An Exposition

Luke 23: 13-25: “Injustice on Display, Part 3”

“Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said to them, ‘You brought me this Man as one who was misleading the people. After examining Him before you, I do not find this Man guilty of any of your charges against Him. Neither did Herod, for he sent Him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. I will therefore punish and release Him.’ But they all cried out together, ‘Away with this man and release to us Barabbas’ – a man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection started in the city and for murder.

Pilate addressed them once more desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why? What evil has he done? I have found in Him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release Him.’ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that He should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he handed Jesus over to their will” (Luke 23:13-25, ESV).

The evil, demonic frenzy of the religious leaders who are determined to see Jesus dead and gone knows no bounds or mercy. Their rank hatred, bordering on fanaticism, has caught on with the people who are witnessing the attempts by Pilate to get out of a tangled situation, and the unexpected cry for the release of a murderer and rebel whom some see as a hero and symbol of the resistance against Rome’s iron grip on Judea and the region.

They offer no pity or cry for mercy for the Lord Jesus, who stands there on the platform silent, bleeding, and a victim of a series of beatings by guards and others for no other reason than to inflict harm and get their sick pleasure from the pain they have caused Him. Jesus has never called for the people to revolt against Rome that results in an independent nation of Israel and the restoration of the Davidic Dynasty. He has never given any authority a cause to suspect Him of open and wanton violence or rioting. He has not lifted a finger in harm against anyone, yet He stands before the representative of the emperor, unjustly accused of crimes and behavior that never originated or had been orchestrated by Him.

Pontius Pilate has been placed this day in what would be defined as a “no-win” scenario. He does not deserve any pity or empathy for his actions, for he is trying – not to seek true justice and freedom for the Lord Jesus – but to save his neck and avoid facing Tiberius Caesar.

The emperor could have him replaced, put into exile, or executed for what looks like a case of incompetence and indecision that disturbs the peace and order of Roman rule. Pilate has examined Jesus, found all the accusations against Him to be false and without merit, and now wishes to be rid of Him and get on with other matters. He tells the crowd that he will have Jesus punished by scourging and then let Him go. It does not satisfy the unholy desire of this mob that wants to see bloodshed and death. This was urged on by both the Pharisees and the forces of unseen evil spirits whispering in the ears of the crowd to call for the Lord Jesus to be killed in the most hideous method possible, that of crucifixion. This was a punishment so horrid that Roman citizens are exempt from being put to death by it.

Barabbas is set free by the will of the frenzied mob and walks into obscurity, oblivious of the mercy from God that was given to him. The evil atmosphere is compounded by the declaration made by Pilate, who refers to Jesus as their king. The Pharisees and their cohorts respond by what is a clear and unmistakable rejection of God’s authority by stating before Pilate that their king is none other than Caesar (Matthew 27:25; John 19:14-15). The crowd cries out to Pilate that Jesus’ blood would be on them and their children for approving His execution. Their approval of His sentencing and execution affirms what Jesus already knew about their hearts (John 2:23-25).

Because of these blasphemous and idolatrous words, the priests and people have, for all practical purposes, deliberately cut themselves off from the mercy, forgiveness, and saving grace of God. They have signed an eternal death warrant for hate’s sake and demonic outrage.

Any justice, mercy, or compassion has been thrown aside and now are nothing more than unwelcome words in the minds and souls of those who have cried out for the death of Jesus. People cry out for truth, love, and compassion, yet they rejected the very One who proclaimed that He was the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

In the shadows, another being watched with glee as preparations got underway to put Jesus to death and rid the world of any hope for redemption, and the promise from God that this evil being’s head would be crushed forever. The being – at one time a mighty and glorious archangel devoted to the LORD, now the sworn enemy of God and His people – is named Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-17). He believes he has defeated Jesus once and for all, thanks to the mob, the religious officials, and the weak Roman governor, all of whom played into his hands. He still attempts to poison minds against Jesus today.

The darkest day in history is about to get underway, or so the forces of evil think.

They will not see that the LORD has all of this in His control and that the day that changes the world is at hand.

donaldwhitchard@gmail.com

www.donaldwhitchard.com

The end of the age is coming. Jesus warned His disciples that this world as we know it has a finite lifespan. Unfortunately, through the years, Jesus’ Words have been twisted and misunderstood. Among other disputes within the church that have arisen from this teaching is the timing of how all this will occur.

A large part of this problem of interpretation is sequencing. Bible prophecy often has a telescoping aspect. The far away seems near. Prophets saw the future as God intended but couldn’t necessarily distinguish between what would happen sooner versus later. This resulted in dual fulfillment of some prophecies and the mashing together of many events so that they all seemed to happen at the same time. This is the issue associated with Jesus’ prophecies in Matthew 24.

How do we know this? First, in Matthew 24:4 (ESV), Jesus warns His disciples about one major principle after they’ve asked Him what the end will look like:

“And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray.'”

