Christ's Passion

On Wednesday, 26:141 of the 12—Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests. 15“What will you give me if I hand him over?” They counted out for him a paltry 30 silver coins. Zech 11:12? Fulfilled. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity. 17On Thursday, the 1st day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus. “Where do you want us to make preparations to eat the Passover?” 18aHe replied, “Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near.” They thought He meant Passover. 18b“I’ll celebrate Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” 19The disciples did as Jesus said & prepared the Passover. 20On Thursday evening, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” As this sank in, 22they were very sad & began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23Jesus replied, “The one who’s dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.” In other words, it’s one of you. 24a“The Son of Man will go just as it’s written about him.” Where? Isa 53:7-9? Dan 9:26? A combination of prophecies? We don’t know. 24b“Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It’d be better for him if he hadn’t been born.” 25aThen Judas, who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” The others call Jesus Lord. Judas calls Him only Rabbi (teacher). 25bJesus answered, “You yourself have said it.” No one knew what Jesus meant. 26aWhile they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, & gave it to his disciples. “Take & eat.” So far, Jesus is following Passover ritual. What He says next doesn’t. 26a“This is my body.” Like bread, Jesus’ body will be broken. To gain bread’s nourishment we have to partake of it. Just so, for disciples to receive Jesus’ nourishment—the new life we need—we need to partake of Him, too. 27Then he took the 3rd cup, the cup of blessing. He gave thanks & offered it to them. “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood that will make & ratify a new covenant. My blood will be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” 29“I tell you… <Listen up!> “I won’t drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” At Jesus’ wedding feast! Now, notice. Jesus says his blood will be poured out for many. In Matthew, for many (περὶ) is on behalf of many. In Mark, for many (ὑπὲρ) is in place of many. Their substitute. Jesus died on behalf of & in place of many. Who are the many? Us. He substitutes & dies for all who accept Him. 30When they’d sung hymns from Pss 114-118 (the Hallel), they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31Then Jesus told them, “This very night you’ll all fall away on account of me. It’s written in Zech 13:7: ‘I’ll strike the shepherd, & the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I’ve risen, I’ll go ahead of you into Galilee & meet you.” He’ll die, but He won’t abandon them. How? We get it. But they had no way of knowing. All they see is loss & failure. 33Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Brave words. 34“I tell you the truth. [Listen up!] ” Jesus answered. “This very night, before the rooster crows, you’ll disown me 3 times.” 35But Peter declared even braver words. “Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never disown you.” All the other disciples said the same. They’re ready to be martyrs with Jesus. But for His self-sacrifice? Not so ready. 36Thursday night, Jesus went with his disciples to Gethsemane, Oil Press, on the Mount of Olives. He said, “Sit here while I go over there & pray.” 37He took Peter & the 2 sons of Zebedee, James & John, with him. He began to be sorrowful & troubled. He is God’s Son. He’s also fully human. 38Then he said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here & keep watch with me.” Even Jesus wants the comfort of friends. 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground. Till now, He’s kept His emotions in check. Now, He’s in deep anguish. Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible—any other way to save them, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” When we know what we want but aren’t sure of God’s will, Jesus shows us how to pray. 40aThen he returned to his disciples & found them sleeping. Jesus’ sorrow deepens. 40b“Couldn’t you (pl.) keep watch with me for an hour?” he asked Peter, their representative. 41“Watch & pray so you won’t fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Jesus is facing the Cross. Yet He still thinks of His disciples & encourages them in their trials! His words are for us, too. If we think we’re strong, we too should watch & pray. If we do, we might pass the test. And even if we fail, our failure may well be worse if we don’t pray. 42Jesus went away a 2nd time & prayed. “My Father, if it isn’t possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Our lesson? Keep praying till He answers. 43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them & went away once more & prayed the 3rd time, saying the same thing. Jesus is modeling the persistence in prayer that He taught us. In the 1st garden with Adam, it was “not Your will but mine.” He fell. In this garden, it’s “not My will but Yours.” Jesus didn’t fall. 45He returned to the disciples. “You’re still sleeping & resting. Look, the hour’s near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let’s go! Here comes my betrayer!” 