Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 23:1-12; John 18:28-38 "WHERE IS HE WHO HAS BEEN BORN KING OF THE JEWS?" Matthew 2:2"
Day 311 – Luke 23
Text: Luke 23:1-12; John 18:28-38
“WHERE IS HE WHO HAS BEEN BORN KING OF THE JEWS?” Matthew 2:2
More than three decades earlier, wise men from the east traveled all the way from their homeland to offer worship to Baby Jesus. Through their knowledge of the stars, they had recognized that a great King had been born to the Jews. This King however was not an ordinary one. He was to be worshipped! The wise men brought with them costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:1-12).
Jesus grew up learning a carpenter’s trade till it was time to fulfill His destiny. He was anointed by John the Baptiser and then went on to proclaim a powerful message. His message was,
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Mark 1:15
On one occasion, a multitude of Jews tried to force Jesus to become their king, because they saw a special miracle He had performed. With great power, He multiplied five loaves and two fish, and fed over five thousand people with the simple elements. John recorded this incident and noted the following,
“Therefore when Jesus perceived that
they were about to come and take Him by force
to make Him king, He departed again
to the mountain by Himself alone.”
John 6:15
If Pilate were to investigate the case against Jesus thoroughly, he would be able to discover all these details about the accused without too much difficulty. He would of course have to do his part in investigating carefully a charge as serious as treason. Rome took seriously charges that involved setting up a rival kingdom! It could lead to rebellion and costly wars would then have to be fought!
THE DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS
Pilate had opened up the interrogation of Jesus with the question of His kingship. Jesus answered calmly, despite the fact that this was the fourth time He was made to “stand trial”! He said,
“My kingdom is not of this world.
If My kingdom were of this world,
My servants would fight, so that I
Should not be delivered to the Jews,
But now My kingdom is not from here.”
John 18:36
Pilate asked Jesus to make a statement concerning the charge leveled against Him. The charge against Jesus was a distorted version. The Jews had tried to make out that Jesus posed a political threat against Rome. Jesus had set the records straight with this statement.
At this answer, Pilate asked another question,
“Are you a king then?”
John 18:37
Pilate’s line of questioning showed that he wanted to check out whether the charge against Jesus had the slightest hint of a political threat to Rome. That was his main concern as the governor of Judea. He would not tolerate any attempt to create political instability in the country he ruled on behalf of Rome. The Jews had been a difficult people to rule. There had been incursions before and he wanted to be sure that Jesus did not have any hidden agenda.
Jesus went on to explain His statement concerning His kingship.
“Jesus answered,
You say rightly that I am a king.
For this cause I was born,
And for this cause I have come
Into the world, that I should bear witness
To the truth. Everyone who is of the truth
Hears My voice.”
John 18:37
The voice of Jesus had been calm and steady. He had borne Himself well under pressure. The marks of physical abuse were clearly seen. Jesus must have been treated very roughly by the Jews. Yet, here He was, discussing the subject of truth! Was this the king that the Jews feared and hated?
Pilate had no time for this case. He would have liked to dismiss the case outright. He signaled the end of this interrogation with these famous words,
“What is truth?”
John 18:38
Pilate got up and then went out to the Jews and made a solemn declaration.
“I find no fault in Him at all.”
John 18:38
The Jews however refused to accept this judgment from Pilate. They clamoured loudly. Luke recorded this incident rather well,
“But they were the more fierce, saying,
‘He stirs up the people, teaching
throughout all Judea, beginning
from Galilee to this place.’ “
Luke 23:5
Pilate could have, and should have, simply dismissed the case based on his investigations. However, he could not do that because of the clamouring of the Jews. This time the charge was extended.
The Jews now claimed that Jesus had been stirring up the people. They were prepared to give “evidence” to show that He had been stirring up the masses from Galilee to Judea. How could Pilate then dismiss the case?
Pilate made a shrewd move when he heard that Jesus was from Galilee. He determined that the case against Jesus would be tried by Herod, since Galilee was really under his jurisdiction. Luke wrote,
“When Pilate heard of Galilee,
he asked if the Man were a Galilean.
And as soon as he knew that He belonged
To Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to
Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.”
Luke 23:6-7
JESUS BEFORE HEROD ANTIPAS
Jesus was now under investigation for the fifth time! Annas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin Council, Pilate and now Herod! Luke noted Herod’s response when Jesus was brought to him.
“Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad;
for he had desired for a long time to see Him,
because he had heard many things about Him,
and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.”
Luke 23:8
Herod had his own personal agenda when he investigated the charge against Jesus. He must have thought that Jesus was just another pretender, perhaps some kind of “snake oil performer” trying his luck in the streets! How wrong he was! Since the case was brought to his attention, he of course had to do his part.
“Then he questioned Him with many words,
But He answered him nothing.”
Luke 23:9
Once again, Jesus chose to remain silent. Herod could not get Him to say a word! The Jews were apparently seeing this interrogation. Luke noted their part in instigating Herod to hassle Jesus.
“And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently
accused Him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him
with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe,
and sent Him back to Pilate.”
Luke 23:10-11
This was a trial? Jesus was right in maintaining silence! He would trust His Father to uphold Him amidst this mockery of the judicial system. “But we see Jesus…