History is peppered with both political and religious leaders knowingly and willingly lying to the public for their own gain, glory and purposes. Julius Caesar reportedly lied about the Gauls and started a war with them to redirect attention from his own debt and corruption. Hitler famously used his “big lie” technique to gain the popular support and persecute the Jewish people. Much evidence has come to light that when George Bush cited Hussein’s “massive stockpile” of weapons as the reason they were invading Iraq he knew they did not exist. Then we have the even more tragic ever-growing list of Christian leaders who have been exposed as deceitful – embezzling cash, sexual misconduct, extramarital affairs.

The week leading up to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion is also a story of political and religious conspiracy, deceit and power grabbing.

On Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem surrounded by a cheering crowd. They were jubilant. They hailed him as the long awaited King. The next day he returned, entered the temple and denounced what he saw as a commercialisation of worship. He called out the religious establishment as dishonest and dishonouring God. And those in charge did not like it. So they plotted. (Matthew 21:45-46; Mark 11:18; 12:12; Luke 19:47-48; John 11:45-57; 12:19)

They knew the people loved him so they had to find a way to bring him down behind the scenes (Mark 14:1-2). On Wednesday, they sent people undercover to try and provoke Jesus to say something subversive about Caesar (Luke 20:19-26). If he did, they could have him arrested by the Roman soldiers.

When that didn’t work another plan fell into their lap. One of Jesus’ very own disciples came to them offering to give Jesus up. An insider, who was himself stealing from Jesus and motivated by greed, was now part of the plot (John 12:6). Judas would tell the religious leaders where they could find Jesus alone so they could take him without the crowds knowing (Luke 22:1-6).

On Thursday night, while Jesus and his closest friends were having a private moment in a garden, Judas gave the religious leaders the signal. They came, a mob carrying swords and clubs, and secreted him away under the cover of night to the home of the chief priest (Luke 22:47-54). There he was questioned and beaten throughout the night. This was not an official hearing. This was a violent abduction, a private torture and a backroom deal among the religious elite to protect their own political might.

On the Friday morning they presented Jesus before the Roman authorities with the intentionally false charge that he was a political usurper (Luke 23:1-2). They wanted Jesus dead and they wanted the Romans to be the ones to kill him. They roused the crowd against Jesus (Mark 15:11).

Pilate knew the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him purely out of self-interest (Mark 15:10). He believed Jesus was innocent and undeserving of punishment. Yet out of his own self-interest he pandered to the rabble and handed the innocent over to be tortured and executed (Matthew 27:19-26; Mark 14:14-15; Luke 23: 1-25). Another leader murdering truth for their own agenda.

We see it in our world today – state sanctioned killing of those protesting the powers that be, behind the scenes corruption, self-serving leaders, deliberate mass deceit. The evil that led to Jesus’ death is an ancient, perennial story that reverberates throughout history. But the Easter story is unique. As Jesus unjustly suffered, just like we may, due to corruption, lies, greed, violence, selfish ambition, he did so willingly, even powerfully.

At the moment of Jesus’ illegal arrest his disciple Peter begins to defend him with a sword. He slashes the ear off of one of the mob. But Jesus stops him and he says:

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matthew 26:53-54

Jesus was never an unsuspecting victim to the ploys and deceptions of the powerful men who wanted to kill him. He not only predicted it, he planned for it Matthew 17:22-23; 20:18-19; 26:2; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45; John 12:23-27. This is the ultimate plot twist.

It looked like the self-serving leaders had won. Jesus died on a cross. His lifeless body was put in a tomb. But what the religious and political leaders intended for evil, Jesus Christ and God the Father planned and used for the ultimate good. Jesus chose to suffer evil in order to conquer it. His innocent death and suffering was the only worthy sacrifice of atonement for human sin. In direct contrast to the leaders who had him killed, Jesus is a leader who used and still uses his power to serve his people. He said after predicting his crucifixion “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

This is what Christians celebrate at Easter – Jesus’ death and resurrection is the conquest against death and evil and the means of our forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus is all powerful, all good and all loving – that is the leader we all want.

Will you submit yourself to the loving, powerful self-sacrificing leader Jesus Christ?

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, I believe you are the ultimate, loving, giving leader I’ve been longing for.  I accept your sacrificial death as the ransom for my sins and I submit to you as my perfect leader. Amen.