole, all together, all
the multitude – plethos –
a multitude; a great number, of men or things; the whole number, the whole
multitude, the assemblage
Pilate – This trial before Pilate was early in the morning. Roman officials only met with the public
from sunrise until noon. Pilate was the governor of Palestine from AD
26-36. Pilate did not normally live in
Jerusalem. His main residence was in
the Roman city of Caesarea. He is
probably in town to keep an eye on things during the Passover.
John gives us some details here:
(John 18:28-32 KJV) Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the
hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the
judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the
passover. {29} Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring
ye against this man? {30} They answered and said unto him, If he were not a
malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. {31} Then said Pilate
unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore
said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: {32} That the
saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he
should die.
Apparently, somewhere around 30 AD, the Roman government took away the Jews
ability to pronounce and carry out death sentences. In some cases, they were allowed to carry out a sentence of
stoning a person to death (as in the case of Stephen, Acts 7). The Sanhedrin could pronounce a person
worthy of a death sentence, but they could not carry it out without the secular
governor’s approval. Perhaps they
didn’t want to risk the wrath of the crowd that had just welcomed Jesus into
town as the Messiah, so they wanted to have the Roman’s put Jesus to death.
This became the reason why Jesus would be crucified instead of stoned. In being crucified, He fulfilled specific
prophecies about His death (like Ps. 22), as well as His own predictions of
being crucified.
:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting
the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is
Christ a King.
to accuse – kategoreo – to
accuse; before a judge: to make an accusation
we found – heurisko – to
come upon, hit upon, to meet with; to find by enquiry, thought, examination,
scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience
The Sanhedrin presents its case to Pilate.
They need to give him reason to put Jesus to death. The Sanhedrin
accuses Jesus of three things.
1. Perverting the nation
perverting – diastrepho –
to distort, turn aside; to turn aside from the right path, to pervert, corrupt
the nation – ethnos – a
multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together; a
company, troop, swarm; a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus;
a tribe, nation, people group; in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the
true God, pagans, Gentiles
He was definitely making a change in the nation, but not exactly a
“perversion”.
2. Forbidding paying of taxes.
forbidding – koluo – to
hinder, prevent forbid; to withhold a thing from anyone; to deny or refuse one
a thing
tribute – phoros –
tribute, esp. the annual tax levied upon houses, lands, and persons
This is an outright lie. Jesus
taught just the opposite.
(Luke
20:20-26 KJV) And they watched him,
and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might
take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and
authority of the governor. {21} And they asked him, saying, Master, we know
that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of
any, but teachest the way of God truly: {22} Is it lawful for us to give
tribute unto Caesar, or no? {23} But he perceived their craftiness, and said
unto them, Why tempt ye me? {24} Show me a penny. Whose image and
superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. {25} And he said unto
them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God
the things which be God's. {26} And they could not take hold of his words
before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
People will lie about you. An amazing thing.
Be careful when you hear strange things about people. Not everything you hear is true.
(1 Tim
5:19-20 KJV) Against an elder receive
not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. {20} Them that sin rebuke
before all, that others also may fear.
3. He was a king
Christ – Christos –
“anointed”
a King – basileus – leader
of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king
This was true.
But the Sanhedrin means this to be some kind of threat to Caesar. Jesus was no threat to Caesar.
All of Israel was waiting for their Christ, their Messiah. He would be the nation’s deliverer.
For some, they considered the Messiah to be the one who
would deliver the nation from the Romans.
Yet here are the leaders of Israel actually turning the
REAL Messiah over to the Romans.
Amazing.
:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered
him and said, Thou sayest it.
asked – eperotao – to
accost one with an enquiry, put a question to, enquiry of, ask, interrogate; to
address one with a request or demand
Art thou the King of the Jews? – the force of the Greek could
be translated: “YOU are the king of the Jews?!”
It seems that Pilate doesn’t expect that so ordinary looking of a man, so
commonly dressed of a man, would be the King of the Jews.
(Isa 53:2 KJV) For he shall grow up before him as a tender
plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness;
and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
thou sayest it – This is a Greek way of saying, “Yes” or “You
said it!”.
:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault
in this man.
the people – ochlos – a
crowd; a throng; a multitude; the common people, as opposed to the rulers and
leading men
I find – heurisko – to
come upon, hit upon, to meet with; to find by enquiry, thought, examination,
scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience
fault – aition – cause,
fault; It means one who is the author, the cause of or responsible for
anything.
John records a little more of Pilate’s questions to Jesus, showing how he
came to this conclusion:
{John 18:33-38 KJV}
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said
unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? {34} Jesus answered him, Sayest thou
this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? {35} Pilate answered,
Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me:
what hast thou done? {36} Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if
my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not
be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. {37} Pilate
therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that
I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world,
that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth
heareth my voice. {38} Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had
said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him
no fault at all.
Lesson:
Is your kingdom in this world?
It seems to me that there are only two things in this room that will last
forever:
1. The Word of God.
2. The people next to you.
And yet, if we’re not careful, we can get caught up in the
world’s ideas about success and then we spend all of our time trying to build
up our little financial empires, creating the perfect dream house, or getting
that awesome car.
Perhaps we’ve forgotten where we’re headed.
Illustration:
Have you ever packed your suitcase for a trip, but guessed
wrong on the weather?
You pack too many jackets, when what you really need are
T-shirts.
Make sure you’re ready for the life ahead, the one that
lasts a LONG, LONG Time!
The Sanhedrin said they found Jesus to be a bad person. Pilate says that he finds no fault in Him.
Pilate knows why the Sanhedrin is asking him to put Jesus to death.
(Mat 27:18 KJV) For he knew that for envy they had delivered
him.
:5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people,
teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
the more fierce – epischo –
to give additional strength, to make stronger; to receive greater strength,
grow stronger
He stirreth up – anaseio –
to shake up; to stir up, excite, rouse
teaching – didasko – to
teach; to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver
didactic discourses; instill doctrine into one
all – holos – all, whole,
completely
Jewry – Ioudaia – “he
shall be praised”; Judaea; in a narrower sense, to the southern portion
of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to distinguish
it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea; in a broader sense, referring to
all Palestine
from Galilee –
A Galilean had led the tax revolt of a.d.
6; Judeans also tended to view Galileans as inferior to themselves, although
much of Galilee was urban and in touch with the larger Mediterranean culture,
as Jerusalem was.[1]
:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he
sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
as soon as he knew – epiginosko
– to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly; to know
accurately, know well; to know i.e. to understand
jurisdiction – exousia –
power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; the power of authority
(influence) and of right (privilege); the power of rule or government (the
power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and
obeyed); jurisdiction
he sent – anapempo – to
send up; to a higher place; to a person higher in office, authority, or power;
to send back
Herod was not usually in Jerusalem, but he was there because of the
Passover. He was probably staying at the old Hasmonean (Maccabean) palace.
Herod Antipas was the same man that had put John the Baptist to death
Herod ruled over the Galilee area:
Lu 3:1 Now in the fifteenth
year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea,
and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea
and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Ryrie: Pilate was not required to
send Jesus to Herod Antipas but did so, hoping to find a way out of his own
dilemma and perhaps also as a diplomatic gesture (see v. 12). Herod had come to
Jerusalem for Passover. Only Luke records this meeting with Herod.
:8-11 Jesus before Herod
:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to
see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped
to have seen some miracle done by him.
glad – chairo – to
rejoice, be glad; to rejoice exceedingly
exceeding – lian –
greatly, exceedingly, exceedingly beyond measure
he was desirous – thelo –
to will, have in mind, intend; to be resolved or determined, to purpose; to
desire, to wish; to love; to like to do a thing, be fond of doing; to take
delight in, have pleasure
he hoped – elpizo – to
hope; hopefully to trust in
miracle – semeion –
a sign, mark, token; that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others
and is known; a sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence,
transcending the common course of nature; of signs portending remarkable events
soon to happen; of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent
by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God’s
Herod was looking for some entertainment.
