LORD’S DAY EVENING, MARCH 25
LUKE 22:63-71
Isaiah 53:7-12

“…as a lamb to the slaughter,
…so he openeth not his mouth.”

BEFORE THE RELIGIOUS COURT

After Jesus was arrested on Thursday at about midnight, He was brought into the custody of the Jews. They scorned Him with contempt, scourged Him, and He was blindfolded. This was before the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jewish religion, but they exacted upon Jesus vile insults and horrid abuses. He was innocent but officers and servants rudely spat on His face, and ridiculed Him by blindfolding Him, smiting Him with their hands, and in contempt asked Him to prophesy who it was that smote Him. The word used here for “smote” and “struck” has the sense of hard blows causing wounds. They used sticks or human fists to inflict pain.

The cruel beatings were made even before Jesus was put on trial. No doubt these leaders had heard a lot about Jesus, but they pretended to be ignorant. They did not question Him in order to believe but to find fault with Him. Jesus’ answer was straightforward. The Sanhedrin understood very well. Jesus declared Himself to be the Son of God. They were their own witnesses against Jesus for His words were plain declarations of His divinity. When they asked, “Art thou then the Son of God?” Jesus told them, “Ye say that I am,” acknowledging Himself to be the Son of God, as if to say “I am, as ye say.” They rejected Him as the Son of God or God Himself, and accused Him of blasphemy. Blasphemy in those days was punishable by stoning to death. But since they were afraid of the people they wanted the orders to kill Jesus to be from the Roman authorities.

They heard Him professing to be the Son of God, and they declared Him guilty of blasphemy. They labelled Him an impious pretender for He claimed to be of divine origin. So they proceeded to condemn Him unto death without any fair trial.

So too today, there are many who are inquiring much about Jesus but never believing in Him.

THOUGHT: Am I ready to be tried for Jesus’ sake?
PRAYER: Father, preserve me!