Day 317 – Reading – Luke 23 and John 18-19

Read and believe in Jesus!

Luke 23 and John 18-19 review what we studied in the last two days and add some details. 

John 18 backs up to Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ arrest, His time before the Jewish Council, Peter’s denials, and the high priest’s questioning. Then we see Jesus before Pilate (an extended conversation), before Herod, then His being delivered over to be crucified, more extensive details about His crucifixion, His death, and Burial.

 

Jesus’ Betrayal and His Arrest

Judas, having committed himself to betraying Jesus, and having been paid, now leads a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and Pharisees to the Garden of Gethsmane.  He’s been there several times with Jesus and the other disciples and knows the spot well.

Jesus: “Whom do you seek?”

The crowd: “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus: “I AM he.”  At those words, Judas and the soldiers all fell back to the ground, as if the very words had slammed into them. (Okay, so who is in control of this scene?  Jesus!)

Jesus again asks, “Whom do you seek?”

The crowd. (Were they afraid to answer?):  “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus: “I told you that I am He, so if you seek ME, then let these men go.” He was protecting His disciples.

That’s when Simon did his brash thing with the sword, and Jesus had to fix the damage by healing the man’s ear.  To Peter, He said, “Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

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Jesus and The High Priests, Annas and Caiaphas.

The soldiers stepped forward cautiously and tied Jesus’ hands. Then they led him to Annas, the former High Priest and the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the current High Priest.  Annas questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.  Jesus answered that he’d been teaching in synagogues and in the temple, so why hadn’t they quizzed Him there?   When he said this, one of the officers back-handed Jesus, saying, “Is that how you answer the High Priest?’

Jesus: “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

Annas then sent Jesus, still tied up, to Caiaphas.

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Peter’s Denials

Meanwhile, outside in the courtyard of the high priest, Peter was warming himself by the fire.  He and John had followed Jesus there after His arrest.  John knew Annas, so he entered into the house with Jesus (so he could record the happenings).  John arranged for Peter to gain access to the court. 

Peter was recognized and asked three times if he was not a follower of the criminal inside.  Fear controlled the big fisherman, and he answered, “Woman, I do not know Him.”  “I do not know what you are talking about!”  “I am not a disciple of His!”  “I am not a Galilean!”  “I don’t know Him!”  “May God curse me! I DO NOT KNOW THIS MAN!”   Then the rooster crowed. And Peter ran out, weeping bitterly.

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Jesus before the whole Council (Sanhedrim)

All 70 members were present (even Joseph and Nicodemus).  

Them:  “If you are the Christ, tell us.”

Jesus:  “If I tell you, you will not believe. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

Them: “Are you the Son of God, then?”

Jesus: “I AM.”

And with that, they had their verdict. Guilty of blasphemy and death.  All they needed was someone to EXECUTE Him, for they did not have that power under Roman rule.

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Jesus and Pilate

The entire 70-man Sanhedrin brought Jesus to Pilate in the wee hours and started to accuse him.

Pilate: “What accusation do you bring before this man?”

“We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He himself is Christ, a king.”

Pilate: “Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law.”

“It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

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Jesus’ Kingdom

Pilate to Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus:  “Are you saying this, or did others say this about me?”

Pilate: “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and chief priests have delivered you to me.  What have you done?”

Jesus: “Yes, I am King of the Jews, but my Kingdom is not of this world.”

Pilate: “So you ARE a king.”

Jesus: “Yes. For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I came into the world – to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate: “Ha!” Pilate said, walking away. “What IS truth!”

Pilate to the chief priests:  “I  find no guilt in this man.”

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Jesus and Herod

The Jews: “He stirs up the people teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

Pilate:  “Galilee?  Ha!  He’s in Herod’s jurisdiction.  Take Him there!”  Herod was in Jerusalem at the time.)

At Herod’s house, the Jewish king was happy to see Jesus.  Remember he’d thought Jesus was a reincarnation of John the Baptist, and wanted to see Jesus do some miracle.

Herod: “Are you John returned to life?”  “Do some miracle so I can see your power!”  “Can you heal people… raise them from the dead?  Aw, c’mon, do something!”

Jesus: Silence.

So, denied his entertainment, he let his servants mock Jesus, arraying him in a royal robe, bowing to him, etc.  Then Herod returned Jesus to Pilate.  (Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day.)

