Scripture Verses
Luke 22:66-23-25 (NIV)
66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67"If you are the Christ,[a]" they said, "tell us."
Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
70They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"
He replied, "You are right in saying I am."
71Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."
Luke 23
1Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ,[b] a king."
3So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
5But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea[c]by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."
6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."[d]
18With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
22For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."
23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
Devotion
Scripture: Luke 22:66-23:25 The council of priests and scribes asked Him, “Are you the Christ?” Jesus answered, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe me.’” Luke 22:67
The scripture lesson describes the disbelief of the people and rulers of Jesus’ last days. They were convinced He should be put to death for declaring He was the Son of God, the One who forgives sin. He later demonstrated forgiveness on the Cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 22:34)
Thomas, one of the disciples, upon hearing fellow disciples say, “We have seen Him.” declared “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails…I will not believe.” Eight days later, Jesus said to Thomas, “see My hands”. Thomas fell to his knees saying, “my Lord and my God.” Jesus made an interesting response: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:29)
On occasion, some will say, “I’ve been too bad. Can God really forgive me?”
The answer is yes! There is nothing we have done God will not forgive when we ask Him to through Christ. The only unforgivable sin in not believing, refusing to ask Christ to forgive us. Jesus did rise from the dead and appeared to many. Yet it is a challenge for us to believe and accept His forgiving love. This forgiveness is what we celebrate at Easter.
A Lutheran evangelist, Dr. Norheim, from California, said to a gathering of Youth for Christ in Minot, N.D. in 1947, “You ask me why I’m happy. I’ll tell you why. Because my sins are gone, buried in the deepest sea never to be remembered any more.” That night I (Leon) stood saying, “I believe. Help me to believe” and found direction for the living of life.
Prayer
Father, forgive us. Help us to believe and accept your forgiveness through Christ, the only Name given under heaven where by we can be forgiven of our sins. In His name, Amen.
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