O to Be Like Thee

Part 4:  The Journey to the Cross Luke 22:39-23:25   Introduction   Jesus and His prayer life are worthy of a study all their own.  Luke especially shares details of Jesus' prayer life.  Jesus prayed when He was baptized (3:21), often in secluded places (5:16), on mountainsides (6:12), in private with His disciples (9:18), and with specially chosen disciples (9:28).  He was asked by His disciples to teach them to pray (11:1).  He taught His disciples not to give up praying (18:1).  In Luke 22, when Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, He asked that the disciples be in prayer so they would not be unprepared for the trials just ahead.  We resume the narrative as Jesus continues His journey to the Cross.   XIV. Jesus' Prayer and Arrest in the Garden, Luke 22:39-53 A. The Prayer in the Garden, Luke 22:39-46   Luke 22:39-46 (NIV) (39) Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.  (40) On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."  (41) He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,  (42) "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."  (43) An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  (44) And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (45) When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.  (46) "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."   1. A simple request to the disciples, Luke 22:39-40 2. A submissive request to the Father, Luke 22:41-42 3. A struggling session of prayer, Luke 22:43-44 4. A sorrowful sleep for the disciples, Luke 22:45 5. A stern command to pray, Luke 22:46   Had the disciples been attentive and believing in Christ's discussion with them in the upper room, they probably would not have needed this instruction from the Lord.  Yet, somehow they kept themselves in a state of denial and though outwardly expressing a willingness to suffer and fight with and for Christ, it becomes clear very soon that they were surprised and unprepared when Christ was arrested. One might think that a stone's throw away was near enough to hear, if not see, the agony of the Lord in prayer.  They seem to have been affected to some degree by the intensity of Jesus' prayer, but it did not move them to pray.  Instead, they escaped their own sorrow for the Lord by falling asleep. When someone is in touch with the reality of a loved one's deep suffering, sleep is out of the question.  Eating is of no concern.  One's own well-being is forgotten as you seek to minister to the agony of your beloved.  For some reason, they had not come to understand the severity of what was about to come upon the Lord in only minutes or they would not only be praying for Him, but with Him, and embracing Him while He  suffered.   B. The Arrest in the Garden, Luke 22:47-53   1. The kiss of the betrayer, Luke 22:47-48 Luke 22:47-48 (NIV) (47) While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,  (48) but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"   Matthew adds this astounding detail to the scene: Matthew 26:49-50 ( NIV ) (49) Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. (50) Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.    Jesus not only fulfilled the Old Testament Law, He fulfilled the New One, as well to "love your neighbor as yourself" and "love your enemies," (Luke 6:27; 10:27).  How is this done!  Only with God's love in us.  Without it we cannot.  Without it we will not.  But we are not given any other option.    2. The cut of the sword, Luke 22:49-50 Luke 22:49-50 (NIV) (49) When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?"  (50) And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.   3. The compassion of the Savior, Luke 22:51 Luke 22:51 (NIV) (51) But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.   Matthew adds to Jesus' rebuke that our battle against the world is not fought with a sword.  We win not by coercion, fear, or terror, but by love.   4. The confrontation with the temple officials, Luke 22:52-53 Luke 22:52-53 (NIV) (52) Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?  (53) Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns."   In these remarks, Jesus is making his adversaries aware that He knows what their intent is.  Nothing in Jesus' life or ministry indicated that He was leading a rebellion.  He was exposing their hypocritical reasons for arresting Him by pointing out that if they really feared that He was leading a rebellion and building an army of resistance, they would have arrested Him sooner.  He was not hiding His person or message.  In a statement of submission to the plan of God to allow darkness to have its way for a moment, He says simply, "This is your hour—when darkness reigns."    XV. Denial, Disappointment, and Derision in the Courtyard of the High Priest,        Luke 22:54-65   A. Peter's Denial, Luke 22:54-60   1. The first denial, Luke 22:54-57 Luke 22:54-57 (NIV) (54) Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.  (55) But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.  (56) A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." (57) But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.   2. The second denial, Luke 22:58 Luke 22:58 (NIV) (58) A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.   3. The third denial Luke, 22: 59-60a Luke 22:59-60 (NIV) (59) About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." (60a) Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.    B. The Lord's Disappointment, Luke 22:60b-62   Luke 22:60b-62 (NIV)  (60b) Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  (61) The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."  (62) And he went outside and wept bitterly.   Can we begin to imagine how Peter must have felt when he found Christ's gaze upon him.  Immediately the Lord's prediction of his denials comes to his mind and there is little wonder that he had to remove himself from the scene to weep.  Each of us have had opportunities to "own up" to Christ only to fall silent or hedge on the level of our commitment to Him.  What if every time we had done so we could physically catch His gaze and know His disappointment that our faith in Him is not as strong as our fear of others.   C. The Guards' Derision, Luke 22:63-65 Luke 22:63-65 (NIV) (63) The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.  (64) They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?"  (65) And they said many other insulting things to him.   This action is pure ignorance.  People sometimes do not follow by conviction but according to who appears to have power.  Jesus' passivity was misunderstood as weakness when in fact it was His love that moved Him toward the cross to die for their sins.  They would not be taking His life.  He would be offering it.   XVI. The Trials of Jesus, Luke 22:66-23:25   A. Jesus' Appearance Before the Jewish Council of the Elders, Luke 22:66-71   1. The Council seeks a confession, Luke 22:66-67. Luke 22:66-67 (NIV) (66) At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.  (67a) "If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us."   2. Jesus reveals their hearts, Luke 22:67b-69.   Luke 22:67b-69  (NIV) (67b)Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me,  (68) and if I asked you, you would not answer.  (69) But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."   Their question was not an honest inquiry.  It was rather posed in order to secure a statement that would be used to charge Him with blasphemy—a offense that could carry with it  a death sentence according to their religious law.  With keen awareness Jesus answered the question without answering it   3. The Council presses for a confession, Luke 22:70a.   Luke 22:70a (NIV) (70a) They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"   4. Jesus actually confesses to a greater claim, Luke 22:70b.   Luke 22:70b (NIV) (70b) He replied, "You are right in saying I am."   As the Son of God, He was making Himself equal with God.   5. The Council gains its grounds for condemnation, Luke 22:71. Luke 22:71 (NIV) (71) Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."   B. Jesus' Appearance Before the Roman Procurator, Pilate, Luke 23:1-7 1. The Council's fabricated charges Luke 23:1-2 (NIV) (1) Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.  (2) 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 Christ, a king."   2. Pilate's frank question, Luke 23:3a Luke 23:3a (NIV) (3a) So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"   3. Jesus' frank answer, Luke 23:3b   Luke 23:3b (NIV) (3b) "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.   4. Pilates frank assessment, Luke 23:4   Luke 23:4 (NIV) (4) Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."   5. The Council's false accusation, Luke 23:5 Luke 23:5 (NIV) (5) 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."   Though the finding of the Council was religious in nature, the charges they bring to Pilate are political in nature.  There was no evidence of subversion, opposition to taxes to Rome, and His claims for a kingdom were "not of this world".  Therefore Caesar had nothing to fear from Him. The fact that Pilate seemed to understand the treachery of the Council is evidenced by how serious he takes the charges even after Jesus answers his question in the affirmative.   6. Pilate's fortunate alternative, Luke 23:6-7 Luke 23:6-7 (NIV) (6) On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.  (7) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.   C. Jesus' Appearance Before Herod, Luke 23:8-12 1. Herod hoped to satisfy his curiosity about Jesus, Luke 23:8 Luke 23:8 (NIV) (8) When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.    2. The Council hoped to get a judgment about Jesus, Luke 23:9-10 Luke 23:9-10 (NIV) (9)He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.  (10) The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.    3. Herod humiliates and mocks Jesus, Luke 23:11-12 Luke 23:11-12 (NIV) (11) Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.  (12) That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.   There are people who are drawn to the show of religion but never catch its message.  Jesus is not a rock or movie star.  He's not into entertainment.  What He did in ministry may have been entertaining to some, but to those who received His healing touch, authoritative teaching, offer of hope, forgiveness of sin, and promise of salvation, it was the act of a loving and gracious Savior God.   D. Jesus Returned to Pilate, Luke 23:13-25   1. Pilate's initial appeal to the crowd,   Luke 23:13-16 (NIV)   (13) Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,  (14) 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.  (15) Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.  (16) Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."   2. The crowd's defiant demand to Pilate, Luke 23:18-19 Luke 23:18-19 (NIV) (18) With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!"  (19) (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)   3. Pilate's second appeal to the crowd, Luke 23:20 Luke 23:20 (NIV) (20) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.    4. The crowd's second demand to Pilate, Luke 23:21   Luke 23:21 (NIV) (21) But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"   5. Pilate's third appeal to the crowd, Luke 23:22 Luke 23:22 (NIV) (22) 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."   6. The crowd's third demand to Pilate, Luke 23:23 Luke 23:23 (NIV) (23) But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.    7. Pilate's Concession to t he Crowd, Luke 23:24-25 Luke 23:24-25 (NIV) (24) So Pilate decided to grant their demand.  (25) 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.   The guilt of the Jesus' accusers was sealed, when, after being afforded three occasions to reconsider their condemnation of Jesus, their voices crescendoed  each time with louder calls for His crucifixion.  They would rather have a thief and murderer released among them than to free Jesus.     To be like Jesus . . .   1. We must learn to share in the sorrows of others and ask others for support in ours.  Jesus has asked us to share His burden and concern for the lost and to reach out to them with His gracious gospel. 2. We must actually practice the laws of "love your neighbors and enemies."  3. We must understand that forgiving a friend when they fail us is one of the greatest acts of love we can express. 4. We must be ready to suffer persecution for who we are as Christ's followers and     never be ashamed to be associated with Him. _________________________________________________________________