Real Hope: The Passion - Week 1Sample

Jesus Is Condemned By The Sanhedrin

Think of having been falsely accused. You know you’re innocent, but your accuser is convinced you’re guilty. They stand against the truth you’re trying to tell. They don’t want to listen and have made up their mind and convinced their friends. No matter what you say, they won’t listen. Your natural reaction is to get angry, want justice, demand a fair trial, and proclaim your innocence far and wide.

Jesus did none of these things. He knew exactly what was in the hearts of his accusers. They had decided. Their hearts were hard against the truth. They knew what they wanted to happen, and nothing Jesus said would change that. In this scene, it is the serenity of Jesus that fills my heart with joy. The Sanhedrin is blustering and pompous. Many times Jesus has pointed to their hypocrisy. Now, He stands before them, quietly and gently. God’s grace comes to the fore. The undeserved favour of a God who is so full of love that the events play out to their inevitable conclusion: Jesus’ death on the cross. We can see the Sanhedrin’s falseness and sin in Jesus's blood. Yet, we look beyond this to the empty tomb. ‘He is not here,’ the angel tells the women, ‘For He is risen.’ The Sanhedrin’s accusations were false. God’s grace is real. We can be certain of this, for we know He is risen.

Written by CHRIS PARFOOT