THE RELIGIOUS TRIALS OF JESUS

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The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" And they said many other insulting things to him. 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. "If you are the Messiah," they said, "tell us."

SJesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You say that I am." Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."

There were six different trials Jesus faced. The first three were in a religious court and the second three were in a Roman court. In the Jewish court Jesus was tried before Annas, the former high priest, then the current high priest, Caiaphas and finally here in this passage He is tried before the Sanhedrin. The primary charge in the religious court was blasphemy, claiming to be the Son of God, the Messiah.

As we come to the final trial within the Jewish court of the Sanhedrin-the supreme court for the Jews. All of the religious trials were riddled with illegalities. I want to list out a few:

FIRST-If a man was arrested for a capital crime, he could never be arrested at night. It had to be in broad daylight. Jesus' arrest took place between 1 and 2 o'clock at night.

SECOND-If a man was arrested for a capital crime, no one cooperating in the arrest could be in any way connected to the one who is accused. No arrest for a capital crime could be made based upon information given by a follower or colleague of the accused. Because they felt if the accused was guilty, so were his followers. But the entire plot revolved around Judas, one of the followers. This law was blatantly and openly ignored.

THIRD-No Jewish trial could ever be held at night. The law stated that it must be held in the daytime. Listen to the code, which is taken from the Talmud: "The members of the court may not alertly and intelligently hear the testimony against the accused during the hours of darkness." But, if you check the record, both before Annas and before Caiaphas, these trials were held in darkness.

FOURTH-The members of the Jewish court, after hearing the testimony of true witnesses (none of which were ever brought before Jesus) in a capital crime, could not immediately act and judge. They were to go home and remain alone and separate from one another for two days (at the least, one full day), thinking about the testimonies they had heard. During that time, here's what they were to do. They didn't do that. They never left the presence of Caiaphas!

FIFTH-Even the method of voting was specified. They never took an "all in favor say I, all opposed say no" kind of vote. Their vote was supposed to be taken from the youngest to the oldest so that the youngest wouldn't be intimidated or influenced by the older votes. This never happened.

SIXTH-No trial could be held before only one judge, and never without a defense attorney. All of that was overlooked and ignored. Even though they were people of the book, they didn't follow their own rules.

According to the Gregorian calendar, the arrest and trials of Jesus took place on April 6th, 32AD, during a nine hour period. The Jews put together a plan that was illegal, fallacious, unfair, and unwarranted. No man was ever more innocent, and no man ever stood before six more illegal and unfair trials than Jesus.

Why were all of these illegalities committed? It simply goes back to Jesus in His revolutionary ways works with the heart. Jesus goes to the heart of the matter. His revolution makes everyone feel a little uncomfortable, because it threatens the prideful stance and position of so many-especially the leadership. The spiritual revolution of Jesus is all about turning you inside out and turning your world upside down. If you are not willing for Him to work on your heart, then you must do anything you can to destroy His work in your life-even if it means to destroy Him. Give it up and let Jesus do His surgery on you.

THE JESUS FACTOR-Study Notes #10

MATTHEW 6:19-33

I. The Photograph of Kingdom Righteousness (5:1-16)
a. 8 qualities that move to a different beat altogether
b. 2 roles—salt (being) and light (doing)

II. The Precepts of Kingdom Righteousness (5:17-48)
a. KR requires that your righteousness surpasses all
b. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fill it full

III. The Practices of Kingdom Righteousness
⇒THE PRINCIPLE OF PRIVATE FOCUS…

After an understanding that Kingdom Righteousness includes the principle of private focus—some things are only to the Lord alone, we now come to what Jesus says is the priority of Kingdom Righteousness—your stuff and how you handle it.

There are many nerves in the human body, but none so sensitive as the nerve that goes from the brain to the checkbook. We go to school to learn about how to make money and build up our treasures. We spend 40-60 hours per week earning it. Countless thoughts are spent on planning how to handle it best. We spend hours in shopping malls and online in order to spend it. We dream and scheme to find ways to acquire more of it. We argue over it. Despair over losing it has led to suicide and an array of self-destructive actions. Greed continues to be a leading factor in crime. And, the absence of money leads to despair and depression.

This is why money and wealth occupy most of Jesus’ teachings—2 out of 3 parables—and over 2000 verses in the Bible make reference to it. It’s on our minds more than most anything else.

