The Sacrifice Of The King
Our text: Matthew chapter 27
Jesus had "wept" as he had entered Jerusalem for this last time before His appointment with the cross.
Did He weep for Himself?
Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, [at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes].
No, He wept for the children of Israel.
Notice what Jesus says: "but now they are hid from thine eyes"
Paul later wrote these words to the Christians in Rome:
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
To the Christians in Corinth:
2Co 3:14 (But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ).
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
We should ask why?
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 [In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not], lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Jesus Christ had many great prayers but He said one on that cross that stands out for Israel and all unbelievers:
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, [Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do]. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
We know this prayer is answered everyday and we know that Israel will be saved not so much for what God did on that cross but because what the Son ask the Father, the Father will then do!
Jesus is our intercessor between us and God the Father.!
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; [but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously]:
1Pe 2:24 [Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness]: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Satan's hold on the people of God was broken on that cross and every individual has the power of salvation in their own selves if they will follow the example of Jesus and ask for forgiveness.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
What is the will of God?
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, [that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father]:
Let's study the day these things took place.
*****Our text:
Judas the traitor:
Mat 27:1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
Mat 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Mat 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Mat 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Mat 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Mat 27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
Mat 27:7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
Mat 27:8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
Mat 27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
Mat 27:10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
When Judas witnessed this false trial by Caiaphas and the religious leaders and saw that Jesus was condemned to death, he was filled with remorse. He returned those thirty pieces of silver:
"Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood"
Judas would have had to be a witness to the things that were happening to Christ Jesus.
Satan had used Judas's love for money as his bait to trap him and now it seemed to be nothing to be a part of.
Satan has this effect on all the things he makes happen:
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, [than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season];
You see the pleasure of sin does not last very long. Every sin that is committed is centered on covetness.
Paul wrote:
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Judas had coveted money above all else and money caused him to destroy himself by committing suicide. Most of those that stand behind the pulpits in the modern church stand there in covetness of money or power or for some other worldly thing, selling out the Lord Jesus Christ with every sermon. Those sitting in the pews, in the house of God covet the things of this world rather than the things of God, also destroying there own lives.
The Book of Jude describes these men like Judas.
The Book of James describes the false Christian.
Judas realizes that though Jesus is innocent of all these things He is accused of, He will still be condemned.
He gives his confession to the priests, who have no regard for the innocent, as he throws the money back to them and then he commits suicide.
Act 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Act 1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
Act 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, [from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place].
Judas took his place in a hell that was reserved for Satan, and it was Satan that had deceived him into going there.
To those that think Judas will arise one day as the Anti-Christ from the pits of hell they are also deceived:
The Bible says:
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Those priests judged that it was not lawful to put that blood money back into the Temple treasury. They decided to buy the field of the potter for a burying ground for strangers. This potters field which is on the side of the valley of Hinnon is also called 'Tophet" in the Bible.
Tophet
=Topheth, from Heb. toph "a drum," because the cries of children here sacrificed by the priests of Moloch were drowned by the noise of such an instrument; or from taph or toph, meaning "to burn," and hence a place of burning, [the name of a particular part in the valley of Hinnom]. "Fire being the most destructive of all elements, is chosen by the sacred writers to symbolize the agency by which God punishes or destroys the wicked.
Jeremiah says:
Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Jer 18:7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
Jer 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Jer 19:1 Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;
Jer 19:2 And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,
Jer 19:3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; [Behold, I will bring evil upon this place], the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
Jer 19:11 And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.
Jer 19:12 Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet:
Zechariah adds:
Zec 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Zec 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Because these priests could not accept this returned money, the purchase of the potters field was applied to Judas. It was bought for the purpose of burying strangers but to all that knew it was called "the field of blood":
The "Tophet" of Jeremiah that was valued and bought for 30 pieces of silver the price for the Messiah is then prophecy fulfilled.
Notice this also foreshadows what was to happen to Israel.
The land of Israel would become a land for burying strangers from the time of Titus until May 14, 1948. Israel was not there because this nation was scattered among all the nations.
There are still many Jew who have not made their way back home.
*****Our text:
Mat 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
Mat 27:12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Mat 27:13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Mat 27:14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Mat 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
Mat 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
Mat 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
Mat 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Mat 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Mat 27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Mat 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
There is a point that needs to be made. The Roman laws stated that all non-citizens had no legal rights. Under this point of law Pilate could not act illegally, for Christ Jesus had no rights in the eyes of Rome. This is a sad statement but even today many foreigners are treated as if they have no rights at all by the governments of this world.
