One of the worst feelings for most of us is that of feeling helpless and out of control. Now, as we read about inept, corrupt, and politically motivated judges sentencing an innocent person to a horrible death, the feeling covers us like a cloak of dread. It is out of control. We lose. They win. It’s over.

Or is it?

Maybe it only seems that way to us because we do not know the rest of the story. Perhaps, if we read more closely and think about it, we’ll realize that the pending death of an innocent person isn’t really what it seems to be. Let’s read the story again.

The story, of course, is found in the gospels; the innocent one is Jesus. If we look closely, we see that unfolding events were never as out of control as it seemed to us or to the original audience or the witnesses at the trial and crucifixion of our Lord.

The account we’ll consider is Jn 18-19, which relates the various trials, testimony, and punishment of Jesus Christ before the Jews and the Romans. We’ll pick up the story in 18.4, as the soldiers are coming to arrest Him with the assistance of Judas:

So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” – Jn 18.4-9 (NASB)

Jesus goes to them; He does not wait for them to find Him. He asks the questions, He knocks them flat with His answer, and then ensures the safe passage of His disciples. He is being arrested, it is true, but He is far from being out of control. In fact, as John tells us, this happened exactly as planned in order to fulfill prophecy regarding Him. He will drink the cup that the Father has given Him (v. 11). Jesus is completely and entirely in control.


Jesus is taken to Annas who, although he was not the official high priest, was nevertheless the real power broker of the priests. A former high priest himself, he had five sons who all had been high priests and the current high priest was his son-in-law. Recognized by most of the Jews as the true high priest (he had been deposed by the Romans), Annas was a powerful man and was now questioning Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.

Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” – 18.20-22

His hands bound, unable to protect Himself, Jesus challenges the one questioning Him and is struck for doing so. But He neither recants nor retreats: He challenges Annas again:

Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” – v. 23

Annas, perhaps sensing the power of the Man before him, sends Him away. He is taken from there to Pilate, the Roman ruler, who has the authority to release Him or to have Him killed. Jesus, however, is no less in control with Pilate than with Annas or Caiaphas. When asked a direct question by the Roman, Jesus interogates him instead.

Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Before the ruler who appears to have His fate in his hands, Jesus does not yield control or submit to his questions. Asked if He is a king, Jesus asks Pilate if he is asking this or if someone told him to ask it. Asked what He has done, Jesus replies that He is a King but not of any kingdom in this world. Pilate seizes upon the statement and charges Him with being a king, but Jesus does not give an inch. Yes, He says, I am a King but I have come to testify to the truth and anyone interested in truth listens to Me.

Then comes the first of three admissions by Pilate that he can find no reason to condemn this man. He hopes, in fact, to public humiliate Jesus – and thereby appease the Jews – and let Him go. But Pilate is not in charge and his plan will not come to pass. Jesus is in charge and in control.

Even in death, Jesus is in control. He is crucified and, after making plans for His mother’s care, He dies. No one kills Him or breaks His legs. He dies when He chooses to die in the manner that He has chosen to die.

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. – 19.30

It was all according to God’s plan and it was all under God’s control. John tells us in whispers in the text:

So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die. – 18.31-32

For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” – 19.36-37

Things are never as they appear. In what was meant to be a time of ultimate defeat and humiliation for Jesus – beaten and crucified naked on a cross – God turned into a time a great victory and glorification. Not for a moment was anything out of control. Not then and not now. The One who holds history in the palm of His hand has not lost or loosened His grip.

God is in control. Because He is in control, we are never as helpless as we might appear or feel when innocent people are sentenced to death. His will prevails. His purposes are accomplished. He is sovereign and omnipotent. He is good. And because He is in control and good, we have no need to despair.


2 Cor 1:13