Luke 23:1-12

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Jesus before Pilate and Herod… It’s funny to me – and probably to many of you – that when we think of Herod, we think of <insert accompanying music> “So you are the Christ, you’re the great Jesus Christ. Prove to me that You’re divine, change my water into wine…”, lyrics from the musical, Jesus Christ, Superstar. So we might be singing along the lyrics, but I’m guessing that Jesus was not in a sing-song mood. This is the same Herod who had Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, killed. You may remember how Jesus mourned when He heard the news of John’s death. Although Scripture does not tell us of Jesus’ weeping over John as He did for Lazarus, it’s likely that He shed more than a few tears when He went off to be alone upon hearing of John’s death. So if Jesus refuses to answer Herod, I’m guessing that He may have been feeling some contempt for him as He stood there.

My Study Bible reported that Pilate’s main headquarters was in Caesarea, on the Mediterranean shore and that Herod’s headquarters was in Tiberius, on the west bank of the Sea of Galilee – often referred to as the Sea of Tiberius. So it’s a bit strange to find them both in Jerusalem at the same time. However, this week was the Passover celebration for the Jews and hundreds of thousands of Jews would have gathered there. But Pilate and Herod clearly were not there to celebrate the religious feast! It was probably just something like a carnival atmosphere for them, not unlike most of us celebrating Memorial Day with family cookouts and failing to honor the solemnity that the occasion demands.

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 27:1-14

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Judas: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” (v. 4) Again, my sympathies for Judas… Is Judas’ quote a confession, a sign of true repentance? Did he get that part right before deciding his own fate a few hours later? I do wonder about Judas.

By contrast, The Chronological Study Bible says that we should have no sympathies for Pilate! He had many options available to him and he chose the path of least resistance. Josephus also reports that Pilate had been ruthless in his dealings with others on a number of occasions. According to our CSB, “Pilate was responsible for … the release of a convicted assassin and the condemning of the righteous Son of God to torture and death.”

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. (vv. 11-12) I find it intriguing that Jesus would respond to Pilate, but not to the Jewish leaders. Later John reports a lengthy discussion between Jesus and Pilate, but again nothing when the Jewish leaders accuse Him. As I reflect on all our previous readings, I don’t recall any other occasion when Jesus refused to respond to the Jewish leaders’ charges. Maybe because now He was before the Roman governor? Or maybe He was just tired of their accusations…??!! I prefer the latter explanation!

Slava Bohu!

John 18:12-27

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Again I reflect on this year’s reading program – just a few verses a day. In the past when we have read through the Chronological Bible we have read all four accounts of Jesus before the high priests (today’s and the three previous days’ readings) all in one day. Under that program we could have made comparisons between all four Gospels, but not with the depth that we have had by reading each account one day at a time. Just that…

So I’m wondering about this “disciple who was known to the high priest”. Most writers acknowledge this person to be the apostle John. But if that’s true, two other questions arise. If John has followed Jesus to the high priest’s house and Peter is there with him, then where is his brother James? All three were there with Jesus in the Garden, sleeping while he was praying. So where’s James? Second, how is it that John is so well known to the high priest, so as to have immediate access to the courtyard and to allow him to bring Peter in? How is John so well-connected? Or, is there a connection with Zebedee, James’ and John’s father, that gives John this access? So, this disciple “who was known to the high priest”… Who and How?

Slava Bohu!

Luke 22:54-71

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” It seems a small item (but maybe not) that Luke has Peter’s denial before Caiaphas’ “trial” while Matthew and Mark have that order reversed. It is probably the case that Luke has it more correct. According to my Study Bible the Sanhedrin could not hold a trial until after dawn, in which case Jesus may have been in Caiaphas’ house only as a holding pen. There He could have been questioned informally by the various Jewish leaders who had also gathered there, prior to any formal questioning by the Sanhedrin. Unfortunately, at Caiaphas’ house there was also the opportunity for Him to be spat upon, beaten, and taunted by the guards.

Today is now the third occurrence of Jesus’ being taunted and beaten by the temple officers and guards. I am troubled anew every time I read this, each blow reflecting humankind’s sins from the beginning of our existence. Even more troubling is that these blows are mild compared to the scourging that He will receive from the Roman soldiers. I understand that Jesus had to die for our sins, that His death was the necessary atonement for us to be saved. The only way that I can understand the enormous torture that He received is to imagine that it is His Father’s wrath against sin poured out on His Beloved Son. So troubling…

Slava Bohu!

Mark 14:53-72

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” And some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to strike Him, saying to Him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received Him with blows. (v. 65) It was very troubling to me as I read this verse. I’m first wondering who is in the room. The Sanhedrin was composed of 70 chief priests, scribes and elders, and the high priest, Caiaphas. There were also temple officers and guards (and servants?). So who is spitting and striking the blows? Surely not the Jewish leaders. Wouldn’t that be beneath their dignity? I’d think that they would be more prone to throwing stones, not anything that involved a more personal connection. So I imagine the officers and guards (prompted by the Jewish leaders) who had arrested Jesus and were still standing by. And I’m also imagining Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea in the crowd, highly dispirited at seeing Jesus treated so harshly. Sad.

