The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:22:63-65

kjv@Luke:22:63 @ And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

kjv@Luke:22:64 @ And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

kjv@Luke:22:65 @ And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

Today's notes:

Context:

Before - Luke:22:54-62 Peter Disowns Jesus
After - Luke:22:66-23:25 Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

Study Resources:

kjv@Matthew:26:59-68
kjv@Mark:14:55-65
kjv@John:18:19-23

Notes:

Each of the four gospel writers seem to focus on particular aspects of the same event. Some might say that they contradict. In jv@Matthew:26:67 we witness the Sanhedrin and then others spit/buffet/slap Jesus. kjv@Mark:14:65 "some" spit/cover/buffet/strike with their palms Jesus. John seems to speak of one specific officer of the court that struck Jesus before during the inquisition phase of the staged tribunal. All accounts do fit together into a coherent account if taken for what they are: separate yet integral pieces of the same event. I see it as a whole lot of slapping and spitting going on at multiple times. Does the behavior itself it come as any surprise?

The question that I have is why that Luke did not include the details of the mock trial itself, choosing to go to the rough treatment of Jesus instead? I personally believe that it is a result of Luke's approach to this gospel of gathering the presently collectible evidences and testimonies that could be verified at the time. Remember that only one disciple (likely John) was allowed into the palace room where Jesus was examined to witness matters because of the high priests familiarity with this disciple. Any testimony that Luke could decades later gather by his strict academic approach would either have to be from that disciple or from one/several of the participants, perhaps one more sympathetic or later converted such as Nicodemus. Luke goes straight to the treatment rendered by the temple guards because that is the testimony that he himself was able to verify; which gives me cause to believe that Luke spoke to guards still surviving that were within eye sight of the occurrence or else bystanders in the room in proximity to guards when this all blew up. The farce of the trail may not have been important enough to Luke's collection or may have been only verifiable through John himself (who may not have been accessible to Luke at this time). Luke is maintaining a presentation of certainty to his esteemed college Theophilus and so therefore must we in order to understand this.

The context that I feel hiding in plain sight behind all four of these gospel accounts is what Jesus Himself and alone is going through in these hours. What happened to the physical anguish Jesus was suffering in the garden that couldn't be taken away, but an angel had ministered a measure of additional physical human strength to? The burden no man before or since has ever had to suffer because of all sin? Is the spit and the slap that burden? How many others then might have claim to being savior as well. Is it nails piercing wrists and ankles? Perhaps then there are more than one burden bearers. We obviously must not be seeing what it is about Jesus' trial and crucification that besides being of God incarnate and Holy sets it a part as the one event liberating us from the once inescapable nature of sin. It is my suggestion that the callous behaviors described of this trial are only in addition to what burden Jesus is currently carrying in His flesh.

There is a certainty that one can obtain from eyewitnesses to an event even long after the matter. There is also a much deeper certainty that one can only obtain from asking the main participant Himself.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

kjv@Luke:1:1 @ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

kjv@Luke:1:2 @ Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

kjv@Luke:1:3 @ It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

kjv@Luke:1:4 @ That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

kjv@Luke:1:5 @ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:22:63-65
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:22:63-65 rwp@Luke:22:63-65 mhcc@Luke:22:63-65
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index