The Lord Jesus in His innocence was condemned so that we would be free.
TEXT: MATT. 26:14-16, 20-25, John 18:12-14, 19-24
INTRODUCTION:
A very experience in life is betrayal by someone close to you. Instead of protecting your interest, he/she tries to destroy you by “stabbing you in the back”. To betray means to violate the confidence and trust of someone and reveal secrets that could endanger the person. This is what our Lord Jesus Christ experienced when one of His disciples betrayed Him and handed Him over to the Jewish leaders for trial, who condemned and crucified Him. All that happened during this betrayal and trials is the focus of this study.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
- T o appreciate the circumstances of the betrayal of the Lord Jesus and
- To understand the different stages of His trials.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1A) WHO BETRAYED THE LORD JESUS AND WHAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOTH OF THEM?
JOHN 13:18, MARK 14:10, MATT. 26:14-16, 20-23, MARK 14:43-49, PSALM 41:9
“Then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot went unto the Chief priest…” Matt. 26:14. It was one of the twelve disciples Judas Iscariot, that betrayed Jesus. The Lord Jesus declared to the disciples that He know those He had chosen, but to fulfill the Scripture, one of them was going to betray Him. It meant that the Lord Jesus was not ignorant of the fact that among those He had chosen one of them would betray Him, yet He kept him as His disciple and all the while never revealed it. The Lord Jesus even told them that, it is the person that would dip his hand with Him in the dish that will betray Him. Jesus did not embarrass him or call him names. The relationship between Judas Iscariot and Jesus was cordial. The Lord Jesus knew by divine knowledge (John 13:11) that Judas will betray Him in the future because of his unbelief and greed. There is no record of the Lord Jesus side lining Judas Iscariot; he was even the treasurer among the twelve. This is a challenge to believers especially those in leadership positions, on how we relate with brethren who do not share the same opinion with us on certain issues. The Jewish leaders have been looking for some way to get rid of Jesus but they were afraid of the people (Luke 22:1-2) and could not arrest him publicly until they found an insider who went into negotiations with them and sought for opportunity to betray Him in the absence of the multitude (Luke 22:4-6).
It was for 30 pieces of silver (Matt. 26:15) that Judas Iscariot sold the lord Jesus to the chief priests, the price of a slave (Ex. 21:32).
QUESTION 1B) WHAT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED TO THE PERSON THAT BETRAYED THE LORD JESUS?
MATT. 27:3-5
When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest and the elders. Realizing his sin that he had betrayed an innocent blood, he cast down/threw the pieces of silver in the temple, left, and went to hang himself.
QUESTION 2) IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS WAYS PEOPLE BETRAY OTHERS TODAY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. PS. 41:9
The various ways people betray others today are numerous. Generally, it is not a stranger that betrays someone; it is usually an individual who has some level of familiarity with the person. An element that must be present before the issue could ever occur is relationship and trust. According to Ps. 55:12-15, David said that, if it was a stranger that betrayed him, it will not pain him, but a member of his household, his bosom friend, someone with whom he has had things in common.
Most times, betrayal is as a result of envy/jealousy which can destroy friendship and breeds discord where there was love and unity.
Some ways in which it occurs include a husband cheating on a faithful wife, children taking undue advantage of their parents’ trust in them; for example, parents gave them documents of their assets to keep (land or treasury bills), and the children turn around to sell/dispose of such properties without due parental consent. Parents betray children when they sell them to slavery, prostitution. Some trusted house helps, caregivers, relatives, Pastors, teachers have abused the children/persons kept under their care sexually, physically, and emotionally. Some pastors have also betrayed their members by revealing personal secrets and misappropriation of church funds. When we disclose personal information of a believer who has confided in us, it is betrayal. Power tussle in the church or fight for recognition and position has made some to betray fellow believer. The list is unending. The truth remains that betrayal did not start or end with Judas Iscariot but some of us in like manner still betray the Lord Jesus Christ on a daily basis. We must examine ourselves.
The consequences of betrayal include sadness, destruction of relationships and confidences, depression, broken homes and relationship, termination of appointment, suicide, and death.
QUESTION 3) WHAT EVENTS TOOK PLACE AFTER THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS?
