God’s Glory through the Trial of Jesus

John 18:28-19:16, Romans 8:1, 1 Peter 3:15-17

Oh, the humility of Christ. What submission to the Father one can hardly grasp. Yet even in this humiliating act, it is Christ who has the authority and Christ who should be honored. 

The night before Jesus’ trials before the Jewish council and the Roman government, Jesus prays to the Father, sweating drops of blood as he begs the Lord to take this cup from Him, but nevertheless, that His will be done. He returns, only to find His followers sleeping for sorrow rather than praying to God to protect them from temptation (Luke 22:39-46). He is at once betrayed by Judas, sold out by a fake kiss from his own disciple and friend, then left and abandoned by every disciple, including Peter who hovers close by, yet lies when questioned if he is a friend of Jesus (22:47-52). The guards take him to the religious leaders, and then to the governor, Pontius Pilate.

Jesus was not under trial because He committed any crime, but because the people he came to love hated him, thinking he was usurping their authority, claiming to be the Son of God, pretending to be a king, and acting in opposition to Caesar. Jesus knew that the cross, even though it would lead Him to death and separation from the Father, is ultimately glorious.

Jesus is convicted without a fair trial or any genuine evidence. Pilate, the one with supposed power of the roman government, is merely enslaved to the crowds of people and religious leaders surrounding him, shouting to kill this wretched man. Peer pressure and the guise of superiority lead him to torture and kill a man who he knew was not found to be guilty. Jesus responds to Pilate, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.” It is Christ who lets himself be tortured in accordance with the will of the Father, trusting in God’s perfect plan to be our substitutionary sacrifice.

“Hail, King of the Jews!”, the Roman battalion shouts and laughs, mocking the man they dressed in purple and thorns. 600 men gather around Jesus to torture and humiliate him (Matthew 27:27).

Spurgeon writes on this scripture, “Oh, that we were half as inventive in devising honor for our King as these soldiers were in planning his dishonor! Let us offer to Christ the real homage that these men pretended to offer him.”

Despite such mockery, shaming, and brutal torturing, Jesus, however, was not in awe or intimidated by these men or the representatives of Rome. He does not beg for his life from the soldiers, nor of Pilate, as so many others would have done. Instead, Pilate is the one left in wonder of Jesus. One could imagine Pilate thinking such thoughts, “Why does he not beg for me to release him? Doesn’t he know I have the power of Rome behind me? Why does he not tell me where he is from? All he says is that his kingdom isn’t even in this world. What could that possibly even mean? I have heard of the roman gods who live above; perhaps he is a god. My wife even dreamt that I should release him. Could this all be true?” Pilate is left in wonder of Jesus, yet ultimately chooses cowardice and the way of evil. Pilate ultimately has only the power to do wrong, not to do right. While Jesus, condemned falsely for wrongdoing, could only do what was right before God and, in power and submission, allows Himself to be condemned. 

Wonder:

How can it be that Christ is both humble in submission to the Father, yet powerful at the same time? Ponder on this paradox in the upside down kingdom.

Consider the reality that our sin is actually worthy of trial and condemnation. What we earn through our sin is death (Romans 6:23). We were the convicts and criminals, yet Jesus was the one condemned. 

Wonder:

Pray a prayer of thankfulness that Jesus was the one who was put on trial so that we would not have to face the same condemnation. (Romans 8:1) 

Jesus is worthy of all of our awe and all of our worship and all the glory. We as His followers get to glorify and honor the name and reputation of Christ in all situations, knowing that although the cross of Christ seems foolish to those who are perishing, it is life and the power of God for those who are found in Him (1 Corinthians 1:18). This means we do not join in with the mockers, but we honor Christ as Lord of our life, and we choose to stand with Jesus when lies and misconceptions continue to spread about Him and when others mock Him for being who He actually is.

In both submission to the Father and love for the world that hates Him, Christ’s most humbling condemnation is also reason for ultimate exaltation, praise, and glory forever. Let us worship the King of heaven and earth!

Wonder:

How can we give God glory, “a public display of the infinite beauty and worth of God”, as we emulate Christ through our sacrificial living and our suffering?