The Sentenced Christ
Scripture Reading: John 18:28–19:16
Meditation
The Sanhedrin is the highest Jewish court in Jerusalem. It’s composed of the three groups of people that Jesus had said would deliver him unto death: the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law.
“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
During the early morning hours that followed Jesus’ betrayal and arrest in the Garden, the seventy-one members of the Sanhedrin met under the cloak of darkness. In the safety of the shadows, the high priest, Caiaphas, asked only for damning evidence.
There was none.
The court produced false witnesses and trumped up claims of blasphemy. But even then, none of the solicited statements agreed. It was only when the high priest asked Jesus,
“Are you the Messiah?”
and when Jesus answered,
“I am” that a verdict was delivered.
At this, the high priest tore his clothes and the entire Sanhedrin condemned him. The death penalty was set, but the death sentence required the approval of the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate. And so early in the morning, the Jews led Jesus to the palace of the Roman governor.
But as Pilate interrogates Jesus, he finds no crime. He finds no basis for a charge and therefore no cause for the sentence of the cross. Even though this Jesus may claim to be a King—a heavenly King—Pilate doesn’t consider this otherworldly kingdom to be any type of threat to his Rome. And where there is no threat to Rome, there is no need for punishment.
He announces his verdict,
“I find no basis for a charge against him.” (John 18:38)
Instead, as is the custom at Passover, Pilate offers to pardon one prisoner slated for execution. He asks the crowd if they want “the King of the Jews” but to his astonishment they shout back,
“No, not him! Give us Barabbas!”
They choose a mercenary over the Messiah.
Inside the palace, Jesus stands like a lamb ready to be led to the slaughter.
Outside the palace gates, the wolves of the Sanhedrin are circling, salivating, and beginning to howl. They want blood. They came asking for it and they won’t stop until they get a taste of it in their mouths.
Pilate tries to appease the crowd. Again he declares his verdict and presents the King of the Jews to his so-called subjects. But again the kingdom revolts.
“ ‘Here is your king,’ Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, ‘Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!’
A death chant begins,
“Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilates asks again,
‘Shall I crucify your king?’
‘We have no king but Caesar,’ the chief priests answered.
Finally, Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.” (John 19:14-16)
But the wolves in the crowd want more than his death; they want his damnation. They want his body to hang from a tree. That’s the only acceptable death for this blasphemer: cursed, forsaken, and forever separated from God.
“If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
Finally, Pilate accedes.
He gives the order:
“Crucify him.”
The death sentence is pronounced though a crime has never been committed. What’s more astonishing is that the Sentenced Christ accepts the punishment. He takes the curse of the cross, carries the punishment for sin on his back, and begins his final steps toward Calvary. He goes in love. He goes because he knows that the curse will bring a blessing.
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:13)
Prayer
Father,
After the Sanhedrin falsely convicted your Son of blasphemy, they brought him before Pontius Pilate to be sentenced to death. They wanted an execution and they wanted that execution to bear the curse of crucifixion:
“No stones. We want him to hang limp on a tree and bear the scourge of God.”
But when Pilate interrogated Jesus, he found no crime, no basis for a charge, and therefore no cause for the sentence of the cross. He found him to be as meek as a lamb and as gentle as a dove.
Jesus was no threat to Rome. Where there was no threat, no punishment was deserved. But outside Pilate’s palace, the Sanhedrin wanted blood. They shouted,
“Crucify him!”
They demanded his death. And when given the option of freeing Jesus or Barabbas, they chose the mercenary over the Messiah.
During this day, help me understand the spiritual inequity of the cross as well as its necessity. Help me believe that the Sentenced Christ accepted the punishment for sin even though he didn’t commit the crime. This day, may I draw peace from this decision and forgiveness from its consequence.
It’s in the Sentenced Christ’s name I pray. Amen.
Reflection
Why did the death sentence of Christ have to be crucifixion?
How did the curse of the cross turn out to be a blessing for you?
In what ways have you stood in the crowd and yelled, “Take him away! Crucify him!”?
Why was it necessary for the Sentenced Christ to go to the cross—innocent of any crime?
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day (John 18:28–19:16). Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted in parenthesis. All Scripture quoted on this site is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