There are also lots of wealthy characters in the Scriptures—Abraham, Isaac, Solomon, Sheba and Job. The women of who were followers of Jesus did much of the underwriting of Jesus’ ministry. Women like Phoebe served in leadership within local assemblies. And, one of the most celebrated of Jesus’ parables—the parable of the talents—demonstrates that the Lord loves the practice of investment what you have.

What is Jesus saying about money and wealth in Luke 16?
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Luke 16:10-13




I see Jesus making a strong statement regarding a spiritual connection between how you handle your money and how you handle your spiritual wealth. If you are trustworthy in handling worldly wealth—money, then you prove yourself trustworthy enough to be entrusted with God’s true riches—spiritual riches. Given this as a spiritual truth, then the discussion of money and wealth is most important.

There is a challenging statement that I have enjoyed over the years: An unexamined life is not worth living. Without personal examination it’s too easy to be overcome by one of the following:

1. Insecurity—too many followers of Jesus talk about standing on the rock of ages, but their actions speak about clinging to a piece of driftwood.

2. Inaction—too many followers of Jesus are into hot-tub mentality rather
than a weight room for action.

3. Incomplete—too many followers of Jesus make Jesus Lord in general while they are lord of the specifics.

4. Ineffective—followers of Jesus are everywhere, but are not what they should be where they are.

Which of these has been your greatest struggle?







IV. The Priority of Kingdom Righteousness

Jesus first contrasts two treasures and two masters:

TWO TREASURES
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
How would you define and/or describe the two treasures? And, how does each treasure translate into your personal life?

1. Treasures on earth…
⇒Definition:



⇒Translation:



2. Treasures in heaven…
⇒Definition:



⇒Translation:



Jesus continues...

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


What you treasure leads the way to your heart. Your treasure is what you value most. And, what you value most becomes your passion. Eventually, this treasure becomes your god.


Then Jesus presents an interesting visual...

22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

What does Jesus mean here about the eye?






It seems to me that the eye is illustrating your life’s focus. It’s the lamp of the body. When it is focused on the right thing—Kingdom Righteousness, you are considered healthy. This healthy focus produces inner health to the body as well. When you are properly focused, you experience a physical and psychological fullness throughout your entire being. This special focus on Kingdom Righteousness is all about heavenly treasures.

On the contrary, when your eye is focused on earthly treasures away from Kingdom Righteousness, your entire physical and psychological being is filled with darkness.

TWO MASTERS
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Jesus continues His contrast between earthly and heavenly treasures. As He continues, Jesus makes it even more serious than the focus of your eye. Focusing on earthly treasures (away from Kingdom Righteousness) is actually becoming a servant of money and wealth as your god. Focusing on heavenly treasures (everything to do with Kingdom Righteousness) is actually becoming a servant of God.

What do you think Jesus means when He says, “You cannot serve both God and Money?”






This statement takes us back to the Ten Commandments where God says: “You shall not have other gods before Me.” There are three possible meanings to the phrase “before Me”:

1. INSTEAD OF ME—This is making anything a substitute for God. It’s like taking on a counterfeit.
2. IN ADDITION TO ME—This a smothering of God with all of your others gods. It’s a practice of convenience.
3. IN FRONT OF ME—This is more of a snubbing of God—right in His face. It’s like taking a 2nd wife while still married to the 1st—a covenant breaker.

Which of these is the greatest personal struggle for you?








You see, God wants to be your God...
1. ENTIRELY—No substitute allowed.
2. EXPLICITLY—No snubbing allowed.
3. EXCLUSIVELY—No smothering of Him with other gods.

Anything less, you not only risk something, you risk everything!


NEXT, Jesus gives some practical application of His teachings about two treasures and two masters. This is why He says THEREFORE...

FIRST—STOP WORRYING ABOUT EARTHLY TREASURES
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

What is your relationship with worry?





Jesus gives some great logic about the futility of worrying. NOTE how He outlines worry into two areas...

1. Don’t worry about your LIFE (Eating & Drinking)
a. Look at the birds...
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
b. Worry is useless...(going in circles—preoccupation)
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?


