Sermons From Matthew - They Led Him Away

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"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

They Led Him Away (Mt 27:1-2)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the night and morning prior to His crucifixion, the Son of God
suffered many ignobilities...
a. Illegal trials held during the night
b. Shuffled back and forth before different authorities
c. Falsely accused, mocked, and physically abused

2. There is a phrase used several times that may be used to summarize
this ill treatment...
a. That phrase is "they led Him away"
b. It (or a variation) is found eight times - Mt 26:57; Mt 27:2;
Mt 27:31; Mk 15:1; Mk 15:16
Lk 23:26; Jn 18:13; Jn 19:16

3. Being led around like this was in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy:

"He was led as a lamb to the slaughter..." - Isa 53:7

[To remind us of the things Jesus suffered in our stead and for our
sins, let's review how Jesus was led around during that fateful night
and the morning that followed...]

I. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE ANNAS

A. ANNAS, FATHER-IN-LAW TO CAIAPHAS...
1. John records this meeting in his gospel - Jn 18:12-14
2. Annas had been high priest, but was deposed in 15 A.D. by
Roman authorities
3. He continued to exercise considerable influence, as he was
still viewed by the Jews as a high priest - Lk 3:2
4. After Pentecost he was involved in the questioning of Peter
and John - Ac 4:6

B. BEFORE ANNAS...
1. Jesus was asked about His disciples and His doctrine - Jn 18:19-21
2. Jesus was struck by one of the officers - Jn 18:22-23
3. At this point, Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas - Jn 18:24

[As we return to the gospel of Matthew, we read of how...]

II. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE CAIAPHAS

A. CAIAPHAS, THE HIGH PRIEST...
1. It was Caiaphas who with others plotted the arrest and death
of Jesus - Mt 26:3-5
2. He also was involved in the later questioning of Peter and
John - Ac 4:6

B. BEFORE CAIAPHAS...
1. Jesus faced an assembly of scribes and elders - Mt 26:57
a. This was an illegal assembly of the Sanhedrin (high council
of the Jews)
b. It was illegal for taking place at night
2. False witnesses were finally found - Mt 26:59-61
3. Jesus first kept silent, then told them of His coming in
judgment - Mt 26:62-64
4. In anger Caiaphas tears his clothes, and accuses Jesus of
blasphemy - Mt 26:65
5. Jesus is pronounced worthy of death - Mt 26:66
6. He is spat in the face, beaten, slapped, and mocked as the
Messiah - Mt 26:67-68

[Meanwhile, Peter is denying Jesus three times in the courtyard (Mt 26:69-75). With the dawn of morning, the chief priests and elders decide
to put Jesus to death (Mt 27:1 ). To do this...]

III. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE PILATE

A. PONTIUS PILATE, THE ROMAN GOVERNOR...
1. To whom Jesus was bound and delivered - Mt 27:2
2. He governed Judea from 26-36 A.D.
3. He did much to anger the Jews - cf. Lk 13:1
4. But without his approval, the Jews could not execute Jesus

B. BEFORE PILATE...
1. Jesus was asked if He was the king of the Jews - Mt 27:11
a. Because Jesus was accused of forbidding to pay taxes and
claiming to be a king - cf. Lk 23:1-2
b. Jesus did not reply to the accusations of the Jews - Mt 27:12-14
c. But He did converse with Pilate about the nature of His
kingdom - Jn 18:33-38
2. Pilate found no fault in Him - cf. Lk 23:4
3. But Jesus was accused further of stirring up people throughout
all Judea, beginning from Galilee - cf. Lk 23:5

[With the mention of Galilee, Pilate thought he had a way to pawn Jesus
off on to someone else (Lk 23:6-7). And from Luke's account we learn
that...]

