THE LAST SIX DAYS IN THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST
LEADING UP TO HIS CRUCIFICTION
THIS IS A VALUABLE SERMON RELATING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
PASSOVER, WHETHER YOU OBSERVE THE EARLY NEW TESTAMENT PASSOVER (AS THE APOSTLE
JOHN, POLYCARP AND POLICRATES DID ON THE 14TH NISAN,) OR PARTAKE OF
THE LORD'S SUPPER ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS, AS MOST CHRISTIANS DO
TODAY.
DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY
This Passover
(1986) happens on just the same day of the week as it did on the day Christ
died in 31 A.D. [Wednesday, 14th Nisan 31 A.D./ Wednesday, 23 April
86.]
I Corinthians 11:27-31. "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread,
and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and
blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that
bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For
this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would
judge ourselves, we should not be judged." [cf. II Corinthians 13:5. "Examine
yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not
know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless you are disqualified."
i.e. Examine yourselves to see if Jesus Christ is in you, i.e. examine
yourselves to see if you have the Holy Spirit functioning in you, leading you,
cf. Romans 8:14. This is a slightly different type of examination from what we
were used to back in 1986 and before. Just cataloguing all our individual sins
can be very depressing, and is not the kind of examination God is calling for.
He is calling for us to examine whether his Holy Spirit is
active in us! And if it isn't, to make it so, to stir it
up. Then you are prepared for Passover or Lord's Super.
Dictionary
definition: Discern: To perceive, as with sight or mind; recognize; apprehend.
To descriminate mentally; recognize as separate and different. To
distinguish.
In Hebrew there are five meanings for discern:
In the Greek there are three definitions for discern:
Jesus Christ and what he went through should be real to you.
You must understand his death and what he did for us through his sacrifice.
Isaiah 52:13-15. "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted
and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so his
visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men; so
shall he sprinkle [startle] many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at him;
for what had not been told them they shall see. And what they had not heard
they shall consider." Isaiah 53:1-12. "Who has believed our report? And to whom
has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a
tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness;
and when we see him there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is
despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And
we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we did not esteem
him. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed
him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our
iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we
are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to
his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was
oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He was taken from
prison and from judgment, and who will declare his generation? For he was cut
off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people he was
stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked--but with the rich at his
death, because he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it
pleased the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief. When you make his soul
an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the
pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his
soul, and be satisfied. By his knowledge my righteous Servant shall justify
many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion
with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he
poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and
he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
A
good portion of the four gospels are about or cover the last six days of the
life of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 21-26 (just over one fifth),
Mark 11-16
(one third of the book of Mark),
Luke 19-23 (one fifth),
John 11-21 (half
the book of John).
Jews from around the world custimarily would come
early to Jerusalem to purify themselves for that year's coming Passover. They
were asking about Christ on this year of 31 A.D. His fame had reached out
around the known world to them. John 11:54-57. "Therefore Jesus no longer
walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the
wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with his disciples.
And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to
Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Then they sought Jesus,
and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, 'What do you
think--that he will not come to the feast?' Now both the chief priests and the
Pharisees had given a command that if anyone knew where he was, he should
report it, that they might seize him."
THURSDAY NIGHT, 8 NISSAN 31 A.D.:
John 12:1-11. "Then, six days before the Passover [which occured on 14 Nissan,
(14-6=8)], Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom he
had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served, but
Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. Then Mary took a pound
of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet
with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then one
of his disciples, Judas Iscariot [Ish Kiriot, man from Kiriot], Simon's son,
who would betray him, said, 'Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three
hundred denarii [about one year's wages for a worker] and given to the poor?'
This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and
had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Then Jesus said,
'Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of my burial. For the poor you
have with you always, but me you do not have always.' Then a great many of the
Jews knew that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that
they might also see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief
priests took counsel that they might also put Lazarus to death, because on
account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in
Jesus."
FRIDAY, 9 NISSAN 31 A.D.: Palm Sunday never occured on a Sunday.
Christ arrived at the home of Lazarus in Bethany Thursday night. John 12:12-19
is a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9--a powerful moving entry into Jerusalem. The
masses were behind Christ. It was the Jewish religious leadership who weren't.
They were scared of Jesus Christ, and of loosing their power. John 12:12-19.
"The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard
that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to
meet him, and cried out:
'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord! The King of Israel!'
Then Jesus, when he had
found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
'Fear not,
daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's
colt.' [Isaiah 53:1]
His disciples did not understand these
things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these
things were written about him and that they had done these things to him.
Therefore the people, who were with him when he called Lazarus out of his tomb
and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met
him, because they heard that he had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore
said among themselves, 'You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the
world has gone after him!'" Mark 11:1-11. "Now when they came near Jerusalem,
to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent out two of his
disciples; and he said to them, `Go into the village opposite you; and as soon
as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat.
Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?'
say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here.' So they
went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street and
they loosed it. And some of those who stood there said to them, 'What are you
doing, loosing the colt?' So they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded.
And they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their
garments on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their garments on the road,
and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Then those who went before and those who followed cried out,
saying:
'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!'
And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into
the temple. So when he looked around at all things, as the hour was already
late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve."
THE SABBATH, SATURDAY, 10
NISSAN 31 A.D.: Mark 11:12-19. "Now the next day, when they had come out from
Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, he went
to see if perhaps he would find something on it. And when he came to it, he
found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus
said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And his disciples heard
it. So they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus went into the temple and began to
drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of
the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he would not allow
anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then he taught, saying, to them, 'Is
is not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all
nations'? [Isaiah 56:7] But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'
[Jeremiah 7:11] And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how
they might destroy him; for they feared him, because all the people were
astonished at his teaching. And when evening had come, he went out of the
city."
This could have been Christ's sermon in the Temple that Sabbath
day (it comes in chronological order of where he was at the time):
John
12:23-50. "But Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour has come that the Son of
man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat
falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces
much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in
this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, let him follow
me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, him my
Father will honor. Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save
me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify
your name.' Then came a voice from heaven, saying, 'I have both glorified it
and will glorify it again.' Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said
that it had thundered. Others said, 'An angel has spoken to him.' Jesus
answered and said, 'This voice did not come because of me, but for your sake.
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast
out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself.'
This he said, signifying by what death he would die. The people answered him,
'We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can you
say, 'The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?' Then Jesus
said to them, 'A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have
the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know
where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may
become sons of light.' These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden
from them. But although he had done so many signs before them, they did not
believe in him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which
he spoke:
'Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the
arm of the Lord been revealed?'
Therefore they could not believe,
because Isaiah said again:
'He has blinded their eyes and hardened
their heart, Lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their
heart, Lest they should turn, so that I should heal them.'
These
things Isaiah said when he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless even
among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did
not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved
the praise of men more than the praise of God. Then Jesus cried out and said,
'He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who
sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as a light into the world, that
whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears my
words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the
world but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words,
has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the
last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me
gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know
that his command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the
Father told me, so I speak.'"
SUNDAY, 11 NISSAN 31 A.D.: Christ goes
back to the Temple, the religious leaders try to discredit Christ publicly in
front of the many thousands gathered around the Temple. They were waiting for
him inside the Temple and probably stepped in front of him. Mark 11:27-33.
"Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the
chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him. And they said to him,
'By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority
to do these things?' But Jesus answered and said to them, 'I will also ask you
one question; then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these
things: The baptism of John--was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.' And
they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say,
'Why then did you not believe him?' 'But if we say, 'From men'--they feared the
people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered
and said to Jesus, 'We do not know.' And Jesus answered and said to them,
'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
The
Pharisees try to discredit Christ next:
Matthew 22:15-22. "Then
the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle him in his talk. And
they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know
that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do you care about
anyone, for you do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do
you think? Is is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? But Christ perceived
their wickedness, and said, 'Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the
tax money.' So they brought him a denarius. And when he said to them, 'Whose
image and inscription is this?' They said to him, 'Caesar's.' And he said to
them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the
things that are God's.' When they heard these words, they marveled, and left
him and went their way."
The Sadducees try next:
Matthew
22:23-33. "The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection,
came to him and asked him, saying, 'Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies,
having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for
his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had
married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. Likewise the
second also, and the third, even to the seventh. And last of all the woman died
also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For
they all had her.' Jesus answered and said to them, 'You are mistaken, not
knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection [he is
talking of the first resurrection. cf. I Cor. 15:49-54] they neither marry nor
are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven. But concerning
the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God,
saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob?' God is not the God of the dead, but of the
living."
The Pharisees try one last time:
Matthew
22:34-46. "But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question,
testing him, and saying, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind. [Deuteronomy 6:5] The second is
like to it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' [Leviticus
19:18] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' While
the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, 'What do you
think about the Christ? Whose Son is he?' They said to him 'The Son of David.'
He said to them, 'How then does David in the Spirit call him 'Lord,'
saying:
'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, Till I
make your enemies Your footstool.' [Psalm 110:1]
'If David then
calls him 'Lord,' how is he his Son?' And no one was able to answer him a word,
nor from that day on did anyone dare question him anymore."
Cross
reference to Matthew 22:15-46 is Mark 12:12-37. Mark 12:12-37. "And they sought
to lay hold of him, but feared the multitude, for they knew he had spoken the
parable against them. So they left him and went away. Then they sent to him
some of the Pharisees and Herodians, to catch him in his words. When they had
come, they said to him, 'Teacher, we know that you are true, and care about no
one; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in
truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay, or shall we
not pay?' But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, 'Why do you test me?
