Thursday 6 April: Betrayal and trial

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Holy Week

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Bible readings: Matthew 26.57–75; Matthew 27.11–26

Jesus was too popular and too innocent to be arrested in daylight. So when the council and their enforcers finally come for him, it’s at night; and he says this in Luke 22.53: ‘This is your hour to act, when the power of darkness rules’ (GNB). Jesus is going to defeat the powers of darkness at their strongest. Even though he looks beaten and his followers are in a panic, this is the coming of the kingdom; this is the beginning of the messianic age; this is how the world ends for the power of sin. 

And we see sin in its dying moments: it all comes out. Jesus, of all people, has been betrayed by his friend – for money. He’s about to be betrayed by the crowds who wouldn’t let him be arrested, who loved hearing him condemn their leaders when he said repeatedly, ‘Woe to you, Pharisees and teachers of the law, you hypocrites!’ 

Those hypocrites are prosecuting him illegally. They are producing false witnesses to lie in court. They’ll tell Pilate they want him condemned for being a rebel against Rome: ‘We have no king but Caesar,’ they say in John 19.15 (ESV), which is either a blasphemous lie or it makes their faith hypocrisy. And they demand the release of someone who actually is a rebel against Rome: ‘Give us Barabbas!’

And there’s the cowardice of Pilate and Herod, who know Jesus is innocent but find it more convenient for themselves to let him die. This is the world system that God’s Kingdom will replace. 

This reflection was written by James Howard-Smith, from the Supporter Relations team at Bible Society.