“And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate.”
(Luke 23:1)
According to the Law, blasphemy—the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God—was a capital offense: “He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death” (Lev. 24:16). The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day knew this Scripture well, and so when Christ declared His divine Sonship, they tore their robes and cried out for judgment.
But the Father had already declared the truth: “This is my beloved Son” (Matt. 3:17). The Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). Christ Himself confirmed it, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). The accusation, then, was not blasphemy—it was Truth. “This was the most glorious apparition that ever was, setting aside what was at Christ’s baptism, when the heavens opened, and the Father spoke, and the Holy Ghost appeared in the likeness of a dove, upon the head of Christ: when all the Trinity appeared. But there was never such an apparition of angels, as at this time, and there was great cause, for there was never such a ground for it, whether we regard the matter itself, the incarnation of Christ, there was never such a thing from the beginning of the world, nor never shall be in this world, for God to take man’s nature on him, for heaven and earth to join together, for the Creator to become a creature.”[1]
So when Christ was accused of blasphemy by the religious leaders of His day, He could have answered in thunder, as at Sinai, or scattered them with a word, as He did in Gethsemane. Yet He stood silent before His accusers; He spoke nothing. Why?
Because the charges laid on Him were the sins of His own people. Sedition, rebellion, pride, and blasphemy—these are Adam’s crimes, and ours in him. The silence of Christ is the voice of substitution. He stood where we belonged, charged with our guilt, bearing our shame. He who knew no sin was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).
God once said of Adam, “Behold, the man is become like one of us” (Gen. 3:22). But in Christ, we say, “Behold, God is become like one of us” to save rebels by His own blood.
Contemplations:
- Merciful Advocate. When the adulterous woman was brought before You to be judged, Lord, You wrote with Your finger on the ground and sent her accusers away in shame. So, when I am brought before You to be judged, write my pardon with the finger of Your mercy on the ground of Your merits. Then shall my accusers flee from Your presence, unable to stand.
- Who Shall Condemn? Who shall lay anything to the charge of Your elect, Lord, when it is You who justifies (Rom. 8:33)? I acknowledge my guilt, for I, like the thief on the cross, deserve condemnation. But You have done nothing amiss. Your wounds speak pardon, Your blood speaks peace. You suffered for me on earth, and now You plead for me in heaven. What shall I fear if my Advocate ever lives to make intercession for me?
- Everlasting Intercessor. O Lord Jesus, the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8), Shepherd and Bishop of my soul, I ask that You intercede before the Father on my behalf. My guilt was laid before Him, and You took my place. Now every wound You bore is testimony of my acquittal. In Your sacrifice, there is both mercy and justice—mercy that pardons and justice that cannot condemn where payment has already been made.
Prayer (Supplication)
Righteous Lord, Judge of all the earth, I come before You, trembling at my sins. I do not plead innocence, for guilt stains every member. My mind has plotted against Your rule, my tongue has not always honored Your name, my heart has wandered from Your Word. The law condemns me, the accuser stands ready, and my mouth is stopped.
Yet I turn to Christ. He stood before Pilate in silence because I am guilty. He was charged with blasphemy because I have blasphemed. He bore the accusation without a reply, because my rebellion had no defense. Lord, I am the seditionist. I am the usurper. I am the one who wished to be as God. In Adam I fell, in my nature I sinned, and daily I find within myself the residue of the serpent’s lie. Yet You, O Christ, took my place.
Therefore, I ask, plead for me still. Let Your intercession rise even now in the courts of heaven. Let Your wounds answer for my crimes. Let Your blood plead louder than Abel’s. Write my name in the record of the ransomed. Justify me by Your righteousness. Acquit me by Your atonement.
And let me never despise the price You paid. Keep me from the arrogance that seeks to justify myself and from the fear that would trade loyalty for safety. Let me walk in the shadow of Your courtroom, remembering the silence that saved me.
Make me bold to confess Your name. Let no falsehood about You ever pass my lips. Let no cowardice hinder my witness. Make me, Lord, one who holds fast the confession of faith without wavering, for You who promised are faithful. And when the last accusation is raised, and the accuser roars, let me hide in Your wounds. There, justice has spoken. There, mercy has triumphed. There, I rest, forever safe.
In Christ’s matchless name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Luke 23:1:
Luke 22:66; John 18:29; John 19:1; Acts 3:13.
[1] Richard Sibbes, Light from Heaven Discovering the Fountaine Opened. (London: E. Purslow and Richard Badger for N. Bourne, at the Royall Exchange, and R. Harford, at the gilt Bible in Queens-head Alley in Pater-Noster-Row, 1638), 199–202.
