Brief Description of the Station and the reason why the secondary images are included
Station 3 – Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:57-68; Mk 14:53-65; Lk 54. 63-71; Jn 18:13-14, 19-24)
a. Korah’s Rebellion (Numbers 16)
b. Jezebel brings false witnesses against Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-16)
Reason – In Korah’s rebellion the leaders of the people rejected the leadership of God’s anointed (Moses) as the leaders of the Jewish people (the Sanhedrin) rejected God’s Anointed (Jesus).
Jezebel brought false witnesses against Naboth and had him executed as the leaders of the Jewish people brought false witnesses against Jesus and had him executed.
Meditation
Rejection is a common theme in the Bible, rejection of God and God’s will. Again we know that that theme was first sounded in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve rejected God’s good and gracious plan for them and all creation.
Moses told us the story of God’s great rescue of the Hebrew people. What remarkable things those people saw! This continued throughout their wanderings, not just when God delivered them. So they were led by a divine pillar of fire and cloud, which all could see. They were given the Tabernacle, which all could see. They received manna, each and every day, which all could see. According to St. Paul, there was a miraculous rock from which they drew water, which all could see. We also read that their clothing never wore out, which all could see. Every time Moses went in to speak with Jesus, when he exited the meeting his face glowed with a reflection of the Divine Glory, which all could see. I could go on.
In spite of all this, the people rebelled. Korah led them astray. I guess miracles are no guarantee that we will listen. God had called Moses. The people wanted someone else, someone who would lead them in the way of the world. But such leaders are not trustworthy. They are in it for themselves.
So Naboth discovered. Jezebel would stop at nothing to acquire Naboth’s property. So she brought forth false witnessed to accuse Naboth of blasphemy. Poor Naboth paid the price in his own blood when he was stoned to death.
Jesus knew what it was like to be rejected as God’s Anointed. He knew what it was like to have false witnesses brought against him. And he certainly knew what it was like to pay with his own blood because the people rejected the leadership of God and embraced the testimony of false witnesses. But he traveled that road for our sake, that our unfaithfulness might be covered by his faithfulness.
O Lord Jesus, you were despised and rejected, spoken against falsely and accused of blasphemy. In fact, such things continue to this day. But we know also that such witnesses are false and that you are the true Anointed one from God, who bears our sins and grants us eternal life. May we never be found in the camp of those who reject you and your leadership. Amen.