TITLE: Not Guilty, Your Honor
DATE: May 29, 2016
SPEAKER: Josh King
LEADER NOTES
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CHECKED IN ON MYCHURCH.
OVERVIEW
Opener - What are some of the top things on your ‘bucket list?’
Text – Luke 23:1-14
Summary – What happened to Jesus is clearly an injustice. The bottom line is,
they killed an innocent man. Up until the execution He was mistreated in every
way. Abused, lied about, and falsely accused. In this we are confronted with the
way we treat Him, what we demand of Him, and what we feel we are entitled to.
In this we are given the perfect example of what to do when we are mistreated
and hurt. Watch Jesus and then walk worthy.
DISCUSS

What do we hope to accomplish when we retaliate? Can you think of a time
when Jesus retaliated when mistreated?

Do you view Jesus as weak? Why might He be seen this way?

How is Jesus seen as strong yet able to remain humble? Why are both of
these characteristics important when we are mistreated?

Jesus was misunderstood, misconstrued, misrepresented, misused, and mistreated by the rulers. Walk through each of these and think of how we might
treat Him similarly today.

What is a more Christ-like way to respond to those who mistreat you?
ANNOUNCE
Summer Book Club | Spend the summer reading Multiply by Francis Chan then
come on Wednesdays in June and July at 6:30p to discuss what you read. Sign up
in the foyer or contact [email protected].
Women’s Bible Study | Gather with women on Wednesdays at 6:30p, June 15th
through August 3rd as we work through the study Seamless. Sign up in the foyer
or contact Jacki King.
Kids Camp : Sport | Our annual kids camp is June 12-14. If you would like to volunteer OR register your kids or grandchildren, head to
sachseschurch.org/kidscamp
LEADER NOTES
COMMENTARY | New Bible Commentary
23:1-5 Jesus before Pilate (see Mt. 27:1-2, 11-14; Mk. 15:1-5; cf. Jn. 18:28-38). Since the
Jews had in general no power to carry out a death sentence (Jn. 18:31), it was necessary
to take the case before the Roman authorities. A Roman governor would not listen to
'questions about words and names and your own [Jewish] law' (Acts 18:14-15), and
therefore the charge against Jesus had to be rephrased as one of sedition against Rome.
Of the two specific charges made, the first was false (cf. vs. 20:25), but the second was
true, although not in the sense in which the Jews meant it (cf. Jn. 18:36-37). So, when
Pilate asked Jesus if he claimed to be a king, he answered in a noncommittal way. Pilate
would have questioned Jesus more closely before reaching his verdict that there were no
grounds for a political charge against him.
Notes. Although Pilate normally resided in the administrative capital of Caesarea (cf.
Acts 23:33; not to be confused with Caesarea Philippi, Mk. 8:27), he visited Jerusalem at
the Passover season—as also did Herod. 2 King explains the meaning of Christ for Romans.
Small Group
Suggested Outline
REMIND EVERYONE TO START
CHECKING IN VIA THE APP OR KIOSK
Check In: (15 min) Have everyone
share about their past week positive
and negative.
Prayer: (5 min) Short but intentional prayer for each person in the
group.
Discussion: (15 min) Use the Discussion Questions to talk about the
previous Sermon.
God Plan: (5 min) Have a time of
sharing what God is doing in the
hearts of each person. Encourage
those plans.
Announcements: (5 min) Let the
group know about relevant events
and occasions that are going on with
the church. An announcement sheet
should be included in your tray if not
use a bulletin.
Plan: (5 Min) Make sure to discuss
the next fellowship activity as well as
service project the group is planning.
23:6-12 Jesus before Herod. Pilate was trying to avoid settling a difficult case. The mention of Galilee (v 5) gave him his opportunity. He knew well enough that Jesus had committed no crime, and he seems to have deliberately played with the Jews as he tried to
frustrate their intention. But when the situation showed signs of getting out of control,
he was prepared to sacrifice an innocent person in order to keep the peace. For the moment, however, he could buy time, and possibly support, by sending Jesus across to the
ruler of Galilee, Herod Antipas. Herod is presented as a frivolous person, hoping to see
some amusing tricks performed by one whom he probably regarded as some kind of magician. To such a person Jesus had nothing to say.
Notes. 6-7 Pilate was not necessarily trying to get the case officially transferred to Herod.
He may simply have been seeking backing for his own opinion. Some scholars hold that
the incident has been fabricated from Acts. 4:25-26, but this is unlikely. See also on 9:9.
10 Some of the Jewish leaders must have gone across to Herod's residence to ensure that
he heard their side of the case. 11 The mockery is similar to that carried out by Pilate's
soldiers (Mk. 15:16-20), but one set of troops could easily have copied the other's example. Similar stories are related of mockery of other prisoners in the ancient world.
23:13-25 The sentence of death (see Mt. 27:15-26; Mk. 15:6-15; Jn. 18:38-19:16). Pilate
perhaps hoped that the people (v 13) would side with him in resisting the Jewish leaders
when he delivered his verdict. No doubt the prisoner had been something of a public nuisance, but a scourging would be a sufficient punishment for this. The crowd, however,
had been swayed by the priests, and they shouted for Barabbas, a wellknown revolutionary, to be released instead of Jesus. Pilate was naturally not willing to release a dangerous man (as well as to condemn an innocent one). But he thought it wiser to yield to the
intensity of the demonstration. A later Jewish ruler is said to have characterized Pilate as
'inflexible, merciless and obstinate'. This is borne out by his behaviour here; for the common view that he showed vacillation and weakness is an understatement. At the end of
the day Pilate showed no mercy, let alone justice, to an innocent man.