Sunday, October 21, 2012
THE LIFE OF JESUS (32)
THE CULMINATION OF HIS LIFE
What Jesus Endured – an overview
·
The Passover Meal and
institution of the Lord’s Supper
·
His betrayal and arrest
in the Garden of Gethsemane
·
His trial – both the
Jewish and Roman phases (was it legal?)
·
His condemnation and
sentence
·
His crucifixion – what
happened & its purpose (The sayings of Jesus; Why did He die? Who
crucified Jesus?)
·
His burial and
resurrection
·
Post-resurrection
appearances – witnesses, the restoration of Peter, etc.
·
His ascension back to
heaven & promised return
In our lesson today we want to walk through what actually
happened so that we can have an understanding of what Jesus actually
went through and to get the process of events in our minds as we pursue
various events in detail.
This will be followed by an examination of the significance and lessons
from each of these events.
So let’s get started.
a.
The decision to kill
Jesus. Before Jesus entered
Jerusalem, one of the final miracles recorded was the raising of Lazarus
(John 11). Because Lazarus
had been dead for several days when he was raised, word spread quickly.
This was of great concern to the religious leaders who determined
that Jesus needed to be killed.
John 11:49-54 describes this decision and their plotting to put
Jesus to death.
At the culmination of His teachings of judgment against the leaders,
Matt. 26:3-5 indicates a reiteration of this decision BUT they didn’t
want to do it during the Passover feast.
Nevertheless they would not pass up any opportunity.
b.
Judas bribed – Matt.
26:14-16 records that Satan entered Judas and he went to the chief
priests and offered to deliver Jesus for a price.
They agreed to 30 pieces of silver (some say, the common price of
a slave). So the opportunity
presented itself during the feast.
c.
Jesus institutes the
Lord’s Supper during the Passover meal.
Matt. 26:17-29 records an account of the Lord’s Supper, it was
actually a momentous occasion.
All indications are that it was during this gathering that Jesus
spoke the discourse recorded by John 13-16.
But the other gospels summarize His teachings by telling them
that one of the twelve would betray Him.
They all ask, “Is it I?” and, probably in a subtle way, He
identified Judas as the one.
Jesus then tells Judas, “What you do, do it quickly.” (John
13:27) Jesus then
institutes the Lord’s Supper.
d.
Matthew 26:30 says they
sung a hymn and then went to the Mount of Olives where Jesus told them
they would all stumble that night (26:30-35).
Peter rebukes Him and says that he would die before forsaking His
Lord. Jesus tells Peter he
will deny Him 3 times before the rooster crows (twice – Mk. 14:30).
Peter more adamantly denies he will deny Jesus, and so do the
others.
e.
At some point during
this time we have a powerful prayer that Jesus prayed recorded in John
17.
f.
We next find Jesus in
the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-56) – His disciples accompany Him.
But he summons His 3 closest disciples, Peter, James and John, to
come with Him. They are
exhausted from the events of the day.
Nevertheless, Jesus tells them to “Watch and pray, lest you enter
into temptation. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (41)
He then goes to pray and says, “Father, if it be your will, let
this cup pass from Me.
Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (26:39).
Combined the gospels tell us that his soul was exceedingly
sorrowful, that His sweat became as drops of blood, and that He fell
down on His face as He prayed.
Luke (22:43) records that an angel appeared from heaven and
strengthened Him. Jesus
returns to His disciples and finds them sleeping.
He awakes them and tells them to watch and goes a prays again the
same prayer. We are told He
prayed 3 times then came to His disciples and awoke them saying, “Let us
get going, My betrayer is at hand.”
g.
Judas betrays Jesus
(Matt.26:47-56) – we read that a crowd came with swords and clubs,
having been sent from the chief priests to arrest Him. Judas kisses
Jesus on the cheek, the sign that He was the one.
Jesus asks them, “Who do you seek?”
The answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
He said, “I am He.”
John records that at this saying the crowd fell down to the ground and
Jesus repeats the question. He
again identifies Himself and persuades them guard to let the others go,
but Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, servant of
the High Priest. Jesus tells
him to put away his sword.
Jesus then touches the ear and heals it.
His disciples all flee and Jesus is carried away to face a
so-called trial.
a.
The trial of Jesus was
actually a travesty of justice and illegal on many fronts.
We will discuss this in greater
detail in a future lesson.
But in summary, the trial consisted of two phases, each with 3 parts.
b.
The Jewish phase (Matt.
26:57-67) – After His
arrest, Jesus appears before Annas, and is questioned.
At some point, Luke tells us Jesus is blindfolded, slapped and
spit upon and asked, “Prophecy, who struck you?”
In the meantime, they sought witnesses to accuse Him and the only
corroboration they could get was two who heard Him say that He could
tear down the temple and rebuild it in 3 days.