2. Don’t worry about your BODY (clothing)
a. Observe the lilies...
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
b. Worry is faithless…(thoughts controlled by something else)
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Since you can’t handle your life better than God can, then why not let Him. Replace your wasted effort of worrying earthly treasures with seeking His Kingdom Righteousness of heavenly treasures.

SECOND—SEEK HIS KINGDOM OF HEAVENLY TREASURES
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In light of what Jesus is teaching what does this mean to you today?

The principle of primary focus means a single-mindedness
toward God which requires that you
stop your worry
& seek His Kingdom Righteousness...
and, He’ll give you His full, undivided attention.

3 PRACTICAL STEPS for your consideration:
#1—Release your earthly treasures.

#2—Refocus on your heavenly treasures.
Only one life, twill soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

What are you doing that will count forever?


#3—Relax...rest in God’s hands.
I hold on to these three truths in order to relax:
God is interested.

God is interested in me and mine.

God is more interested in me and mine than I am.

PETER DENIES JESUS

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Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.

A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."

Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 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." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Jesus has just been arrested by temple troops in the Garden of Gethsemane and his disciples have fled for their lives. Peter has just had a traumatic experience attempting to chop a man’s head off, missed and sliced off his ear, only to have Jesus heal the ear completely. It is a real night of terror for Jesus and His disciples in Jerusalem.

The temple troops took Jesus over to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The high priest was usually selected from among the Sadducees, however the selection process may have been actually performed by Herod at this time. So, he was Herod’s appointment.

Peter went along with the soldiers and tried to blend in with the little crowd of curious people. This in itself is quite courageous. He had followed Jesus for over 3 years and he was sticking with him, even at a distance. He’s got to be scared personally for what might happen to him, too.

Fear overcame him as he was discovered by the servant girl and he quickly denied being one of Jesus’ band of men. Later he was recognized by another person and Peter again blurts out that he is not one of Jesus’ people. Finally, about an hour or so later as it was turning closer to morning Peter was recognized as a Galilean which he quickly turned into the third denial. And, just as he denies Jesus for the third time, the rooster crows and Jesus is able to see Peter, looking straight at him.

Talk about “I told you so!”; this had to be most debilitating to Peter. This is the Peter who claimed he was willing to go to prison or death for Jesus. This is why Peter quietly leaves the compound weeping bitterly. He is overwhelmed with guilt and shame.

Have you ever caught yourself in this kind of situation? Have you ever denied that you are a follower of Jesus either by your words or your actions? The lessons here are many and here are a few:

FIRST—Don’t ever think you are above being a coward when it comes to identifying yourself with Jesus. This is why we must humbly follow after Him and humbly deal with one another.

SECOND—Prayer does matter in preparing our hearts for difficult times. Peter had just left a night of a little praying and a lot of nodding off.

THIRD—Fear and faith can’t coexist easily. It’s too easy to give into our fears. I like the saying, “When fear knocks, I must send faith over to answer the door.”

FOURTH—Jesus is always looking. This use to scare me to death, when I was sure that Jesus was mad at me. Now, I understand that His look, though sometimes disappointed in me, is still filled with unconditional love, concern and forgiveness for me. More than anything else Jesus wants me to “get it” and “get through it.”

ABOVE ALL I think this scene in Peter’s life is indicative of our own lives as we move in and out of highly stressful and fearful moments. The most devastating thing of all is the look on Jesus’ face when I screw up. When my parents gave me that disappointed look, that was worse than any spanking or grounding ever. I never wanted to disappoint them. And when I did, that’s what hurt me the most. It’s the same way with our relationship with Jesus. We don’t want to disappoint Him, but we do. But OH THAT LOOK ON HIS FACE.

I am comforted by a passage in II Timothy that says, “And when we are faithless and deny Him, He remains faithful.” Now that’s why Jesus is worthy of our faith and trust and worship. HE REMAINS FAITHFUL!

JESUS BETRAYED AND ARRESTED

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Right away after the field trip on prayer, Jesus is encountered in the garden, betrayed by Judas and arrested.

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, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. 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? 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."

Well, Judas leads the way, signaling the officials of Jesus’ identity and sealing it with a kiss. NOTE who didn’t make the prayer meeting with Jesus and the other disciples there on the Mount of Olives.