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Back at Pilate’s courtroom, he brought Jesus out to the people.  “I find no fault in Him. He is not guilty of any of the charges against him. Herod found none as well.  I will therefore punish Him and set Him free.”

The Jews and the crowd whom they had excited: “Away with this man and release to us Barabbas! 

(Pilate was in the habit of releasing one prisoner at Passover time, but Barabbas was an insurrectionist against Rome and a murderer!.  “He is innocent. I will release Jesus.”

The crowd: “Crucify! Crucify Him!

Pilate: “Why?  What evil has he done?  I have found no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish Him and release Him.”

The crowd: “Crucify! Crucify Him!”

Pilate: “Take Him yourself and crucify Him. I find no guilt in Him.”

The Jews:  “We have a law, and according to that law, He ought to die because He has made himself the Son of God.”

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Pilate felt chills down his back. He took Jesus inside and asked, “Where are You from?”

Jesus; Silence.

Pilate: “You will not speak to me??!!  Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify You??

Jesus: “You would have no authority over me at ALL unless it had been given to you from ABOVE.  Therefore, he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

This scared Pilate, and he tried even more to release Jesus.

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Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

The Jews (desperate): “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out, sat down at the judgment seat, and wrote out the sentence. He gestured to Jesus, “Behold your King.

The Jews: “Crucify Him. Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him.”

Pilate: “Shall I crucify your KING?”

The Jews: ‘We have NO KING but Caesar!”

So Pilate delivered him to be crucified.

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The Crucifixion.

They led Jesus away, conscripting one Simon from Cyrene to carry the cross for the weakened Messiah.  On the road a great crowd watched, including women who were mourning and lamenting for Him.

Jesus “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, weep for yourselves and your children. Behold the days are coming when you will wish you never gave birth. People will cry for the mountains to fall on them and cover them….”

Two other criminals were crucified with Jesus, one on each side.

As they pounded in the nails, Jesus (who had refused the drugged wine) cried out, “Father forgive them, for the know not what they do!”

As scripture foretold, (Psalm 22), they cast lots for his clothing.  Then the mocking began. The Jewish rulers mocked Him. The soldiers mocked Him. The bystanders mocked Him. The criminals on either side mocked Him.  And then, one of the criminals repented.

“Do you not fear God since you are under the same sentence of death?  We indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then turning to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus: “Truly I say to you, TODAY you will be with me in Paradise.”

Standing by the cross were Jesus’ mother and John, the “disciple whom Jesus loved”.  Looking at his mother, Jesus said, “Woman… behold your son.” And to John, “Behold your mother.”  And from then on, John took Mary into his home and cared for her. 

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Jesus’ Death

At noon, it grew dark.  Jesus, knowing that He’d accomplished everything, said, “I thirst.”  Someone brought some sour wine to moisten his mouth.  “Father into your hands I commit my Spirit.” 

Then with a cry of victory, Jesus shouted, “IT IS FINISHED!”  Then he bowed His head and died.

The thick veil inside the temple tore in two from top to bottom, opening the way for all to come to God.  The ground shook.  And when the Centurion saw all this, he confessed and praised God. “Surely this man was innocent.”

Because it was getting late, the Centurion went to each of the other criminals and broke their legs to hurry death by suffocation.  When He got to Jesus, he saw He was already dead.  He thrust his spear into his heart to be sure, and water with blood flowed, proving death.  He did not break Jesus’ legs, as scripture foretold that NONE of his bones would be broken (Numbers 9:12). 

Later, when Pilate inquired of him if Jesus was truly dead so Joseph could take the body, the Centurion could declare he was truly dead.

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Jesus’ Burial.

Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council, a “good and righteous man”, had NOT consented to their decision and action for he was a disciple of Jesus, looking for the kingdom of God.  Joseph went to Pilate and got permission to take down Jesus’ body. Nicodemus, also a “secret follower” of Jesus, joined Joseph, bringing a great amount of myrrh and aloes.  They wrapped Jesus’ body in a linen shroud and laid Him in a tomb cut in stone where no one else had been laid. They rolled the stone across the entrance.

Some woman, disciples of Jesus since Galilee, who had watched at the crucifixion, followed and saw where Jesus was laid. They would return with spices and ointments of their own after the Sabbath.