Good Friday 2024-03-29 Isaiah 53:5-12

Introduction

On Sunday we watched our Christ fulfilled the Prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” On Sunday, He present Himself as the Son of David, the King of the Jews and we heard the cries of the crowd as they understood and shouted Matthew 21:9b “...“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Hosanna being a cry for salvation. Yet as Christ neared Jerusalem, He knew the hearts of the people and wept for the city and the fate it would experience at the hands of the Romans in 70 AD. As the week progressed, there was teaching, controversy, and conspiracy until we reach the night of the Passover. Jesus celebrates the Passover and institutes the Lord’s Supper. Here He also washes the disciples feet, gives a “farewell discourse,” and He prays for His disciples.

In the Garden

Matthew 26:36–46 “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” It is now after midnight. At this point Judas arrives with a large detachment of soldiers arrive and gives Jesus a kiss. As one scholar notes: “The arrest of Jesus was effected by the Sanhedrists through the Temple police, accompanied by a part of the cohort of Roman soldiers from the tower of Antonia. This cohort of some five hundred soldiers was kept in the tower to quell any tumult among the people and act as an emergency police force. It is possible that these soldiers were granted the Sanhedrists by Pilate, in order to effect the arrest without a tumult among the people. The arrangement of this matter would account for the delay in the coming of Judas and the armed force to Gethsemane until after midnight. The Temple police were under direct orders as servant-officers from the chief priests and Pharisees.” (Pentecost, J. D. (1981). The Words & Works of Jesus Christ: A Study of the Life of Christ (J. Danilson, Ed.; pp. 457–458). Zondervan.) In defense if Jesus, John 18:10 “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)” However Matthew 26:52 “Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” And Jesus heals the man. It becomes apparent to the disciple that Jesus would not resist arrest and so Matthew 26:56 “...Then all the disciples left Him and fled.” Thus fulfilled the words of Jesus in John 16:32 “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.”

Trial before Annas

Jesus is arrested and taken to Annas (the father in law to Caiaphas the High Priest) This is the first of multiple trials that Jesus is put through. Side note: Who was Annas and why was Jesus brought before him first? One scholar notes: “No figure is better known in contemporary Jewish history than that of Annas; no person deemed more fortunate or successful, but none also more generally execrated than the late High-Priest. He had held the Pontificate for only six or seven years; but it was filled by not fewer than five of his sons, by his son-in-law Caiaphas, and by a grandson. And in those days it was, at least for one of Annas’ disposition, much better to have been than to be High-Priest. He enjoyed all the dignity of the office, and all its influence also, since he was able to promote to it those most closely connected with him. And, while they acted publicly, he really directed affairs, without either the responsibility or the restraints which the office imposed. His influence with the Romans he owed to the religious views which he professed, to his open partisanship of the foreigner, and to his enormous wealth. The Sadducean Annas was an eminently safe Churchman, not troubled with any special convictions nor with Jewish fanaticism, a pleasant and a useful man also, who was able to furnish his friends in the Praetorium with large sums of money. We have seen what immense revenues the family of Annas must have derived from the Temple-booths, and how nefarious and unpopular was the traffic. The names of those bold, licentious, unscrupulous, degenerate sons of Aaron were spoken with whispered curses.” (Pentecost, J. D. (1981). The Words & Works of Jesus Christ: A Study of the Life of Christ (J. Danilson, Ed.; pp. 459–460). Zondervan.) In other words, Annas was the power behind the High Priest’s Office and it was most likely Annas who had turned the temple into the “den of thieves” that Jesus had opposed when He drove out the money-changers. This first trial would have been in the palace of the High Priest and would have constituted a type of preliminary hearing. Annas questioned Jesus on two counts. The first concerning His disciples and the second concerning Jesus’ doctrine. The probable reason for questioning Jesus concerning His disciples was to discover how far Jesus’ following had grown. Perhaps Annas was trying to see how far Jesus’ influence had spread. Regardless, Jesus gave no word. The whole proceeding was illegal, both in the time it was occuring in the middle of the night and in the place it was occuring. So Jesus maintained His silence. When Jesus gave no response, Annas began to question Jesus concerning His teachings. To this line of questioning, John 18:20–21 “Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” This response elicits a blow from one of the officers. Jesus’ response has revealed the shallowness of the examination as well as the secret proceedings being done under cover of night.

