God On Trial
Midweek Lent 2024 Misconceptions Luke 23:1-12
No one mentioned in these verses really understood Jesus. Let’s start with the “whole group” that led Jesus away (Luke 23:1). This is the Sanhedrin—the chief priests and teachers of the law, the group that put Jesus on trial. They heard Jesus confess that he is the Son of God, but they didn’t believe it. They said Jesus was worthy of death, but they didn’t have the power to carry out the sentence. So they brought him to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Their official accusations consisted of two lies and a half-truth. The first lie: Jesus was misleading the nation. In fact, he was doing the opposite; he was trying to straighten the twisted teachings that false leaders like themselves were teaching. The second lie: Jesus opposed paying taxes to Caesar. In point of fact, Jesus had memorably said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17). The half-truth? He claims to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Promised Savior of long ago. This was true, of course. Jesus did claim to be the Messiah, the Chosen One, because he is. And he is a King. But the way they presented this truth was meant to make him seem like he was posing as an earthly king—a threat to Rome—which he certainly was not. The Jewish leaders didn’t understand Jesus because they didn’t want to. Pilate didn’t understand but for a different reason. He probably had heard of Jesus, but you get the impression he didn’t know much about him. Early on a Friday morning, a crowd materialized outside his headquarters in Jerusalem, shoving forward this plain-looking man and accusing him of claiming to be king. Pilate’s response tells us what he was thinking, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Luke 23:3). Pilate didn’t see Jesus as a king. He sensed this man was no threat to Caesar. Pilate’s goal was to send the whole group home, but the Jewish leaders persisted. When they mentioned that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate saw his way out: Galilee was the jurisdiction of Herod, who happened to be in town for the Passover. Perfect! Pilate sent Jesus to Herod. Herod may be the most interesting figure in our verses. He had wanted to see Jesus for a long time. I wonder if he had any idea what his father did three decades earlier when he killed all the baby boys in Bethlehem. Herod had had a complicated relationship with John the Baptist: Herod liked listening to him, but sometimes he had wanted to kill him. Eventually he had John beheaded, but only at someone else’s request. Now there was another prophet like John—but this one could do miracles! Herod was intrigued. You can imagine Herod’s excitement when they brought Jesus in. Let’s see what this prophet knows! Let’s see what he can do! But Jesus did no miracles. He answered no questions. Only the Jewish leaders had anything to say—more accusations. What a letdown! As Herod’s 1