WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
APRIL 19, 2025
TOPIC: WHY WAS JESUS TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL?
BY T. O. 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. 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 and healing those who were oppressed, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).
Nevertheless, He was arrested and didn’t resist it. He cooperated with those who plotted against Him. Those who might have anticipated any problem must have been surprised that everything went smoothly. He did not present any strong defence before the Jewish court and later before Pilate.
After Judean governor, Pilate, reluctantly approved Jesus’ crucifixion and He was nailed to the cross, He was on the cross for much less time than the period others remained on the cross before they died. Even Pilate was surprised that He was dead. He had to confirm that it was true when Joseph of Arimathea went to ask him for Jesus’ body for burial.
Mark 15:43-45 says, “Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph” (New Living Translation).
Throughout Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution, He was humiliated. He was not treated like the Son of God. He was not given the honour deserved by someone who had done good to many people. He was arrested at night in violation of the Hebrew law by a mob or troops sent by the religious leaders.
John 18:3 says Judas, having received a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came with lanterns, torches, and weapons to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. Verse 12 says that the detachment of troops, the captain, and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.
The book of Matthew also records His arrest. Matthew 26:47 says that 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? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me” (verse 55b 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 Jesus asked if they had come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take or arrest Him (verse 48).
Jesus, who had been with them daily, teaching in the temple, and they didn’t arrest Him, as He also said, didn’t resist arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even when one of his disciples (Peter) drew his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest, Jesus healed it! (Luke 22:49-51; John 18:10). He wasn’t bitter.
Jesus quietly surrendered, not out of weakness, but meekness. He had the power to use against the conspirators, but He refrained from using it. 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 consisted of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalrymen (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary). Imagine what twelve legions would be. Jesus was talking of multitudes of angels. He had access to multitudes of them to defend them during His arrest, but He didn’t ask for them.
As a result, Jesus was treated like a 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 current 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 the High Priest correctly, slapped Him (verse 22). That physical assault was an abuse of His rights as He had not been convicted of any offence.
The conspirators continued to treat Him like a 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 Jesus’ humiliation.
Why should Jesus, the Son of God, be treated like a criminal? All the humiliation thus far happened at 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 amid two robbers as if that was His right company! (Matthew 27:38). He wasn’t a robber or criminal but was treated as such. That was in fulfilment of the Scriptures. Why must He be treated like a criminal? Because of you and me. 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). Note the phrase “and was treated like a criminal.” So, clearly, the Scripture said the Messiah would be treated like a criminal.
Jesus suffered like a criminal because of your sins and my sins. Because you and I they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink, which He tasted, but would not drink (Matthew 27:34). To hasten the death of Jesus and the two criminals crucified with Him, their legs were broken, but before they could break His, they discovered He had died. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out (John 19:31-34). These two incidents were a fulfilment of the Scripture (Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7).
The soldiers divided His clothes among themselves by casting lots, which was also a fulfilment of the Scripture (Matthew 27:35; Psalm 22:18).
Jesus suffered all this humiliation like a criminal because of you and me. Isaiah puts this succinctly, “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).
The Prophet Isaiah continues, “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 my sins. It pleased the LORD to bruise Him and put Him to grief. He made His soul an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10a). 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 Jesus treated like a criminal because of you? Crucifixion was the Romans’ most severe form of execution and was reserved only for slaves and criminals (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary). Jesus loved you so much that He died for you on the cross. He was treated like a criminal as the Scripture had said before He came to the earth.
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 Christ? Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection must not be in vain.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Thank You, Jesus, for Your suffering and death to save me from sin and hellfire. Thank You, Father, for raising Jesus from the dead. Father, help me to love Jesus and serve Him to the end. Cause those who are yet to receive Him as their Lord and Saviour to do so this season.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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