ResponsiveReiding

From Matthew 27:27-31 / Whom do you serve?

Note first: Apart from the crucifixion itself, Mathew devotes only these 5 verses to Jesus’ physical suffering at the hands of the Romans. Mark allots the same. Luke merely glosses with one sentence, and John only 3 verses.

I am grateful for the tempered reports of the Gospel writers in this regard. It is often the case, that the brutality and cruelty take center stage, rather than who it was that was suffering and why. Preoccupation with the gory details diverts the eye from the from the purpose of it all and becomes morbid. One thinks of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ.

Yes, Jesus suffered, but what He suffered is not as important as THAT He suffered, and in our place and for our sin. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). The means and method are secondary, except in the fulfillment of prophecy and in the symbolism of Jesus’ death as a foul criminal of the lowest sort.

How many stripes He endured, how the whip was fashioned and wielded, what He felt, how much blood was lost, etc., these are all useless to us. Speculative and morbid in curiosity.

Here is what is important: “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?” (Isa. 53:2-8)

If these considerations are not the chief of our focus, we have missed the glory and wonder of our salvation. Christ, has died for us!

Note second: How the mocking of the Romans all centers around one thing: Jesus’ Kingship. The robe, the crown, the faux scepter – the mocking kneeling – all of it.

And herein lies the key to understanding human condemnation – we do not want anyone – even God, to rule over us. We want complete human autonomy. This is the cosmic rebellion of the which the human race is guilty.

Many are those who love the idea of Jesus as Savior, delivering them from the wrath of God and Hell.

Many love the concept of a sympathetic deity, a healer, and a help in times of trouble.

But the truth of the Scripture is, we cannot have Him in all of saving benefits, if we still reject Him as King over our lives. As one having the absolute right of supremacy over our entire being.

R.C. Sproul notes: [At the time of the Gospel writers] “Christians were considered enemies of the established order of Rome and guilty of treason for their refusal to subscribe to the cult of emperor worship. The test for loyalty to the empire was the public recitation of the words “Kaiser kurios” (“Caesar is lord”). Christians refused to recite this oath, even when it cost them their lives. When they were called on to utter it, they would substitute “Iesous ho Kurios” (“Jesus is Lord”). Christians were willing to pay their taxes, to give honor to Caesar where honor was due, to render to Caesar those things that were Caesar’s. However, the exalted title Lord belonged to Jesus alone, and Christians paid with their lives to maintain that assertion.”^{11 Sproul, R. C. 2009. Who Is Jesus?. Vol. 1. The Crucial Questions Series. Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}

Beloved, this remains the great cosmic question for each and every one of us – not simply do we believe Jesus was real, lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sins? – these are simple facts even the demons know to be true (James 2:19).

Do we know Him as who He is in all of His divine glory as our Savior, God and true King of our being? King over all of us, all we have and all we are? For rejection of Him as King, is the very fundamental rejection of Him in His crucifixion.

We may look on the Roman soldiers as violent brutes, but before they mocked Him as King, the Jews gathered had already proclaimed “We have no king but Caesar.”

It is no less damnable to say – in our hearts if not out loud: “I have no king but, me.”

Note third: It is this very cosmic rebellion that Jesus’ blood atones for – and provides full and free forgiveness for all who come to Him in faith.

Won’t you come today? You will find Him the wisest, sweetest, most benevolent, faithful, merciful, gracious, tender and loving King. Infinitely better than yourself, with all your enslaving passions.

As the old Bob Dylan song said:

[Verse 1]

You may be an ambassador to England or France

You may like to gamble, you might like to dance

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world

You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

[Chorus]

But you’re going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You’re going to have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you’re going to have to serve somebody

[Verse 2]

You might be a rock ’n’ roll addict prancing on the stage

You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage

You may be a business man or some high-degree thief

They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

[Chorus]

But you’re going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You’re going to have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you’re going to have to serve somebody

[Verse 3]

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk

You may be the head of some big TV network

You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame

You may be living in another country under another name

We all have to, and do serve somebody. Who, is your Lord?

From Matthew 27:15-26 / Another Jesus

In Paul’s 2nd letter to the Church at Corinth, he is concerned that through the influence of some, other sin the Church might be “led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3) He then gives them 3 examples of this can happen. The first of the 3 is one that is all too common even today – when someone proclaims “another Jesus than the one we proclaimed to you.” (vs. 4)

So it today that we find cults and false religions re-casting the Jesus of the Bible to meet their own ends. It is a demonic deception of the highest order. A few ready examples will demonstrate this.