The NIV and KJV translations use the word “deceive.” Make sure you aren’t deceived. That’s the principal command beginning this passage of end-times events. If you’re Jesus’ disciple, you need to rightly divide the Word of God to get this right.

Jesus says that over the years, false prophets will arise; wars; rumors of wars; nations fighting other nations; internal conflict within nations as factions, i.e., kingdoms, contest with one another, and a multitude of natural catastrophic events such as famines and earthquakes. These will all increase dramatically in the latter days, but as with the labor of a woman soon to give birth, they are simply the signs of this impending event (Matthew 24:5-8).

We have seen all these signs ramp up since the beginning of the 20th Century. World War I followed by WWII, followed by the birth of Israel as a nation as a major milestone that initiated the Middle East conflicts; increasing civil unrest within nations, including America, beginning with the radical 1960s until today with such animosity between people of differing political, racial, and social beliefs that civil war seems imminent; multiplied natural disasters of unprecedented scope and of such intensity as has never before been experienced on earth; all these are but birth pains.

The next Word that Jesus says is critical: “Then.”

Matthew 24:8 records this:

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.”

Websters Dictionary 1828 gives this second definition of the word “then”: Afterward; soon afterward or immediately.

Thus, the various birth pains happen, and only then does the next event occur. Speaking of the church, Jesus tells us that “they” will deliver us up to tribulation, and all nations will hate us because of the Name of Jesus. Who are “they”? Unbelievers to whom Christianity is a threat. What do true Christians do? They discern and perceive the truth. In this, they are not deceived as is the rest of the world. “They” cannot abide by this because it doesn’t allow them to control Christ-followers as they can everyone else. This tribulation has been happening in the 10/40 Window for many years. I believe it must come to America for fulfillment of the prophecy.

Following this – let’s call it for what it is – persecution, Jesus tells us the next sequence of events in Matthew 24:10-12:

“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”

“And then” indicates this comes after or perhaps in the midst of the tribulation of persecution. Who will fall away? One must be part of something to fall away from it. In this case, again, the church is the object from which people will turn away.

Within the church, betrayals will occur.

More and more false doctrines will be taught as so-called prophets tickle the ears of many.

We’ve already seen a great increase in lawlessness in just the last couple years. It is caused by those with hard hearts whose conscience has been seared, and the truth is foreign to them. This results in growing coldness, indifference, and the lack of any kind of love for others. What has been visibly progressing to this point will grow more pronounced.

Have we seen the indicators of these things?

Absolutely. Consider how churches have abandoned the Bible as the inerrant, infallible Word of God. The people in these churches believe anything because they’ve discarded the truth. All who embrace the falsehoods will turn against those who hold to true Biblical values. The wolves in sheep’s clothing will act on behalf of the world – because they are of the world – and only a remnant of the true church will remain.

All this will continue up until the Rapture when Jesus snatches this remnant – His true Bride – away to deliver the unbelieving world up to God’s wrath. During the Tribulation, a revival of belief in Christ will cause many to follow Him, contrary to all the suffering they will endure from those who hate Christ.

This brings us to Matthew 24:13-14 in the timing sequence:

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Those who come to faith during this awful period must endure. As they do, their perseverance of belief in Jesus will save them. As to the Gospel being preached throughout the world, God has it covered with the witnesses He brings forth, and even an angel proclaiming the Good News. All these things happen according to God’s sequential timing; then the end comes with the return of Jesus in His Second Coming.

After warning of all these things that the Tribulation church will experience, Jesus turns His attention back to Israel and the events that will happen beginning at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Antichrist will desecrate the newly built temple, and Jews who have heard and believed Jesus’ Words will flee to the stronghold of Petra as the Great Tribulation of the second half of the 7-year horrors continue to befall the earth.

The chaos and violence are so immense during this time that humanity would completely destroy itself and the world without God’s intervention. However, He brings an end and does so because of those who have come to faith in Him, and in order to save them for His future purposes.

It all makes sense when we get the timing right.

Everything will occur in its proper order. Thank God He has given us this glimpse of things to come so that we can prepare; that we can brace ourselves in order to be a light to the world as we occupy until Jesus comes.

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Gary W. Ritter is a lay pastor and Bible teacher. He is also a prolific author. His Whirlwind Series comprises three books: Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind, and There Is A Time. These books are contained in the collected volume of the Whirlwind Omnibus. Gary has been given the Christian Redemptive Fiction award for two novels: The Tattooed Cat and Alien Revelation. He has collaborated with Terry James on a soon-to-be released third book, The Minion Protocols, in James’ Second Coming Chronicles series. Gary has also recently released a four-volume set of Awaken Bible Study Notes that comment verse-by-verse through Scripture from a Biblical prophetic lens. Gary’s intent in all his writings is to bring a strong Christian witness to what people read.

You can reach him at his website: www.GaryRitter.com or his Facebook Author page:  https://www.facebook.com/gritter3390.  You can also see his video Bible teachings on his Gary Ritter YouTube channel – look for the fish symbol.