Just before sitting down to put together these few words, I happened to see a political commentary where the individual was mocking the other side of the divide in current worldviews as academically deficient – citing some research study to support his contention. But I have also heard the primary voices on the side being castigated in this article speak of the other groups as totally stupid, fully ignorant, and uninformed about American democracy.

There is no shortage of condescension on both sides. When people believe themselves to be correct on a particular idea, it is often natural to support that belief with ridicule and scorn for those who believe otherwise. It feels so affirming.

Understand, we should hold our faith beliefs strongly and with great conviction. After all, there are correct beliefs, with others that are simply errant. One leads to life, the other to death and eternal separation.

At the core of the difference is the way people see themselves. Those who are strongly resourced with the things of this world tend to find their support in those things. Jesus once pictured such a person coming to God as being about as easy as a camel getting through the eye of a needle.

Conversely, the genuine Christian comes from an entirely different starting point. Those who trust in Christ see themselves as weak and lost without the relationship to God that Christ supplies. They recognize their hopeless condition.

On the Via Delarosa, as well as at the cross itself, we see it again repeated that those who trust and believe are most often from the weakest in society. Whereas most of the disciples are in hiding, Luke says that a crowd of people followed Jesus on the way to the crucifixion. Were these mostly sympathetic to Christ, or were they curiosity seekers – following this story that had captured the interest of so many people? Without doubt, however, there were women who expressed their obvious connection to Jesus by “mourning and wailing.”  Simple people … people who knew they were needy.

The words spoken by Jesus to them said that times would get worse before they would get better. The rejection of the Messiah meant a postponement of the kingdom. If the people would not believe when he was with them (green tree), they will certainly not when he is gone (dry tree).

And on the cross, a nearby criminal sees his hopeless condition and calls out to Jesus for salvation.

At the same time, those in power and authority mock Christ openly. They did not see themselves as needy in any way.

Before any of us could be saved, all of us needed to understand that we were lost. We may not have been as close to the social bottom of the barrel as the women, or a sinful criminal of the sort as was on the next cross to Jesus, but spiritually speaking we are totally lost without Christ. And then, being found, we must remain humbly in awe of the great love that came looking for us in our helpless condition. True faith is never proud; it is ever humble.

Luke 23:26 – As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ [Hosea 10:8]

31 “For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The story of the condemnation of Jesus to death is the ultimate example of an inversion of justice. From a simple, legal standpoint, the trials were filled with injustices and breeches of legal protocol. A true criminal insurrectionist is released, while an innocent man is executed.

But the answer to the question of who was responsible for the injustice of Jesus going to the cross has varied facets…

1. There is no doubt that Jewish nation is guilty. This passage more than any other demonstrates the complicity of the masses of the people to deny Jesus as the Messiah.
2. The religious leadership is totally guilty as well. This outcome was their desired goal. They sought to find charges to level against Jesus in order to bring him before the Roman authorities who had the power of capital punishment.
3. The Romans are guilty. Though Rome was known for law and order, there are significant illegalities and injustices in these proceedings.
4. Finally, it was Pilate who gave in to the wishes of the mob, in order to maintain peace for the coming Passover holiday.
5. But the most guilty party is … you and me. It is our sin that necessitated a Savior. And again, understanding this is what leads us to humble worship and endless gratitude for the great grace extended to us.

The trials of Jesus can be a bit confusing. Putting today’s passages within the context of the six total trials of Jesus and the corresponding passages, it looks like this:

Luke 22:63 – 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.

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

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.”

70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You say that I am.”

71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

Luke 23:1 – 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 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.

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 a sign of some sort. 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. 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.

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.”

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

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.”

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 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.

Just today I heard a dialogue upon the current state of justice in America, referencing the investigative and political intrigue that fills our daily news. The commentator made a compelling case that this is a troubling time of upside-down justice – that there is no longer balance, but rather a political state seeking to accomplish their own means through the alleged cover of the justice system. My point in not to render a judgment on this matter, but rather to say how troubling it is to imagine that there may be a time in America where there is not equal justice under the law. Though imperfect, the American system has provided the best historical system of justice the world has ever known. We’ve been blessed. But the prospect of injustice prevailing is troubling to the soul.

Where do you go when justice is running amuck? What can you trust? If you are on the minority side that is opposite of the powers that be, where can you turn for safety? This is an actual reality for many Christians in varied countries around the world that are hostile to the gospel.

And hostility toward Christ and his followers was most specifically playing out in our passage today about Peter’s three denials of knowing Christ. We would like to think that we would not have failed so miserably in the same setting, yet none of us have ever faced such a moment.

Jesus has been arrested and is appearing before Annas, the high priest. We know from John’s gospel that John and Peter were able to follow at a short distance and gain access inside the courtyard. The other disciples are nowhere to be found … remember that when feeling critical of Peter.

The picture we get is of a chilly evening in Jerusalem, in the middle of the night, and there is a group of bystanders who are warming themselves around a fire. And Peter is there, attempting desperately to blend in. A servant girl recognizes Peter as one of Christ’s disciples – her statement apparently with the tone of “You’re not one of the whackos who follow this nut-job Galilean preacher dude, are you?”