Jesus had an earlier warning in His ministry about Herod. Here’s how He had responded:
(Lk 13:31-35 KJV)
{31} The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get
thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. {32} And he said unto
them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do
cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. {33}
Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following:
for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. {34} O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto
thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth
gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! {35} Behold,
your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not
see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord.
Jesus sent a message to Herod that Herod wouldn’t be able to kill Jesus
before the time came for Jesus to be killed.
Jesus also sent a clear message to Herod that He, Jesus, was the Messiah,
the Savior of Israel.
:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
he questioned – eperotao –
to accost one with an enquiry, put a question to, enquiry of, ask, interrogate;
to address one with a request or demand; to ask of or demand of one
nothing – oudeis – no one,
nothing
he answered – apokrinomai –
to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer; to begin to speak, but
always where something has preceded (either said or done) to which the remarks
refer
This fulfilled a prophecy:
(Isa 53:7 KJV) He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as
a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he
openeth not his mouth.
Lesson
Defending yourself
Sometimes we get ourselves into deeper trouble by trying to defend ourselves. You can’t always track down every lie that
will be said about you.
There will be some people who will easily believe lies about you without
ever bother trying to see if there’s any truth in it. Those might be people you don’t want as friends.
Lesson
Jesus and the mocker
Jesus does not speak to the man who will mock Him. He is only silent.
To the person who really wants to know, Jesus will reveal Himself to.
(Luke 11:9-13 KJV) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be
given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
{10} For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to
him that knocketh it shall be opened. {11} If a son shall ask bread of any of
you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he
for a fish give him a serpent? {12} Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer
him a scorpion? {13} If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto
your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
them that ask him?
To the person who doesn’t really want to know, Jesus is silent.
Jesus had taught:
(Mt 7:6
KJV) {6} Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls
before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend
you.
:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
stood – histemi – to cause
or make to stand, to place, put, set; to stand
vehemently – eutonos –
vehemently, forcibly
accused – kategoreo – to
accuse; before a judge: to make an accusation
:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and
arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
set him at nought – exoutheneo
(“out of” + “nothing”) – to make of no account, despise utterly; a
variation of exoudenoo, to hold and
treat as of no account, utterly to despise; to set at nought, treat with
contempt
men of war – strateuma –
an army; a band of soldiers; bodyguard, guards men
mocked – empaizo – to play
with, trifle with; to mock; to delude, deceive; from paizo, to play like a child; to play, sport, jest; to give way to
hilarity, esp. by joking singing, dancing
This is what the Jewish temple guards had done already,
(Luke 22:63 KJV) And the men that held Jesus mocked him,
and smote him.
arrayed – periballo – to
throw around, to put around
robe – esthes – clothing,
raiment, apparel
gorgeous – lampros –
shining; brilliant; splendid, magnificent; splendid things i.e. luxuries or
elegancies in dress or style
sent him again – anapempo –
to send up; to a higher place; to a person higher in office, authority, or
power; to send back
Lesson
It will happen to us
(Mat 10:17-31 KJV) But beware of men: for they will deliver you
up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; {18} And ye
shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony
against them and the Gentiles. {19} But when they deliver you up, take no
thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour
what ye shall speak. {20} For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your
Father which speaketh in you. {21} And the brother shall deliver up the brother
to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against
their parents, and cause them to be put to death. {22} And ye shall be hated of
all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
{23} But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily
I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son
of man be come. {24} The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant
above his lord. {25} It is enough for the disciple that he be as his
master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the
house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
If it happened to Jesus, it will happen to us.
{26} Fear them not
therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid,
that shall not be known. {27} What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in
light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. {28} And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. {29} Are
not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the
ground without your Father. {30} But the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. {31} Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
We should only be afraid of the Lord.
People can not really harm you.
I think we need to learn to have compassion on those who
would mock us.
While on the cross, Jesus said,
(Luke
23:34 KJV) Then said Jesus, Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and
cast lots.
:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for
before they were at enmity between themselves.
friends – philos – friend,
to be friendly to one, wish him well; an associate; he who associates
familiarly with one, a companion
before – prouparcho – to
be before, exist previously
at enmity – echthra –
enmity; cause of enmity
Lesson
Hating Jesus draws people together