In Mormonism, Jesus is not the eternal Son of God, the 2nd member of the Trinity, but is in fact the spirit brother of Satan himself. And a man who ascended to become a god, the way all the men who obey the tenets of Mormonism faithfully can do as well. He is not the Jesus of the Bible at all.

In the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus is not “God”, but a god, a created being by God. He is in fact Michael the Archangel.

Christian Science too denies the divinity of Jesus, and merely some sort of spiritual “son” of God.

Examples could be multiplied endlessly. But as John Owen once famously wrote: “the ancient Christians told those men the truth,—namely, that “as they had feigned unto themselves an imaginary Christ, so they should have an imaginary salvation only.”¹¹ Owen, John. n.d. The Works of John Owen. Edited by William H. Goold. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

What does this have to do with our text? As it turns out, while the textual evidence is not absolute, we do see that a number of ancient manuscripts of Matthew’s Gospel, in both vss. 16 & 17 read in effect: “Whom do you want me to release for you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?” The Barabbas’ forename was Jesus, the same as Jesus the son of Joseph and Mary. So the question becomes – Which Jesus do you want: The real Jesus, the Son of God, or some other Jesus, one who shares your fallenness and sin and you feel more comfortable with?

And this dear reader, is a most necessary question for us today.

I believe it was Mark Twain who once quipped that God made us in His own image, and we’ve been returning the favor ever since.

As the Children of Israel in the wilderness, when under Aaron’s weak leadership they cast a golden calf – they didn’t switch Gods – in fact after seeing the calf they called that calf the Lord! Yahweh.

We must be absolutely clear on this issue beloved, if we would be saved from our sins, reconciled to the Father and granted everlasting life. We cannot, we dare not have another Jesus. We must have the Jesus of the Bible.

The one we are to trust in with all our hearts – must be the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible if we are to have a true salvation, and, true help in our time of need.

‌Running to the wrong Jesus is as helpful as getting the time from a wrist watch tattoo. It may have the appearance of the real – but in the end, it is an utter fake.

‌The Jesus we need is the Jesus of the Bible – so magnificently above all the fakes as the heavens are above the earth. And He is magnificent!

‌In J.C. Ryle’s incomparable book: “Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots” – Ryle makes the observation that: “It would be well if professing Christians in modern days studied the four Gospels more than they do. No doubt all Scripture is profitable. It is not wise to exalt one part of the Bible at the expense of another. But I think it would be good for some who are very familiar with the Epistles, if they knew a little more about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John…I say it because I want professing Christians to know more about Christ. It is well to be acquainted with all the doctrines and principles of Christianity. It is better to be acquainted with Christ Himself. It is well to be familiar with faith, and grace, and justification, and sanctification. They are all matters “pertaining to the King.” But it is far better to be familiar with Jesus Himself, to see the King’s own face, and to behold His beauty. This is one secret of eminent holiness. He that would be conformed to Christ’s image, and become a Christ-like man, must be constantly studying Christ Himself…Now the Gospels were written to make us acquainted with Christ. The Holy Ghost has told us the story of His life and death,—His sayings and His doings, four times over. Four different inspired hands have drawn the picture of the Saviour. His ways, His manners, His feelings, His wisdom, His grace, His patience, His love, His power, are graciously unfolded to us by four different witnesses. Ought not the sheep to be familiar with the Shepherd? Ought not the patient to be familiar with the Physician? Ought not the bride to be familiar with the Bridegroom? Ought not the sinner to be familiar with the Saviour? Beyond doubt it ought to be so. The Gospels were written to make men familiar with Christ, and therefore I wish men to study the Gospels.” _{Ryle, J. C. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots. William Hunt and Company, 1889, pp. 278–79.}

‌Spurgeon preached: “Depend upon it, there are countless holy influences which flow from the habitual maintenance of great thoughts of God, as there are incalculable mischiefs which flow from our small thoughts of him. The root of all false theology is belittling God; and the essence of true divinity is greatening God, magnifying him, and enlarging our conceptions of his majesty and his glory to the utmost degree.”

‌In trouble, trial and tribulation, we need the glorious,stupendous, magnificent Christ of the Bible.

‌Do you remember that great confession of Nebuchadnezzar after God restored him from his humiliation? Daniel 4:34–35 “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?””