We must also realize that before the Sanhedrin court, the Supreme Court of Israel at that time, Jesus was tried for "blasphemy".
As Christ is taken before Pilate He is tried for:
1.) Sedition or misleading the nation of Israel religiously.
2.) For forbidding the payment of taxes, which he paid Himself.
3.) For claiming to be King of the Jews, which He did have legal right to claim by heredity.
Luk 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
"Blasphemy" is not mentioned to Pilate because he would not rule on a Jewish matter.
Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator to serve in Judea. He was not liked by the Jews because he would deliberately violate the Jewish laws. He was not above killing to accomplish his purpose which is why he and Herod were at odds:
Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
It was Herod that was the governor of Galilee.
The charges to the guilt of Jesus brought to Pilate were political charges against the Roman government but they were still lies and were still false.
Pilate focused on the charge of Jesus being a king.
Any new king would be a threat to Rome!
"Art thou the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered "it is as you say" but He explains His meaning.
Joh 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
Joh 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Joh 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Jesus was not the type of king that Pilate asked about at least not at this time:
1.) The Kingdom of Jesus is not of this world.
2.) He had no armies on this earth.
3.) His followers would not have to fight for Him.
4.) His Kingdom would be a reign of "Truth".
Pilate found no fault in Our Lord because He has no faults!
Jesus answered nothing else.
We know that Jesus was next taken before Herod:
Luk 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
Luk 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
Luk 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Luk 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
Luk 23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
Luk 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
Luk 23:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
This Herod was the one that had murdered John the Baptist and had also threatened to kill Jesus.
Herod had silenced John who was God's voice to the people and Jesus had nothing more to say to this evil man.
Here stood the Lamb of God and He opened not His mouth!
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Herod could only mock Jesus and send Him back to Pilate.
If Pilate had hoped to get rid of his problem of judging Our Lord, he was disappointed.
As the Roman Governor, he had to uphold the law of Rome.
As a politician he knew he had to get along with the people or Rome would replace him.
Both Herod and Pilate knew that Jesus had broken no Roman Law and was innocent!
There seemed to be a custom of releasing a Jewish prisoner on the day of the Passover Feast. This was usually some outspoken Jewish person who had really broken no law but this day Pilate deliberately chose his most notorious prisoner. A true murderer and an enemy of the Jew and of Rome.
Barabbas:
Joh 18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
Mar 15:7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Barabbas was not an innocent man and he had been tried and found guilty and was waiting on his execution.
Barabbas was on death's row in prison and it was Christ Jesus that would also take his place.
Christ Jesus was the substitute for every sinner for we were all on Satan's "death row"!
Pilate had reasoned with himself that these people would ask that Jesus be released after all Jesus had healed the sick, He had raised the dead, and He had done many other known miracles.
These evil Jews had put in place a means of riot and it would be Pilate that would get the blame if he allowed it to happen.
Pilate then did three things:
1.) He wash his hands claiming he was innocent of the death of Jesus.
2.) He stated that Jesus was a "just" person and not worthy of death.
3.) He offered to punish Jesus and then release Him.
What did these blinded Jews say?
Joh 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: [but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar].
Pilate knew these things would make it to Rome if he did what was right and released Jesus.
Pilate had Jesus scourged and delivered to be crucified:
[Read and study Psalms 22.]
Jesus Christ was made a curse for each and everyone of us:
Deu 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Pilate knew what was right but he elected to please the people who were wrong:
Mar 15:15 And so Pilate, [willing to content the people], released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
How often now do small groups of people go before our government for some ungodly thing and the government yield to them knowing they are not right with the majority of the populace.
Pilate ask a very serious question of these Jews:
"What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ"
Everyone that has been born since the death of Jesus will see and answer this question before they die.
"What do we do with Jesus the Christ Child?"
He must be accepted as your personal Saviour or He must be rejected. There is only one choice to make:
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 6:11 [And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
You know:
1.) Judas yielded to the devil in his sin.
2.) Peter yielded to the flesh in his sin.
3.) Pilate yielded to the world, listened to the crowd that was before him, and took the easy way out, not the right way.
Pilate condemned the Lord of Glory!
What will you do with Jesus Christ Our Lord?
*****Our Text:
Mat 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
Mat 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon 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!
Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mat 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
Mat 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Mat 27:33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
Mat 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Mat 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;
Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mat 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Mat 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Mat 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mat 27:47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
Mat 27:48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
Mat 27:49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Mat 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
Mat 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Mat 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mat 27:61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
Mat 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Mat 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Mat 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Barabbas was the false man chosen by the land of the Jew. He was the national choice but we see the "blood of Christ" was wished upon them and even to those not yet born their own children.
Does the history of the Jew show this?
Satanic hatred then and existing in our day then took over and an awful punishment of Christ Jesus began.
He had already been sentenced. He was a willing substitute for our sin. What happens next was uncalled for!
*****(vs 27-30)
After Jesus was sentenced to be crucified He was placed in the custody of the soldiers that were in Pilate's control. They took Him to their own quarters in the Praetorium.
The Praetorium was the common hall where the governor's, who was the "praetor"(the commander-in-chief), personal body guard(the palace guard) congregated.
Christ was condemned by Rome because He was a King which was true. He did have King David's bloodline.
These soldiers paid homage to this king in a terrible way. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent yet he allowed Jesus to be ridiculed by his own army.
Remember Jesus had just been scourged. Many a man had died during a Roman scourging.
1.) They first disrobed Jesus placing upon Him the color of royalty. This was most probably an old garment of the palace guard.
Can you imagine ripping the clothes off Jesus exposing that body so torn by the violence of that whip with it bits of bone, and sharp objects imbedded into it's nine tails.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, [stood a Lamb as it had been slain], having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
God has not forgotten this day!
He will yet sit on His throne:
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
2.) A king must have a crown:
They wove together stems from a thorny bush and push it into His head. The same head that was so recently anointed with the oil from that alabaster box of Mary's.
3.) They gave this king a scepter of the reed plant.
Then: "they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! "
4.) They then spat on Him while beating Him with their fist and with that reed or other reeds.
Isa 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Isa 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
This submission of Our Lord was not a sign of God's weakness "but of His strength".
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, [leaving us an example], that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Christ Jesus was showing us an example of His "Love"!
*****(vs 31-38)
Once more Jesus was disrobed and His own blood soaked robe was placed upon Him. Jesus was not just going to die but He was going to die on a cross.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus was then led to the place of His crucifying:
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
With all the punishment already on that precious body of Our Lord, He was unable in His flesh to carry His cross.
It was required that the prisoner to at least carry his own cross beam and to wear a placard around his neck describing his crime.
Jesus has began this walk to the cross bearing all His cross:
Joh 19:17 And [he bearing his cross] went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
It was decided that someone should help Him:
"And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross"
Only about two and a half hours had passed since Jesus had stood before Pilate which was most likely about six thirty (A M).
It was about nine (A M) when this procession reached Golgotha.
Where have we see this place in the Bible?
Gen 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, [and saw the place afar off].
Gen 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
This place of Golgotha could be seen from a great distance in the time of Abraham.
It was customary to give those to be crucified a drugged drink to help ease their pain but Jesus refused this drink.
Christ Jesus wanted to feel the pain of my sin and of your sin. Sin cannot be watered down! Sin cannot be made light of!
Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
It was also customary for the soldiers to share in any spoils of those that were crucified.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
They gambled for the things of Jesus:
Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
They then sat down and waited upon Him to die:
"And sitting down they watched him there"
They displayed His title above that cross in three languages:
Luk 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
*****(vs 39-44)
Jesus was not executed in a building, He was executed on a public highway on a day when there were many thousands if not millions going in and out of Jerusalem. Jesus Christ was now mocked by this crowd of Jews.
Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
The Jewish leaders also joined in reminding others what He had said:
Mat 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
"He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him"
Jesus Christ stayed on that cross to prove He was the Son of God.
Jesus was not the only one crucified on Golgotha that day. There were at least two others. These were confirmed men who had stolen from Rome. We can see that even thieves were punished by death in the hands of Rome.
The Bible said many years earlier:
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and [he was numbered with the transgressors]; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
He was counted among thieves. The passers by mocked Him, yet He stayed on that cross to prove He was a loving God.
The Bible says:
Psa 69:20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
He could only prove He was a loving God with His death! He gave it all so that we might live!
Jesus did not come to this earth to save His own life. Jesus Christ came to this earth to pay the ransom for all sinners!
Thank You Jesus!
