Luke 23:13

Luke 23:13 says, And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,  Verse fourteen adds, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:  After Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate to be judged, Pilate called the chief priests and religious leaders of the people of Israel to Him.  Pilate said they had already brought Jesus before him, and he did not find Jesus guilty of anything they were accusing Him of.  Still, Pilate really didn't say that Jesus wast totally innocent.  In order to be saved, we must acknowledge that Jesus Himself was innocent of any sin, but died for ours.  Verse fifteen continues, No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.  Pilate said that Herod likewise said Jesus was guilty of nothing deserving death.  No matter how many authorities examine the life of Jesus, they will never find any sin in His life.  Verse sixteen states, I will therefore chastise him, and release him.  Pilate did the say that he would chastise Jesus, though he had found no fault with Him, and then release Him.  There are still people today who attempt to discredit Jesus, even when they find no fault with Him.  Verse seventeen adds, (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)  Pilate was going to release Jesus as the person who was released for the Feast of the Passover, even if they were guilty.  Jesus should have been released simply because He was innocent, but Pilate was attempting to get around simply releasing Him because He was, because those who brought Him there wanted Him dead.  We cannot work around deciding Who Jesus is.  We either declare Him to be innocent, or we declare Him worthy of death.  Verse eighteen declares, And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:  The religious leaders and those there with them cried out for Jesus to be killed and for Barabbas, a very bad man who was offered as a choice to be released instead of Jesus, to be released.  People today still choose to put others, sometimes even bad people, ahead of choosing Jesus.  Verse nineteen adds, (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)  Barabbas was actually guilty of sedition and murder as well, but the Jewish religious leaders still chose to have him set free instead of Jesus.  Verse twenty says, Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.  Pilate still wanted to release Jesus, so he spoke to the people who were demanding His death once again.  Pilate was the authority and did not need the permission of anyone to set Jesus free, in whom Pilate had said he found no fault in.  We can never sidestep the decision about Who Jesus is.  Verse twenty-one declares, But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.  The people still cried out for Jesus to be crucified.  Verse twenty-two adds, And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.  For the third time, Pilate said he could find no cause to put Jesus to death, so he would chastise Him and set Him free.  This was still not what he should have done.  Pilate was trying to please the religious leaders, but he should have taken responsibility and done what he knew was right.  By ignoring his responsibility, Pilate was just as guilty as those crying for Jesus to be crucified.  We can either accept Jesus or give in to the world, but everyone will make the decision one way or another.  Verse twenty-three states, And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.  The people continued to cry out for Jesus to be crucified, and the people and the chief priests prevailed.  No matter how loudly people may cry out against Jesus, He will always be innocent, and we certainly don't need religious leaders who claim to be Christians attempting to discredit anything that Jesus teaches us.  Verse twenty-four adds, And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.  Pilate gave in to the crowd and said it should be as they required.  He was willing to send an innocent Man, Jesus, to the cross simply to appease the religious leaders and the crowd.  Anytime someone rejects Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord, they are in effect wanting to send Him to the cross to stay.  Verse twenty-five continues, And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.  Pilate released Barabbas, a guilty man, and turned Jesus over to the will of the people.  If anyone is to be saved, he or she must accept Jesus above any other person or any other thing in this world. 

Luke 23:6

Luke 23:6 says,When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.  Pilate's only response was to ask whether Jesus was a Galilaean.  They could answer this question without lying, but it had nothing to do with what they were accusing Jesus of.  We can mix truth in with lies today, but it still doesn't make the lie to be true.  Verse seven adds, And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.  When Pilate realized that Jesus fell under the jurisdiction of Herod, instead of setting Jesus free since he had found no fault with Him, Pilate passed the buck as we would say today.  Pilate sent Jesus to Herod to be judged.  There are still people today who pass the buck on deciding about Who Jesus is.  Verse eight states, And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.  Herod was delighted to see Jesus, because he had heard a lot about Him and wanted to see Him perform a miracle.  This is also the reason many people desire to meet Jesus today, and that is to see what He can do for them materially or physically.  Verse nine adds, Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.  Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not answer Him.  Jesus does not perform at our command to entertain us.  He calls us to salvation, but He does not perform miracles to amuse us or to convince us of Who He is.  Verse ten says, And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.  Jesus may not have answered Herod, but the chief priests and scribes angrily accused Him with false accusations.  People continue to attempt to discredit Jesus with false accusations about Who He is or what His word says, but hopefully it isn't those who call themselves Christians who do so.  Verse eleven adds, And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.  Herod and his men of war mocked Jesus and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate, who had already said he found no fault with Him.  When Jesus does not perform as people expect Him to today, they often send Him away, mocking Him while they do so.  Verse twelve continues, And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.  Pilate and Herod, who had been enemies, became friends as they dealt with judging Jesus.  There are still many people today who would normally be or had been enemies who are united in trying to discredit Jesus. 

