(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better — and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see why)
Focus Question:
What earthly reason was why Jesus was crucified?
Intro:
Do you consider yourself an open-minded person?
Hey Hopeful, welcome to ForTheHope’s Daily Audio Bible and a chance to see our stories and work in light of God’s story.
The opening question isn’t our focus question today, per se. It’s one I want you to remember to ask someone else. Our focus question is “What earthly reason was why Jesus was crucified?,” but there is an important cultural consideration for you right here in 2021. You might recall recently hearing that during David’s time that the tribe of Issachar was particularly known for understanding the times — and that’s my prayer for us today.
NEW TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
Today’s NT segment picks up part of the way through Luke 22 and runs part of the way through ch23. We saw them share the Passover meal, and now…
Passage: Luke 22:39-23:25
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 58
Words: ~1240
ORIGINAL TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
Our OT segment today finishes up the narrative of dedicating the temple. Solomon has just prayed a beautiful prayer beseeching God that any who turn to him would be granted mercy.
Passage: 2 Chronicles 7-8
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 40
Words: ~1208
Oooh, what a beautiful reminder that even then, God hears prayers.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
What earthly reason was why Jesus was crucified?
It’s not a trick question, but it is one that requires a bit of discernment.
We know the theological answer — that Jesus died for the sins of the world. But I asked the question that way on purpose…what was the earthly, legal reason — technically — that Jesus was crucified.
Sedition, which the dictionary defines as “conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.” Put another way in contemporary terms, you could call it a perceived crime against the common good.
The Jewish leaders were jealous and feared the people. And though the OT Jewish legal penalty for blasphemy — what they accused Jesus of — was death, in a way they there was a separation of church and state in 1st century Israel. The Romans were the occupying force, and the Jews couldn’t put Jesus to death. So what did they do? Appealed to the State.
But the State comes back and goes, “Wait, we’ve got nothing to convict this guy on.” In fact, ironically Jesus taught people to obey rulers and pay taxes. And while Rome wasn’t a democracy, what did Pilate do? Conceded to the will of the mob. But the legal reason was because he was deemed an enemy of the state, the state’s peacekeeping.
You, my friend, if you believe the Bible, are dangerously close to being deemed the same. And for the sake of time, I’ll cut to the chase. If you’re in dialogue with someone and they ask you a question that you know they won’t like the answer to, begin with, “Do you consider yourself an open-minded person?” 19 times out of 18 they’ll say yes. Then, regardless of whether or not you answer, or how you answer, they’ve just put themself in a place where to come against you demonstrates quite openly that they aren’t.
We live in crazy times, my friends. Stay faithful.
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
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