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This week we continue our discussion of chapter 22 of Luke’s Gospel. Please read verses 54-62 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 22:54 (New International Version – NIV)
‘Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.’
This week, we’re going to begin looking at the arrest and trial of Jesus. In preparation for that, I just want to provide a rough overview of the events that are to take place in a very short space of time.
Jesus was to endure six trials before His eventual crucifixion:
There were three Jewish Trials:
- Before Annas 18:12-14
- Before Caiaphas 18:19-24
- Before the Sanhedrin Matt 27:1,2
And there were three Roman Trials:
- Before Pilate 18:28-38
- Before Herod Luke 23:6-11
- Before Pilate 18:39-19:16
Also, at daybreak, Jesus was declared ‘guilty’ of blasphemy before the Sanhedrin.
It is staggering to see how many illegal events/actions took place and yet everything proceeded without any objection. As we’ve said so many times before, God was in control of the timings and even though none of the trials made any sense as far as Jewish law was concerned, Jesus needed to go through them all.
Our verse today begins the above process and we’re going to look at just one aspect of it. ‘They led Him away’ is a simple statement but for me it is full of meaning and emotion. Psalm 23 wonderfully states that ‘He leads me beside the still water’. When Israel was brought out of Egypt, we read that God led them through the desert. It is perfectly normal and most desirable for us to be led by our Almighty God.
However, we are now reading that Jesus Himself is being led away by guards. The Lord of all creation is allowing Himself to be led away. My mind goes immediately to the words of the prophet Isaiah when he says ‘ he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.’ Jesus is fulfilling prophecy by submitting Himself to the will of the religious leaders and I can imagine that as He is making each step, this prophecy is being played in His mind.
My prayer for us all today, is that we don’t try to lead God anywhere but that we submit our lives to His will and His purpose. Romans 8:14 says ‘those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.’ May we always be led by His gracious Hand and walk in the paths that He has chosen for us.
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