*****(vs 45-56)
Jesus was crucified about nine in the morning of that sad day. He had hung on that cross for three hours until noon. Then a solemn darkness settled over the land. This was at least the land known as Palestine and maybe the Roman Empire but in other places of the world there was already darkness.
This was not an eclipse of the Sun. The Jew used a lunar calendar, the Passover Feast occurred at the time of the full moon.
This was a supernatural darkness!
God had hidden His face from Him; He was forsaken by God Himself!
This darkness would last for three hours.
There were three days of darkness before the first passover in Egypt and now there was three hours of darkness before God's Lamb died for our sins and the sin of the entire world.
Jesus had spoken three times that were recorded before this darkness:
1.) He had prayed "Father forgive them".
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
2.) He had assured a repentant thief of a place in Paradise.
Luk 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
3.) He had given His Mother into the care of the Apostle John.
Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Joh 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
It was during this darkness that Jesus had been made sin for us!
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus then quoted His Own Sweet Words:
Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
That darkness was a symbol of the "judgment" that He had endured!
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
A Holy God cannot look upon sin! How could a Holy God look upon His Son with favor at this time when He had become sin?
Jesus then spoke in His favorite language, Hebrew!
He was not understood by many of the spectators!
There will be a pure language one day and all will understand!
Zep 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Zep 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
Jesus then spoke three more times:
1.) "I thirst".
Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Fulfilling prophesy:
Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
2.) "It is finished"
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
3.) "into Thy hands I commend My Spirit"
Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Jesus Christ was in complete control of Himself!
Jesus "gave" His life for us, no one took His life!
2Co 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Then there were three miracles:
1.) The veil of the temple was ripped into:
2.) There was an earthquake:
3.) There was a resurrection of some saints:
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
The ripped veil symbolized that the way to God was now open to all that would come to Him:
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
No more need for a single temple, a high priests, sacrificial altars, or the animal sacrifice.
There was an earthquake when God gave the Law:
Exo 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exo 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
The earthquake at Mount Calvary signified that the demands of the Law had been met:
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
1.) Jesus conquered sin: (the torn veil)
2.) Jesus conquered the Law: (the earthquake)
3.) Jesus conquered death: (the resurrections)
The Bible tells us:
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Apostle John was the only disciple that we know was near the cross:
Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Many women were watching this cruel thing:
1.) Mary the Mother of Jesus.
2.) The sister of Mary, wife of Cleophas(Alphaeus).
3.) Salome, the mother of James and John.
4.) Mary Magdalene.
We know there were others.
We also know that the men, the disciples had fled.
The "just" died for the "unjust" that day!
*****(57-66)
There was another man that witnessed these things that had not made himself known as a disciple of Jesus to others:
Joseph of Arimathaea:
These same religious leaders did not want dead bodies hanging on crosses during the Feasts. After six PM would begin the next day, the day of the Great Sabbath. Therefore the legs of those crucified would be broken to allow for death to come.
Crucifying was like hanging, a means to cut of the supply of air, but a much harsher way of doing it.
Joh 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Joh 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
Joh 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Now these were professional soldiers. Only a selected few were allowed to be Pilate's body guard. They knew death when they saw it.
Satan had not had enough yet! Jesus had said He would resurrect and He would, but some had not understood God's Power:
Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Joh 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
God will not leave one scripture that will not be fulfilled:
Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus, who served on the Council of the Sanhedrin. He was a good man among many evil men.
Luk 23:50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
Luk 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
He had seen his Master crucified, it was time to stand up for Jesus. With the help of Nicodemus another disciple afraid to make himself known for lack of faith they prepared the body of Jesus for burial.
If God had not kept these men hidden until this time, prophesy would not have been fulfilled!
Isa 53:9 [And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death]; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
The site of the tomb was near Golgotha and had probably been selected by Joseph earlier. We must consider that these two men in preparing the dead body of Jesus had then to forgo the Passover as they had defiled their own bodies under Jewish Law. They knew that the Law had been fulfilled in Jesus.
They had found the true Lamb of God!
The disciples had forgotten that Jesus promised to rise again but not those evil religious leaders who said they did not believe.
It was the Roman soldiers who had been in charge and it would be Roman soldiers that would apply that Roman seal to that tomb and guard it to make sure it was not disturbed by anyone.
To break the seal of the Governor would require death to those that did so.
For Roman guards to loose a prisoner required their death.
God had made sure that no one could steal the body of Jesus, friend or foe!
The Jewish leaders and the Roman government would now help to prove the evidence of Christ's Resurrection!