Bring me a denarius that I may see it.' So they brought it. And he said to
them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' And they said to him, 'Ceasar's.'
Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they marveled at
him.
Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him;
and they asked him, saying: 'Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother
dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should
take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven
brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. And the
second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third
likewise. So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman
died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she
be? For all seven had her as wife.' Jesus answered and said to them, 'Are you
not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the scriptures nor the power of
God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in
marriage, but are like the angels in heaven. But concerning the dead, that they
rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how
God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob?' He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the
living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.'
Then one of the scribes
came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that he had answered
them well, asked him, 'Which is the first commandment of all?' Jesus answered
him, 'The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our
God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength
[Deuteronomy 6:4-5]. This is the first commandment. And the second, like
it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' [Leviticus
19:18]. There is no other commandment greater than these.' So the scribe
said to him, 'Well said, Teacher, you have spoken the truth, for there is one
God, and there is no other but he. And to love him with all the heart, with all
the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love
one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices.' So when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, 'You
are not far from the kingdom of God.' And after that no one dared question
him.
Then Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, 'How
is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David
himself said by the Holy Spirit:
'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit
at My right hand, till I make your enemies your
footstool."'
'Therefore David himself calls him 'Lord', how is he
then his Son?' And the common people heard him gladly."
The whole city
is alive with Jewish leaders who don't want to follow Christ. The people, the
masses are with Christ, not against him. Now all the leaders want to destroy
Christ, especially after this next discourse. Matthew 23:1-39. "Then Jesus
spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying: 'The scribes and the
Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that
observe and do, but do not do according to their work; for they say, and do not
do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders;
but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their
works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge
the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best
seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by
men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called 'Rabbi,' for One is your
Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your
father; for One is your Father, he who is in heaven. And do not be called
teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among
you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he
who humbles himself will be exalted. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither
go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses [vs 14], and
for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater
condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel
land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as
much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever
swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the
temple, he is obliged to perform it.' Fools and blind! For which is greater,
the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And 'Whoever swears by the
altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is
obliged to perform it.' Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the
altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by
it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by
Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God
and by Him who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the
weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to
have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who
strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they
are full of extortion and unrighteousness. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the
inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs
which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's
bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men,
but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn
the monuments of the righteous, and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our
fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the
prophets.' Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are the sons
of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers'
guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you
will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and
persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed
on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son
of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I
say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!
How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her
chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to
you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see me no more till you say,
'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'[psalm
118:26].'"
Then in Matthew 24, the whole chapter, he gave a private
discourse on the 2nd coming of the Messiah.
MONDAY, 12 NISAN 31 A.D.:
Two days and one night before the evening when Christ celebrated the first New
Testament Passover (which was kept 24 hours before the Jews celebrated their
Passover or Sedar). Mark 14:1-11. "After two days it was the Passover and the
Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how
they might take him by trickery and put him to death. But they said, 'Not
during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.' And being in Bethany
at the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an
alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. And she broke the flask and
poured it on his head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves,
and said, 'Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for
more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.' And they criticized her
sharpely. But Jesus said, 'Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done
a good work for me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you
wish you may do them good; but me you do not have always. She has done what she
could. She has come beforehand to anoint my body for burial. Assuredly, I say
to you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the whole world, what this
woman did will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.' Then Judas Iscariot,
one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray him to them. So when
they heard it, there were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought
how he might conveniently betray him."
TUESDAY, 13TH NISAN, 31 A.D.:
This Tuesday at evening, after the day had passed, was the Passover that Christ
observed, 24 hours earlier than when the Jews were going to observe it. The
next day would be Passover day, the 14th of Nisan. Christ had to send in a few
disciples to prepare the Passover. He can no longer move about without being
seen or recognized. Mark 14:12-16. "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread,
when they killed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, 'Where do you
want us to go and prepare, that you may eat the Passover?' So he sent out two
of his disciples and said to them, 'Go into the city, and a man will meet you
carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. And wherever he goes in, say to the
master of the house, "The Teacher says, 'Where is the guest room in which I may
eat the Passover with my disciples?'" Then he will show you a large upper room,
furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.' And his disciples went out,
and came into the city, and found it just as he had said to them; and they
prepared the Passover."
That brings us up to the Passover and Christ's
illegal arrest and crucifiction. It was illegal by Jewish law to arrest someone
at night or to have legal meetings at night, but the Jewish leaders had to
attempt to solidify their case against Christ and get as many leaders behind
them, Roman and otherwise (Pilot and Herod) before the crowds gathered that
Passover Day.
The scriptures covering Tuesday and Wednesday
are:
Matthew 26:20-75. Matthew 27:1-66.
Mark 14:16-72. Mark
15:1-47.
Luke 23:1-56. (This "Sabbath Day" being spoken of in Luke 23
was the High Day, or Holy Day, the First Day of Unleavened Bread (15th Nisan),
not an ordinary weekly Sabbath (Saturday).