Luke 23:1

Luke 23:1 says, And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.  Many of the same people who had welcomed Jesus as King now led Him to Pilate like a criminal.  They were most likely just followin g the crowd in both cases.  This still happens too often today.  Verse two adds, And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.  They then lied about what Jesus had been saying, making it seem like He was attempting to overthrow Pilate.  The only way anyone can discredit Jesus is through lies.  Verse three states, And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.  Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews, and Jesus said that was what Pilate was saying.  Pilate had to make up his mind about Who Jesus was, and so does everyone at some point in life.  Jesus knew Who He was, so it was up to Pilate whether he would acknowledge it or not, and He still knows Who He is today, and it is up to us whether we acknowledge it or not.  Verse four adds, Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.  Pilate told the chief priests and the people that he could find no fault with this man Jesus, and no one ever will.  Verse  five says, And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.  The people were even more determined to find some fault with Jesus, saying He was teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning in Galilee.  This was true, but their implication was that Jesus was teaching something against Pilate without really saying so.  People often attempt to say that Jesus said things that He did not say.  

Luke 22:47

Luke 22:47 says, And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.  While Jesus was asking the disciples why they were sleeping instead of praying, Judas was busy getting ready to betray Him.  Even if we are not praying and doing what God has called us to do, we certainly don't need to betray Him.  Yet, anytime we fail to follow Jesus by faith and do what He has called us to do, are we not in effect betraying Him?  Verse forty-eight adds, But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?  Jesus asked Judas if he would betray the Son on man, Jesus Himself, with a kiss, a sign of devotion.  It is not enough for us to go through the motions of being intimately close to Jesus if we are just doing so while betraying Him by our thoughts.  Verse forty-nine states, When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?  When the other disciples saw what was happening, they asked Jesus if they should smite those there to arrest Him with the sword.  They were unable to stay awake while Jesus was praying, but now they were ready to physically defend Him.  If we are not spiritually in tune with God, we may take bold actions that we claim are for God, but they may not be what He wants us to do.  Verse fifty adds, And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.  From another gospel account, we know that it was Peter who cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.  Peter was always ready to take bold actions while he thought Jesus was setting up an earthly kingdom.  Some Christians today seem more ready to defend earthly institutions than they are to pray and share God's word.  Verse fifty-one declares, And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.  Jesus told the disciples to quit fighting, and He restored the ear to the servant who had lost it.  We can never advance God's kingdom by the use of force, but can only do so by obediently obeying God's will for our life, and we certainly don't need to stop others from doing what God wants them to do, as the disciples were attempting to do in this case.  Verse fifty-two adds, Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?  Jesus asked the chief priests why they came as thieves in the night with swords to arrest Him.  Had Jesus not been willing to go with them, they would not have been able to force Him, no matter how many there were of them, nor how well they were armed.  Jesus was not forced to go to the cross, but He went because it was the only way to salvation.  Verse fifty-three continues,  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.  Jesus said that when He was in the temple that these religious leaders would have been able to arrest Him at any time, but they instead chose to come like a thief in the night to do so.  Jesus is not hidden away today, but can be found at anytime if we only seek Him.

Luke 22:63

Luke 22:63 says, And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.  The men who held Jesus thought they were in charge, so they mocked and beat Him.  Many people today believe they are in charge in their life, so they mock Jesus.  No matter how powerful we may feel, we will never be more powerful than Jesus.  Verse sixty-four adds, And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?  After blindfolding Jesus, they hit Him in the face, then told Him to tell by prophesy who had struck Him.  What they didn't realize was that He could have told them, blindfold or no blindfold.  Jesus can always see into our heart.  Verse sixty-five continues, And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.  Blasphemously speaking against Jesus was all they could do, and it is still all anyone can do today if they refuse to accept Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse sixty-six states,And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,  As soon as it was day, the chief priests and scribes got together and led Jesus into their council.  They acted early, and it definitely was by their council, and not God's.  We will never speak against Jesus Christ by God's counsel, but we often will if we put our council above God's. Verse sixty-seven adds, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:  The chief priests and scribes asked Jesus if He was the Christ, and He said even if He answered them they would not believe Him.  This is ultimately the choice that everyone faces.  The fact that Jesus is the Christ is already established so the question is whether we believe Him or not.  Verse sixty-eight continues, And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.  Jesus said that if He asked these religious leaders who He was, they would not answer Him, nor would they let Him go.  When people have already made up their mind about Who Jesus is, and that He is not the Savior of mankind, they will not listen to Him, no matter what He says.  Verse sixty-nine says, Hereafter shall the Son of man  sit on the right hand of the power of God.  Jesus said soon He would sit on the righthand of the power of God.  Then, they would know Who He truly is.  Verse seventy adds, Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.  The chief priests and scribes then asked Jesus if He was the Son of God,  and He said that this was what they said.  Again, this is a question that every individual must answer for themself.  Verse seventy-one states, And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.  Even though Jesus had not said that He was the Son of God, they said they needed no other witnesses, because they had heard Jesus say this Himself.  Don't be surprised if people attempt to claim that Jesus has said something that He never said.

