Luke 23:1-6

Luke 23:1-6 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 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.” So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” 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.

Acts 2:29-35 “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Since the Roman governor, Pilate, knew the Sanhedrin's charges against Jesus were false, he did not want to deal with this Jewish squabble. Therefore, he sent the whole matter to Herod, the Jewish king, who ruled under the auspices of the Romans. As a Gentile, Pilate felt no responsibility to involve himself with someone's claim to be king of the Jews. But he was wrong. Jesus was not a delusional man, claiming He was the king of the Jews: He was the Christ, the Messiah for all nations. On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) Jesus was the king of the Jews from the loins of David, fulfilling God's promise to David that one from his seed would rule forever. However, Jesus did not only fulfill God's promise to David; He completed God's covenant with Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” (Galatians 3:8) Pilate should have been concerned for the welfare of this man, Jesus, who was brought before him. In spite of finding him guiltless, Pilate thought Jesus just another man and eventually crucified him.

We who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are people of God's promise to Abraham. You (we) are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you (us) who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves (ourselves) with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you (we) are all one in Christ Jesus. If you (we) belong to Christ, then you (we) are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:27-28) As a Gentile, Pilate could have been part of Abraham's promise and received eternal life had he envisioned Jesus as the Christ. If Pilate had believed that this man who did miracles no other man did from the beginning of time was from God, he would have experienced salvation. Similarly, the members of the Sanhedrin could have attained redemption if they had allowed themselves to believe in this man of miracles. But the traditions of men and their own fleshly pursuits were impediments to these people receiving the Lord of grace and mercy. They understood too well that by accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah, they would lose their positions of privilege within the Jewish community. Both the Sanhedrin and Pilate missed their chance for freedom in Christ; however, they fulfilled God's plan of salvation.

Is Jesus just another man or is He the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Everyone must answer this question. As a man of faith, Abraham believed in what he could not touch or know through the senses: HE BELIEVED GOD. As people of faith, we Christians trust in God regardless of our senses, our experiences. We believe the Word of God, the holy scriptures, rather than man's wisdom and knowledge. We know faith opens the door to the Kingdom of God, and salvation comes through uncompromising faith in him, not through intellectual endeavors. When we struggle, when things do not go right, we believe. When every experience seems to be a mountaintop experience, we believe. We believe in season and out of season. This is the life of a Christian. As men of this world concerned with earthly pursuits, Pilate and the Sanhedrin would not enter this faith realm. But as Paul wrote, “The righteous will live by faith.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles (and the Jews) through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:11 & 14) Praise God! He gives his Spirit to all who believe in the name of Jesus. He lives in us and we in him. This is the promise fulfilled in each of us who trust in Christ's death and resurrection. Today, listen to God's still small voice, follow his direction. Hear him and do his will, for we are people of faith, people of the Spirit.