They then send Him bound to Caiaphas, High Priest at that time,
where He is asked, “Tell us plainly, are you the Christ.”
In summary, (because
His time was finally at hand) He said, “I am, Nevertheless, hereafter
you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and
coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 26:64).
In self-righteous indignation they tear their clothes and accuse Him of
blasphemy. They say He is
worthy of death. In the
morning, after the council convenes and schemes, they send Jesus away to
Pilate.
c.
Peter denies Jesus 3
times – during this process, Peter is warming himself by the fire of the
enemy and listening. At
first one says, “You are one of them” and he denies it.
The rooster crows the first time. (Mark 14:68)
A little later he is again confronted and more strongly denies
it. A third time he is told
he is a Galilean and even told his speech betrayed him.
Peter began to curse and swear saying, I do not know this Man of
whom you speak.” The rooster
crows again (Mk. 14:72).
Luke tells us the Lord turned and looked at Peter who remembered His
words (Lk. 22:60-62). Peter
went out and wept bitterly.
d.
At some point, Judas
realizes what he has done and tries to return the money and says, “I
have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” (Matt. 27:3)
The chief priests and elders didn’t’ care.
Judas threw down the money and we are told he went and hanged
himself. Because it was
blood money, we are told the chief priests bought a potter’s field to
bury strangers in, rather than putting it in the treasury.
e.
The Roman phase (Matt.
27:1-27) – In the morning, Jesus is brought to Pilate who really doesn’t
want anything to do with this Jesus. OF
note is that Luke 23:2 says, “They began to accuse Him, saying, “We
found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to
Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.’”
NOTICE how the charge has changed from blasphemy to insurrection.
Pilate is not impressed but he questions Jesus.
When Jesus explains the nature of His kingdom (being not of this
world) he is even more concerned and seeks to release Him.
When that doesn’t work He hears that Jesus is from Galilee and since
Herod was in town, he send Jesus to him.
Herod is excited to see some miracles by Jesus but get no
response. Jesus is treated
with contempt and arrayed with a robe (mockingly) and sent back to
Pilate.
Back before Pilate, he has been warned by his wife to have nothing to do
with Jesus because He was innocent.
In another effort to have Jesus freed, Pilate presents a
convicted insurrectionist and murderer to the people.
It was the custom of the governor
during the feast to release a prisoner whom the people wanted
freed. So he gives the people a
choice between Barabbas and Jesus (hoping they would see their folly –
“For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy” 27:18).
They choose Barabbas to be released.
So he asks them what to do with Jesus.
The crowd responds, “Let Him be crucified!” (26:22).
Again, Pilate appeals, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they shout louder, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
Finally, Pilate takes water and washes his hands before the multitude
and says, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person.
You see to it.” The
people responded, “His blood be on us and our children.”
(Matt. 26:24-25).
Pilate then has Jesus scourged and delivered to be crucified.
The scourging was not an ordinary beating.
It was a severe lashing with long lasting and sometimes permanent
damage. It was used as a
preliminary to most executions.[1]
The whip that was used is called a flagellum and was a short whip
with several leather tongs on the end.
Attached were small iron balls or sharp pieces of bones.
The intent was to tear the skin and weaken the condemned.
There were occasions when the beating itself resulted in death.
Unlike Jews who had a limit of 40 lashes, Romans had no limit.
We do not know how many times Jesus was beaten, but it was enough
to weaken Him so that He had difficulty bearing His crossbeam to the
site of execution.
Following the scourging, a crown of thorns was weaved and placed on His
head, and a robe placed on His wounded body and a reed in His hand.
(Matt. 27:26-31) The
soldiers mocked Him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Then they spat upon Him and took the read and struck Him on the
head. Imagine the thorns
being driven into the temples.
Then, as the robe has begun to cling to His wet body (from the
beating) they strip Him of the robe, put on His clothes and lead Him
away to be crucified.
a.
Led away to be crucified
– Typically, the condemned would have the crossbeam of the cross tied to
his arms and he would be compelled to carry that to his execution.
As Jesus is being led on the road to His execution, He collapses
from His injuries. They
compel a man identified as Simon from Cyrene to bear His cross to “Golgtha”
(“Place of a Skull”) (Matt. 27:33)
b.
Nailed to the cross by
Roman soldiers – Having refused sour wine mingled with gall (a mild pain
killer), Jesus is crucified.
Matthew 27:35 simply says, “There they crucified Him.”
The other gospels give similar vague statements.
A simple mentioning of the word would be enough for people to
understand what Jesus endured.
Let us consider for a few moments what was involved in a
crucifixion.
c.
The agony of the cross[2] –
crucifixion was a form of execution perfected by the Romans.
It was a slow and painful death and was reserved for the vilest
of criminals, rebellious slaves and insurrectionists.
Roman citizens were protected from it.