47aWhile he spoke, Judas Iscariot & a cohort, ~600 armed men, arrived. 47aRoman soldiers were armed with swords, & temple police with clubs. The chief priests & elders of the people sent them to restrain disciples & other sympathizers if necessary. But it was dark, & few had seen Jesus up close. So, 48Judas arranged a signal. “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him.” 49Going at once to Jesus, Judas kissed Him & said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” He turned friendship’s greeting-kiss into a symbol of betrayal. Time stopped. 50aJesus replied (in grace!), “Friend, do what you came for.” Jesus is in charge even while He’s arrested. 50bThe men stepped forward, seized Jesus & arrested him. 51At that, Peter [Jn 18:10] reached for his sword, drew it out & struck Malchus, servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52aJesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place.” Jesus restrained Peter before the soldiers & guards did. Jesus went on. 52b“All who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Do you think I can’t call on my Father, & he’ll at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions (>12,000) of angels?” Jesus doesn’t need Peter to defend Him! 54“But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” 55aJesus now spoke to the armed crowd. “Am I leading a rebellion, that you’ve come out with swords & clubs to capture me? You’re stealthy as if I’m dangerous. That says more about you than Me! 55bEvery day I sat in the temple courts teaching, & you didn’t arrest me. 56This has all taken place to fulfill the writings of the prophets.” The disciples all deserted him & fled. 57aThose who arrested Jesus took him to a series of illegal trials. At 0-dark:30 Friday morning, it was informal questioning by Annas, deposed high priest. It wasn’t legal for him to question Jesus at all, especially without witnesses. Next was 57bCaiaphas, the current high priest, Annas’ son-in-law. There, the teachers of the law & the elders started assembling. At night. Illegal. The Mishnah prohibited trials both at Passover & at night—especially for capital crimes. 58Peter followed at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered & sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59The chief priests & Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death—an illegal process. It should’ve been trial 1st, then a verdict. 60aThey didn’t find any 2 men with the same story, though many false witnesses came forward. Due process was ≥ 2 legal witnesses 1st, then arrest & trial. 60bFinally two came forward. 61“Jesus said, ‘I’m able to destroy God’s temple & rebuild it in 3 days.’ ” Finally, they can indict Him! The problem? Jesus never exactly said that. Now, He’s silent. 62The high priest stood up. “Aren’t you going to answer? What’s this testimony these men are bringing against you?” 63aJesus remained silent. The high priest is frustrated & cuts to the chase. “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you’re the Christ, God’s Son.” If Jesus refuses to answer, He’ll break an oath imposed on Him legally by the high priest. If He denies the charge, He’ll lose all influence even if the Sanhedrin acquits Him. 64Jesus replied, “You yourself have said it. But I say to all of you: In the future you’ll see the Son of Man sitting at the Mighty One’s right hand & coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65aAgainst Torah, the high priest tore his clothes. More illegality. 65b“He’s spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, you’ve heard the blasphemy.” Really? Not so. Torah says blasphemy is cursing God (Lv 24:11) or defiant sin (Nu 15:30). Jesus did neither. But that won’t stop this train. 66“What do you think?” Those present answered, “He’s worthy of death.” Later, we find that Sanhedrin members who supported Jesus weren’t there. Most likely, uninvited. The Mishnah also made it illegal in capital crimes to try & sentence someone on the same day. It also prohibited anyone from being convicted unanimously. If no one stood for the defendant, the Mishnah said they had to be declared innocent. Even their voluntary confession wasn’t sufficient to convict & execute them. Not unless at least one or more legal witnesses corroborated the confession. Finally, the Mishnah said no one’s enemy could serve as a judge. Yet the Sanhedrin is Jesus’ enemy. Ant they indict Him on 1 charge, try him on a 2nd charge, & then condemn him at once, illegally on the same day, on His testimony alone. Everything they did violated Jewish due process. Jesus’ “trial”? Highly illegal. 67Then those present spit in his face & struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68& said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?” Does all that sound legal for a judge? Of course not! 69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, warming himself over a charcoal fire. A servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 71aThen he went out to the gateway. It was darker. Fewer people. 