Journey to the Cross Through COVIDSample

The Jewish leaders were moving things along quickly now. It was a feast day in which trials were normally prohibited, but they had Jesus where they wanted him and no religious festival was going to stop them getting rid of him. They knew that they needed to move while the iron was hot. The early hours of the morning were perfect because there was no-one around to protest. See how much happened before dawn (22:66). 

Read Luke 22:54-71

The Jewish leaders had a problem. The Jewish ruling body had no power to pronounce the death sentence (although the leaders did seem to get away with it at times e.g. Acts 7:57-58). So they had to find a crime that would stand up in the Roman justice system. Their best bet was to paint Jesus as a political agitator. The Romans were particularly sensitive about potential revolutionaries. They were extremely severe on rebels. Therefore, the Council of elders had to prove that Jesus was a dangerous dissenter who was trying to establish his own kingdom apart from Rome. We find in the other gospels that their initial case did not go well, so here we find them trying to get Jesus to incriminate himself. 

And he plays right into their hands. No beating around the bush. Jesus tells them exactly what they want to hear. He is the Messiah with direct access to God (22:69). He has now signed his own death warrant. This statement is not only blasphemous to the Jews, it is also makes him a threat to the Romans. 

I’m often struck by the honesty and boldness of Jesus. He wasn’t one to mince words. For him, the truth was the truth and it needed to be said even if it offended the powerful and well-connected. He was gentle with the broken and needy, but tough on the hypocritical and judgmental. 

Times come for all of us when we need to stand on our convictions. In this passage, Peter caved and denied Jesus. We have done the same, but once again Jesus comes to us today and calls us to be real, be honest, be confident, be unashamed. We have the truth that is so needed in these tumultuous times and, like Jesus, we need to lovingly and honestly let people know. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).

Prayer: Thank God for many who have stood for Jesus over the centuries and particularly for those who have suffered and are suffering now for their faith. Pray for a growing boldness and confidence in standing for Jesus.