‌This is The Lord we are being exhorted to trust in – and He is worthy of such trust.

‌You will not read Christ exalting words like these in any religion or cult, and you would certainly never invent them yourself.

‌THIS, is the Jesus of the Bible.

‌Trust HIM with your salvation.

‌Trust HIM in all His promises and that the rewards of Christ are greater than any pleasure of sin.

‌Trust HIM in His holiness, faithfulness, power, goodness, grace, mercy and love.

‌Trust the LORD, with all your heart. Trust Him as God eternal – one with the Father.

‌If you are not a Christian yet – this is the one you must trust in order to be saved from the wrath of God for your sin: Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

‌And Believer – there is no one else you can absolutely trust with every care, burden, need, concern and trial: Psalm 112:6–8 “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.”

‌Beloved, this is so vastly important. I need to be sure we do not let this need to know Christ in His fullness pass by without pressing it.

‌Everything hangs on it.

From Matthew 27:11-14 / The Silence of The Lamb

Note first: As we’ve already seen, when Jesus was tried at Caiaphas’ house (26:57-68) He never answered any of the charges that were leveled against Him. Even though those charges were all false.

Now, He is before Pilate – the Roman authority over the region. Once again Jesus is subject to a host of accusations, but once again He remains silent. It is a startling scene. Jesus Himself as we well know – as His accusers well know – was innocent of all those things with which He was charged. What we observed once is brought into focus again so that we do not miss the emphasis. In His role as our sin-bearing substitute, Jesus is fulfilling Isa. 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

He is exegeting Isa. 53 in the flesh. Not as a theological abstraction, but in reality.

And why was it this way? Because as Isaiah goes on to say: “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isa. 53:10-11) He makes no defence, because He is bearing OUR guilt. He is making Himself responsible for our sins. He is willingly being charged with our sins, so that He make take our punishment upon the Cross, so that all who put their faith in His atoning sacrifice may be accounted righteous with His righteousness.

This, is the Gospel. The Gospel placed so fully before us that we cannot miss it. All other false Gospels and theories surrounding Jesus’ death find their demise here. He will not try to acquit Himself, because He is willingly taking the whole of the just accusations against human sinfulness upon Himself.

Do not run by this passage Beloved. Stop and ponder it, carefully. It is not a cast off or incidental moment.

When He was first taken in the Garden, He told His captors that He was at liberty to appeal to the Father for a host of angels to deliver Him. But He didn’t. He never tried to avoid what was just before Him. For to do so would do 2 things: 1 – To fail to do the Father’s will. 2 – Leave us in our trespasses and sins. It would condemn us. Neither of which He would do. No matter the cost.

What a Savior!

Reader, if you are not a Christian yet today, then please listen to me. There is no sin so wicked, so long indulged in, so deeply ingrained into your soul, that Jesus’ did not account for in His death. He offered no exceptions. He made not the slightest hint that anything was excepted. He has removed every barrier to your salvation in His substitution. He has opened the door to flee to the Father. You may come and cry out “have mercy on me!” and know that there is absolute provision for your every wickedness. God put Him forward as a propitiation – a satisfaction in His blood – to be received by faith. He can cleanse you of all your guilt, and every shame, when you bow before Him, confess your sin, and rely on His death, burial and resurrection alone, for complete reconciliation to the Father. Come to Him today!

And fellow Believer, you who even after years of walking with Christ have found that sin remains a constant inward enemy, and has caused you to stumble and fall – remember that all of your sins were still in the future when He died for you. As yet you had committed none of them. And He is neither shocked nor dismayed at your stumblings. His blood remains sufficient until the day you wake in His likeness. Maybe you need to refresh yourself in the Gospel yet again today, so that you may walk with Him in freedom once again. As the hymn writer said: “Jesus paid it all; All to Him owe; sin had left a crimson satin; He washed it, white as snow.”

Note second: Once again we see that His only response is in terms of His identity.

Pilate’s question was no doubt cast only in terms of whether or not Jesus would claim to be King of the Jews so as to stand in political opposition to Caesar. Hence Jesus’ qualified answer. Yes, He is King of the Jews, but not in the way Pilate imagined. As John would elucidate in his account – Jesus would tell Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36)

He remains both just, and the justifier of all who come to Him by faith. He will never deny Himself, even when totally misunderstood. He remains, King of the Jews. More, He is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” (Rev. 19:16).

