Our Only Hope In Life And In Death
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Turning to Scripture to find our only true hope in this life and the life eternal.
Text: Luke 23:13-16
Date: 11/30/2025, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 217
Description:
After being interrogated, rejected and eventually mocked by Herod, Jesus is dressed in a shiny robe and returned to Pilate. Pilate calls the Jews together and declares once again that he finds no fault in Jesus-- especially not a crime worthy of death. But rather than releasing Jesus as He should have done, this weak leader proposed a compromise-- he will punish Jesus and release Him. After working our way through this transitional text, we will consider the fact, on this Advent Sunday of hope, that four different people or groups are presented in this passage in which we can place our hope: the "world" and its pleasures as represented by Herod; governments and institutions of man as represented by Pilate; formal religions and religiosity as represented by the chief priests-- and ultimately Jesus. When considering the nature and degree of "hope" that can be found in each of these four entities, we will turn to Scripture to find our answers. Ultimately, we will agree with the Heidelberg Catechism which, proclaims: "Our only hope in life and in death is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!"
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 23:13-16.
A. Context
B. The second interview with Pilate.
1. Pilate summons the Sanhedrin, vs. 13.
a. An eclectic group.
b. A very public announcement, John 18:28.
2. Pilate declares Jesus innocent, vs. 14, Deut. 19:16-19.
3. Noting Herod's agreement, vs. 15, Luke 23:4,11,15,22.
4. Offering a compromise, vs. 16, Acts 7:22; 2Tim. 2:24-25; Heb. 12:6; 2Chr. 10:14.
III. Finding the temporal and eternal hope.
A. The nature of "hope".
B. A Scriptural study of hope.
1. Placing one's hope in "the world".
a. Defining our terms, Rom. 12:2.
b. Turning to Scripture.
i. Heeding the warnings, Prov. 11:7; 62:9-10; 1Tim. 6:17.
ii. The wisdom of Solomon, Eccl. 2:1-11.
iii. A fool's hope, Psa. 49:10-13; Luke 12:16-21; James 4:4; 1John 2:15.
2. Placing one's hope in man's institutions.
a. Defining our terms.
b. Turning to Scripture, Isa. 31:1; Psa. 20:7, 33:16-17.
i. God's original plan for His people, Ex. 19:5-6, 29:43-45.
ii. The people wanted a king, 1Sam. 4,5,10-20.
iii. Institutions of evil, 2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2-3; Luke 4:5-7.
iv. All earthly institutions will perish, Luke 21:10; Isa. 60:12.
3. Placing one's hope in formalized religion.
a. Defining our terms.
b. Turning to Scripture.
i. Hope placed in idols is absolutely forbidden, Ex. 20:3-6; Psa. 97:7; Jonah 2:8; 1Kings 18:27; Deut. 32:37-39; 1Cor. 10:20-22; Rev. 21:8; Job 8:13; Matt. 10:28; Luke 4:8.
ii. Hoping in a "modified" Yahweh, Ex. 32:4-5; Matt. 15:6; Mark 7:6-9; Col. 2:8.
4. Placing your hope in Jesus.
a. The only true hope, Isa. 42:8; Rom. 1:25.
b. Turning to Scripture.
i. The message of the prophets, Lam. 3:20-24; Isa. 9:6-7; Matt. 12:18,21; Zech. 9:10,11,12.
ii. The absurdity of hoping in anything else, Job 41:9; Psa. 33:18,22 42:11, 146:5.
iii. The extraordinary incarnation, John 1:14; Matt. 1:21,23; Luke 2:10,11.
iv. Hope in this life, Jer. 29:11; Rom. 5:1-2,5, 8:24-25; 1John 3:3.
v. Hope in death, 1Pet. 1:3-5; Col. 1:5,23.
IV. Conclusion, 2Th. 2:16-17; Rom. 15:13.
