THE INDICTMENTS OF JESUS AGAINST HIS ENEMIES

INTRODUCTION--

1. Some picture Jesus as going meekly to the cross without a word.
   
   1. He did remain silent in part of his trial.
      
      1. Before Pilate, he did not answer the accusations of the Jews. Mark 15:3-5 "And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of. 5 But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled."
         
      2. Before Herod. Luke 23:8-9
         
   2. This was in fulfilment of Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth."
      
2. These, perhaps, were silent indictments against the evil and unprincipled men who presumed to try Him unjustly for supposed crimes.

    

LESSON-- There were also some spoken words that implied indictments.

The indictment of Judas.

1. His character: A thief, and a betrayer without motive, save for money.
   
   1. John 12:6 shows his theft.
      
   2. Matthew 26:14-16 shows the only revealed motive for betrayal.
      
2. Jesus accused one of His disciples of being a betrayer. Mark 14:18-21
   
3. Judas pretended to be surprised. Matthew 26:25 "And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said."
   
4. Judas told the captors how he would betray his master. Mark 14:43-45 (Compare Luke 22:48 "Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"
   
5. A comment of the writer of Hebrews seems to fit this case. Hebrews 6:4-8
   

The indictment of Peter.

1. His character: He was compulsive and wavering. He ran hot and cold. He could vehemently promise faithfulness, but was weak in fulfiment.
   
2. Peter denied that he would forsake the Lord, in the face of the Lord's prediction that he would deny Him three times. Mark 14:27-31
   
3. Yet, he actually did deny knowing Jesus. John 18:15-18, 25-27 (Matthew says that on the third denial, Peter cursed to reinforce it.)
   
4. When he had denied, Jesus simply looked at him. Luke 22:61
   
5. Jesus had said in Mark 14:27 that all the disciples would forsake Him, and they did, at His arrest in the Garden. Mark 14:50-52 "And they all left him, and fled. 51 And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over his naked body: and they lay hold on him; 52 but he left the linen cloth, and fled naked."
   

The indictment of the arresting officers.

1. The very size of the force used to arrest him (about 600 men in a cohort) indicates their temerity and caution. They came under the cloak of dark.
   
2. They were surprised at His willingness to give himself up. John 18:3-6
   
3. Jesus showed the cowardice of their midnight arrest. Luke 22:52-53
   

The Indictment of the High Priests.

1. Though they would admit the validity of the power of Jesus, and respected His skill in teaching, they were envious, hating Him as a rival.
   
2. The animosity of Annas was exposed. John 18:19-23
   
3. The unbelief of Caiaphas was exposed. Mark 14:60-65
   

The indictment of Pontius Pilate.

1. His character: Haughty, yet dubious of his real power in the face of Jewish vehemence. His several attempts to free Jesus finally ended in the unjust surrender of His body to the Jews. A strond believe in the principle: "The end justifies the means." A typical politician.
   
2. Jesus showed Pilate that his power was not from Rome. John 19:4-11
   
   1. Pilate did not recognize the eternal truth of Romans 13:1-7.
      
   2. The "greater sin" belonged not to Pilate, but the those who accused Jesus of wrongdoing.
      

The indictment of all who had a part in the crucifixion.

1. Their character: The populace that greeted Jesus so enthusiastically just a week before could be persuaded to ask for Barabbas instead of Jesus, and to shout, "crucify Him, crucify Him!"
   
2. All those who had a direct, or indirect part in the crucifixion were all guilty of heinous crime, and of gross ignorance, when Jesus said on the Cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

    

APPEAL-- On the way to the cross, Jesus turned to the women who followed, lamenting, and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" Luke 23:28-31

1. All of us have had a part in putting Jesus on the Cross, because He died for our sins. Galatians 1:4 "(Christ) gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:"
   
2. Theirfore, to escape the indictment, and the certain doom of eternal punishment, we must let him carry our sins. 1 Peter 2:21-25