John 13:1-37. John 18:1-40.
John 19:1-34. Mark 16:1-20.
PASSOVER, TUESDAY NIGHT, NISAN 13/14:
Matthew 26:20-75. "Now when evening had come, he sat down with the twelve. Now
as they were eating, he said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray
me.' And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to him,
'Lord, is it I?' Then he answered and said, 'He who dipped his hand with in the
dish will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to
that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that
man if he had not been born.' Then Judas, who was betraying him, answered and
said, 'Rabbi, is it I?' He said to him, 'You have said it.' And as they were
eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples
and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' Then he took the cup, and gave thanks,
and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood
of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I
say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that
day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.' And when they had
sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to
them, 'All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is
written:
'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock
will be scattered.'
But after I have been raised, I will go
before you to Galilee.' Peter answered and said to him, 'Even if all are made
to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.' Jesus said to him,
'Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will
deny me three times.' Peter said to him, 'Even if I have to die with you, I
will not deny you!' And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus came with them to
a place called Gethsemane [olive press], and said to the disciples, 'Sit here
while I go and pray over there.' And he took with him Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, and he began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then he said to
them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch
with me.' He went a little farther and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, 'O
my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I
will, but as you will.' Then he came to the disciples and found them asleep,
and said to Peter, 'What, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray,
lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak.' He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, 'O my Father, if
this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it, Your will be done.' And he
came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So he left them,
went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. Then he came
to his disciples and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold,
the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of
sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, he who betrays me is at hand.'
And
while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great
multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the
people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, 'Whomever I kiss, he is
the one; seize him.' Then immediately he went up to Jesus and said, 'Greetings,
Rabbi!' and kissed him. And Jesus said to him, 'Friend, why have you come?'
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And suddenly, one of those
who were with Jesus [I suspect Peter] stretched out his hand and drew his
sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus
said to him, 'Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will
perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray my Father, and he
will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the
scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus?' In that hour Jesus said to
the multitude, 'Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs
to take me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize
me. But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled.' Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.
And those who
had laid hold of Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the
scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance to
the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see
the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false
testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but found none. Even though many
false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses
came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of
God and to build it in three days.'" And the high priest arose and said to him,
'Do you answer nothing? What is it that these men testify against you?' But
Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to him, 'I adjure you
by the living God that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.'
Jesus said to him, 'It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter
you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on
the clouds of heaven.' Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, 'He has
spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have
heard his blasphemy! What do you think?' They answered and said, 'He is
deserving of death.' Then they spat in his face and beat him; and others struck
him with the palms of their hands, saying, 'Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the
one who struck you?'
Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a
servant girl came to him, saying, 'You also were with Jesus of Galilee.' But he
denied it before them all, saying, 'I do not know what you are saying.' And
when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who
were there. 'This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.' But again he denied
with an oath, 'I do not know the man!' And after a while those who stood by
came to him and said to Peter, 'Surely you also are one of them, because your
speech betrays you.' Then he began to curse and swear, saying, 'I do not know
the man!' And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of
Jesus who had said to him. 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three
times.' Then he went out and wept bitterly."
Matthew 27:1-66. "When
morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel
against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him
away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, his
betrayer, seeing that he had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back
the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, 'I have
sinned by betraying innocent blood.' And they said, 'What is that to us? You
see to it!' Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed,
and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and
said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the
price of blood.' And they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field,
to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood
to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet,
saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was
priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the
potter's field, as the Lord directed."
Now Jesus stood before the
governor. And the governor asked him, saying, 'Are you the King of the Jews?'
So Jesus said to him, 'It is as you say.' And while he was being accused by the
chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then Pilate said to him, 'Do you
not hear how many things they testify against you?' And he answered him not a
word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
Now at the feast the
governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they
wished. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas [Jesus
Barabbas]. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them,
'Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called
Christ?' For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him. While he was
sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, 'Have nothing to do
with that just man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of
him.' But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they
should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to
them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release to you?' They said,
'Barabbas!'
Pilate said to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus who is
called Christ?' They all said to him, 'Let him be crucified!' Then the governor
said, 'Why, what evil has he done?' But they cried out all the more, saying,
'Let him be crucified!' When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but
rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the
multitude, saying, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just person. You see to
it.' And all the people answered and said, 'His blood be on us and on our
children.' Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus,
he delivered him to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took
Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around him. And they
stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. When they had twisted a crown of
thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And they bowed
the knee before him and mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' Then they
spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. Then when they had
mocked him, they took the robe off him, put his own clothes on him, and led him
away to be crucified.
Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene,
Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they had come to
a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave him sour
wine mingled with gall to drink. But when he had tasted it, he would not drink.
Then they crucified him, and divided his garments, casting lots, that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:
"They divided my
garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots" [Psalm
22:18].
