Knowing The Word in Luke 22:63-65

The mocking of Jesus

22:63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

Comments

This physical and violent scene of mocking contrasted with Peter’s abuse of his relationship with Jesus, which was a different kind of betrayal against the Son of God. While Jesus awaited his “formal” trial in front of the Sanhedrin, he was left with a group of soldiers. They gathered he was a prophet, so they blindfolded and mocked him, adding insult to their violence.

Blasphemy means speaking sacrilegiously against God. If it had been a criminal in Jerusalem these soldiers abused, even though it would be sinful, it would not be blasphemy. However, it was even worse. These were not ordinary soldiers but soldiers directly under the control of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leadership, including the high priest. These were deep and dark sins being committed against God by his own creatures.

Application

Why did Jesus let them get away with this? Why not simply tell them whom they were hitting and let them know they were in the presence of someone even greater than a prophet? What does this tell you about God?

Prayer

Father, your angel armies could have saved your Son from this suffering, but you chose him before the foundation of the world to be your expression of sacrificial love. Thank you for loving me and the world with this extraordinary love.