After the betrayal, the trial commenced, and went through different stages and before different persons.
i) Appearance before Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-24).
At the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested, after the betrayal he was first taken before Annas who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year.
ii) Trials before Caiaphas (Matt. 26:57-58),
Jesus was led before Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. It was at this place that Peter followed from afar, where he sat with the guards to see the end but eventually denied Jesus as prophesied. It was at this trial that the chief priest and elders and all the council sought false witness against Jesus to put Him to death , but found none, until two witnesses rose up against Him. Jesus was confronted that He said, He will destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. In reply, Jesus did not only say yes, but went further to tell them how they will see Him sitted at the right hand of God.
This answer was considered a blasphemy, which attracted death penalty and was a religious charge against Him. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one died for the people.
iii) The trial before the council. (Luke 22:66-71).
This trial was just after Peter denied Jesus thrice; they mocked Jesus and called Him different names. Then the Chief Priest and the scribes led Him away before the Council (which is also referred to as Sanhedrin), which was the Jewish court presided over by Caiaphas. Jesus was asked if He was the Christ, and He replied that, if He told them they will not believe. They further asked Him if He was the son of God and He replied saying “you say that I am”. At this, they said that there was no need for any other testimony against Him.
iv) Trial before Pilate (Luke 23:1-5)
From the council the Lord Jesus was led to Pilate because the Jewish leaders did not have the authority to kill Him. Before Pilate the multitude accused Him falsely that He stirred up the people all over Judea by His teaching. The crowd testified that Jesus misled the nation, opposed payment of taxes to the Roman Empire and claimed that He is the king. They forgot that Jesus in one of His teachings actually advocated paying of taxes when He said “give uno Caesar”, (Mark 12:17). Unfortunately, for the multitude and to their disappointment, after all the accusation and an attempt to even confirm same from Jesus, Pilate’s observation was that He found no fault in Jesus because He did not commit any civil offence against the Roman law.
v) Trial before Herod (Luke 23:6-12).
When Pilate realized that Jesus was from Galilee, in the jurisdiction of Herod (a higher authority), Pilate sent Jesus to Herod who was incidentally in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very excited to see Jesus because he had heard much about Him and had been longing to see Him. Herod was expecting to see some miracle done by Jesus. Herod asked Him many questions to which Jesus did not answer. The Chief Priest and the scribes vehemently accused Jesus while Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus, and treated Him with contempt, after putting an elegant robe on Jesus. Herod sent Him back to Pilate; this act reconciled Herod and Pilate, who were not in a good terms at that time (Luke 23:12).
vi) Final trial before Pilate (Luke 23:13-25).
Pilate re-affirmed his earlier observation of finding no fault in Jesus like Herod, as He did not commit anything deserving death as punishment. Pilate was then willing and ready to punish Jesus and release Him since one prisoner must be released during the feast, but the multitude chose Barabbas, a man imprisoned for raising a riot and for murder. Pilate appealed to the crowd but they all shouted “crucify him” and they prevailed on him. It was at this insistence by the people that Pilate released Jesus to them for death sentence through crucifixion.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
The tragedy of this world is that men prefer falsehood, darkness, and evil rather than truth, light, and righteousness. The crowd demanded for the release of the notorious Barabbas and the crucifixion of the innocent Jesus. What an irony! Jesus has paid the supreme price; the believer must not allow all Jesus went through to be of no effect in his/her life. We must not like Judas betray Jesus in our conduct. The Christian must do justice and daily seek opportunity to testify for Jesus. May we not abuse the confidence reposed on us, may we not like Judas Iscariot betray others and may we not fall prey to betrayals. Amen.
MEMORY VERSE
ISAIAH 53:5
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
MONDAY: TESTIMONY OF JESUS’ INNOCENCE.
Jn 18:38, 19:4,6
TUESDAY: TESTIMONY OF JESUS’ INNOCENCE. Matt. 27:3-4, 19
WEDNESDAY: TESTIMONY OF JESUS’ INNOCENCE. Lk 23:15, 41,47
THURSDAY: PROPHECY FULFILLED AT THE TRIALS. Isa. 53:5-7
FRIDAY: MEDITATE ON ISA. 53:3-5
SATURDAY: HE WAS LIFTED UP FOR OUR SALVATION. Jn. 3:14-15