Luke 23:1-12 ~ King of the Jews

Constantine commissioned his 80-year-old mother, Helena, to bring back archaeology of Jesus Christ.

These stairs really are from the huge Governor's Palace.  These stairs would have seen Jesus climb the marble portion of the stairs. In Rome, today, these are called Scala Sancta.

Luke 23:1-12

23 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

And he answered him, “You have said so.”

4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”

5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”


6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

Constantine I's tomb was used for his mother Helena. She is not disputed to have existed. And she is recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea as being 80 years old as she looked at all types of archeological sites in Jerusalem. Eusebius actually met both Constantine and his mother.



Do you remember the reaction of Herod hearing Judea had a prophet of old? He wanted to see a Jesus sign. Herod had a natural curiosity to meet Jesus. Not unusual, Herod was picking out the priest who could speak in the Temple. Surely Herod did not want the Temple rocking the Roman Gravy Train. And remember Herod was sent out of his dad's paranoid frenzy to be educated in Rome. Herod thought more like a Roman than a Jew, remembering, prophets tend to get personal. Jesus did not honor Herod. Herod, when you look through the Gospels feared Jesus and only wanted, in curiosity, to see a sign. Herod was going to remove John and honor him in the prison, but push to shove - shove behead.

Herod ended up not doing so well from his brother's wife's (his own 2nd wife) family - exiled.

And remember with me Pontius Pilate's wife begged him not to have anything to do with the harm of Jesus. She had a dream about Jesus saying HE is a good man. Jesus even forgave Pilate standing in front of Pilate.

Zechariah 13:6
but he will say, 'I am not a prophet; I am a tiller of the ground, for a man sold me as a slave in my youth.' 6" And one will say to him, 'What are these wounds between your arms?' Then he will say, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.'

If it sounds off to you, it was what Pilate hoped to hear - Jesus to disavow - to allow Jesus freedom. This passage IS well recognized as a prophecy of Pilate to Jesus. Jesus called upon to forgive in the midst of torture. More than just upon the Cross dying.




This is an amazing story - one we become so familiar with. We have to look at other details to see - how incredible - and true - this History is.

The death of Jesus was not a joy to Pilate. And not to Herod.

And then the Temple itself - all 36 acres housed grieving believers to the horror of the Temple government. The multitudes of believers began to grow and grow to the consternation of Rome 16 years later. Letters of Rabbis from the time believed this was the end of Judaism. Rabbis prayed God would stop the miracles in the name of Jesus. See Ian Wilson's books with these letters.

The Book of Acts has the Apostles leave the Temple because the Temple was small itself.

The Apostles start meeting outside by the healing pools, were larger crowds could gather.

And not have to be so Jewish in their speech. Roman citizens were present. Officials within Herod's palace. Multitudes. The dead were seen as risen. Jesus taught His disciples and appeared to 500.

This was so large, no one could get Christianity to stop. Josephus, the Judean General turned Roman Historian, was moved that this would not end. Calling the believers "Christians." Recognizing in at least one place in Josephus' History that Jesus was called Messiah. And only one of these mentions is debated.

This history is So Large, if you look at a panorama of the Temple Mount - where Abraham was trusting God with Isaac - you see living stones referring to what Jesus told us in The Word of God.

Today the stones ringing the Temple Mount have a quote on them "They will not leave one stone on another because you did not recognize the time of God."







So how is it that Jesus gives us Christianity today, millenniums later?

Constantine

 

Matthew 19:24
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Constantine. You hear the same pop culture inform you of Constantine’s jaded use of Christianity.

Today we are going to follow this Incredible Change of the Roman Empire with some pop culture.

We aren't salmon, we are meant to be unique, using our gifts and talents to have unique opinions of history. There is more to Constantine than "Constantine used Christianity to promote his promotion to Emperor."

There is some truth to that 50 years ago – the History of our United States Congress was being used as a Christian Church on Sunday for most of its years. When we discuss Constantine today - we adopt today's opinions. Our children won't. Personally, I hope our children's children look more favorably at souls and less jaded.

Constantine has something Pop Culture wisdom – SEVERELY OVERLOOKS.

Constantine, Alexander the Great and Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire had something in common. When the events surround a man are beyond his imagination, he looks to see what force is behind him greater than himself.

This is called “WISDOM.”

Constantine was a prisoner of Diocletian to prevent political uprising,  Nonetheless, Constantine was a prominent member of the court: he fought for Diocletian in front of Bishop Eusebius as Constantine witnessed the torture of Jesus Christ’s nephew descendents to repent of Jesus. They all refused and upon torture and promises, died for Him. Constantine was a tolerant and politically skilled man who had mixed with pagans and Christians in the reign prior to Diocletian. Events there changed him.

Constant power struggles suppressed Constantine from coming into his position as his father's son. Constantine began to look to soothsayers recommendations, for favorable omens. Constantine, was with a spirit that left a deep impression on his followers, inspiring some to believe that he had some form of supernatural guidance. Constantine's army arrived at the battle the seers of Rome declared to be a final battle. His soldier's shields were bearing unfamiliar symbols.  According to Lactantius, Constantine was visited by a dream the night before the battle, wherein he was advised, "Mark the heavenly sign of God on the shields of his soldiers ... by means of a slanted letter X with the top of its head bent round, he marked Christ on their shields." 

Eusebius describes another version, where, while marching at midday, "he saw with his own eyes in the heavens a trophy of the cross arising from the light of the sun, carrying the message, In Hoc Signo Vinces or "with this sign, you will conquer", Constantine had a dream the following night, in which Christ appeared with the same heavenly sign, and told him to make a standard, the labarum, for his army in that form.

Constantine was to look to another Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia to be his baptizer as he was about to die. He had hoped to be baptized in the River Jordan. This was not to be. But Constantine had changed the Empire and called the Council of Nicaea - to resolve with the Bishops, who would dare to travel, what the Holy Spirit would call as His Word.

The work of Salvation is God's. When mankind become entangled with God, they begin to look to Him.

The choices of men. It's always our choice how we want our stories to continue with Him. Jesus forgave Pilate. Pilate, according to known history, chose a more desperate path, as did Herod, in the convenience of life. Constantine chose to embrace the Lord. Good Choice.




Abba,

We ask Your Blessing.

Prayer is wonderful a time to consider all we Love and care for, considering our needs and asking Your Blessing, Wisdom, Mercy and favor.

And as we spend time coming up with prayer lists - we reach our soul - our inner core. And as we get there with You, we have discovered a journey of emotion - leaving us with Love. And in this Love we have Peace and Joy. This Love You place in us is Renewal.

This gives us the adventure, in the morning, to find Your Mercies Renew.

Remembering it is not our prayers drawing out the Gracious Will of our Good Father, what we find is Your Loving Heart graciously providing us. Salvation is a work of the Spirit, not flesh. Prayers are the Action of Your Holy Spirit. Interceding, mediating - telling us - You are God of Love.

God of Encouragement. God of His Word.

We lift up our cares to Your Heart and Hands. We lift high the ones we Love to You. You Cover, Cover, Cover them in Jesus Christ.  We will rest in Your Good Will. Rejoicing that all of Life is really in Your hands. You have all the world in Your Hands. Your Plan to Save the world in Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Abba, Father. Our God. We want more of Your Holy Spirit to fire us along Your Path.

Thank You for Your Plan and Your Holy Spirit dwell in us

Jesus Christ, God's Son, Our Savior. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †