“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 Messiah, a king.” 3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 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.” 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.” Luke 22.1-7
Jesus was under the microscope. Now that he was in the hands of the Jews, they were never going to let him go. Even Pilate, the Roman governor who questioned Jesus, found no fault with him, saying, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
But the Jews insisted. “He stirs up all the people by his teaching.” “He claims to be Messiah, a king.” When Pilate learned that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
Jesus went from an obscure town in the north to the courts of Pilate and the palace of Herod. He went from inspiring the teachers of the Law with his knowledge to deeply offending them with his truth. He was accused falsely by the Jews because of the words he spoke and the deeds he performed. Jesus was calling all people to repent and believe. And yet the nation would reject the Son of God and offer him up to die upon a cross.
Jesus paid it all. His death made atonement for our sins. His sacrifice provided a way for us to finally find freedom. His teaching shone light upon our disobedience and revealed how far we were from God. But it is never popular to tell people they are wrong. It is never popular to point out people’s sins, especially if those people have been told they are the experts.
Jesus was going up against worldly power, and the devil did not want to lose control. The devil thought persecuting and killing Jesus was the key to winning, but he understood God’s plan even less than the Jews. They walked right into God’s plan. Sacrificing Jesus was the point. Who would have guessed that God would lose in order to win, die in order to live, suffer in order to be raised to glory?
No matter what accusations came Jesus’ way, he could not be found guilty of sin. And that was what God intended. Although death took him, it could not keep him, because he knew no sin.
Our Savior today serves as a covering for our sins as well. Although we are sinners, we who trust in Christ are saved from our sin and are able to walk in new life. This is the glorious resurrection of the saints: that those who put their faith in the Lord will never be put to shame.
“O Lord God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for the cross, that I might be raised with you to new life. Thank you for guiding me through every day of this life, that I might find meaning, hope, and significance in you. Come now, Holy Spirit, direct my steps; lead me into the way of everlasting life so I might know you and the joy of your presence. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen