I have question about Luke 22:35-38. With swords in their possession, Jesus and His disciples would be viewed as potential revolutionaries and Jesus would therefore fulfill Isaiah 53 to be numbered with other (revolutionary) transgressors. If Rome didn’t have any legal grounds to incriminate Jesus, there would have been no crucifixion.
Let’s read that passage. Luke 22:35-38 says, “And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.”
You asked a very interesting question regarding the Lord’s fulfillment of the prophesy found in Isaiah 53:12 which says, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” I want to make a couple of quick observations as we begin to look at your good question.
Christ was counted, or numbered, among the transgressors. He was not reckoned AS a transgressor, but AMONG or WITH THEM. In other words, He was treated like the transgressors were treated. He was put to death in their company, as He would have been IF He had been a transgressor. He was innocent. He was “holy, harmless, and undefiled”. (Hebrews 7:26). Those who were crucified with the Lord Jesus were charged as “malefactors” (Luke 23:33) and “thieves” (Matthew 27:38 and Mark 15:27). The charge against the Lord Jesus was nailed above His head as we read in Matthew 27:37, “And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” He was accused of making such a great declaration of Himself.
The Lord Jesus, Himself, squelched the idea that He was a revolutionary. As He was leaving the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord was approached by Judas “and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.” (Mark 14:43). The Lord’s words to these men in verse 48 were, ““Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?” (NIV). After the absurdity of a trial by the High Priest and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes, He was taken to Pilate for condemnation and execution because the Jews were not permitted to execute anyone. Judea was under Roman occupation, and only Roman authorities had the power to carry out capital punishment, including crucifixion.
Let’s read, Luke 23:13-15, “And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.” The Jews presented the Lord Jesus as a revolutionary (among other false charges), but Pilate could find no evidence of this in Him.
It was only to appease the hateful, blood thirsty Jewish leaders that Pilate ordered His crucifixion. We read in Matthew 27:22-24, “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”
Of course, this was all done according to the sovereign will of God, who loved us and sent His only begotten Son to die for us. Peter would later testify against Israel and say in Acts 2:22-24, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” (CC) (691.4)