Trial before Caiaphas

Jesus is taken from Annas to Caiaphas Matthew 26:57 “Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.” This meeting by the Sanhedrin during the night was illegal. According to the Mishna “in capital cases they hold the trial during the daytime and the verdict also must be reached during the daytime...in capital cases a verdict of acquittal may be reached on the same day, but a verdict of conviction not until the following day.” (Pentecost, J. D. (1981). The Words & Works of Jesus Christ: A Study of the Life of Christ (J. Danilson, Ed.; p. 462). Zondervan.) On top of this, “The regular place for the meeting of the Sanhedrin was in the Temple, but they led Jesus away to the house of the high-priest Caiaphas, situated in a place just outside the present wall of the city, where all the chief priests and elders and scribes had been summoned to meet.” (Pentecost, J. D. (1981). The Words & Works of Jesus Christ: A Study of the Life of Christ (J. Danilson, Ed.; p. 462). Zondervan.) Due to the rushed nature of this mock trial, the false witnesses had no opportunity to corroborate their accusations so Mark 14:56 “For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.” The failure of the witnesses drove the High Priest to put Jesus under an oath. Matthew 26:63 “But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” The High Priest knew what Jesus had claimed at His Triumphal Entry and he knew what Jesus had taught about Himself. So Jesus responded Matthew 26:64 “Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The High Priest tore his clothes (an act expressly condemned in Leviticus 21:10) & called for a judgment. Matthew 26:66 “What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” While this trial was going on, in the courtyard around a fire, huddled Peter. And it was during this time that Peter denied His Lord three times. Jesus had foretold that Peter would deny Him and as the cock crowd the second time, Jesus would have known that Peter’s denial was complete. Peter breaks down and weeps. In order to give the appearance of legality, they reassemble at daybreak in the Temple to ratify their illegal proceedings. However, they were unable to execute someone legally for that authority was held by the Romans. So they send Jesus to Pilate.

Trial before Pilate

Jesus is brought before Pilate. Here Pilate asks the Jews John 18:29–30 “So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” to which the Sanhedrin give an evasive answer. “They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” The Sanhedrin knew that blasphemy was not sufficient grounds for Roman Law to execute a man and so their answer was a request for Pilate to pass judgment without investigating the matter. However, as Pilate attempts to extricate himself from this situation by handing Jesus back to the Jews. So the Jews make three new accusations against Christ. They accused Jesus of sedition, forbidding tribute to Caesar, and that Jesus claimed to be a King. Each of these accusations would have been treason against Rome. So Pilate questions Jesus. John 18:33–34 “So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate continues to dialogue and at the end proclaims John 18:38 “...I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus’ Kingdom was not of this world, therefore not a treason to Rome.

Trial before Herod

Pilate then learns that Jesus was from Galilee and in another effort to extricate himself sends Jesus to Herod who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Herod had heard of Jesus and had desired to see some sign or miracle. However, Herod quickly refuses jurisdiction and sends Jesus back to Pilate.

Trial before Pilate

Luke 23:13–15 “Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.” Pilate offers to beat and release Jesus and when that doesn’t work he offers to placate the Jews by doing something according to their custom. John 18:39 “But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” While the flogging should have placated the bloodthirsty mob, it only seemed to drive them to a greater desire to bloodshed. For they refused to let Jesus go free and would rather take Barabbas, a murderer, than Jesus. The infuriated crowd called for a crucifixion. John 19:6–7 “When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law He ought to die because He has made Himself the Son of God.” Pilate in fear of the people washes his hands and finally acquiesces to the people. The Jews in bloodlust cry out “we have no king but Caesar” and accept the responsibility in the proclamation that Matthew 27:25 “And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So at the end of the trial, the guilty Barabbas is freed and Jesus, the innocent is sent to die.

The Crucifixion

Jesus is then taken and beaten. His back is being shredded as the soldiers mock Him. The crown of thorns drops blood into His eyes and beard, the soldiers spit in His face and place the robe upon His back. As the soldiers grow tired of mocking, the cross is placed upon His back and He begins His journey to the “Place of the Skull”. Before He reaches that final destination, He collapses under the weight of the cross. The soldiers forcibly recruit Simon the Cyrene to help Jesus. At Golgotha, the blood soaked robe is ripped from His back, Jesus is stretched out, nailed to the Cross, and there at the Place of the Skull, Jesus is lifted up between two thieves. There on that Cross, He was mocked, He suffered, and after 6 hours, He cried “tetelestai”. A word commonly used to signify the end of a transaction by the full payment of a price and also used to signify the discharge of a debt by a completed payment. “Tetelestai” “It is Finished”. John 19:30 “He/Jesus said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

Deuteronomy 21:23b “ ...for he that is hanged is accursed of God.”

According to the Prophet Isaiah: Isaiah 53:3–5 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” It is Friday (Read Poem)