Let's pray!
Our text: Matthew chapter 27
Jesus had "wept" as he had entered Jerusalem for this last time before His appointment with the cross.
Did He weep for Himself?
Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, [at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes].
No, He wept for the children of Israel.
Notice what Jesus says: "but now they are hid from thine eyes"
Paul later wrote these words to the Christians in Rome:
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
To the Christians in Corinth:
2Co 3:14 (But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ).
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
We should ask why?
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 [In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not], lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Jesus Christ had many great prayers but He said one on that cross that stands out for Israel and all unbelievers:
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, [Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do]. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
We know this prayer is answered everyday and we know that Israel will be saved not so much for what God did on that cross but because what the Son ask the Father, the Father will then do!
Jesus is our intercessor between us and God the Father.!
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; [but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously]:
1Pe 2:24 [Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness]: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Satan's hold on the people of God was broken on that cross and every individual has the power of salvation in their own selves if they will follow the example of Jesus and ask for forgiveness.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
What is the will of God?
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, [that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father]:
Let's study the day these things took place.
*****Our text:
Judas the traitor:
Mat 27:1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
Mat 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Mat 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Mat 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Mat 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Mat 27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
Mat 27:7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
Mat 27:8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
Mat 27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
Mat 27:10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
When Judas witnessed this false trial by Caiaphas and the religious leaders and saw that Jesus was condemned to death, he was filled with remorse. He returned those thirty pieces of silver:
"Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood"
Judas would have had to be a witness to the things that were happening to Christ Jesus.
Satan had used Judas's love for money as his bait to trap him and now it seemed to be nothing to be a part of.
Satan has this effect on all the things he makes happen:
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, [than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season];
You see the pleasure of sin does not last very long. Every sin that is committed is centered on covetness.
Paul wrote:
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Judas had coveted money above all else and money caused him to destroy himself by committing suicide. Most of those that stand behind the pulpits in the modern church stand there in covetness of money or power or for some other worldly thing, selling out the Lord Jesus Christ with every sermon. Those sitting in the pews, in the house of God covet the things of this world rather than the things of God, also destroying there own lives.
The Book of Jude describes these men like Judas.
The Book of James describes the false Christian.
Judas realizes that though Jesus is innocent of all these things He is accused of, He will still be condemned.
He gives his confession to the priests, who have no regard for the innocent, as he throws the money back to them and then he commits suicide.
Act 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Act 1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
Act 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, [from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place].
Judas took his place in a hell that was reserved for Satan, and it was Satan that had deceived him into going there.
To those that think Judas will arise one day as the Anti-Christ from the pits of hell they are also deceived:
The Bible says:
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Those priests judged that it was not lawful to put that blood money back into the Temple treasury. They decided to buy the field of the potter for a burying ground for strangers. This potters field which is on the side of the valley of Hinnon is also called 'Tophet" in the Bible.
Tophet
=Topheth, from Heb. toph "a drum," because the cries of children here sacrificed by the priests of Moloch were drowned by the noise of such an instrument; or from taph or toph, meaning "to burn," and hence a place of burning, [the name of a particular part in the valley of Hinnom]. "Fire being the most destructive of all elements, is chosen by the sacred writers to symbolize the agency by which God punishes or destroys the wicked.
Jeremiah says:
Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Jer 18:7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
Jer 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Jer 19:1 Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;
Jer 19:2 And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,
Jer 19:3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; [Behold, I will bring evil upon this place], the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
Jer 19:11 And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.
Jer 19:12 Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet:
Zechariah adds:
Zec 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Zec 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Because these priests could not accept this returned money, the purchase of the potters field was applied to Judas. It was bought for the purpose of burying strangers but to all that knew it was called "the field of blood":
The "Tophet" of Jeremiah that was valued and bought for 30 pieces of silver the price for the Messiah is then prophecy fulfilled.
Notice this also foreshadows what was to happen to Israel.
The land of Israel would become a land for burying strangers from the time of Titus until May 14, 1948. Israel was not there because this nation was scattered among all the nations.
There are still many Jew who have not made their way back home.
*****Our text:
Mat 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
Mat 27:12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Mat 27:13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Mat 27:14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Mat 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
Mat 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
Mat 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
Mat 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Mat 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Mat 27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Mat 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
There is a point that needs to be made. The Roman laws stated that all non-citizens had no legal rights. Under this point of law Pilate could not act illegally, for Christ Jesus had no rights in the eyes of Rome. This is a sad statement but even today many foreigners are treated as if they have no rights at all by the governments of this world.