Luke 22:54

 Luke 22:54 says, Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.  After Jesus was taken by the high priest and scribes, Peter followed Him from afar off.  He was no longer concerned with who was going to be first in Jesus's kingdom.  Some people today are willing to follow Jesus as long as they expect Him to make life physically better for them, but at the first sign of trouble, they move far away from Him.  Verse fifty-five adds, And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.  When the people gathered around a fire away from where Jesus was, Peter joined them.  Sometimes today, we are more concerned about being physically comfortable than we are about following Jesus, even if that puts us in the midst of people who want to have nothing to do with Jesus.  Verse fifty-six states, But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.  There was a certain maid there that looked at Peter as he sat by the fire and said that he had been with Jesus.  It would be wonderful if people could look at us today and know that we have been with Jesus.  Verse fifty-seven adds, And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. Bold and courageous Peter who had declared his undying devotion to Jesus denied ever knowing Him.  Verse fifty-eight says, And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.  A little later someone else said Peter was one of Jesus's disciples, and once again he denied it.  Hopefully, we will never be guilty of doing the same thing.  Verse fifty-nine adds, And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.  Less than an hour later, someone else said that Peter was with Jesus, because he was a Galilaean.  Where we are from will never determine whether we are followers of Christ or not.  Verse sixty continues, And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. For the third time,  For the third time, Peter denied knowing Jesus, and then the cock crowed.  This is what Jesus had said Peter would do, and Peter had said it would never happen.  We can be certain that whatever Jesus says is going to happen will happen, no matter how much we may deny that it will.  Verse sixty-one declares, And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  Jesus turned and looked at Peter, and he remembered that Jesus had said that he would deny Him three times before the cock crowed.  We may sometimes look back and realize that exactly what God has warned us about in our life has come to pass.  Verse sixty-two adds, And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.  When Peter realized what he had done, he wept bitterly.  If we realize that we have failed in our relationship to God as followers of Christ, we should also weep bitterly. 

Luke 22:39

Luke 22:39 says, And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.  Jesus went on His way to the mount of Olives, which was what He normally did, and His disciples followed Him.  Even if we know that we are to face persecution, or even death, we must continue to follow Jesus as we always have as Christians.  Verse forty adds, And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.  When Jesus arrived at the place that He was going, He told the disciples to pray, so that they would not fall into temptation.  This warning still applies to us as followers of Christ today.  Verse forty-one states, And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,  Jesus went about a stone’s throw away from the disciples and knelt down and prayed.  Sometimes, we need to get alone by ourself, kneel down, and pray for God's continued guidance.  Verse forty-two adds, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.  Jesus prayed that if there was any other way for people to have salvation that the Heavenly Father show Him before He went to the cross, but there was no other way.  There still is no other way to salvation than by faith in Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior and Lord.  Verse forty-three continues, And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  While Jesus was praying that if there was another way to let it be shown, an angel appeared to strengthen Him.  If we are faithful to God, He will always give us the spiritual strength to accomplish anything He calls us to do.  Verse forty-four declares, And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  Even though He was in agony, Jesus prayed even more earnestly, and it was as though He were sweating blood.  This was a real struggle for Jesus, and if there were any other way for people to have salvation, He wanted it to be revealed.  Faith in Jesus Christ is still the only way to salvation, and always has and always will be.  Verse forty-five adds, And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,  When Jesus returned to His disciples after His agonizing time of prayer, He found them sleeping.  As God agonizes over the fate of lost people today, He does not need to find us, as followers of Christ, spiritually sleeping.  Verse forty-six adds, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  Jesus asked them why they were sleeping, then told them to rise and pray, lest they should fall into temptation.  We need to be doing the same thing today.  We certainly don't need Jesus to ask us why we are spiritually sleeping when there are so many people who need to hear His word.