Sitting down, they kept watch over him there. And they put
up over his head the accusation written against him:
THIS IS
JESUS
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then two robbers were crucified with him,
one on the right and another on the left. And those who passed by blasphemed
him, wagging their heads and saying, '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.' Likewise the cheif priests, also mocking with the scribes and elders,
said, '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 trusted in
God; let him deliver him now if he will have him; for he said, 'I am the Son of
God.'' Even the robbers who were crucified with him reviled him with the same
thing.
Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness
over all the land [noon to three in the afternoon]. And about the ninth hour
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that
is, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" [Psalm 22:1] Some of those who
stood there, when they heard that, said, 'This man is calling for Elijah!'
Immediatedly one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and
put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. The rest said, 'Let him alone;
let us see if Elijah will come to save him.' Jesus, when he had cried out again
with a loud voice, yielded up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple
was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were
split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen
asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after his resurrection, they
went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Now when the centurion and
those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that
had happened, they feared greatly, saying, 'Truly this was the Son of God!' And
many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, were there
looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James
and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Now when the evening had
come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also
become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of
Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. And when Joseph had
taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new
tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the
door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other
Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
On the next day, which followed the Day
of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate,
saying, 'Sir, we remember, while he was still alive, how that deceiver said,
'After three days I will rise.' Therefore command that the tomb be made secure
until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and
say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be
worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way,
make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure,
sealing the stone and setting the guard."
Mark 14:16-72. "After
two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief
priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by trickery and put him
to death. But they said, 'Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the
people.'
And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as
he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costlly oil
of spikenard. And she broke the flask and poured it on his head. But there were
some who were indignant among themselves, and said, 'Why was this fragrant oil
wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and
given to the poor.' And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, 'let her
alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. For you have
the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but me
you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to
anoint my body for burial.' 'Assuredly, I say to you, whenever this gospel is
preached throughout the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of
as a memorial to her.'
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to
the chief priests to betray him to them. So when they heard it, they were glad,
and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray
him.
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the
Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, 'Where do you want us to go and
prepare, that you may eat the Passover?' So he sent out two of his disciples
and said to them, 'Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher
of water; follow him. And wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house,
'The Teacher says, 'Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover
with my disciples?' 'Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and
prepared; there make ready for us.' And his disciples went out, and came into
the city, and found it just as he had said to them; and they prepared the
Passover. In the evening he came with the twelve. Now as they said and ate,
Jesus said, 'Assuredly, I say to you one of you who eats with me will betray
me.' And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one by one, 'Is it I?'
And he answered and said to them, 'It is one of the twelve, who dips with me in
the dish. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of him, but woe to
that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that
man if he had never been born.'
Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you
will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written: 'I will
strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I have
been raised [from the dead], I will go before you to Galilee.' But Peter said
to him, 'Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.' And Jesus said to
him, 'Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster
crows twice, you will deny me three times.' But he spoke more vehemently, 'If I
have to die with you, I will not deny you!' And they all said
likewise.
Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and he
said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.' And he took Peter, James, and
John with him, and he began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then he said
to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and
watch.' He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it
were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, 'Abba, Father, all
things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what
I will, but what you will.' Then he came and found them sleeping, and said to
Peter, 'Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray,
lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is
weak.' Again he went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when he
returned he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did
not know what to answer him. Then he came the third time and said to them, 'Are
you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the
Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go.
See, my betrayer is at hand.'
And immediately, while he was still
speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and
clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and elders. Now his betrayer
had given them a signal, saying, 'Whomever I kiss, he is the one; take him and
lead him away safely.' And as soon as he had come, immediately he went up to
him and said to him, 'Rabbi, Rabbi!' and kissed him. Then they laid their hands
on him and took him. And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck
the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. [Probably Peter trying to
cut off his head!] Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have you come out, as
against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me? I was daily with you in the
temple teaching, and you did not take me. But the Scriptures must be
fulfilled.' Then they all forsook him and fled. Now a certain young man
followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young
men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them
naked.
And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were
assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. But Peter
followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he
sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. And the chief priests and
all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death, and found
none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimonies did not
agree. And some rose up and bore false witness against him, saying, 'We heard
him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three
days I will build another made without hands.'' But not even then did their
testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus,
saying, 'Do you answer nothing? What is it these men testify against you?' But
he [Jesus] kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him,
saying to him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' And Jesus said, 'I
am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and
coming with the clouds of heaven.' Then the high priest tore his clothes and
said, 'What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy!
What do you think?' And they all condemned him to be worthy of death. Then some
began to spit on him, and to blinkfold him, and to beat him, and to say to him,
'Prophesy!' And the officers struck him with the palms of their
hands.
Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls
of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at
him and said, "You also were Jesus of Nazareth." But he denied it, saying, "I
neither know nor understand what you are saying." And he went out on the porch,
and a rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to
those who stood by, "This is one of them." But he denied it again. And a little
later those who stood by said to Peter again, 'Surely you are one of them; for
you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.' But he began to curse and swear,
'I do not know this Man of whom you speak!' And a second time the rooster
crowed. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, 'Before
the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And when he thought
about it, he wept."
Mark 15:1-47. "Immediately, in the morning, the
chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole
council; and they bound Jesus, led him away, and delivered him to Pilate. Then
Pilate asked him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And he answered and said to
him, 'It is as you say.' And the chief priests accused him of many things, but
he answered nothing. Then Pilate asked him again, saying, 'Do you answer
nothing? See how many things they testify against you!' But Jesus still
answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
Now at the feast he was
accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And
there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow insurrectionists;
they had committed murder in the insurrection. Then the multitude, crying
aloud, began ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate
answered them, saying, 'Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?'
For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy. But the
chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas
to them. And Pilate answered and said to them again, 'What then do you want me
to do with him who you call the King of the Jews?' So they cried out again,
'Crucify him!' Then Pilate said to them, 'Why, what evil has he done?' And they
cried out more exceedingly, 'Crucify him!' So Pilate, wanting to gratify the
crowd released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scrourged
him, to be crucified."
"Then the soldiers led him away into the hall
called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they
clothed him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on his
head, and began to salute him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' Then they struck him
on the head with a reed and spat on him; and bowing the knee, they worshipped
him. And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, put his own
clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
Now they compelled a
certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was
coming out of the country and passing by, to bear his cross. And they brought
him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a skull. Then they
gave him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but he did not take it. And when
they crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots for them to
determine what every man should take. Now it was the third hour, and they
crucified him. And the inscription of his accusation was written
above:
THE KING OF THE JEWS
With him they also
crucified two robbers, one on his right and the other on his left. So the
scripture was fulfilled which says "And he was numbered with the
transgressors." [Isaiah 53:12.] And those who passed by blasphemed him,
wagging their heads and saying, 'Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it
in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!' Likewise the chief
priests also, together with the scribes, mocked and said among themselves, 'He
saved others; himself he cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel,
descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.' And those who were
crucified with him reviled him.
Jesus Dies on the
Cross
Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over
the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with
a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My
God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of those who stood by, when they
heard it, said, "Look, he is calling for Elijah!" Then someone ran and filled a
sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to him to drink,
saying, "let him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take him down." And
Jesus cried with a loud voice, and breathed his last. Then the veil of the
temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood
opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said,
"Truly this man was the Son of God!" There were also women looking on from
afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of
Joses, and Salome, who also followed him and ministered to him when he was in
Galilee; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. [Kind of
interesting who followed and stuck by Jesus Christ to the bitter end. It was
the women, not many of his men disciples were there, just John and Joseph of
Arimathea.]
Jesus Buried in Joseph's Tomb
Now when evening
had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the
Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself
waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that he was already dead; and
summoning the centurion, he asked him if he had been dead for some time. And
when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then he
bought fine linen, took him down, and wrapped him in the linen. And he laid him
in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the
door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed
where he was laid."
Luke 23:1-56. "Then the whole multitude of
them arose and led him to Pilate. And 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." So Pilate asked him, saying, "Are
you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him and said, "It is as you say."
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this
man." But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching
throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."
Jesus
faces Herod
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the man were a
Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he
sent him to Herod, who also was in Jerusalem at that time. Now when Herod saw
Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see him,
because he had heard many things about him, and he hoped to see some miracle
done by him. Then he questioned him with many words, but he answered him
nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
Then Herod, with his men of war, treated him with contempt and mocked him,
arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate. That very day
Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for before that they had been
at enmity with each other.
Taking the Place of
Barabbas
Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests,
the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this man to me, as
one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined him in your presence,
I have found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse
him; no neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing
worthy of death has been done by him. I will therefore chastise him and release
him" (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). And
they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this man, and release to us
Barabbas"--who had been thrown into prison for a certain insurrection made in
the city, and for murder. Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again
called out to them. But they shouted, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him!" And
he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found no
reason for death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go." But
they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified. And the
voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence
that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they
requested, who for insurrection and murder had been thrown into prison; but he
delivered Jesus to their will."
The King on the Cross
Now
as they led him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who
was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear
it after Jesus. And a great multitude of the people followed him, and women who
also mourned and lamented him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of
Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore, and the breasts which never nursed!' Then they will
begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" [Hosea 10:8] For if they do these
things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" There were also two
others, criminals, led with him to be put to death. And when they had come to
the place called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on
the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive
them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided his garments and
cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them
sneered, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ,
the chosen of God." And the soldiers also mocked him, coming and offering him
sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." And an
inscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and
Hebrew:
THE IS THE KING OF THE JEWS
Then one of the criminals who
were hanged blasphemed him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and
us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God,
seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we
receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." Then
he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And
Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with me in
Paradise."
