God on Trial

Scripture: Luke 23:1-12

C.I.: On Trial Before “The World” (Part 2)

Today we are going to conclude the series, “God on Trial.” – So far we have seen…!

•  The Tragedy of a “Compromising Man,” (Luke 23:13)

•  A Compromising Man: is Self-Centered , (vs. 13-16)
•  ( vs. 13-16 ), “And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, ‘You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges you make against Him. – No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; - and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.'”

•  The verdict is in: Three times Jesus is declared, “NOT GUILT!”

•  “I found no guilt in Him,” Pilate

•  “No, nor has Herod”

•  “Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by this man. ”

•  Thus, the truth of the matter has been determined – Jesus is innocent of all the charges!!!

•  Yet as we saw last week – Pilate is a “people-pleaser.”

1) People-pleasers (P.P.s) - are by their very nature - SELF-CENTERED!

a) P.P.s don't please others – because of how it will make them feel about themselves.

•  P.P.s seek to please others – because of how this will make them feel about them!

2) But Pilate was not always this way – He previously had dealt harshly with the Jews…

•  Eusebius, “Ecclesiastical History,” II. Vi. 2-5

•  ( Lk. 13:1 ), “Now on that same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, - whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.”

•  The Jews from this time - had constantly sent letters to Caesar asking for P.'s removal.

c. So to cover himself, Pilate says, “I will therefore punish Him and release Him,” ( v. 16 ).

1) God warns us against compromising our beliefs/values – in order to be liked by others…

2) ( I Tim. 5:21 ), “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and His
chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias , and do nothing in partiality .”

•  ( Jms. 5:12 ), “...let your yes be yes, and your no be no….”

•  Too often, in our desire to have people “like us” – we may become someone we don't like!!

•  A Compromising Man: Will Not Make Hard Choices , (vs. 17-21)

1. ( vs. 17-20 ), “Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner. –But they cried out all
together, saying, ‘Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!' – He was one who had been
thrown into prison for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder.”

a. (Describe Jerusalem city map) – “Put yourself in Barabbas' place…”

1) ( Matt. 27:22 ), “Pilate said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?'
– And they said, ‘Barabbas.'”

2) ( Matt. 27:23 ), “Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?'
They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!'”

b. ( v. 21 ), “And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus addressed them again, - but they kept calling out,
saying, ‘Crucify, crucify Him!'”

•  God gives us no middle ground (i.e., compromise) concerning His Son…

a) ( Lk. 11:23 ), “He who is not with Me, is against Me & he who does not gather….”

b) ( Jn. 5:23 ), “…that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father. – He who does
not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

c) ( II Jn. 9 ), “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does
not have God; he who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father & the Son.

2) Thus, God accepts no compromise regarding JESUS !!!

•  A Compromising Man: Will Give in to Pressure , (vs. 22-25)

1. ( vs. 22-25 ), “And he said to them a third time, ‘Why, what evil has He done? – I have found in Him
no guilt demanding death; I will therefore punish Him and release Him.' – But they were insistent,
with loud voices asking that He be crucified. – And their voices began to prevail. – And Pilate
pronounced sentence that their demand should be granted. – And he released the man they were
asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to
their will.”

a. The world will always seek to pressure you into doing that which you know to be a compromise..

1) ( Rom. 12:2 ), “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing….”

2) ( I Jn. 2:15-16 ), “Do not love the world, nor the things of this world. – If anyone loves the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. – For all that is in the world, the lust of the f….”

b. So… what are we to do when we are being tempted to compromise?

1) Walk by FAITH – ( Heb. 11:24-25 ), “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be
called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the
people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” God has something better that your compromise
will bring you!

2) Stand with STRENGTH – ( II Pt. 3:17 ), “…be on your guard lest, being carried away by the
error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness.”
3) Follow Jesus Example – ( I Peter 2:21-23 ), “For you have been called for this purpose
since Christ suffered for you leaving you an example to follow in His steps, who while being
reviled did not revile in return, while suffering He uttered no threats; but kept entrusting
Himself to the one who judges righteously.”

c. One of the first compromises we need to get around – is following through on what Jesus says
we need to do to be saved – in spite of what many religious people might tell us… Mk. 16:15-16!