A Blameless Character • Luke 22:63-23:25

57:43 Teaching begins

Notes

Jesus’s enemies have captured Him and uncover a problem. It’s harder to condemn Him than they thought it would be. Why not just kill Him? Because Jesus’ character is clearly blameless, and killing a blameless person is really wrong.

A blameless character is the most valuable thing in the world, and your character needs to be blameless.

I’m reading in Luke 22 from verse 63.

1. Jesus proves perfect character before His captors, vv. 63-65.

A. These men just arrested Jesus, and they know something of why they’re arresting Him, that He claims to be the Messiah.

B. They don’t seem to believe it, and they treat Jesus outrageously, because they can. They slap Him around, they mock Him as a prophet. He doesn’t fight back, He’s harmless, they aren’t afraid of Him at all, it’s fun to pick on someone who won’t fight back. They think meekness is weakness.

C. Jesus is showing perfect forbearance.

1. This is new for Jesus. He has never been beaten up in His life. He’s never felt pain like this.

2. Remember that He can handle 6000 demons with a word. He can tell a windstorm to stop it.

3. He’s practicing meekness, loving His enemies, praying for those who spitefully treat Him, to please the Father. If Jesus hadn’t pursued meekness, they would be dead. They totally miss it, but Jesus is showing perfect character.

2. Jesus proves perfect character before the Sanhedrin, vv. 66-71.

A. The chief priests and scribes do not want to examine Jesus, they have already decided He’s going to die.

B. They go through the motions of a trial because evil wants to look righteous even as it practices evil. In other gospels we read that they’re looking for false witnesses, anyone with any shred of any wicked thing, so they can blow it up and say Jesus is worthy of death.

C. They are looking as hard as they can and they find nothing that they can use to condemn Jesus. Not one thing. Don’t you think that’s remarkable?

D. They ask Him to incriminate Himself, and He only affirms the truth, that He is the Son of Man, the Messiah, the Son of God. He’s not going to lie to save His life.

E. Jesus’ enemies prove that Jesus has perfect character.

3. Jesus is clearly blameless before Pilate, vv. 1-7.

A. Notice that the chief priests change their accusation before Pilate.

1. They don’t have the authority to put Jesus to death. Only the Roman governor Pilate has that.

2. Neither Rome nor Pilate would care about a charge of Jewish blasphemy, but they would care about rebellion and losing tax revenue.

B. Pilate can see two very different characters before him.

1. On the one hand, these chief priests accusing Jesus of terrible crimes. He says I don’t see anything wrong with Him, and they argue, they insist, they slam Jesus, they threaten, you’re no friend of Rome.

2. On the other hand, here’s Jesus. Quiet. Not insistent. Not quarrelling with the priests, not defending Himself. Not upset or angry or shouting. When Pilate asks, “So, are You the King of the Jews, then?” Jesus says politely, “Yes, sir.” No arrogance, no pretence of magnificence, no rebuke about Rome is bad and Jesus is good. Pilate knows Jesus is not crazy and harmless, either. Maniacs don’t have presence of mind and complete calm.

3. The priests are wound up tight and spitting fire. Jesus is calm and peaceful. Which one of these is right?

C. Pilate can’t pervert justice to do the Jews a favour because Jesus is clearly blameless. He avoids the decision and sends Jesus to Herod.

4. Jesus is clearly blameless before Herod, vv. 8-12.

A. Herod just wants to see Jesus do a miracle. He wants something sensational.

B. Again, look at what Herod sees:

1. The priests are vehemently accusing Jesus of rebellion and telling people don’t pay taxes.

2. Jesus doesn’t answer a single question, performs no miracle, doesn’t say a word. He’s not intimidated, not accusing, not threatening, not insulting. No face expression that Herod can read, “Oh, He thinks this about me!” There’s nothing from Jesus to take offence over, except He says nothing. Do what you want with that.

C. Herod makes fun of Jesus and sends Him back to Pilate, but he doesn’t condemn Him. Herod could also do the Jews a favour just like Pilate, but he can’t because clearly Jesus is blameless.

5. Though He is clearly blameless, Jesus is condemned to die, vv. 12-25.

A. Three times Pilate says I see no guilt in Him, and he keeps trying to get Jesus dismissed. Look, I’ll flog Him to within an inch of His life and let Him go.

B. See the contrast again before Pilate:

1. The chief priests are working the crowd up into a riot saying, “Crucify Him!” You want a riot, Pilate? We’ll do you one. This won’t look good on your record.

2. Jesus is flogged and bleeding, says nothing, does nothing to defend Himself or sway the crowd, humble and harmless. It is a miraculous display of self-control and trust in God. I’m going to do what the Father has for Me to do.

C. Pilate perverts justice to save himself. He condemns a perfect man.

1. The crowds are wrong, the priests are wrong, the soldiers are wrong, Pilate and Herod are wrong. Everybody is wrong.

2. Jesus has been found over and over to be blameless and harmless. It has been proven that He has done nothing wrong to anyone, and He has been condemned to die.

3. This is absolutely outrageous.

6. So what? You see here two types of character. Perfect, and everything else. You need perfect character. Everything else is not going to make it.

A. When your life is judged by God, you will be measured by Jesus. How do you measure up? Did you love and obey God perfectly? Did you do wrong to anyone? Did you forgive everyone who sinned against you? Did you say one hurtful word against man or God? Were you perfect and blameless your entire life, just like Jesus?

B. If not, you need to be saved from your sins against God and man.

1. You need someone perfect to die in your place, under your punishment. When that punishment is carried out, then God will release you from your condemnation. You also need someone who is willing to die in your place. If that perfect person doesn’t want to die for you, you’re lost.

2. Who is perfect before God? No one but Jesus. He is also willing to die in your place. That perfect character makes Jesus the most valuable person ever. There is salvation in no other name. He alone is the Saviour.

3. Make sure today that you have received Jesus.

C. If you have received Jesus, realise that the major work the Father is doing is making a perfect character in you, the character of Jesus.

1. Character is a result of inclinations and choices, that become fixed habits.

2. The Father is changing your inclinations from evil to good. He’s helping you shun evil and choose good. He’s encouraging you to not give up because you must endure for the sake of discipline. And He will discipline you to share His holiness.

D. You cooperate with the Father. You pray.

1. I’ve noticed in the Psalms that David prays, Lord, incline my heart away from evil towards good. Set a watch on my lips, teach me Your ways, show me Your paths. Pray those prayers.

2. Like Jesus, you pray, not my will, but Yours be done. May I be pleasing to you.

E. Perfect character does not mean you won’t suffer. Jesus suffered because His character was perfect. You might irritate someone because you’re trying to do what is right. Men love the darkness because their deeds are evil. You come in and it’s light. They won’t like that. You pray for them, you forgive. God is going to deal with everyone. You keep doing what’s right.

F. Perfect character takes time.

1. It would be nice if the Father would give you perfect character in a second, but He can’t. It’s about you, with His help, making right choices over your whole life.

2. When the Father is done you will have a perfect character that will last forever. That’s worth persevering for.

Let’s pray.