Jesus Was Condemned as the Son of God
Luke 22:63-23:25
Key Verses: 22:69-70
“But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”
Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do? How did it make you feel? Being misunderstood, falsely accused, or even treated unfairly is painful. Now, imagine being the Son of God—completely innocent and righteous—yet standing in trials before corrupt human authorities. That is exactly what Jesus had to undergo.
In today’s passage, Jesus goes through a series of unjust trials, ultimately being condemned as the Son of God. The people involved—Pilate, Herod, the religious leaders, and the crowd—each had different perspectives on the truth, yet all of them rejected Jesus in their own way. Today, many people still struggle to accept the truth about Jesus. Through this message, I pray that we may deeply examine how Jesus was condemned in our place. May we also reflect on our response to his identity, the Son of God.
We will divide this message into three parts:
“Are you then the Son of God?” (22:63-71)
“Are you the king of the Jews?” (23:1-12)
“Crucify him! Crucify him!” (23:13-25)
Let’s journey through this passage together.
I. “Are you then the Son of God?” (22:63-71)
After being arrested, Jesus was taken to the high priest’s house, where he was mocked and beaten. 22:63-65 says, “The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, ‘Prophesy! Who hit you?’ And they said many other insulting things to him.” Imagine this scene. Jesus, the Creator of the universe, stood there blindfolded while sinful men repeatedly struck Him. They taunted Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” Well, Jesus knew exactly who struck Him. He knew their names, their hearts, and their very thoughts. Yet, he remained silent. Why? Because He had already chosen to undergo the pain and suffering.
Look at verse 66. The early next morning, Jesus was brought before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin. Look at verses 67a. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” What was their purpose behind saying this? Were they saying, “If you are the Messiah, tell us, so that we may put our faith in you”? No, Jesus already knew their hearts. They weren’t looking for the truth; they were looking for a reason to accuse and condemn Jesus. Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer.”
Then Jesus made a powerful statement in verse 69, “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” This was a clear reference to Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man is given authority and an everlasting kingdom. Jesus said this publicly; he did not hold anything back. By saying this, Jesus declared that he is the Messiah and the divine Son of God. Amen. Look at verse 70, which is also part of today’s key verses. “They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” In Greek, this phrase “You say that I am” carries the meaning of an affirmation—Jesus confirmed his identity. Just like this, Jesus openly and boldly declared his true identity as the Son of God. But how did the Jewish leaders respond to this? Verse 71 says, “Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
That’s it. That’s what they wanted to hear from Jesus so that they could fulfill their evil plans of getting rid of Jesus. They could finally declare him guilty of blasphemy. The Jewish leaders had the truth revealed right in front of them, but they refused to accept it. So many times, Jesus challenged them and rebuked them with the heart of a shepherd, but they deliberately decided not to accept. Because of their pride and hardened hearts, they determined to see Jesus only as a stumbling block to them. They desired to indulge in their prideful, hypocritical, and self-righteous lives. Can you relate to this at all? How often are we tempted to the same? Sometimes, we resist God’s truth when it challenges our comfort, traditions, or desires. Instead of reshaping our beliefs to align with God’s Word, we try to fit God into our own understanding.
Are there areas in our lives where we resist God’s truth because it doesn’t align with our expectations or desires? Let us pray to humble ourselves and allow God’s Word to shape our spiritual view of Jesus rather than rejecting him.
II. “Are you the king of the Jews?” (23:1-12)
Since the Jewish leaders couldn’t execute Jesus, they brought him to Pilate , the Roman governor. They brought Jesus before him, accusing him of subverting the nation, opposing Roman taxes, and claiming to be a king. Pilate, knowing the tendency of the Jewish population, was faced with a dilemma: “Should I uphold justice or please the crowd?” When he asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (23:3), Jesus responded, “You have said so.” This answer was not a denial but an affirmation. Pilate, now, was to confront the true nature of Jesus’ kingship. Pilate quickly recognized that Jesus was no real political threat. He declared, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” (23:4). However, instead of standing firm in this conviction, Pilate sought a way to escape responsibility. When he learned that Jesus was a Galilean, he seized the opportunity to shift this burdensome responsibility to Herod, hoping to wash his hands of the matter.
Pilate represents those who recognize the truth about Jesus but are unwilling to take a stand. He knew Jesus was innocent, but fear of the crowd and political consequences led him to compromise with the truth. Many of us today find ourselves in a similar position, don’t we? We acknowledge Jesus as significant, perhaps even divine, but we are unwilling to fully submit to him because of societal pressure, fear of rejection, or personal ambitions.
Now, how about Herod? Look at verse 8. “When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.” Unlike Pilate, Herod had long wanted to see Jesus—not out of reverence, but out of curiosity. He had heard about Jesus’ miracles and hoped to witness one himself. Herod viewed Jesus as a magician, someone to entertain him rather than someone to believe in. When Jesus refused to answer his questions or perform any sort of signs, Herod grew frustrated. His curiosity quickly turned into mockery. Look at verse 11. “Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.”
Herod could represent those who approach Jesus with shallow interest, treating him as an object of amusement rather than as the Lord and Savior. Many people today are drawn to Jesus for what they think he can do for them—blessings, miracles, or inspiration—but when faced with the demands of true discipleship, they turn away. Herod’s response shows how dangerous it is to treat Jesus lightly, reducing him to nothing more than a religious figure who serves personal interests.