He replied, “Woman, I don’t know him,”

A second time an individual begins to recognize that Peter was one of those individuals previously with Jesus. Peter’s cover was cracking.

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

Surely his Galilean accent was giving him away as well.

The third accusation is from a relative of Malchus (known from parallel gospels) – the fellow whose ear had been sliced off his head. Surely the perpetrator of such a deed would be recognized and remembered.

After Peter’s loud protestation of not knowing Jesus, the rooster crows as predicted, and Jesus looked through the crowd and made eye contact at this very moment. Wow!

Peter – what a loser!  Or is he?  Surely not any one of us would have done the same thing in the same situation!  Or would we?  Would we even be there close enough to make a denial?

This was a failure on Peter’s part – without doubt. He had earlier proclaimed he would die for Christ (and ultimately, he would). But recall this – though ill-conceived and foolish, it was Peter who was willing to swing a sword when a cohort of about 60 soldiers and others came to arrest Jesus.

And while the bulk of the disciples were slinking about in the darkness on the other side of the Kidron Valley while Jesus is being put on trial, Peter is risking being nearby. Does close only count in horseshoes and hand grenades?

Would you have been nearby?  Would you have identified yourself with Jesus in this scenario?  How well do you identify with Jesus today in your world and in the places you frequent?  This is a probing question and passage, isn’t it?

Luke 22:54 – Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there 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.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 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.

So you have a major surgery upcoming. A date is set several months in advance. The entire experience is going to be rather unpleasant, you know this. There are various appointments in preparation – blood tests and doctor consultations. You need to make arrangements to be off work, also scheduling post-op therapy sessions. Try as you might to put the inevitable date out of mind, you find yourself thinking about it multiple times a day. Your mind goes into a sort of countdown mode … “it’ll be six weeks from today at this time that I’ll be under the knife.”

But imagine the thoughts that must have gone through the mind of Jesus, anticipating the cross … anticipating also the price of bearing all the sins of mankind over all the years. He had an internal clock. It was what kept him on his path over the three years of ministry. It was an appointment to keep. Jesus returned to Judea and Bethany at a time when the authorities were known to be intent upon his execution. But he continued onward toward the cross.

The time had now come. The hour was at hand. Those who were to lead him to his appointment on the cross were now trudging toward him from the darkness beyond. Bolstered by prayer and the presence of an angel, still the sweat drops were as blood. Being fully cognizant of the entire situation, why wouldn’t they be?

This is love beyond anything we have ever seen or imagined. There is no greater love.

All of this is the plan of God. There is no making sense of it by any human reasoning: the injustice of the innocent dying for the guilty!

Even as it is unfolding, Jesus has a heart of care and compassion for the disciples. He even heals the ear of one who was stricken in a moment of rage by one of the twelve. Christ is always looking away from self to others. That is what the entire story is about – the innocent one who is willingly dying for all the guilty.

May it be that we never read this passage with anything but wonderment at the great love directed toward us. That is our first and foremost devotional application … today, and every day.

Luke 22:39 – 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.”

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?”

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.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

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.”

We have spoken and written much in this series about the incredible resistance demonstrated by the religious leadership in Israel to believe in Jesus as the Christ. Even in the face of undeniable miracles, they were unaffected.

Yet even more startling than this is the unbelief of Judas. Here was a man who witnessed everything, not just in public, but also of the private ministry of Jesus. He truly saw it all, but in the end he was likewise unaffected in terms of faith and commitment.

This would appear to be also impossible. Yet it was true. Surely he was a self-centered person who would not yield control of his heart and life. We might speculate that many elements of the ministry of Jesus were attractive to him, though perhaps he had political hopes of a Roman overthrow. And when seeing that Jesus was about spiritual ministry and renewal rather than being focused upon material world priorities, Judas may have become disenchanted.

Though it was never a surprise to Jesus that one of them was not truly “on the team” and would ultimately be a betrayer, the picture we see of the whole group would seem to indicate that the other 11 did not see this coming. When Jesus said that one of them would turn against him, it is not as if all eyes looked at Judas. It would be interesting to know which of the other 11 was paired with him when they were sent out two by two.

Another curiosity centers around why Jesus would select and have such a duplicitous person among the inner circle. We cannot know for certain. It does demonstrate the magnanimous grace of the universal reach of the message of Christ. For Judas … for any … who do not choose to believe, it is not because there is a lack of love or opportunity to believe and follow wholeheartedly. It has rather to do with the dark grip of sin upon their own lives.

A great sadness that I have felt in pastoral ministry is to have seen more than a few who appeared to possess faith and commitment choose to at some point walk the other way … to even deny the truth. I do not believe this means that they genuinely had a faith that they chose to deny, but that they rather never truly possessed it in the first place. People have the ability to play the role of a follower of Christ, even for an extended time. However, the day comes when perseverance wears out and the true nature of the heart is revealed. And in that it happened even amongst the disciples should make it as no surprise that rejection of faith can occur in our day and among people we knew and even served alongside.

Luke 1:1 – Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.