Jesus is Mocked & Jesus Before the Council

Luke 22:63­–71

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Now morning breaks on the final day of Jesus’ earthly life. He is under the custody of Roman soldiers, and members of the Sanhedrin, the council of the 70 headed by the high priest.

2.         For some years the religious leaders of Israel had watched the young Galilean heal the sick, raise the dead, cast demons out of so very many, and do incredible miracles. Since He did not identify with these leaders, they hated Him.

3.         The religious leaders treated Him so horribly, blindfolding Him and striking Him then asking who was it that was hitting Him. And Jesus took it all, He submitted to what was coming, being sacrificed for our sin on the cross.

4.         With daybreak, and it had to be at this time, to make the proceedings legal, Jesus was officially brought before the council, a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

5.         The core of their interest was whether Jesus would claim that He was the Christ. He knew that if He said He was, they would not believe Him. However, He does state clearly that He is the “Son of Man,” meaning the Christ, and that He would be at the right hand of the power of God.           

6.         Then in a very Hebrew way, He does declare that He is indeed the Messiah. And this is enough for the authorities to have Him crucified.