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over
all the earth until the ninth hour [noon to three p.m.]. Then the sun was
darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried
out with a lout voice, he said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
And having said this, he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had
happened, he glorified God, saying "Certainly this was a righteous man!" And
the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done,
beat their breasts and returned. But all his acquaintances, and the women who
followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these
things.
Jesus Buried in Joseph's Tomb
And behold, there
was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. He had not
consented to their counsel and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews,
who himself also waited for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and
asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and
laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain
before. That was the Preparation, and the Sabbath [The First Day of Unleavened
Bread, a Holy Day] drew near. And the women who had come with him from Galilee
followed after, and they observed the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they
returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath
according to the commandment."
John 13:1-37. "Now before the
feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come that he should
depart from this world to the father, having loved his own who were in the
world, he loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having
already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot [Ishkeriot, Heb. "from
Keriot"], Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given
all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was goting to God,
rose from supper and laid aside his garments, took a towel and girded himself.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet,
and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. Then he came to Simon
Peter. And Peter said to him, "Lord, are you washing my feet?" Jesus answered
and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know
after this." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered
him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me." Simon Peter said to him,
"Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He
who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are
clean, but not all of you." For he knew who would betray him; therefore he
said, "You are not all clean."
So when he had washed their feet, taken
his garments, and sat down again, he said to them, "Do you know what I have
done to you? You call me teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I
then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have
done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his
master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these
things, happy are you if you do them. I do not speak concerning all of you. I
know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who
eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.' [Psalm 41:9] Now I
tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that
I am he. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives
me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me." When Jesus had said these
things, he was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I
say to you, one of you will betray me." Then the disciples looked at one
another, perplexed about whom he spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom
one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him
to ask who it was of whom he spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he
said to him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give
a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, he gave
it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan
entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." But no one at
the table knew for what reason he said this to him. For some thought, because
Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need
for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. Having received
the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was
night.
The New Commandment
So, when he had gone out, Jesus
said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is
glorified in him, God will also glorify him himself, and glorify him
immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You
will seek me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going you cannot come,' so
now I say to you.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one
another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will
know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another."
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
Simon Peter
said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going
you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me afterward." Peter said to
him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for your
sake." Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for my sake? Most
assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied me
three times."
(One of Jesus' last requests to the Father for his
disciples. John 17:11. "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the
world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your name those whom you
have given me, that they may be one as we are.")
John 18:1-40.
"When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the
Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. And
Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with
his disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops and officers
from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and
weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon him, went
forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" They answered him, "Jesus of
Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." [he is not in the
original Greek. I AM is another name for God, first given in Exodus. The Jews
new this, and this accounts for their reaction to this answer of Jesus Christ.]
And Judas, who betrayed him also stood with them. Then--when he said to them,
"I am he--they drew back and fell to the ground. Then he asked them
again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of answered, "I have told
you that I am he. Therefore, if you seek me, let these go their way,"
that the saying might be fulfilled which he spoke, "Of those whom you gave me,
I have lost none." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the
high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was
Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not
drink the cup which my Father has given me?"
Before the High
Priest
Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the
officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. And they led him away to
Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that
year. Now it was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient
that one man die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus
And
Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was
known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high
priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was
known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and
brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You
are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." And
the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was
cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed
himself.
Jesus Questioned by the High Priest
The high
priest then asked Jesus about his disciples and his doctrine. Jesus answered
him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the
temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do
you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Indeed they know
what I said." And when he had said these things, one of the officers who stood
by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do you answer the high
priest like that?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of
the evil; but if well, who do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to
Caiaphas the high priest. [This incident was with Annas, the real high priest,
a cagy old man whom the Romans feared. The Romans made him give up the high
priesthood, so he had installed one son after another, and finally his
son-in-law Caiaphas, to retain the power of the high priesthood in his control
and family.] [The whole description of what happened in Caiaphas's house is
missing from John's account. It is to be found in Matthew 26:57-68. Annas's
house is thought to have been adjoining to Caiaphas's house with a common
courtyard.]
Peter Denies Twice More
Now Simon Peter stood
and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of his
disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!" One of the servants of
the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not
see you in the garden with him?" Peter then denied again: and immediately a
rooster crowed.
In Pilate's Court
Then they led Jesus from
Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did
not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might
eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do
you bring against this man?" They answered and said to him, "If he were not an
evildoer, we would not have delivered him up to you." Then Pilate said to them,
"You take him and judge him according to your law." Therefore the Jews said to
him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death," that the saying of Jesus
might be fulfiled which he spoke, signifying by what death he would die. Then
Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you
the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself on
this, or did others tell you this about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your
own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world [Gr. "Age"]. If my kingdom
were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered
to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here." Pilate therefore said to
him, "Are you a king then? Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this
cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should
bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate
said to him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to
the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in him at all."
