Bethany Lutheran Church

Prepare Thyself | With One Voice

Pastor Anthony Celia

With one voice the religious leaders spoke evil against the Son of God. It is easy to read the accounts recorded in Luke 22 and 23 and think I would never respond to Jesus like those people did! That is a dangerous place to find oneself in. As we prepare for Easter morning we are invited to be honest about how we often join in with one voice to speak evil against the Son of God and his rule and reign in this world. As we confess this reality, we open ourselves up to hear words of grace and mercy that come from the mouth of the Son of God. 

Luke 22:63–23:1 (ESV)

Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.