Pilate and Herod responded to Jesus in different ways, but both failed to acknowledge him as the Son of God. Pilate tried to avoid the truth, fearing the consequences of standing for justice. Herod approached Jesus with a selfish mindset, and dismissed him when he did not meet his expectations. Their own thoughts, desires, and fears prevented them from seeing the truth of who Jesus really was. Though they had the chance to recognize and respond to Jesus as the Son of God, they missed it because they were too focused on their own concerns. They may have believed they held the power to judge Jesus, but in spiritual reality, Jesus alone will sit on the judgment seat, and one day, he will judge us all—including Pilate and Herod.
How should we respond to Jesus? Do we hesitate like Pilate, knowing the truth but unwilling to stand for it? Do we treat Jesus like Herod, engaging with him only when it suits our interests? Or do we humbly recognize him as the true King, submitting to his authority in our lives? Jesus is not just another religious figure. He is the King of kings. Let us acknowledge Jesus as our rightful King and live in obedience to his words so that we do not miss seeing him for who he truly is—the Son of God.
III. “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (23:13-25)
Look at verse 13. “Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people” Let us read verses 14-15 together. “and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.” Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and sought to release Him after a punishment, hoping this would satisfy the crowd. However, Pilate’s actions reveal his weakness as a leader. Though he recognized the truth, he was unwilling to stand firmly for justice. He compromised, offering punishment instead of freedom. But even with that, the people were still not satisfied. Pilate had the power to release Jesus, but he allowed the crowd’s voices to dictate his decision.
Matthew 27:15 tells us, “Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.” When Pilate offered the crowd the choice to release either Jesus or Barabbas, they shouted “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (18). Barabbas was guilty of violent uprising and murder; he truly deserved to be put to death! Yet the people demanded his release while calling for Jesus’ crucifixion. Why? The religious leaders had stirred up the crowd. They had preconceived ideas of the Messiah—someone who would overthrow Roman rule. Jesus did not fit their expectations, so they rejected him. This same attitude exists today. Many reject Jesus not because of lack of evidence but because he does not meet their desires. They seek a Savior who brings comfort and success rather than one who calls for repentance and obedience.
Pilate asked the crowd the third time, “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty.” (22a). Yet the religious leaders were relentless, inciting the people to demand crucifixion. Let us read verse 23. “But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.” The religious leaders rejected Jesus out of pride and a desire for control. They were more concerned with preserving their influence than recognizing the truth before them. Their hatred blinded them, leading them to manipulate others into rejecting the Son of God. Today, some reject Jesus because they do not want to surrender control of their lives. Others distort Jesus’ message for personal gain. The religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat rather than as their salvation, and their hardened hearts led them into rebellion against God.
Look at today’s final verses 24-25. “So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.” (24-25). The crowd and religious leaders appeared to have won. Jesus was sentenced to die, and Barabbas was set free. But was this truly a victory? From a worldly perspective, it seemed so. Yet, the spiritual reality was different. Jesus was not a victim of circumstances—He was obediently fulfilling God’s plan. His suffering in silence was the fulfillment of prophecy. Isaiah 53:7 reads, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” His silence before Pilate and Herod was not weakness but submission to the Father’s will.
Jesus’ condemnation was necessary for our salvation. He took Barabbas’ place as he took ours on the cross. The guilty was set free, and the innocent was condemned. This exchange represents the gospel: Jesus bore our sins so that we might be forgiven. Romans 5:8, Paul declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The crowd rejected Jesus because they were blinded by sin. Their hatred, fear, and desires clouded their judgment. Sin does the same to us—it blinds us to the truth of Jesus. Pilate feared the people more than he feared God. He knew Jesus was innocent but caved under pressure. This challenges us to ask ourselves: Are we making decisions based on peer pressure rather than what we know is right? We must choose to follow Christ regardless of opposition, trusting that his truth is greater than the opinions of the world.
For much of my life, I have called Jesus my Lord and Savior, yet I often pursued my own ambitions, treating him as a means to an end. Like Pilate and Herod, I failed to recognize him as the true King, choosing work, success, money, family, comfort, and pleasure over full surrender to him. I compromised, seeking fulfillment in worldly things while keeping Jesus in the background. But through today’s passage, God has opened my eyes. None of these pursuits can truly satisfy me. Jesus is not someone to use for my own gain—He is the Son of God, the rightful King of my life. Therefore, I choose to lay everything down before Him. I surrender my desires, ambitions, and comforts. Please pray for me not to compromise or put other things before my king Jesus. Please pray for me to follow, obey, and stand for Jesus.
Conclusion
Jesus was condemned as the Son of God—not because He was guilty, but because people refused to accept the truth. The Jewish leaders rejected Him because He didn’t fit their expectations. Pilate ignored the truth out of fear. Herod was too distracted by worldly entertainment. The crowd chose a murderer over the Messiah.
But Jesus willingly took this condemnation for us. He was mocked so we could be honored. He was beaten so we could be healed. He was condemned so we could be justified.
Now Jesus stands before us. What will you do with Jesus? Will you reject Him like the religious leaders? Will you ignore Him like Pilate? Will you be distracted like Herod? Or will you accept him as the Son of God and your king?
You know there is a Roman centurion who saw everything that happened through Jesus’ trial and death, and he makes this confession in Matthew 27:54 saying, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Let us also confess with faith, “Jesus, you are the Son of God!” Amen.