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Christianity is the only religion that has an ‘ending’ to the story”.  We are set apart from all other religions because of the Resurrection.   I never debate or argue about ‘religion’ with anyone, but I love talking to teenagers about “what they believe” and pretending to be interested, only to say…”Wow, how do you know that is true?”  “That is fascinating, can you find me some literature proving that” (I did it this week on Reincarnation)

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The last words in the book of Matthew are called “The Great Commission”

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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Mark 16

I love that the women were heading to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body and on the way had not thought ahead.  Who is going to move the stone?  It was a 2 ton stone.  Did they need to anoint His body?  No, it was already done.  Six days before His death, Mary (Lazarus sister) had already prepared the body for His burial when they had dinner at Simon’s house (John 12).

MANY people were present at the Crucifixion because they were in town for the Passover.  Most had returned home.  The news of His death was spreading but the news of His resurrection was seen by few.  Jesus gives His apostles the authority and power to prove Jesus was who He claimed to be.  They were to preach the Truth but to prove it (we all need a little proof) they would be given the power of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles SO THAT people would believe in Jesus.  The next Festival is 50 days away.  Many will return to Jerusalem to commemorate the Feast of Weeks (the first fruits for the barley harvest).  This old Testament Feast will be fulfilled, just as the Passover was fulfilled with the Crucifixion, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled with the Resurrection.  In 50 days, the Feast of Weeks will be fulfilled with the giving of the Holy Spirit for all believers, called Pentecost (Pente=50)

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

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Pontious Pilate:   In 26 A.D. the Roman Emperor Tiberius appointed Pontius Pilate prefect of the Roman provinces of Judaea, Samaria, and Idumæa. Pilate is best known for his leadership of Judaea.  A Roman prefect was like a governor.  He was in charge of taxes and civil order.  Pontius Pilate was granted the power of a “supreme judge”, which meant that he had the sole authority to order a criminal’s execution.  Ultimately he was in charge of maintaining law and order. (Pontius Pilot wasn’t even Roman, he married well.  He married the granddaughter of Augustus Caesar).

Jesus had to be brought to trial for both the Jews and the Gentiles.  First, he needed to be accused and found guilty by the Jews and transferred to the Romans.  Jews could not issue a crucifixion, only Romans could.   Then the Romans need to charge Him guilty.

• The Jews accused him of Blasphemy-saying He is not just from God but He IS God-punishable by death. (but He is, so he is innocent)
• The Romans (Gentiles) brought Jesus to trial for calling himself a king (King of the Jews), which was a threat to Caesar, punishable by death. (but He is, so he is innocent)

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The Six Trials of Jesus: 

• Three religious (Jewish)
• three civil (Romans)

Three Jewish religious trials where he was proclaimed a sinner:

1. Religious Trial: Annas, Jn.18:12-14… Decision: Guilty.
2. Religious Trial: Caiaphas, Mt.26:57-68… Decision: Death Sentence, a charge of blasphemy, because Jesus proclaimed himself the Messiah, God the Son.
3. Religious Trial, Sanhedrin, Mt.27:1-2, Lk.22:63-71… Decision: Death.

Three Roman Civic trials where Jesus was proclaimed innocent.

1. Civil Trial (Roman): Pilate, Jn.18:28-38… Decision: Not guilty.
2. Civil Trial: Herod, Lk.23:6-12… Decision: Not guilty.
3. Civil Trial: Pilate again, Jn.18:39-19:6. Decision: Not guilty, but turned to the Jews to be crucified (Mt.27:26).

Pontius Pilate asks  “Are you the king of the Jews?”

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

Why does Jesus not reply? (last night I posted Isaiah 53)-

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.

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Barabbas: 

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Pontius Pilate was in crisis mode.  He was in charge of keeping the Peace.  It was Passover!  Jerusalem had between 2 and 3 million people visiting. Word would spread quickly if this “appointed son-in-law” could not handle his job.   For the Romans, (Caesar), Festivals were a cash cow in collecting taxes.  In an attempt to maintain law and order he decided to keep with the customary release of a Jewish prisoner was before the feast of Passover. The Roman governor granted clemency to one criminal as an act of goodwill toward the Jews whom he governed. Surely the crowd would make a wise choice:

• a high-profile killer who was unquestionably guilty- (Jesus Barabbas “Son of a father”)
• or a teacher and miracle worker who was demonstrably innocent. Jesus  (“Son of the Father”)

The crowd chose Barabbas to be released.

In context who are you?? You are a sinner who deserves death (Barabbas).  However, Jesus, without argument, released the one who deserves death and takes his (your) place on the cross so you can be set free.

