THE ULTIMATE POWER TRIP

October 12, 2010

THE ULTIMATE POWER TRIP

Luke 23:1-12

Tyler Whann

Central Truth

We are called to be meek, but NOT weak. Jesus modeled this for us when He refrained from executing well-deserved judgment on His persecutors. This was a display of ultimate power, bundled up in grace and mercy, and it further reveals His patience with us.

And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. (Luke 23:9-11)

Jesus Before Pilate

1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 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.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

Jesus Before Herod

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 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. 8 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. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

Do you ever wish you had the power to take revenge on someone who has wronged you? When I watch Dateline or 20/20 and put myself in the position of the victims or their families after losing a loved one as a result of a horrific murder, my mind quickly starts to race. What would I do to the perpetrator if I witnessed such a crime? Truthfully, I would give very little mercy or grace. I think this is why God is God, and I am not!

I am always dumbfounded when I read this passage. I cannot get my mind around the restraint that Jesus exercised from the time He was accused up to His execution. At the blink of an eye, He could have judged mankind and sent everyone where they deserved to go – to the place of eternal torment apart from Him. He had ultimate power, but He exercised restraint and suffered for our good. This is good news for us because we deserve the same judgment as Pilate, Herod, the teachers of the law, and the Roman soldiers. The reality is that each of us ridicules and crucifies Jesus daily in our heart through our sinful thoughts and actions.

Back to 20/20 or Dateline – if I feel hatred for convicted offenders in my heart when they show no remorse for their heinous crimes, I am a murderer, too. (1 John 3:15) Pick your Christian Hall of Famer – some may choose the Apostle Paul or King David, while others would opt for the Pope, Mother Teresa, or Billy Graham. But each of these "rock stars" of the faith has an infinite chasm between themselves and God's perfection, just like you and me.

This serves as a good reminder of how grateful we should be to have a God who has patiently chosen through the ages to allow all who trust in Jesus not just to avoid His wrath, but to spend eternity with Him in fellowship. What an awesome picture of God's omnipotence bundled in grace and mercy!

1. Have you trusted in Jesus? If so, take time to praise Him for His unwavering patience and relentless pursuit of you, despite your rejection of Him throughout your life.

2. If you have not trusted in God's provision of Jesus, have you reflected on the fact that His patience will one day run out (whether Christ returns or your life ends), and then you will no longer have the opportunity to respond to His gift (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10)?

3. Is there anyone that you need to extend grace or mercy to, or ask forgiveness from, just as God did for you?

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What was Pilate’s response to the crowds’ accusations (verse 4)? The crowd wants Jesus to die, but Pilate believes Jesus is innocent. So why did Pilate send Jesus to Herod?

2. Are you ever afraid to make a decision? Do you sometimes not deal with your own problems and hope that someone else will handle them?

3. How should we handle tough decisions and problems that we come across?