Luke 22:63-23:25 "Before the Powers of This Age" Paul says in Romans 6 that we have been baptized into Christ's death. As we come to the baptism of Krystal Lynn Dossey today, let us be mindful of what that means. Jesus himself spoke of his death as a baptism as we saw earlier in Luke's gospel. In Luke 12:49-50 Jesus said, I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Jesus has come to bring judgment upon the earth to cast fire on the earth but before he cast fire on the earth (before he can bring judgment) he must first be baptized with fire. Jesus will endure the fire of God's wrath and curse he will be baptized with fire so that he might pass through death into life for us. That is why Jesus instituted the sacrament of baptism, so that we might symbolically pass through fire and judgment in him. We saw last time that already in garden Jesus was beginning to endure the judgment of God. Before he had been betrayed and handed over to the Gentiles, he had entered his passion as he agonized in prayer with his Father. Today we see Jesus before the powers of this age both Jews and Gentiles conspiring together against the Holy One of Israel. This is not only the climactic moment in the life of Jesus, as the judges of Jerusalem and Rome discuss his fate, it is also the climactic moment of your life. Because you have been united to Christ in his death. When Christ came before the powers of this age, he came there for you. He who knew no sin became sin for us. 1. Before the Council (22:63-71) Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, 'Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?' And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him. But he was silent. He endured this injustice. "He was oppressed and he was afflicted, but he opened not his mouth." He was called to submit in silence to the powers of this age. Because only by coming under the judgment of the powers of this age could Jesus overthrow their power. He starts in the assembly of the elders of the Jews. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 'If you are the Christ, tell us.' These are the very men who are supposed to believe him. They are the ones who are supposed to rejoice at the coming of the Messiah. "He came to his own, but his own did not receive him." So he said to them, If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God. Jesus here identifies himself as the Son of Man of Daniel 7. And he recognizes that the only path to the right hand of God is through the cross. It is only if he endures in silence their judgment that he will come to glory. But they don't see it. They hear him claiming to be the Son of Man (and in Daniel the Son of Man sits on God's throne so the Son of Man is a divine figure), so they ask, Are you the Son of God, then? You say that I am. How is this? They just asked him a question! How is it that they are saying that Jesus is the Son of God? By condemning him and handing him over to Pilate, they are proclaiming him the Son of God, because (as Paul says in Romans 1) Jesus was proclaimed the Son of God through his resurrection from the dead. But they respond by declaring that Jesus has condemned himself by claiming to be the Son of God. The Jews insisted strongly on the unity of God. Monotheism was a central doctrine in Judaism, so for a man to claim to be the Son of God was considered blasphemy. 2. Before Pilate (23:1-5) Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, 'We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.' Notice how they focus on the political aspect of Jesus' teaching. They are standing before the Roman governor and they recognize that he won't care about the details of Jesus' religious teaching. So they insist that Jesus is a political threat: 1) he is "misleading" the nation which is dangerous because the Jews had seen a regular parade of zealots wreaking havoc on Jewish-Roman relations. Pilate himself had lots of personal experience with such zealots, so they are playing on his fears! 2) he is forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar You may recall that Jesus had said, "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." They are twisting his words somewhat here! But such an accusation would be a serious one! 3) he is saying that he is the Christ a king. This would be a direct challenge to Roman supremacy. After all, if Jesus is the Christ, then Israel owes their allegiance to him and NOT to Rome! So Pilate has reason to worry! So he asks, Are you the King of the Jews? And he answered, 'You have said so.' On the basis of this short interview (we know from the other gospels that there was a little more to it) Pilate says to the priests and the crowds, I find no guilt in this man. He may have said some odd things, but he is not a threat to Rome. But they were urgent, saying He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place. Then Pilate says, Aha! He's from Galilee. So he is not in my jurisdiction! I'll send him to Herod. 3. Before Herod (23:6-12) When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. Herod obviously did not take Jesus as a serious threat. He views Jesus as an entertainer who can perform nifty tricks! So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Herod understands the Jewish leaders. They will not be satisfied unless Jesus is put to death. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. Luke then notes that Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. The whole world is uniting against Jesus. The Jewish authorities have rejected their Messiah. Herod, the Edomite the descendent of Esau (brother of Jacob)-- has joined with his Israelite brethren. The whole house of Isaac has turned against Jesus. And in Pilate we see the whole world, Jew and Gentile alike, turning against the Lord of Glory. 4. Before Pilate Again (23:13-25) Because when Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate, Pilate recognizes that there is no point in pursuing matters further. You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him. Pilate knows a lynch-mob when he sees it! He hopes that he can placate them by punishing Jesus. What is the point of killing an innocent man? But they all cried out together, Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Talk about ironies! They have accused Jesus of leading the people astray and promoting rebellion against Rome. So who do they ask for? Barabbas a guy who really did lead an insurrection! But Pilate wanted to release Jesus. But they kept screaming, Crucify, crucify him! So a third time he said how many times did Jesus predict his death? Three. How many times did Peter deny Jesus? Three. How many times did Pilate try to release Jesus? Three. Peter's word was impotent. Pilate's word was impotent. But the word of Jesus is potent! (And of course in Acts, once Peter is clothed with the power of the Spirit of Jesus, how many times does he open the kingdom of God? Three!) Luke provides us with these parallels in order to teach us that the word of Jesus is powerful. But of course, as Pilate is talking, Jesus is silent. He does not argue in his defense. His task is to go to the cross. He will make a few off-hand comments along the way, but he never mounts a defense. But even as Pilate seeks to set Jesus free, the crowds were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. Remember that! Remember whose voice prevails with those who rule in this age! Pilate will listen to the mob. That is the way politicians work. Whether you are delighted or horrified at the results last Tuesday, remember that both political parties are fixated with popular opinion. While the Roman world was hardly democratic, Roman governors were no less driven by popular opinion. Remember a few weeks we heard Jesus' story of the man who went to a far country to be made king? And the people sent a delegation protesting against him? Jesus was referring to one of Pilate's predecessors. Popular opinion was very important to Roman governors, because their tenure in office depended largely on their ability to keep people happy. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. Who cares about justice?! So long as the people are happy! He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. What matters to you? The voice of the people? Or the voice of Jesus? As Jesus stands before the powers of this age, he is silent. Jesus could endure the judgment of the powers of this age, because he knew the verdict that would be handed down from his Father. Do you see why this is the most important moment in your life? You have spent your whole life being concerned with what the powers of this age think and say about you. Whether trying to measure up to your parents' expectations, or trying to be popular (or maybe even just accepted) at school you have allowed what others say and think about you to control you. Now it may be your colleagues at work, the ladies in your home school group, or even people at church. You are still fixated with what others think of you. Jesus endures in silence because he doesn't care what they think of him! He will be vindicated at the right hand of his Father. Now, you may be expecting my next line to be, "Therefore you should be like Jesus stop worrying about what others think about you!" But I know you better than that. I know that you want to be like Jesus. But there is nothing that you can do about that. That is why I said at the beginning of the sermon, that Jesus coming before the powers of this age is the most important moment in your life. You see, by faith you have been united to Christ in his death and resurrection. Jesus has overthrown the powers of this age whether you act like it or not! In your baptism you were united with him in his death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in his death, we shall certainly be united with him in his resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would not longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. (Romans 6) And since the Christ has died, therefore all who are united to him have died with him as well. Therefore it is not as though you need to become something that you are not. Rather, you need to become (in Christ) what you already are (in Christ).