The Cross of Jesus

3 Roman Trials

Jesus is tried before Pilate, part 1

John 18:28–30 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

My favorite part of the trials of Jesus’ trials if He were not an evil doer we would not have brought him to you. Imagine going to court and the prosecuting attorney said”Judge look at him he’s a bad guy

Are you the king of the Jews?

John 18:31–35 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

Jesus is the true King.

John 18:36–37 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Jesus is the King of the universe no one can take that title away from. Pilate didn’t know what he was matched up against.

Jesus pronounced innocent the first time.

John 18:38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.”

Pilate was right. Jesus was not guilty. I think that this is an important part of the story. No one could find anything really wrong with Jesus not even a trumped up charge.

Jesus is tried before Herod.

Luke 23:6–12 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Pilate was convinced Jesus was looking for a way out of dealing with Jesus. While Herod only wanted entertainment in his life and had no time for Jesus.

Those to things are still keeping people from heaven in 2025.

Barabbas is the scapegoat.

Mark 15:6–11 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

Barabbas is called a murderer an insurrectionist and a notorious criminal. He plays the part of the scapegoat. In Leviticus 16 there are two goats. Yahweh’s goat and the scapegoat or the goat of departure, One is let go to make atonement the other is killed and his blood is taken behind the veil to atone for the sins of the people. Jesus is the Passover lamb He is Yahweh’s goat. He is the lamb that was provided. He is the sacrifice of our sins. We are Barabbas in this story.

Pilate’s wife has a terrifying dream.

Matthew 27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

Pilate had Jesus beaten.

John 19:1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.

Jesus is mocked with a purple robe and a crown of thorns.

Mark 15:16–19 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.

God told us that this was coming.

Isaiah 53:3–5 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

God had this all laid out in scriptures.God knew that this was coming. I will tell you that the prophetic word is never better fulfilled in this day on the cross.

Jesus presented to the Jews.

Pilate pronounces that Jesus is innocent for the second time.

John 19:4–5 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

Crucify Him! Pilate pronounces Jesus innocent for the third time.

John 19:6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

Jesus claimed to be the Son of God!

John 19:7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

Pilate is now terrified.

John 19:8–9 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

Jesus was silent before Pilate.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

If Jesus knows when to shut up, so should I, Some times we just need to learn to be quiet and we don’t have to have an answer for everything. No excuses came from Jesus. Just the truth.

Jesus held all the power.

John 19:10–11 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Pilate tried to free Jesus.

John 19:12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

We have no king but Caesar.

John 19:14–15 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Pilate washes his hands of Jesus.

Matthew 27:24–26 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Simon helps Jesus carry the cross to Golgotha.

Mark 15:20–23 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.

Could you image to be Jesus and after having been beaten bloody standing trial and then having that purple robe ripped off his back. Remember He isn’t just carrying the cross in flesh, He is carrying the weight of the sins of the world on His soul.I was wondering when did Jesus start paying for our sins. Isaiah says by His stripes we are healed, So I believe that He was paying for sin from the moment stood before Anna and Caiaphas.

Jesus speaks to the women following Him.

Luke 23:27–31 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

I will admit, I do not think I have ever spoken about this event in church before, but this exercise is to look at everything about Jesus going to the cross in harmony of the gospel in the best order that I can give.

Jesus is crucified with two thieves.

Luke 23:32–33 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

Jesus’ first three hours on the cross

Time stamp

Mark 15:25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

Soldiers cast lots for Jesus clothes.

Matthew 27:35–36 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.

Jesus forgave those who killed Him.

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

I have had so many people say to me. I can’t forgive them you don’t know what they did to me. My answer is alway the same “I don’t!” and I wait for the right moment to put it in their Jesus knows more than you do. He forgave those who killed Him for REAL no good reason and He forgave them while they were killing Him. That is the power of Jesus. FORGIVING WHILE THEY ARE KILLING YOU!

Pilate put a fitting sign above the cross.

John 19:19–22 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

The crowd mocked Jesus.

Matthew 27:39–40 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Jesus could have and He would build the temple back and it is interesting that people remembered Jesus statements about the rebuilding of the temple. That statement got some traction. Good thing it did.

The priests mocked Jesus.

Matthew 27:41–43 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

The soldiers mocked Jesus.

Luke 23:36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,

Even A criminal crucified with Jesus mocked Him.

Luke 23:39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

There is an important article in that statement, because the entire narrative of the cross is about to change.

A thief found Salvation on a cross.

Luke 23:40–43 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Jesus addresses Mary and John.

John 19:25–27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

I always stop here. I am convinced that John is the one person in this book who watched Jesus eye to eye as He died on the cross.

The second three hours, Time stamp

Darkness on the land as Jesus faced the wrath of God!

Mark 15:33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

The ninth hour, Jesus cries out!

Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

This is Psalm 22

Psalm 22:1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?

Psalm 22:6–8 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

Psalm 22:16–18 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

David was a person who gave us a fingerprint of the cross.

The final words of Jesus

Jesus cries to the Father.

Luke 23:46a “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ”

It is finished.

John 19:28–30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The veil is torn.

Mark 15:38–39 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

The earth quaked and the graves opened.

Matthew 27:51–53 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Women watched the Savior die.

Luke 23:48–49 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Was John there as Jesus breathed His last or did he take Mary away from Jesus during these last moments. We will learn when we get to glory.

Jesus side is pierced.

John 19:31–37 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Joseph of Arimathea takes and buries the body of Jesus.

Mark 15:42–46 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

The women paid attention to the burial.

Luke 23:55–56 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Mark tells us that these women were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses.

The Priests remembered Jesus comments about resurrection.

Matthew 27:62–64 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Jesus enemies remember his prophecies better than his disciples.

The tomb is sealed.

Matthew 27:65–66 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.