When the disciples saw the impending conflict, they asked Jesus if this was the time to use their swords. And, while they were asking this of Jesus, one of them pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Can you guess who the impetuous disciple was? If you guessed Peter, you are right. John is the only gospel that identifies him. This is characteristic of Peter’s personality of shooting first and asking questions later.

NOTE Jesus stops the violence and supernaturally puts the ear back on the victim’s head. He healed him right there in front of all to see. I love it that right in the midst of being arrested Jesus pulls off an incredible, almost matter of fact, miracle.

ONE MORE THING: Jesus said to these official leaders, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?” You see, in the same way that the disciples saw Jesus as a political revolutionary these officials viewed Jesus as a powerful, political threat as well.

They were all missing the point. In fact, I believe most miss the point today. Jesus is not a powerful, political revolutionary out to overthrow any community, society or government. He is a revolutionary alright, but that revolution is transformational in nature—turning a person’s heart inside out and turning his world upside down. This revolution has nothing to do with conservative versus liberal or democrat versus republican or Christian versus non-Christian. It has everything to do with supernaturally changing the hearts of men and women—anywhere the message of Jesus and the Kingdom are exposed.

This revolution is experiencing incredible growth world-wide. Nothing can stop it. Once that seed of the good news of the Kingdom has been sown, you never know where it will take root and grow into a fully fruitful plant. The revolution doesn’t need flashing billboards. It doesn’t need a Madison Avenue kind of marketing strategy. In fact, the revolution doesn’t need any massive promotional strategy at all. The revolution that Jesus is talking about spreads one by one and two by two. The revolution doesn’t require any money or fund-raising programs; it’s a free, word of mouth campaign that cannot be stopped. The revolution of Jesus and His Kingdom cannot be easily defined or put into a nice little box for convenience. It’s gloriously out of control in every culture on planet earth. The most exciting thing I can share with you today is: THE REVOLUTION IS STILL ON! Just watch what Jesus is doing around you and join the movement. You’ll never regret it!

PRAYER ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

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According to my records this is lesson 100 in the gospel of Luke. Luke is a great author and has given us more than anyone else about Jesus. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. I am learning so much as we go through this.

NOW we come to another intentional act of preparation. This time it’s not physical and financial preparation, but personal and inner preparation before facing the onslaught of things to come. Jesus leads them on a field trip, maybe the most significant trip ever. Let’s see what happened.

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

This field trip is very instructive to us on the practice of prayer. It’s not exhaustive, but very insightful. Let’s list out step by step what Jesus is teaching about prayer:

FIRST—Pray that you will not fall into temptation. Jesus has warned them over and over that life is going to change and it will not necessarily change for the better, but for the worse. Here He urges them to pray in order that they will not fall into the trap of the evil one in the days ahead. This is true for us today, too.

SECOND—“As usual” indicates that this was a common practice—a habit. Do you have a habit of praying—talking and listening to the Lord? If Jesus felt the need to do so, what does that mean about you?

THIRD—Jesus had a “place” where He did His praying. It was a place where He felt most comfortable. Do you have a special place where you like to pray?

FOURTH—Jesus knelt down. There is no formula per se on how to pray, but it is interesting to note what Jesus did. I think there’s something very special and meaningful about kneeling down to pray. Try it some time!

FIFTH—Jesus expressed His deepest desires—His wants. “Father, if you are willing to take this cup from me” indicates that Jesus would rather not go through with this. There is nothing wrong with expressing your deepest desires. Tell God what you really want to happen. Open up your heart to Him fully.

SIXTH—Jesus moves from “wants” to “not my will, but your will be done.” Once you have expressed your deepest desires, moving to submit your will to God’s will is the only way to go. This is the ultimate act of dependence upon the God of gods—for Him to have His way in your life right now.

SEVENTH—Jesus was strengthened by an angel. You may not see an angel in the process, but you will discover a new strength given to you as you practice praying in this way.

NOTE what happens next. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

Can you see yourself in the disciples? I can see you there—and me. Here they are facing the greatest temptation or trial they will ever face, yet that isn’t bothering them nearly as much as their tiredness.

It’s the ever-present battle between the temporal and the eternal. The temporal doesn’t matter that much. The eternal is the most important of all. That age-old verse comes to mind:

ONLY ONE LIFE; TWILL SOON BE PAST. ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.