Taking
the Place of Barabbas
"But you have a custom that I should release
someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the
King of the Jews?" Then they all cried again, saying, "Not this man, but
Barabbas! Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 19:1-42. "So then
Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns
and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. Then they said,
"Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him with their hands. Pilate then
went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing him out to you, that
you may know that I find no fault in him." [Apparently, Pilate has tried twice
now to get Christ off the hook.]
Pilate's
Decision
Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and
the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" Therefore, when the
chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify him,
crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "You take him and crucify him, for I find no
fault in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law
he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." Therefore when Pilate
heard that saying he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium,
and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Then
Pilate said to him, "Are you not speaking to me? Do you not know that I have
the power to crucify you, and power to release you? Jesus answered, "You could
have no power at all against me unless it had been given you from above.
Therefore the one who delivered me to you has greater sin."
From then on
Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying "If you let this
man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks
against Caesar." When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out
and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but
in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover [the
fourteenth Nissan], about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your
King!" But they cried out, "Away with him, away with him!" Pilate said to them,
"Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but
Caesar!" So he delieverd him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and
led him away.
The King on a Cross
And he, bearing his
cross, went out to a place caled the Place of a Skull, which is called in
Hebrew, Galgotha, where they crucified him, and two others with him, one on
either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on
the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE
JEWS
Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where
Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and
Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The
King of the Jews,' but 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."' Pilate answered,
"What I have written, I have written." Then the soldiers, when they had
crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part,
and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one
piece. They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots
for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which
says:
"They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they
cast lots," [Psalm 22:18]
Behold Your Mother
Now there
stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary wife of
Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the
disciple whom he loved standing by, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your
son!" Then he said to the disciple [John], "Behold your mother!" And from that
hour that disciple took her to his own home.
It Is
Finished
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now
accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a
vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour
wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to his mouth. So when Jesus had received the
sour wine, he said, "It is finished!" And bowing his head, he gave up his
spirit.
Jesus' Side Is Pierced
Therefore, because it was
the Preparation Day,* that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the
Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their
legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came
and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, the did not break
his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and
immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and
his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you
may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled,
"Not one of his bones shall be broken." [Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm
34:20.] And again another Scripture says,
"They shall look on
him whom they pierced." [Zechariah 12:10 {another prophecy in Zechariah which
was quite literal, and had a literal fulfillment}]
Jesus Buried
in Joseph's Tomb
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple
of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take
away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the
body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came,
bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took
the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the
custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there
was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jew's Preparation Day, for the tomb
was nearby."
* the fourteenth Nissan, the day the Jews would
prepare and kill the Passover lambs prepatory to observing the Passover meal
that evening leading into the fifteenth Nissan when the Jews historically
observed the Passover meal, dating back to Exodus 12. Jesus Christ's New
Testament observance of the Passover Service had taken place the previous
evening leading into the fourteenth Nissan (some feeling he was setting a
precedent for new covenant Christians). The New Testament Church of God during
this first era of the Church, continued to observe the Passover once a year
from here on out to the time of Polycarp and Polycrates, whose strong letters
to the Bishop of Rome showing 'how they continued to observe the Passover on a
yearly basis on the 14th Nissan from the time of John, who learned it from
Jesus Christ, to their present time,' was recorded in the Catholic Church's
Post and Antinicene Fathers.
Mark 16:1-20. "Now when
the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome
bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. Very early in the morning,
on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And
they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the
tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled
away--for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man
clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was
crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But
go and tell his disciples--and Peter--that he is going before you into Galilee;
there you will see him, as he said to you." And they went quickly and fled from
the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone,
for they were afraid.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen
Lord
Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he
appeared first to Mary Magddalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons. She
went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And when
they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not
believe.
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
After that, he
appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the
country. [cf. Luke 24.] And they went and told it to the rest, but the did not
believe them either.
The Great Commission
Afterward he
appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and he rebuked their unbelief
and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him
after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the
gospel* to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but
he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those
who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new
tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will
by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will
recover."
* What Gospel was Jesus preaching for three and a half
years? John 1:14-15. "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe
in the gospel."
Christ Ascends to God's Right
Hand
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up
into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the
accompanying signs. Amen. [Luke 24 and Acts 1 show that Jesus Christ remained
with them for forty days, and then ascended to heaven at the Mount of Olives,
just ten days before the Day of Pentecost, a Holy Day, when they all received
the Holy Spirit. John had a habit of condensing events but amplifying concepts
dealing with love.]
This ends a Bible study dealing with the last six
days of the life of Jesus Christ based upon a sermon by a minister in the
Worldwide Church of God, headquartered at present in Pasadena California and
Big Sandy, Texas.