And Peter again. Also sad…

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 26:57-75

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Then those who had seized Jesus led Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. (vv. 57-58) I somehow knew that Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin, but I had always imagined that location to be somewhere in the temple area. But some notes that I read, consistent with the quote above, suggested that this “trial” took place at the home of Caiaphas, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. The clincher to me was the “courtyard” and later the mention of servants. As far as I know there were no courtyards in the temple area – I have always imagined that it was all paved over. And there may have been people serving in the temple area, but they would not have been “servants”. So what’s the significance of Jesus being taken to Caiaphas’ home? The Jewish leaders (“the scribes and the elders”) were doing all this “under cover”, in the dark of the night (see “rooster crowing” later), out of sight of the crowds who largely supported Jesus. Meeting together in the temple would have been too well publicized and they did not want that! Again, a cowardly act! Not unlike the Baltimore Colts moving to Indianapolis in the middle of the night – ask Carol…

Peter… Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear… (v. 74), together with And he went out and wept bitterly. (v. 75c) In two consecutive verses we see the intensity that was Peter. To go from shouting curses in the crowd to weeping alone… Many of us can probably relate to “weeping alone”, but I doubt that we have been so openly vocal in our denial of our Savior. Rather, we are prone to sin “quietly”, then weep alone later. We, together with the Jewish leaders, are also cowards. The main difference, however, is that we can confess our cowardly activities and be forgiven. It’s not likely that many of the Jewish leaders sought that readily-available forgiveness from Jesus. So sad…

Slava Bohu!

John 18:1-11

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” When Jesus said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (v. 6) Two items struck me in this verse. The first is that the ESV translation had a footnote on “I am He”, telling us that the Greek translation was simply “I am”. These two words are sacred to the Jews, from when God spoke to Moses, I am Who I am, then repeated in the same verse, Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you’. (Exodus 3:14) So Jesus speaking these two words must have struck the crowd unexpectedly, since no one ever spoke those exact words. Then, the second item, the crowd (including the soldiers) drew back and fell to the ground. Jesus had merely told them that He was the one they were seeking and something in Him or His response struck them so mightily that they were completely overwhelmed to be in His presence. It is surprising to me that they could then proceed with His arrest. Strange…!

Luke 22:39-53

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against Him… (v. 52) So I was wrong a few days ago when I chastised the Jewish leaders for not being present when Jesus was arrested. Sometimes I do and sometimes I do not look forward to the other Gospels when I am reading the first of two or three or four recounting the same incident. Apparently I should have this time!

And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. (v. 43) We saw angels “ministering” to Jesus after His forty days in the wilderness (Mt. 4:11, Mk. 1:13), but I don’t recall any other time in the Gospels where we have seen angels alongside Jesus. So the “ministering” angels and the “strengthening” angel led me to wonder whether Jesus regularly had guardian angels. I daresay that most of us, if questioned, would agree that we have guardian angels watching over us. So Jesus’ having guardian angels should not be a stretch for us. I wonder what they did for Him. Presumably He was filled with the Holy Spirit from His baptism on. Were the angels also special envoys from His Father? Jesus had said that He had twelve legions of angels at His disposal (Matthew 26:53). So what did Jesus’ guardian angels do? Thoughts…?

Slava Bohu!

Mark 14:43-52

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I’ve always felt sorry for Judas and wondered if his hanging himself was his ultimate repentance and that he might not be assigned to Hell for all eternity. Today’s reading strengthens that argument for me: Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” (v. 44) The ESV and NASB both end that sentence with “under guard”. What struck me, however, was the NKJV translation that ended with “safely”. Did Judas want Jesus taken away “safely”? Did he have some other expectation of what the Jewish leaders would do with Jesus? Was he then shocked to see Him beaten and crucified? And did Jesus’ death on the cross drive Judas to his own suicide? What was Judas’ actual bargain with the Jewish leaders? When he threw their thirty pieces of silver back into the temple sanctuary (Matthew 27:5), was he livid with anger that they had deceived him? I often wonder about Judas…

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 26:47-56

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” First we have: …a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. (v. 47b) Put that together with verse 48, Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” When you put those two verses together, it looks like a mob put together from the local rabble, with an escort from some Roman soldiers. But no chief priests or elders were present – otherwise these Jewish leaders would have known who Jesus was and would not have needed Judas to give Jesus that betrayal kiss. How cowardly of them, not being present to confront the accused! So when Jesus says, Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. (v. 55c), He is speaking to the crowd, not to the Jewish leaders. Had they been there, they surely would have been fully belittled by Jesus’ comment. Cowards!!

Slava Bohu!