71bThere, another girl saw him & said to those there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72He denied it again. “By the Name, I swear I don’t know the man!” 73After a little while, people near the gateway went up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them. Your thick Galilean accent gives you away.” 74Peter began to call down curses on himself, “Strike me dead if I’m lying,” & swore, “I swear I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75Then Peter remembered Jesus’ words. “Before the rooster crows, you’ll disown me 3 times.” He went outside & wept bitterly. 27:1Early in the morning, the assembled chief priests & elders of the people decided to put Jesus to death. 2They bound him, led him away & handed him over to Pilate, the governor. Why hand Jesus over to Pilate? The Sanhedrin wants Him crucified. They think if He’s crucified, by Torah (Dt 21:23), He’ll be under God’s cursed—with all who are hung on a tree, crucified. And if He comes under God’s curse, He can’t be Messiah. The Messiah is blessed, not cursed. The Sanhedrin just needs Him crucified. And only Romans have authority to crucify someone. 3Judas Iscariot, saw that Jesus was condemned & was seized with remorse. He returned the 30 silver coins to the chief priests & elders. 4a“I’ve sinned & betrayed innocent blood.” 4b“What’s that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5Judas threw the money into the temple, went away, & hanged himself. 6The chief priests picked up the coins. “It’s against Torah to put this in the treasury. It’s blood money.” They obey Dt 23:18, a tiny detail & ignore Torah’s much greater concern for justice. They condemn an innocent man. 7They decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8It’s still called the Field of Blood. 9What was spoken by the prophets Jer 19:1-13 (going to the potter) & Zech 11:12-13 (sold for 30 coins) was fulfilled. “They took the 30 silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel. 10They used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” 11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” This is a political charge, not the Jews’ religious charge. “You yourself have said it,” Jesus replied. He’s a King, but not like anyone thinks. 12The chief priests & the elders accused Him, but he gave no answer. 13Then Pilate asked, “Don’t you hear the testimony they ‘re bringing against you?” 14Jesus made no reply. Not to a single charge—to the governor’s great amazement. Pilate concludes that Jesus is either foolish or crazy. Either way, no threat. 15Now it was the governor’s custom at Passover to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. He, too, was popular. 17So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew it was out of envy that the Jews handed Jesus over to him. Who will they pick? Barabbas was almost as popular as Jesus for leading a rebellion against Rome. It could go either way. 19aAs Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, about to render judgment, 19ahis wife sent him a message. “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man. I’ve suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” Like Romans, Pilate is superstitious. He already knows Jesus is innocent, so his wife’s note gives him the willies. From here on, he’s determined to release Jesus. 20But the chief priests & elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas & have Jesus executed. 21“Which of the 2 do you want me to release to you?” asked Pilate. “Barabbas,” they shouted. 22a“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. Who to release? Barabbas—son of A father? Or Jesus, The Son of The Father? Scribes & Pharisees incited the people. 22bThey all shout, “Crucify him!” 23a“Pilate asked, “Why? What crime has he committed?” Like crowds at an arena, 23bthey keep shouting, “Crucify! Crucify” 24Pilate saw he was getting nowhere. Instead, an uproar was starting. He took water & washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I’m innocent of this man’s blood. “It’s your responsibility!” 25The crowd shouted back. “Let his blood be on us & on our children!” And it was so. In AD 70, the Romans razed Jerusalem & the temple. 26aPilate released Barabbas to them, & had Jesus flogged. Torah (Dt 25:3) limited Jews from more than 40 lashes. But Jews weren’t flogging Jesus. Romans had no such limit. They used a flagellum (leather whip) with pieces of bone or metal in the thongs. Flagellum scourging often turned human flesh into pulp. It exposed bones & internal organs. People often died from it. 26bAfterwards, Pilate then handed Jesus over to be crucified. 27Pilates’s soldiers took Him into the Praetorium & gathered the whole Cohort (600 soldiers) around him. To mock the man they think is a “pretend king,” 28they stripped him & put one of their scarlet cloaks on him as a robe. 29aThey twisted together a crown of thorny spikes & set it on his head, just like the image of Caesar on their coins. 29bThey put a staff in his right hand, knelt in front of him, & mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30They spit on him, & took the staff & struck him on the head again & again. 31After they’d mocked him, they took off the robe & put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As usual, they made Jesus carry the crossbeam for his cross. After all the torture, Jesus staggered under its 85lb weight. 32On their way, they met Simon from Cyrene. They forced him to carry the crossbeam from Jesus’ cross. 33They came to a place called Golgotha (Place of the Skull). 