The victim would be thrown to the ground on his back with the crossbar
already tied in place, and his wrists would have a spike driven through
each of them. This would
fasten him to the crossbeam. The
crossbeam would then be lifted up and fastened on a permanent upright
wooden stipe and secured.
Then one foot would placed atop the other and both aligned to the center
of the stipe and the final nail would be driven in place.
The condemned would be left there to die a slow and VERY painful
death. He would be observed
by the executioner until dead.
The cause of death involved several factors -
1) The severity of the beating
prior to death would determine how quickly one would die from blood loss
and shock.
2) The contamination and
infection of wounds from the body with sores being cast to the ground as
well as whatever insects and birds picked at the wounds.
3) Because of the position of the
body with outstretched arms on a wounded body, there would be severe
cramping and pain. Imagine
the weight of the body pulling on the wounds on the impaled hands.
To get relief, one would push up with his feet which were also
impaled, thus transferring the severe pain to the feet.
When this could no longer be endured, the body would collapse and
the pain in the hands would again present itself.
This process would continue until death.
In the meantime, the blood would become thicker (and less) which
would cause cramping, breathing would become more shallow.
Perhaps the victim would pass out, but when he revived the
process would continue. Thus
one of the primary causes of death would be asphyxiation (suffocation).
d.
On the cross - Above the
head, a placard of sorts would be placed stating the crime.
Pilate had it say, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
He had it written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. (John 19:19-20)
The leaders protested, but on this Pilate would not relent.
After His crucifixion, the soldiers divided His garments and gambled for
His tunic.
He was nailed between two thieves.
Luke records the conversation of Jesus with the penitent thief,
while others simply record their mockings.
In addition to the, the crowds below mocked as well, which was typical.
“You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save
Yourself.” “If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Others mocked and blasphemed, including the chief priests and
scribes. “He saved others;
Himself He cannot save. If
He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we
will believe Him.” “He
tursted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him…” (Matt.
27:39-43).
We are told that from the 6th to the 9th hour
there was darkness over the land (from noon to 3 pm).
This was clearly unusual and a sign from God.
e.
His humanity while on
the cross – We have recorded in the gospels 7 sayings of Jesus.
They demonstrate His humanity and the reality of what He was
enduring. He said:
i.
“Father, forgive them
for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
ii.
“Assuredly, I say to
you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
iii.
“My God, My God, what
have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46)
iv.
“Woman, behold your
son!” and to John, “Behold your mother.” (John 19:27)
v.
“I thirst” fulfilling
scripture (John 19:28)
vi.
“It is finished” (John
19:30)
vii.
“Father, into Your hands
I commit My Spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
f.
And He dies!
Jesus was on the cross for less than 6 hours and then He died.
Upon His death we read in Matthew that there was an earthquake
and the bodies of dead saints arose and walked about the city and
appeared to many. We also
read that the veil of the temple torn in two from top to bottom, a very
significant event concerning Judaism.
The events were so spectacular that the centurion and those guarding
Jesus feared and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt. 27:54)
a.
Because Jesus was dead,
when the soldiers came around to break the legs of the others condemned,
they simply thrust a spear in His side to verify He was dead.
Blood and water came out.
(John 19:31-37).
After His death, Joseph of Arimathea goes to Pilate and requests the
body of Jesus for burial. He
was granted the body, took it down, wrapped it in clean linen cloth and
laid it in his new tomb (Matt. 27:57-61).
They rolled a large stone against the tomb and departed.
b.
Matt. 27:62-66 records
the chief priests and Pharisees coming to Pilate with permission to seal
the tomb because of claims Jesus had made. The tomb sealed and a guard
is put in place.
c.
BUT, the grave could no
conceal Him. All Gospels
clearly state, “One the first day of the week”, while it was early,
Jesus arose from the dead.
When Peter and John and various women came to the grave, Jesus was not
there. Just as He had
prophesied, HE AROSE!
d.
Over the next 40 days He
would appear to numerous witnesses, enough that His resurrection would
be indisputable. It is
interesting, that critics of the Christian faith who were historians
around that time, in discussing miracles, would mention His
resurrection. It was the
foundation of their faith and ours!
e.
Finally, Jesus ascends
back to heaven where He NOW reigns on His throne (Phil. 2:9-11) until He
will return to call His saints to meet Him in the air.
The judgment will then take place.
And there you have the account of the crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus. It is
the source of our hope. As
Paul said, “But God forbid that I
should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14)
The Hebrew writer said, “Let
us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto
Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was
set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2)
For to this you were
called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found
in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when
He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who
judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the
tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by
whose stripes you were healed.”
2 Peter 2:21-24
In coming weeks we are going to application to these events
and others as we study the concluding events of the life of Jesus while
upon this earth. May these
lessons move us to a more devoted service in His sight.
Friends these are the events that give us hope.
It was the shed blood of Jesus that provides atonement for our
sins. Have you taken care of
your sins through His blood?
If not, please do so today!