Condemned to Death

September 28, 2021

Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again" (Matthew 20:18-19).

Israel was a conquered nation under the rule of the Roman Empire. As subjects of Rome the Jews had to honor Roman law when it came to political and judicial matters. Their religious laws remained unmolested by Rome. They could condemn a person who violated Jewish law, but they could not execute a person without Roman permission. That’s why Jesus said, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death (Jewish law), and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify (Roman law).

The chief priests hated Jesus because of jealousy. (Matthew 27:17-18) Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. The word ‘envy’ is phthonos. It means ‘ill will’ or ‘jealousy’.

Human ego is fickle. “Ego thrives on negativity, without which it ceases to exist. It needs conflict, it needs anger, it needs to complain, it needs to feel important and proud, it needs constant feeding . . . and it is never satisfied. It invades its host like a virus because it is a virus of the psyche and will do anything to survive, rule and conquer. . . . It is and always will be part of who we are as human beings. And if we allow it to overwhelm us, it will” (Vernon Sankey, Oxford University).

The chief priests were jealous of Jesus because He had become more popular than them as a religious man and a spiritual teacher. He drew greater crowds out in the wilderness than they drew in their synagogues. Pilate understood this from his knowledge of the pride and ambition of the elders, and from the fact Jesus was no threat to Rome. Pilate was, therefore, bound to release Jesus. In fact, he wanted to release Jesus because he found no fault in Him (Luke 23:4;14; John 18:38; 19:4,6).

As the governor and judge of Jerusalem, Pilate was responsible to protect the innocent, despite the opposition of the Jews. But the Scriptures could not have been fulfilled. It was necessary, therefore, that atonement for sin should be made and Jesus should be condemned to die. At the same time it demonstrates the overruling providence of God that Jesus was condemned by one who believed Him innocent, and who declared it before the elders.

“Father, the wonder of Your plans and providence are beyond our comprehension. It is a wonder that the plans of men should coincide with Your plans, yet without understanding Your plans and purposes. Thank You for the greatness of Your sovereign authority over all creation that we can be saved in spite of ourselves. Amen” 

Pastor

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