34aThere they offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh (Mk 15:23) & gall. Myrrh made cheap wine taste better. And gall most likely dulled pain. But Jesus wanted to drink the Father’s cup. All of it. So, 34bafter tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35aThey crucified him. 1st, they nailed Jesus wrists to the crossbeam. Next, they nailed his feet to the upright. 37Above his head they nailed a sign in 3 languages— Aramaic, Greek, & Latin. The written charge? This is jesus, the king of the jews. Finally, they pulled the cross into its upright position & 36sat down. They kept watch & 35bdivided up Jesus’ clothes by casting lots. 382 robbers had been crucified with him. One on his right. One on his left. 39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads.40They kept taunting Jesus. Some would jeer, “You who are going to destroy the temple & rebuild it in 3 days, save yourself!” Others would mock, “Come down from the cross, if you’re God’s Son!” 41The chief priests, teachers of the law & elders also mocked him. 42 One: “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” Another: “He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, & we’ll believe in him.” Another: 43“He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him. After all, he said, ‘I’m the Son of God.’ ” 44In the same way both rebel guerillas crucified with him also heaped insults on him. It’s ironic. Jesus, Prince of Peace, hung between 2 men who tried to bring His kingdom violently. And He could’ve come down from the cross. He could’ve decided ‘Enough! & judged us or ended us. But if He’d done any of those things, He wouldn’t have saved us. He chose to suffer. 45From the 6th until the 9th hour darkness came over all the land. Thickest gloom. Not just gray, but light’s opposite. 46About the 9th hour Jesus cried out loudly. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This once in eternity, He felt separated from His Father. Why wasn’t He hearing from the Father? Sometimes, there are no words. Surely The Father stood vigil, silently, with tears as His Son suffered those 6 hours on the cross. No words. 47Some standing there heard His cry & said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48Immediately one ran & got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, & offered it to Jesus. 49The rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 Jesus cried out again in a loud voice & gave up his spirit. 51At that moment the temple’s curtain was torn in 2, top to bottom. The earth shook. The rocks split. 52Tombs broke open, & the bodies of many holy people were raised back to life. 53They came out of the tombs, & after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city & appeared to many people. 54When the centurion & his soldiers guarding Jesus saw the earthquake & all that happened, they were terrified! “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55Many faithful women were there, watching from a distance. They’d followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James & Joses, & [Salome] the mother of Zebedee’s sons, James & John. 57As evening approached, there came a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin. He’d become Jesus’ disciple & hadn’t been invited to Jesus’ trial. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate ordered it given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen, 60& set it in his own new tomb, cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance & went away. 61Mary Magdalene & the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. Only faithful women followed Jesus to the tomb. 62The next day, the chief priests & Pharisees went to Pilate. 63“Sir, we remember while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After 3 days I’ll rise again.’ 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the 3rd day. Otherwise, his disciples may come & steal the body & tell the people he’s been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65a“Take a temple guard,” Pilate answered. He won’t waste any more Roman resources on these troublesome leaders. 65a“Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66So they went & made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone & posting the guard. <end roles.> What did Israel’s religious leaders accomplish? More irony. By rejecting Jesus, they achieve the opposite of what they intended. Far from purging Israel from error, they plunge it into fatal error! How? They make both themselves & the people responsible for the death of the one who is in fact God’s Son. He was Israel’s true Messiah, the One through whom God offers salvation to Israel. Worst of all, these leaders make themselves responsible for Israel’s temporary loss of its privileged place as God’s chosen people. And the Gospel was opened to the Gentiles. We’ve seen what Jesus endured for us. This is the price of sin. Any sin. It’s that horrible. Yet Yahweh loves us all. He loves us so much, He came & paid the price that only we should, but only He could. He offered His perfect life so that we might live forever with Him. What do we have to do? Like the bread, take Him inside us. Accept Him as Savior & Lord. Lay down that old life. Take up our cross. Follow Him. And live with Him, forever.