Luke 23: Continuing, our Messiahs Death and Resurrection

Continuing from Luke 22, the stories and events in Luke 23 are also recorded in the other gospels. Even though the stories are the same, there are slight differences. Due to the fact that these continue to address the fundamental circumstances around our faith, we will read every verse.

These passages lead up to the most horrific time in the life of Jesus. So far, we have seen He was betrayed, He was arrested and His disciples left him, with Peter denying knowing Him.

The theme continues to be God’s provision when we are obedient, even when we don’t want to be. It also showcases the Lord Jesus’ silence before His accusers

Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.  And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”  Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”  But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. (Luke 23:1-6 ESV)

We see the Lord’s behavior when He was falsely accused: he was quiet. For example, He did not forbid paying tribute to Caesar. Rather, He said, Luke 20:25 “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. The accusers twisted facts to stir up Pilate to do their bidding. Even though they did so, Pilate did not find guilt in Jesus as per verse 4. Being Governor of Judea which included Jerusalem, Pilate represented the Roman Authority in place.

Even though the Lord did not defend Himself, the Governor still found Him not guilty.

 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.  When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.  So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.  The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.  And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.  And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. (Luke 23:7-12)

When the accusers mentioned that Jesus stirred up the crowds in Galilee, Pilate saw an opportunity to escape their trap. Since Jesus operated in Galilee and was a Galilean, it was suitable that the person put in place by the Romans, Herod Antipas, the client king, tetrarch of Galilee, should decide the matter. Until then, they were enemies. One reason they were enemies was likely because Pilate killed Galileans in Jerusalem, undermining Herod Antipas’ authority over Galilee.

When Jesus, a Galilean, was brought before Pilate, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at the same time. This act of deference to Herod's authority was likely seen as a peace-making gesture, because Pilate had previously usurped Herod Antipas’ authority by killing Galileans.

When He was before Herod Antipas, the Lord Jesus gave no answer to the accusations. There too, the priests accused Him, Herod and his soldiers mocked Him, until Herod sent him back to Pilate and both became friends that day.

Even though the Lord did not defend Himself, here, the Tetrarch also did not find Him guilty.

From verse 1 to 12 so far, It is noticeable that the Lord Jesus did not defend Himself. Fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7

As a lamb led to slaughter, the Lord did not defend Himself. He knows what it is to be wrongly accused. So, trust in Him.

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,  and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. (Luke 23:13-19 ESV)

Now Pilate gave an account to the accusers, that he found Jesus not guilty of any charges (verse 14); therefore, not deserving death. Yet, to satisfy them, he decided to punish Jesus by flogging. The Gospel of Luke is the only account from the four gospels that does not detail Jesus’ flogging. The focus here is on Jesus’ innocence, contrasting with Pilate’s intent to punish Him even though He was innocent, because He had and He has no sin.

Instead of the guilt-free Man, the accusers preferred a notorious wrongdoer who was in prison for having specifically stirred a mob, the very accusation they had against Jesus, which was false. Barabas was also thrown into prison for murder. Yet, there was no one to testify that Jesus was a murderer.

Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. (Luke 23:20-25)

Now, it was clear that Pilate wanted to release Jesus. Even though they replied that he should crucify Jesus, he said a third time that he found no guilt in the Lord Jesus. They now escalated their behaviour. We read in verse 5 that they were urgent. That Greek word (episýchon) meant in verse 5 that they were persistent with verbal pressure. Now in verse 23, the word is still translated by urgent, but it is not the same Greek word. This new Greek word (epekeinto) is translated by overwhelming, crowd-driven pressure. The language intensifies, showing that Pilate was being morally crushed by the escalating urgency. Verse 23 said that their collective, pressing and urgent voices prevailed. So, the Governor decided that their demand should be granted. Pilate gave them the Innocent to be crucified even though He was without sin.

We could see the contrast between human urgency and divine silence. The Lord Jesus did not give into pressure to change the plan. He remained obedient to His Father, even though there was pressure all around, knowing that they were claiming His life. He remained focused on God’s plan that was necessary to save humanity.