WRONGFULLY ACCUSED

Marcus Toussaint

Central Truth

Jesus was a victim of and victor over injustice!

"But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." (Luke 22:69)

Jesus Is Mocked

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

Jesus Before the Council

66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

In a small way I know what it's like to feel treated unfairly. I almost didn't graduate from college because I was wrongly accused . . . in a sense.

The professor of my last class incorrectly recorded a big fat zero for my final exam grade—a problem I discovered the night before graduation! As I stalked the academic department in the ungodly hours of the morning, I was acutely aware of being "that guy" who claims there's been a mistake the day of, and whom no one really believes. But three hours before the ceremony, when they found out it was their mistake, they were apologetic and quick to fix it!

That is an obviously small example compared to the injustice of the mistrial Jesus received before the Scamhedrin. Luke's Gospel gives us the fullest account of the unfair treatment Jesus received before the Jewish council of elders. The tragic irony of this passage is stunning.

Jesus was mocked, beaten, and questioned, in that order. The religious leaders asked this bruised and humiliated man if He was indeed their savior. Jesus knew their hearts and that they really had no interest in the answer at all, as they already intended to kill Him. In contrast to Peter in yesterday's text, Jesus answered with incredible strength, saying that He is indeed the "Son of Man"—the one who in Daniel 7:14 (NIV) is "given authority, glory and sovereign power." Jesus' meaning was not lost on the Sanhedrin—they knew He was declaring Himself to be the Son of God and the promised Messiah.

The One who was the seat of all authority and justice in the universe was subjected to greatest injustice. In the words of the hymn, Jesus was "scorned by the ones He came to save." What a mystery—we have a God who understands what it's like to be a victim of injustice! He can empathize with us when we're mistreated! Let that encourage you, and remember that Jesus was not simply another victim, but ultimately the One in whom all authority really rests.

1. How do you respond when treated unfairly?

2. Why did Christ respond as He did?

3. In what areas do you need to rest in God's ultimate justice and mercy?

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What question did the Sanhedrin ask Jesus (verse 67)? How did Jesus respond to the question?

2. Do you ever have to stand up for who you are? How can you use Scripture to answer who you are?