We must also realize that before the Sanhedrin court, the Supreme Court of Israel at that time, Jesus was tried for "blasphemy".
As Christ is taken before Pilate He is tried for:
1.) Sedition or misleading the nation of Israel religiously.
2.) For forbidding the payment of taxes, which he paid Himself.
3.) For claiming to be King of the Jews, which He did have legal right to claim by heredity.
Luk 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
"Blasphemy" is not mentioned to Pilate because he would not rule on a Jewish matter.
Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator to serve in Judea. He was not liked by the Jews because he would deliberately violate the Jewish laws. He was not above killing to accomplish his purpose which is why he and Herod were at odds:
Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
It was Herod that was the governor of Galilee.
The charges to the guilt of Jesus brought to Pilate were political charges against the Roman government but they were still lies and were still false.
Pilate focused on the charge of Jesus being a king.
Any new king would be a threat to Rome!
"Art thou the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered "it is as you say" but He explains His meaning.
Joh 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
Joh 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Joh 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Jesus was not the type of king that Pilate asked about at least not at this time:
1.) The Kingdom of Jesus is not of this world.
2.) He had no armies on this earth.
3.) His followers would not have to fight for Him.
4.) His Kingdom would be a reign of "Truth".
Pilate found no fault in Our Lord because He has no faults!
Jesus answered nothing else.
We know that Jesus was next taken before Herod:
Luk 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
Luk 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
Luk 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Luk 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
Luk 23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
Luk 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
Luk 23:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
This Herod was the one that had murdered John the Baptist and had also threatened to kill Jesus.
Herod had silenced John who was God's voice to the people and Jesus had nothing more to say to this evil man.
Here stood the Lamb of God and He opened not His mouth!
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Herod could only mock Jesus and send Him back to Pilate.
If Pilate had hoped to get rid of his problem of judging Our Lord, he was disappointed.
As the Roman Governor, he had to uphold the law of Rome.
As a politician he knew he had to get along with the people or Rome would replace him.
Both Herod and Pilate knew that Jesus had broken no Roman Law and was innocent!
There seemed to be a custom of releasing a Jewish prisoner on the day of the Passover Feast. This was usually some outspoken Jewish person who had really broken no law but this day Pilate deliberately chose his most notorious prisoner. A true murderer and an enemy of the Jew and of Rome.
Barabbas:
Joh 18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
Mar 15:7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Barabbas was not an innocent man and he had been tried and found guilty and was waiting on his execution.
Barabbas was on death's row in prison and it was Christ Jesus that would also take his place.
Christ Jesus was the substitute for every sinner for we were all on Satan's "death row"!
Pilate had reasoned with himself that these people would ask that Jesus be released after all Jesus had healed the sick, He had raised the dead, and He had done many other known miracles.
These evil Jews had put in place a means of riot and it would be Pilate that would get the blame if he allowed it to happen.
Pilate then did three things:
1.) He wash his hands claiming he was innocent of the death of Jesus.
2.) He stated that Jesus was a "just" person and not worthy of death.
3.) He offered to punish Jesus and then release Him.
What did these blinded Jews say?
Joh 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: [but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar].
Pilate knew these things would make it to Rome if he did what was right and released Jesus.
Pilate had Jesus scourged and delivered to be crucified:
[Read and study Psalms 22.]
Jesus Christ was made a curse for each and everyone of us:
Deu 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Pilate knew what was right but he elected to please the people who were wrong:
Mar 15:15 And so Pilate, [willing to content the people], released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
How often now do small groups of people go before our government for some ungodly thing and the government yield to them knowing they are not right with the majority of the populace.
Pilate ask a very serious question of these Jews:
"What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ"
Everyone that has been born since the death of Jesus will see and answer this question before they die.
"What do we do with Jesus the Christ Child?"
He must be accepted as your personal Saviour or He must be rejected. There is only one choice to make:
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 6:11 [And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
You know:
1.) Judas yielded to the devil in his sin.
2.) Peter yielded to the flesh in his sin.
3.) Pilate yielded to the world, listened to the crowd that was before him, and took the easy way out, not the right way.
Pilate condemned the Lord of Glory!
What will you do with Jesus Christ Our Lord?
*****Our Text:
Mat 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
Mat 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon 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!
Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mat 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
Mat 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Mat 27:33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
Mat 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Mat 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;
Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mat 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Mat 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Mat 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mat 27:47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
Mat 27:48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
Mat 27:49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Mat 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
Mat 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Mat 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mat 27:61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
Mat 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Mat 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Mat 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Barabbas was the false man chosen by the land of the Jew. He was the national choice but we see the "blood of Christ" was wished upon them and even to those not yet born their own children.
Does the history of the Jew show this?
Satanic hatred then and existing in our day then took over and an awful punishment of Christ Jesus began.
He had already been sentenced. He was a willing substitute for our sin. What happens next was uncalled for!
*****(vs 27-30)
After Jesus was sentenced to be crucified He was placed in the custody of the soldiers that were in Pilate's control. They took Him to their own quarters in the Praetorium.
The Praetorium was the common hall where the governor's, who was the "praetor"(the commander-in-chief), personal body guard(the palace guard) congregated.
Christ was condemned by Rome because He was a King which was true. He did have King David's bloodline.
These soldiers paid homage to this king in a terrible way. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent yet he allowed Jesus to be ridiculed by his own army.
Remember Jesus had just been scourged. Many a man had died during a Roman scourging.
1.) They first disrobed Jesus placing upon Him the color of royalty. This was most probably an old garment of the palace guard.
Can you imagine ripping the clothes off Jesus exposing that body so torn by the violence of that whip with it bits of bone, and sharp objects imbedded into it's nine tails.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, [stood a Lamb as it had been slain], having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
God has not forgotten this day!
He will yet sit on His throne:
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
2.) A king must have a crown:
They wove together stems from a thorny bush and push it into His head. The same head that was so recently anointed with the oil from that alabaster box of Mary's.
3.) They gave this king a scepter of the reed plant.
Then: "they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! "
4.) They then spat on Him while beating Him with their fist and with that reed or other reeds.
Isa 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Isa 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
This submission of Our Lord was not a sign of God's weakness "but of His strength".
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, [leaving us an example], that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Christ Jesus was showing us an example of His "Love"!
*****(vs 31-38)
Once more Jesus was disrobed and His own blood soaked robe was placed upon Him. Jesus was not just going to die but He was going to die on a cross.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus was then led to the place of His crucifying:
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
With all the punishment already on that precious body of Our Lord, He was unable in His flesh to carry His cross.
It was required that the prisoner to at least carry his own cross beam and to wear a placard around his neck describing his crime.
Jesus has began this walk to the cross bearing all His cross:
Joh 19:17 And [he bearing his cross] went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
It was decided that someone should help Him:
"And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross"
Only about two and a half hours had passed since Jesus had stood before Pilate which was most likely about six thirty (A M).
It was about nine (A M) when this procession reached Golgotha.
Where have we see this place in the Bible?
Gen 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, [and saw the place afar off].
Gen 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
This place of Golgotha could be seen from a great distance in the time of Abraham.
It was customary to give those to be crucified a drugged drink to help ease their pain but Jesus refused this drink.
Christ Jesus wanted to feel the pain of my sin and of your sin. Sin cannot be watered down! Sin cannot be made light of!
Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
It was also customary for the soldiers to share in any spoils of those that were crucified.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
They gambled for the things of Jesus:
Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
They then sat down and waited upon Him to die:
"And sitting down they watched him there"
They displayed His title above that cross in three languages:
Luk 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
*****(vs 39-44)
Jesus was not executed in a building, He was executed on a public highway on a day when there were many thousands if not millions going in and out of Jerusalem. Jesus Christ was now mocked by this crowd of Jews.
Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
The Jewish leaders also joined in reminding others what He had said:
Mat 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
"He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him"
Jesus Christ stayed on that cross to prove He was the Son of God.
Jesus was not the only one crucified on Golgotha that day. There were at least two others. These were confirmed men who had stolen from Rome. We can see that even thieves were punished by death in the hands of Rome.
The Bible said many years earlier:
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and [he was numbered with the transgressors]; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
He was counted among thieves. The passers by mocked Him, yet He stayed on that cross to prove He was a loving God.
The Bible says:
Psa 69:20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
He could only prove He was a loving God with His death! He gave it all so that we might live!
Jesus did not come to this earth to save His own life. Jesus Christ came to this earth to pay the ransom for all sinners!
Thank You Jesus!
*****(vs 45-56)
Jesus was crucified about nine in the morning of that sad day. He had hung on that cross for three hours until noon. Then a solemn darkness settled over the land. This was at least the land known as Palestine and maybe the Roman Empire but in other places of the world there was already darkness.
