God Speaks
Luke’s and John’s Accounts of the Arrest, Trials, Punishment, Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Verse of the Day: [May many people follow the example of the thief on the cross next to Jesus.] But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:40-42 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Luke 23
Reflection: When Pilate asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is as you say.” I personally believe that Jesus was actually giving Pilate an opportunity to declare Him king of his life. Instead, Pilate sent Him to Herod. Herod was curious. He expected Jesus to “perform” miracles and entertain him by answering his questions, but when he didn’t get the answers he wanted, he and his soldiers mocked and mistreated Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate. The whole Council escorted Him back to Pilate. At first Pilate declared Him not guilty of any crime deserving of the death penalty, but he eventually bowed to the crowd and delivered Jesus to be crucified. Crucifixion was meant to be the most cruel and torturous punishment the Romans could think of and was reserved for the worst criminals (murderers and insurrectionists). Its intention was to keep this type of behavior from even being considered in the future. Even as He hung on the cross, Jesus quoted and fulfilled Scripture, forgave His executioners and tormentors, confirmed the faith of a fellow sufferer, opened the way to God for all who will believe, and brought glory to God. Then Jesus, the Son of Man and Son of God, died. His burial in a rich man’s tomb further fulfilled the scriptures.
Prayer: Dear Father God, thank You that I can openly declare Jesus is King of my heart. Lord, help me to not just shuffle my problems off onto someone else like Pilate did in sending Jesus to Herod. Unlike Herod, may I not expect Jesus to “perform” miracles and entertain me by answering all my questions. When He doesn’t do what I expect, may I continue to trust and obey Jesus willingly and completely. Although believers in Christ today may not be facing crucifixion, many do face terrible forms of persecution and torture. Please comfort and strengthen Your followers wherever they are and whatever they are experiencing. Please use the fiery trials of their suffering for Christ to seal Your glory (Your brightness, beauty, and holiness) to their lives. May this reveal the image of Christ in them and bring great honor to You just as Jesus’s obedient suffering and death did. I want my life to do so as well. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will continually thank the Lord for all that He suffered on my behalf.
- I will strive to live in dependence on the Holy Spirit so that my sin does not add to His suffering.
- I will pour out my love to Him in worship and praise.
- I will do my best to tell others that He did all this for them too if they will believe and surrender to Him.
John 18
Reflection: John Chapter 18 covers Judas’s betrayal and Jesus’s arrest, Jesus being questioned by the high priests, Peter’s three denials, and Jesus before Pilate. Judas directed the Roman soldiers and temple guards who came to arrest Jesus. (John does not include Judas’s betrayal with a kiss.) It is interesting to note that Jesus affirmed three times that He was the man they were looking to arrest. It was after Jesus’s third assertion of “I am He,” that Peter drew his sword, cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. In the high priest’s courtyard, one might think that Simon Peter would have followed Jesus’s example at His arrest, however, he reacted out of his fearful flesh (Simon) rather than responding out of his solid faith (Peter). In spite of–or perhaps because of–Simon Peter’s denials, God used him on the day of Pentecost and in many ways afterward to spread the Good News of Jesus in his world and beyond (see the books of Acts and 1 and 2 Peter). Before the high priests and before Pilate, Jesus stood for the truth. In His death, Jesus took the place of a criminal (Barabbas) and every other human being.
Prayer: Dear Almighty God, I need Your Holy Spirit to help me to maintain the proper attitude regarding who Jesus really is. Then I will be able to resist the temptation to betray Jesus as Judas did or deny Jesus as Simon Peter did. Please help me to stand firm for the truth in spite of opposition just like Jesus did before the high priest. It is the accusers who should have to prove their point, not the accused. Especially, there should be no mere name calling without evidence. As Jesus said, “If I lied, prove it.”. . .”Should you hit a man for telling the truth?”* Lord, please give Your people who are on trial for their faith in You holy boldness to speak forth Your truth and stand for what is right and good. May I fulfill the purpose You have for my life. May I be willing to give my life for or love someone other people would consider unlovable, like Jesus did. AMEN
*John 18:23 TLB
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will do research and make a list of who the Bible says Jesus is and what He has done so that I can resist the world, the flesh, and the devil.
- I will stand up for the truth in both private and public discussions.
- I will seek out and present evidence whenever I accuse someone of wrongdoing, not just make assumptions or generalizations.
- I will speak up for, support, and/or defend those who are being mistreated (the pre-born, abused, or bullied children, trafficked adults) or those who are being persecuted for their faith.
John 19
Reflection: John Chapter 19 relates Jesus’s final appearance before Pilate, the crucifixion itself, and the burial of Jesus. Matthew 27, Mark 15, and Luke 23 recount the same events from different perspectives. It is recommended that one read all four accounts together to get a full picture of what Jesus endured on behalf of all who will believe and obey Him and the Father. The following are unique to the account in John 19: 1) Jesus told Pilate that he would have no power over Him except it came from above. 2) The comments by the Jews and the high priests about Pilate not being a friend of Caesar and their having no king but Caesar. 3) The name of the place where Pilate held court, the Pavement or in Hebrew Gabbatha. 4) Pilate upholding what he had written regarding Jesus being King of the Jews. 5) Jesus committing His mother into John’s care. 6) The statement in English, “It is finished.” 7) Nicodemus helping Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus. All these details combined with the other accounts in the Gospels give us a fuller picture of what happened that historic day.
Prayer: Dear all-knowing, all-loving God, thank You that in Your Triunity You knew and planned for the crucifixion before creation and time began. This is how You determined to deal with the consequences of human sin. You had the perfect God-become-Man suffer and die to pay the death penalty Your justice required. You laid the punishment for all sin of all time on Christ Jesus, God the Son. Jesus, it will take us all of time and all of eternity to thank You for all You suffered and all You accomplished on that day. We can only begin by simply saying “Thank You!” and by living each moment in step with Your Spirit and loving everyone around us as You set the example. For the glory of Your name. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will read the other accounts of Jesus’s crucifixion and thank Him for all He suffered on my behalf and for giving me new life and the power to trust and obey Him now and throughout eternity.
- I will watch the Jesus film, The Passion of the Christ, or a similar movie to get a clearer picture of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus.
- I will talk with and encourage another believer to do the same.
- I will tell this to someone who has not yet put their faith totally in Jesus.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.