Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20100721.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Luke: Jesus, The Son Of Man For All Mankind
Part LXXXIV: Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In His Trials
(Luke 22:66-23:25)
  1. Introduction
    1. One's conduct under duress and the response of powerful people to him tell us much about his character.
    2. Jesus' conduct and the response of powerful people in His trials tell us much about Him, and offer us lessons in our own lives (as follows):
  2. Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In His Trials, Luke 22:66-23:25.
    1. Jesus' conduct before the sanhedrin showed He truly believed He was Messiah and God, Luke 22:66-71:
      1. After the trial by night, and as the Jews could convene a legal trial only by day (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Luke 22:66), at daylight, they met to convict Jesus of a capital offense, Luke 22:66.
      2. They sought to get a conviction by His own words, asking Him if He was the Messiah, Luke 22:67a.
      3. Jesus revealed He realized the court was unjust: He said if He admitted He was the Messiah, they would not believe it, and if He asked them a question, they would not answer Him, nor would they release Him even though they thus were very biased and could not give Him justice, Luke 22:67b-68.
      4. However, Jesus volunteered the information that they would see the "Son of man" sit on the right hand of the power of God (Lk. 22:69) in referring to the messianic passages of Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1.
      5. At this point, Jesus' foes asked if He was the Son of God, a reference to deity (John 5:18), and He said, "You are right in saying I am," though knowing such a claim would condemn Him, Luke 22:70 NIV.
      6. So convinced this was a claim to being God, one they thought was blasphemy, the sanhedrin sent Jesus to Pilate who had the power to kill Jesus that they might get Pilate to execute Him, Luke 22:71-23:1.
    2. The case before Pilate shows Jesus viewed Himself as the Messiah, and that He was innocent, Lk. 23:2-5:
      1. Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews, and He said, "Yes, it is as you say," Lk. 23:2-4 NIV.
      2. Pilate's response reveals he did not believe Jesus was an insurrectionist against the Rome, for he told the chief priests who had brought Jesus to him that he found no fault in him worthy of death, Lk. 23:4.
      3. The religious leaders were not satisfied at Pilate's response, and fiercely replied that Jesus stirred up the people with His teaching starting at Galilee and coming on down south to Jerusalem, Luke 23:5.
      4. When he heard of Galilee, Pilate asked if Jesus was from Galilee, and, learning that He was, sought to pass the case to the procurator of Galilee, Herod Antipas, who was then in Jerusalem, Luke 23:6-7.
    3. Jesus' trial before Herod Antipas revealed once again that He was innocent, Luke 23:8-12:
      1. Herod asked him many questions, but Christ refused to answer, for Herod in his wickedness saw the event as entertainment, so Jesus did not interact with him, Lk. 23:8-9; Bib. Know. Com., O. T. , p. 262.
      2. In the face of vehement accusations against Him by the religious leaders, Jesus still said nothing, so Herod mocked and eventually sent Jesus back of Pilate without sentencing Him, Luke 23:10-12.
    4. Pilate's last trial of Christ reveals Jesus was innocent though condemned to die, Luke 23:13-25:
      1. Once Jesus was returned uncondemned to him, Pilate called Israel's leaders to a meeting to explain he nor Herod had found anything wrong in Jesus, so he would beat Him and release Him, Lk. 23:13-16.
      2. The leaders cried that Jesus should be executed and a murderous insurrectionist released, Lk. 23:18-19.
      3. Pilate repeated his claim about Jesus' innocence and his intent to release Him, Luke 23:20.
      4. The response of the leaders was again vehement -- they wanted Jesus crucified, Luke 23:21.
      5. Pilate replied the third time, saying, "Why, what evil has He done?" to which the religious leaders again cried out so loudly that Jesus be crucified that Pilate passed that sentence on Him, L k. 23:22-24.
      6. Pilate commanded that Jesus be crucified and Barabbas be released as they had wished, Luke 23:25.
Lesson: In His life-threatening trials, Jesus's conduct revealed He truly asserted He was God's true Messiah and Son, and powerful secular rulers repeatedly implied and confessed His innocence.

Application: (1) Jesus is God's true Savior of the world to be believed for eternal life, John 3:16. (2) As we are to follow in Jesus' footsteps (1 Peter 2:21), in times of great duress, may we like Him rely on the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16) to stay composed and aware of our Biblical identity and calling from the Lord!