This was not an eclipse of the Sun. The Jew used a lunar calendar, the Passover Feast occurred at the time of the full moon.
This was a supernatural darkness!
God had hidden His face from Him; He was forsaken by God Himself!
This darkness would last for three hours.
There were three days of darkness before the first passover in Egypt and now there was three hours of darkness before God's Lamb died for our sins and the sin of the entire world.
Jesus had spoken three times that were recorded before this darkness:
1.) He had prayed "Father forgive them".
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
2.) He had assured a repentant thief of a place in Paradise.
Luk 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
3.) He had given His Mother into the care of the Apostle John.
Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Joh 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
It was during this darkness that Jesus had been made sin for us!
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus then quoted His Own Sweet Words:
Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
That darkness was a symbol of the "judgment" that He had endured!
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
A Holy God cannot look upon sin! How could a Holy God look upon His Son with favor at this time when He had become sin?
Jesus then spoke in His favorite language, Hebrew!
He was not understood by many of the spectators!
There will be a pure language one day and all will understand!
Zep 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Zep 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
Jesus then spoke three more times:
1.) "I thirst".
Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Fulfilling prophesy:
Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
2.) "It is finished"
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
3.) "into Thy hands I commend My Spirit"
Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Jesus Christ was in complete control of Himself!
Jesus "gave" His life for us, no one took His life!
2Co 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Then there were three miracles:
1.) The veil of the temple was ripped into:
2.) There was an earthquake:
3.) There was a resurrection of some saints:
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
The ripped veil symbolized that the way to God was now open to all that would come to Him:
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
No more need for a single temple, a high priests, sacrificial altars, or the animal sacrifice.
There was an earthquake when God gave the Law:
Exo 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exo 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
The earthquake at Mount Calvary signified that the demands of the Law had been met:
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
1.) Jesus conquered sin: (the torn veil)
2.) Jesus conquered the Law: (the earthquake)
3.) Jesus conquered death: (the resurrections)
The Bible tells us:
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Apostle John was the only disciple that we know was near the cross:
Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Many women were watching this cruel thing:
1.) Mary the Mother of Jesus.
2.) The sister of Mary, wife of Cleophas(Alphaeus).
3.) Salome, the mother of James and John.
4.) Mary Magdalene.
We know there were others.
We also know that the men, the disciples had fled.
The "just" died for the "unjust" that day!
*****(57-66)
There was another man that witnessed these things that had not made himself known as a disciple of Jesus to others:
Joseph of Arimathaea:
These same religious leaders did not want dead bodies hanging on crosses during the Feasts. After six PM would begin the next day, the day of the Great Sabbath. Therefore the legs of those crucified would be broken to allow for death to come.
Crucifying was like hanging, a means to cut of the supply of air, but a much harsher way of doing it.
Joh 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Joh 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
Joh 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Now these were professional soldiers. Only a selected few were allowed to be Pilate's body guard. They knew death when they saw it.
Satan had not had enough yet! Jesus had said He would resurrect and He would, but some had not understood God's Power:
Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Joh 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
God will not leave one scripture that will not be fulfilled:
Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus, who served on the Council of the Sanhedrin. He was a good man among many evil men.
Luk 23:50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
Luk 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
He had seen his Master crucified, it was time to stand up for Jesus. With the help of Nicodemus another disciple afraid to make himself known for lack of faith they prepared the body of Jesus for burial.
If God had not kept these men hidden until this time, prophesy would not have been fulfilled!
Isa 53:9 [And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death]; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
The site of the tomb was near Golgotha and had probably been selected by Joseph earlier. We must consider that these two men in preparing the dead body of Jesus had then to forgo the Passover as they had defiled their own bodies under Jewish Law. They knew that the Law had been fulfilled in Jesus.
They had found the true Lamb of God!
The disciples had forgotten that Jesus promised to rise again but not those evil religious leaders who said they did not believe.
It was the Roman soldiers who had been in charge and it would be Roman soldiers that would apply that Roman seal to that tomb and guard it to make sure it was not disturbed by anyone.
To break the seal of the Governor would require death to those that did so.
For Roman guards to loose a prisoner required their death.
God had made sure that no one could steal the body of Jesus, friend or foe!
The Jewish leaders and the Roman government would now help to prove the evidence of Christ's Resurrection!
Let's pray!