And one day, the entire cosmos will see it it and own it as true. “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11)

Note third: As we cited above from Isa. 53 – “It was the will of the Father to crush Him.”

Jesus did not interpose Himself on sinner’s behalf in opposition to the Father – but in fulfilling the Father’s will. Father, Son and Holy Spirit entered into a divine conspiracy to rescue fallen men and women through this astounding plan of salvation.

Jesus didn’t appease an unwilling God, but rather satisfied the Father’s inviolable holiness and justice by dying in our place.

What a wonder this salvation is. No wonder the writer to the Hebrews says that it is so profound, that even the angels strain to peer into it so as to understand the amazing mystery it is.

Hallelujah!

From Matthew 27:1-10 / Too Little, Too Late

Note first: What a difference there is between regret and repentance.

It is common today for some to say that repentance (usually appealing to the word – metanoia in the Greek) is merely a change of mind. And while a change of one’s mind is included in genuine repentance, that is not ALL that repentance includes. Someone may well regret the results of some of their decisions, and change their mind as to whether or not some decision or the other was a good one – without changing the fundamental course of his or her life. And so it seems in the case of Judas.

As one commentator notes: “Judas is “seized with remorse” (from Greek metamelomai). This verb is much rarer in the New Testament than the typical verb for “repenting” (metanoeō) and seems here to refer to a change of mind or feeling of regret, which falls considerably short of full-fledged repentance (cf. 2 Cor 7:8, in which such remorse precedes repentance;11 Blomberg, Craig. 1992. Matthew. Vol. 22. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Many regret their sins and the results, so few truly repent, and in the power of the Spirit plot a new course in following Christ.

Note second: That some repentance may be too late.

The text appears to indicate that Judas did not change his mind (vs. 3) until after Jesus was sent to Pilate and condemned. It was too late then to change any course. The damage was done. As with Esau, Heb. 12 tells us he found no chance to repent even though he sought it tearfully. He had made an irreversible decision, just as Judas had.

Does this mean neither could find forgiveness with God? Not necessarily, unless Judas’ act falls under the category of having blasphemed the Spirit by denying what Christ had done was by the Spirit – by which reasoning he sold Jesus out. But by another irreversible decision, that of suicide, he precluded any possibility of repentance by his own hand.

Like those Jesus referenced in Matthew 7:21-23 and 25:31-46 – when the day of judgment arrives, it will be too late to cast off sin and obey Christ.

And who knows when that day will come?

Note fourth: No good works can be used to mitigate our sins.

Does doing something good for the poor with Judas’ returned money in any way, in even the tiniest way mitigate the evil done by virtue of Jesus’ betrayal? Of course not. Nor should we ever treat the good done by those who trade on the back of The Gospel as though it offsets the wickedness otherwise done by those who rob people in God’s name.

Many a televangelist (and others) can point to great good done through the contributions extorted from their hearers. But know well that salvation is no a matter of somehow balancing cosmic scales of good works versus bad works. That is false religion altogether. A man or woman must be right with God through the imputed righteousness of Christ – borne out in a life lived unto Him. As cited above, in the last day, some will point to their exorcisms, mighty works and prophesies done in the name of Jesus – all to no avail because they did not walk with Him in holiness.

Note fourth: The only real difference between Judas and Peter – was grace. God’s grace.

O how great debtors to grace all the redeemed are! There is little doubt I would have been Judas too, had it not been for grace. Had it not been that Jesus preserves some from themselves, when none of us would preserve ourselves. I know that God’s grace is a sovereign gifts, for I know full well I would never have chosen Him, if He had not chosen me. And so it is with all who have come to saving faith.

And yet, if you are not a Christian today – nothing holds you back from coming and receiving that very same grace today – since He has given us warrant to proclaim its availability to every living creature (Mark 16:15-16).

