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Dear Friends,

Bearing clubs and swords, bloodthirsty temple guards search for Jesus. We catch Jesus praying in the Garden when the temple guards come to arrest Him. One disciple follows at a distance…

As we approach the celebration of Christ’s resurrection this Easter season, I wanted to share this reflection from my upcoming book Easter Jesus (available in early 2026). More information about my books are available by clicking this link, DaveHolland.org/books May the living Lord Jesus visit you this Easter season.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns. Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.” Luke 22: 52-54

The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.

At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You say that I am.”

Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

Then, the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. Luke 22:63—23:1

Religion used to have a good name. A generic term referring to a particular system of faith or worship. But the term grew horns and began butting people who didn’t believe in their system. Jesus threatened the religious systems, and they crucified Him for it.

The Chief Priest’s guard captured Jesus in the secret of night, and they dragged Him to the court of religion. It’s ironic that the Lord’s suffering begins in the garden of prayer, continues in the home of the High Priest, and culminates before the religious court of the Sanhedrin. That’s where His suffering begins.

The Roman ruled Palestine, but the Jewish Sanhedrin arbitrated religious and administrative disputes while interpreting Jewish law. They decided on matters of faith and practice. Composed of seventy-one priests, the High priest and former High Priests, this council was entirely religious. Pharisee, Essene, and Sadducee priests dominated the council meetings, with the Pharisees being in the clear majority.

The Pharisees believed in the inspiration of scripture, miracles, and the resurrection of the dead. We would call them authentic believers today. They also represented two important constituencies—money and power.

Jesus threatened not only their base of power but also their tenuous arrangement with the Romans. The unsaid agreement consisted of the Sanhedrin maintaining peace with the masses. The Romans then allowed their businesses to prosper and their religious practices to go on unrestricted.

It was a sweetheart deal until Jesus came along. Christ overturned the money tables in the Temple; He healed the sick on the Sabbath; He touched lepers, and He attracted larger crowds than the Pharisees. Jealousy mixed in with the sour brew of money and power. All this lands Jesus in the court of religion.

Meanwhile, as the court of religion sends Christ away to Pilate for crucifixion, Peter follows at a distance. Imagine if Peter had stood up and said, “Jesus is the Son of God. We saw Him heal lepers, blind men, and paralyzed people. He even raised the dead.” Instead, Peter follows at a distance.

I wonder if Jesus came down from heaven today and looked at religion in America, what would He think? Would the division, denominationalism, and political agendas plaguing many Christian groups dismay Jesus? I think so. Yeah, He’d be angry, or cry. What would He think of our liturgies, or standards of righteousness?

What if we headlined our agenda with love rather than condemnation? What if our focus was on Christ and His kingdom rather than doctrinal disputes? What if we simply took a stand for Jesus rather than following at a distance? Draw close to Jesus and He will draw close to you.