By Tope Banso
“He willingly gave his life and was treated like a criminal. But he carried away the sins of many people and asked forgiveness for those who sinned” (Isaiah 53:12b New Century Version).
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. During His earthly ministry, He was highly anointed. John 3:34 says God’s Spirit was upon him without measure or limit. He opened the eyes of the blind, healed the lame, the deaf, and the dumb, and raised the dead. He went about doing good healing them that were oppressed, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).
Nevertheless, those who conspired against Him to kill Him had no difficulty arresting Him. He cooperated with the conspirators. Jesus didn’t even present any strong defence before the Jewish Council that tried Him or before Pilate.
Within a short period, Jesus was crucified. Even Pilate who reluctantly approved of His execution was surprised that He had died. He had to confirm that it was actually true when Joseph of Arimathea came to ask for Jesus’ body for burial.
Mark 15:43-45 says, “An honored member of the high council, Joseph from Arimathea (who was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come), gathered his courage and went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body. Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman military officer in charge and asked him. The officer confirmed the fact, and Pilate told Joseph he could have the body” (New Living Translation).
Throughout Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion, He was humiliated. He was not given the honour deserved by someone who had done so much good to a great number of people. He was arrested in the night, in violation of the Hebrew law, by a mob that was sponsored by the religious leaders.
Matthew 26:47 says while Jesus was still speaking in the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples, Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, with a great multitude holding swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Commenting on their attitude, Jesus asked, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?” (Matthew 26:55 New King James Version).
In his account, Mark says Judas, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders (Mark 14:43). Mark also records that they came out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to arrest Him (verse 48).
This was somebody who was daily with them, teaching in the temple, as Jesus Himself said. But He didn’t resist arrest. Even when one of his disciples drew his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, the servant of the High Priest, Jesus healed him! (John 18:10; Matthew 26:51; Luke 22:49-51). He wasn’t bitter.
Jesus surrendered quietly, not out of weakness, but meekness. He had the power to use against the conspirators, but He restrained Himself from doing so. He rebuked the sword-wielding disciple, saying, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (Matthew 26:53-54 New King James Version).
A legion in the Roman army was between 3,000 and 6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalrymen. Imagine what twelve legions would be! Jesus was simply talking of multitudes of angels. He had access to multitudes of them to defend Him during His arrest, but He didn’t ask for them.
As a result, Jesus was treated like a hardened criminal. The Hebrew law forbade arrest at night, yet He was arrested at night. Also, contrary to the law, they bound Him and led Him away first to a former High Priest, Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the High priest then (John 18:12-13). After Jesus answered a question by Annas, one of his officers, who felt that He didn’t answer him the right way slapped Him (verse 22). That physical assault violated His right. He had not been convicted of any crime.
The conspirators continued to treat Him like a hardened criminal. After being questioned illegally by the Sanhedrin in the house of Caiaphas, some began to spit on Him, blindfolded Him, and beat Him, asking Him to prophesy! The guards also hit Him as they led him away (Mark 14:65). Luke 22:63 and Matthew 26:67,68 also record this.
Why should Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be treated like a hardened criminal? All the humiliation so far happened in the night. But it continued in the morning before Pilate. Matthew 27:2 says they bound Him and led Him to Pontius Pilate.
After His trial, Pilate handed Him over to the Jews to be crucified. “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified” (Matthew 27:27-31 New King James Version).
Jesus was crucified in the midst of two robbers, as if that was His right company! (Matthew 27:38). After all, all along they had been treating Him like a criminal. But that was in fulfillment of the Scriptures. However, why must He be treated like a criminal? Because of you and I. Isaiah 53:12b says, “He willingly gave his life and was treated like a criminal. But he carried away the sins of many people and asked forgiveness for those who sinned” (New Century Version).
Jesus suffered like a criminal because of your sins and my sins. They gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink, which He tasted, but would not drink (Matthew 27:34). It was because of you and me.
In order to hasten the death of Jesus and the two criminals crucified with Him, the legs of the two robbers were broken, but when it was Jesus’ turn, they discovered that He had died. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. These two incidents were a fulfillment of prophecy (John 19:31-37; Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7). He suffered this because of you and me.
The soldiers divided His clothes among themselves by casting lots, which was also a fulfillment of prophecy (Matthew 27:35; Psalm 22:18).
Jesus suffered all this humiliation like a criminal because of you and I. Prophet Isaiah captured this well, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6 New King James Version).
Isaiah continued, “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. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked — but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth” (verse 7-9 New King James Version).
Jesus didn’t open His mouth to defend Himself, but suffered injustice, because of your sins and mine. It pleased the LORD to bruise Him and put Him to grief. He made His soul an offering for sin. Jesus bore our iniquities. The LORD said He would give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because He exposed Himself to death; He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners (Isaiah 53:12).
Video: The dramatisation of Jesus’ humiliation:
No wonder Philippians 2:8-11 says, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (New King James Version).
What is your relationship with this Jesus, who was treated like a hardened criminal because of you? Crucifixion was the most severe form of execution by the Romans. It was reserved only for slaves and criminals. Roman citizens were exempted. Jesus loved you so much to die for you, like a criminal on the cross.
Have you given your life to Him? Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour? Are you telling others about this love of God manifested in Jesus Christ?
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINT: Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, thank You for Your suffering and death to save me from sin and hell-fire. I will love and serve You to the end.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 260 in-depth and insightful messages by T. O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪Banso, a pastor, heads Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at
cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; WhatsApp No: +2349081295947