As Jonathan Edwards once preached: “Come to Christ and accept salvation. You are invited to come to Christ, heartily to close with Him, and to trust in Him for salvation. If you do so, you shall have the benefit of His glorious contrivance. You shall have the benefit of all, as much as if the whole had been contrived for you alone. God has already contrived everything that is needful for your salvation; and there is nothing wanting but your consent. Since God has taken this matter of the redemption of sinners into His own hand, He has made a thorough work of it. He has not left it for you to finish. Satisfaction is already made; righteousness is already wrought out; death and hell are already conquered. The Redeemer has already taken possession of glory, and keeps it in His hands to bestow on them who come to Him. There were many difficulties in the way, but they are all removed. The Savior has already triumphed over all, and is at the right hand of God to give eternal life to His people. Salvation is already brought to your door; and the Savior stands, knocks, and calls that you would open to Him so that He might bring it to you. There remains nothing but your consent. All the difficulty now remaining is with your own heart. If you perish now, it must be wholly at your door. It must be because you would not come to Christ that you might have life, and because you virtually choose death rather than life.” – ^{This when he preached on Matt. 23:37. Quoted from Soli Deo Gloria’s Devotions from the Pen of Jonathan Edwards.}

“Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my yielded heart to Thee.
Let me know Thee in Thy fullness;
Guide me by Thy mighty hand,
Till, transformed, in Thine own image
In Thy presence I shall stand.

Come to Christ today, while the day of grace is still dawning.

From Matthew 26:69-75 / Peter on Trial

While Jesus stood confronted with false charges by the religious hierarchy of the day, Peter was confronted with an accusation of mere association, and that, by only an anonymous servant girl. By law, she could not even give testimony in court. But Peter is wilted before her and the others. O how cowardice can grip the soul of even the most stalwart at times. I have felt this wicked tendency in myself more times than I wish to admit.

Note first: How even very great men may commit the gravest of sins.

Few in Church history will be able to match Peter’s boldness in the days to come – before any and all. He proves in time to be a lion for The Faith. But here, he denies his Lord in the most profane way. Still, in days to come, he will suffer any loss gladly for the name of Christ. In Acts 5, he will stand before the very ones who condemned Jesus to death, refuse to back down from preaching the Gospel irrespective of their threats, and will leave rejoicing that he was counted worthy to suffer dishonor “for the name.”

What a restoring God we serve.

Note second: Sins do not die. We die to them, but they do not die to us.

Scripture enjoins us to “put to death the deeds of the flesh” (Rom. 8:13), but that does not imply that sins or sinful tendencies themselves actually die. We will have to take up our cross daily in this regard. So it is Peter will have to face this weakness in himself again. Paul records his confrontation with Peter in Galatians 2 when he buckled under the gaze of “certain men from James” and eating with the Gentiles.

Who knows how many unrecorded seasons of wrestling with this tendency Peter went through before his martyrdom? But history would tell us he proved faithful to the end.

Beloved, do not imagine that any sin – though it lay dormant for many years – may not at the slightest provocation rise up again in an instant. As The Father warned Cain: “sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” (Gen. 4:7)

Many a sincere man or woman of God has despaired because they find some sin rising up over and over to tempt them. But do not despair. Sin WILL NOT have dominion over you. (Rom. 6:14) Fight the good fight of faith. Keep looking to Jesus. He will sustain you. And the day WILL come when sin will be no more. Take heart as you see our brother Peter continue to prosecute his battle.

Note third: The nature of true repentance.

While Peter fails so miserably here, it will be but a very short time before he stands at Pentecost with a boldness in proclaiming Christ which shook the world.

It is grieving in our day to see so many in Church leadership falling into disqualifying sin. But what sets Peter apart is the measure of repentance. We never read of his attempt to mitigate his sin. He never points the finger at any other(s). He does not water it down any place. We read of no attempts to explain his sin in any way so as to make it less heinous. Nor does he try to thrust himself into the limelight. He doesn’t try to reinstate himself, to recover his “ministry.” Even after Jesus appears to Peter and the others in John 20 – what is Peter’s next move? “Peter said to them, I am going fishing.” ‘“ He is bereft of any notion of establishing a ministry or anything of the sort. How unlike those today.

No, when he hears the cock crow, when it dawns upon him what he’s done, he goes out, and weeps bitterly; the word there implying even violently. This is not some tepid, weepy tear over getting caught, for no one accused him of anything – this is his own heart violently rending itself at the reality of his wickedness.

He models what Paul will later unpack as “godly repentance” in 2 Cor. 7. Godly repentance produces true, deep grief, and the expending of every effort to clear oneself of such things going forward. It fills the heart with indignation at self, fear over how wicked the sin is, a longing to show oneself better for Christ, zealous for what is good and fully receiving all due punishment. And how does this show itself? Above all things – in owning and proclaiming Christ publicly and under any threat by any group whatsoever. A total reversal from his former course.

True repentance always requires a reversal of one’s former course. No matter what the besetting sin itself was.

Note lastly: How in due time, Jesus restores His erring son.

Oh blessed Redeemer! How your mercy and your grace transcend all of our guilt and our shame.

What a Savior!

From Matthew 26:57-68 / The Deafening Sound of Silence

This scene is disturbing on so many fronts. The illegality (according to Jewish law) of a nighttime trial; the way the prosecution went about seeking false witnesses; its clandestine nature – we know there were those like Nicodemus who appear to be absent (they did not need the entire Sanhedrin of 71, only a quorum of 23 – easier to manage without dissenting voices); the brutality of the guards, etc.. This was not a true trial at all. It was instead a mere formality to accomplish what some had wanted all along, with but the thinnest veneer of legitimacy.

Note first: This is always the the way it is when men put God on trial.

Those who wish to refuse the right of God to have supremacy over their lives, will always seek the most meager means to deny that He exists, or to cast aspersions upon the character of God so as to make their rejection legitimate to themselves and others.

How can a good God allow pain and suffering? Why doesn’t God verify His existence to our satisfaction? Why does He reveal Himself in the Word progressively and not all at once? Why so many strange commands? While we may legitimately wonder at some things, we must always remember, God is not on trial – we are, Humanity is. He does not owe us answers as to why things are the way they are. Why in His sovereign discretion He has made certain choices, and arranged life and the universe the way He has.

It is the height of human pride, arrogance and hubris that finds us thinking God should do things differently. That He should order things according to our sensibilities, preferences and fallen reason. We may rest assured (based upon the revelation we do have) that He has chosen what is always best, wisest and good in His own eyes, and it is ours to say “yea, and amen” to His determinations.

To go back the Apostle Paul’s words in Rom. 9:20 – “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

This is at the very core of the heart of fallen humanity – God being weighed in our personal balances. And until we bow to the reality of Genesis 1:1 – we cannot, we will not deal with God rightly. Until we cry out with David: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Ps. 139:23-24) we will continually try to flip the equation upside down. We do not judge God – period. We stand to be judged before Him.

Note secondly: When charged, Jesus makes no answer.

This is owing to at least two things.

a. He refused to be judged – period. He will not answer, because He as God need give no answer, and they deserve none. He will not dignify their perverse trial of Him. He will not enter into their folly with them. And what they take as weakness, is His demonstration of His true position. But they didn’t get it. Often, neither do we.

While Job never openly charged God falsely, he did imply all along that God owed him some sort of explanation for his suffering. He did indeed want to enter into that debate. He wanted to move the discussion as to why things were as they were, rather than settling his heart simply in the sovereignty and goodness of God. And all too often, I am right there with him. Maybe you are too. Faith must fuel our hearts and minds more than the need to understand what may well be inscrutable. So often, the “whys” remain hidden from our eyes. But if we can rest in the “Who” in whose hands we reside – we can await the day of unveiling in His presence. But if we will not settle ourselves there, we will always carry the tinge of the questioning Sanhedrin about ourselves as well.

b. Behind all of this, is Jesus refusal to defend Himself against any accusations, because, He was aware He was bearing the guilt of OUR sins.

And for our sins, there is no defense. There are no excuses. Whatever He may have been accused of, we certainly have been guilty of. He bore the true accusations of God against us. He was in the process of “canceling the record of debt that stood against us with is legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Col. 2:14) He would not try to declare Himself innocent while bearing our guilt.

O what a wonderful Savior!

O the holiness and wonder of His silence.

Deny Himself? This He could not do. Regardless of how unable they were to recognize it, or respond to it – He said plainly who He was. He answers Caiaphas: You’ve uttered the words – but you haven’t the slightest concept of what it really means. The only way you can see me for who and what I am, is to see me exalted to the right hand of the Father – as the One who comes to judge all mankind.

Note thirdly: As the entry in the Moody Commentary on this portion reads: “The only times He spoke were to answer questions related to His identity _{¹¹ Vanlaningham, Michael G. 2014. “Matthew.” In The Moody Bible Commentary, edited by Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham, 1509. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.}

And beloved, this is the only way any can recognize Him rightly – as the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power (Ps. 110:1) – the one who judges all. Salvation is bound up in this: “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

So let me ask you Reader – do YOU know Him? This is the God, robe din human flesh, who took the weight of human sin upon His own shoulders, for all who would see Him, know Him, and flee to Him as He is – the judge of all the World. Who commands all men everywhere to repent. His loving arms, remain open wide to receive all who will come by faith.