IV. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE HEROD

A. HEROD, KING OF THE JEWS...
1. This was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great
a. His father was the Herod who massacred the infants - Mt 2:16-18
b. Antipas was the one who beheaded John the Baptist - Mt 14:1-12
c. He was tetrarch over Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C.-39 A.D.
- Lk 3:1
2. Herod was glad to see Jesus - Lk 23:8
a. He had heard many things about Jesus - cf. Lk 9:7-9
b. He hoped to see some miracle done by Jesus

B. BEFORE HEROD...
1. Jesus was questioned, but answered Herod nothing - Lk 23:9
2. Jesus was vehemently accused by the chief priests and scribes
- Lk 23:10
3. Jesus was treated with contempt and mocked by Herod and his
soldiers - Lk 23:11

[Arrayed in a gorgeous robe mocking His claim to be King, Jesus was
then sent back to Pilate (Lk 23:11-12). And so...]

V. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE PILATE (AGAIN)

A. PILATE SOUGHT TO RELEASE HIM...
1. Using the custom of releasing one prisoner during the feast
- Mt 27:15 ; Jn 18:38-39
a. Offering a choice between Jesus and Barabbas - Mt 27:16-18
b. The latter a notorious prisoner, who was a robber, rebel
and murderer - Mk 15:7
2. Encouraged by his wife to have nothing to do with Jesus - Mt 27:19

B. BEFORE PILATE (AGAIN)...
1. The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude to ask
for Barabbas and to have Jesus crucified - Mt 27:20-23
2. Bowing to the multitude, Pilate succumbed to their wishes -
Mt 27:24-25
3. Jesus was then scourged - Mt 27:26

[At this point Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified (Mt 27:26 ). But
before Jesus was taken to the place called Golgotha...]

VI. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE THE SOLDIERS

A. THE SOLDIERS OF THE GOVERNOR...
1. Roman soldiers, who likely had little love for any Jew
2. Who took Jesus into the Praetorium (the barracks in the
governor's house) - Mt 27:27
3. Surrounding Jesus with the whole garrison of soldiers - Mt 27:27

B. BEFORE THE SOLDIERS...
1. Jesus was stripped and clothed with a scarlet robe - Mt 27:28
2. A twisted crown of thorns was placed on His head, and a reed
in His right hand - Mt 27:29a
3. The soldiers bowed the knee and mocked Him as King of the Jews
- Mt 27:29b
4. They spat on Him, and struck Him on the head with the reed
- Mt 27:30
5. When they were finished mocking Him...
a. The soldiers took off the robe and put His own clothes on
Him - Mt 27:31a
b. The soldiers led Him away to be crucified - Mt 27:31b

CONCLUSION

1. Up to this point, the Son of God had been...
a. Struck by officers of the high priest
b. Spat in the face, beaten, slapped, and mocked as the Messiah by
the chief priests
c. Falsely accused by the chief priests and scribes before Pilate
and Herod
d. Treated with contempt and mocked by Herod and his soldiers
e. Scourged by Pilate, mocked, spat upon and beaten by his soldiers
-- And then they "led Him away to be crucified", to face the cross
of Calvary
f. The worst was yet to come!

2. Why did Jesus allow Himself to be so led...?
a. At any time He could have called for twelve legions of angels
- cf. Mt 26:53
b. "They Led Him Away" only because He allowed them to do so!
c. Jesus understood that all this was necessary to fulfill Scripture
- cf. Mt 26:54; Lk 24:44-47

And the purpose of the Scripture was that Jesus would die for our sins
(Isa 53:5). As expressed beautifully in the song "Ten Thousand Angels"
by Ray Overholt:
They bound the hands of Jesus
In the garden where He prayed;
They led Him through the streets in shame.
They spat upon the Savior
So pure and free from sin;
They said "Crucify Him, He's to blame."
Upon His precious head
They placed a crown of thorns;
They laughed and said, "Behold the King."
They struck Him and they cursed Him
And mocked His holy name.
All alone He suffered everything.
He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world
And set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels
But He died alone
For you and me.

He died alone for you and me...will we not heed and obey His message of
repentance and remission of sins first proclaimed in Jerusalem? - cf.
Lk 24:46-47; Ac 2:36-38

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