Have you ever been
thrown under the bus - unexpectedly condemned by a friend; or been stabbed in the back by someone you trust, without warning or expectation. Unfortunately, I think we all have been. And it really sucks, and it really hurts. This had to be how Jesus felt when Judas betrayed Him with the kiss of death, and when one of His best friends, Peter, denied him, over and over again. Yet, that was not even the worst of it. We are going to see in Luke Chapter 23 the torture that was initiated by God's chosen people who come from the branch of His family tree. “Then the whole assembly (Jewish leaders) rose and led him off to Pilate (Roman leader), and they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” Subverting our nation? Are you kidding me? Can you imagine what Jesus must have thought when His own kinsmen called Him corrupt? It’s just another example of how the world is turned upside down, and inside out! So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” “On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.” “When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.” I immediately thought of baby Jesus when the order was given by Herod himself, to kill all the male children, two years and younger, was put out. I remember baby Jesus born in Bethlehem and God giving Joseph a dream - a warning to get out! I remember Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus escaping the wrath of Herod, by hiding in Egypt until it was safe to come back. And yet, here we see Jesus, as an adult, being delivered to Herod's doorstep, just like a cat brings back a mouse to the door of his master! And there was Herod, comically pleased, that the Messiah was nothing like a king! “From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. “ “The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.” “Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.” Can you imagine the humiliation? Being mocked and ridiculed by your own? “That day Herod and Pilate became friends - before this they had been enemies.” Wow! I didn’t know this. The killing of Jesus is what brought the Jews and Gentiles together. How incredibly sad is this! “Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” But the whole crowd of Jews shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)” “Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” “For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” “But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed." "So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.” Luke 23:1-25 I will return tomorrow with the culmination to all of this, because just writing about this makes me sick to my stomach! To release a man who actually killed someone, yet hand over an innocent man, to be judged and condemned to death is beyond excuse - it's ridiculous! God help us! What is wrong with them? It makes me wonder, have we learned anything from this? Are we choosing the curse, instead of new life through Jesus? The same men who listened in the temple, the same men who laid down garments for Him, the same men who traveled from distant lands, the same men who gave up their lives for Him, the same men who followed the Law - never really saw Him at all! The WORD was spoken but very few heard. The WORD was sent but very few responded to it. I ask you this - are you the bride of a Christ? Are you impregnated with God’s WORD? Are you sanctified? Have you been set apart? Are you purified by the precious blood of Christ? Are you willing to lay down your life? Are you willing to be a living sacrifice? Are you ready to stop following the world? Are you ready to stand alone? Are you ready to go to Heaven, when Jesus comes again? Can you feel Holy Spirit steering His body find His head?
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