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Only the Romans could order a crucifixion.  Pilate does not see Jesus as guilty and “washes His hands of the matter”.  (I am amazed by how they use God’s Law when it is convenient and ignore it when it’s not.  (Oh wait, nvm, I do that too).  Deuteronomy 21: If someone is found slain, lying in a field in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who the killer was… ⁶ Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, ⁷ and they shall declare: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. ⁸ Accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, Lord, and do not hold your people guilty of the blood of an innocent person.” Then the bloodshed will be atoned for, ⁹ and you will have purged from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

However, that is not the case here but “kudos” for Pilate for trying to twist scripture in his favor.  He transferred the verdict to the people as governor.  His passing responsible still made him the authority.    The crowd says: “Crucify him!”.  Together with the Gentiles (Romans) and the Jews collectively order his death.

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

A Roman Flagrum was a whip that was made of leather with weighted metal balls.  Small pieces of bone were sewn on so as they pulled the whip back to them, it would act like a fish hook and rip the skin with each flog.  A Roman Soldier would stand on the right and one on the left of the person being scourged.  They pull in diagonal/horizontal motion.

How many whips did Jesus get?  Well, in Deuteronomy 25:3 the Bible says that a criminal would get 40 lashes.  The Jews were so concerned that they would “break the Law”, they ordered “40 less 1”, just in case they miss-counted they had room for error.  So Jesus received 39 lashes.  The Romans adhered to this because beyond 40 lashes, the criminal most often died before the crucifixion from loss of blood or exposed organs from the tearing of the skin.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO 

CLICK HERE FOR THE EXTENDED VIDEO

Jesus was then mocked and beaten by the “Company of Soldiers” (totaled about 600 men).  There were several games the Romans would play with criminals before they were executed.  First, they would play the “King’s Game”.  They would dress them like royalty and mock them.  The second game was to blindfold them and punch them.  If they could guess who punched them they would “go light” on them.  The game was humiliating.

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the jews.

Growing up in a catholic church I picture: (I.N.R.I)- the Latin translation

In reality, it looked like this, so that everyone visiting for the Passover from different languages would be able to partake in the crucifixion (He died for ALL)

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The location was called “The Place of the Skull” due to the shape of the hill that apparently reminded people of a human skull.

• Golgatha-Hebrew for “skull”
• Cranion- Greek for “skull”
• Calvaria-Latin for “skull” (Calvary)

Jog your memory…this is the very place where the Gospel was foretold when Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac, and a substitute was offered in Isaac’s place.  A ram caught in the thorns wrapped around his head was provided by the Lord on this very Mountain.  The plant/thorns were called Acacia (the very wood that was used to build the Ark that saved lives) (the very wood that was used for the Ark of the Covenant for God’s presence to reside) ( the very wood that was used to make the Crown on Jesus’s head)

Acacia plant:

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⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

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They offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.  He did NOTHING to dull the pain.  He paid it ALL.

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

We did not take it.  He GAVE up His Spirit for us.  And what immediately happened??

The Veil in the Temple was torn.  The barrier between the people and the Lord was take away.  Before Jesus died, one day a year ONLY the High Priest could go behind the veil to make an atonement of sins for all the people.  The Veil tore vertically so that we can come to the Lord directly!  The Veil is torn!

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⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

(From Last night’s post on  Isaiah 53

⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

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And we have 2 witnesses, just like the Law requires.   😊

⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

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The Plot against Jesus

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ² “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

The city of Jerusalem would be filled with people.  Three times a year, adult males (12 and up) were required to go to the Temple for a festival.  However, Passover was the “Superbowl” of all the festivals.  It is estimated 2.5 million people descended into the city.

The Jewish council met at the High Priest’s palace and plotted to kill Jesus.   Do I need to repeat that so you can get the full magnitude of ALL that is wrong with that statement?

The Jewish council met at the High Priest’s palace and plotted to kill Jesus.

The High Priest should have been a descendant of Aaron, passed down through a genealogical line after the elder passed. Right???  Caiphas was the son-in-law of a still-living High Priest named Annas.  Caiphas was “appointed” the High Priest as a figurehead from the Romans.  Don’t get me started down that rabbit hole!!

Remember, the Jewish Council in JUDEA could have their “own” little government as long as they adhered to the Roman Law, paid their taxes, and did not cause any problems.  So they were smart enough to know that this would cause quite the stir with 2.5 million people from ALL over.  EVERYONE who lived in traveling distance went to Jerusalem…it was a cash cow for business owners from all over for both the Jew or Gentile.

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Jesus anointed at Bethany

So we have covered this account earlier BUT I always read it to see what stands out.  I knew the phrase: ¹² When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial would strike my heart BUT the one that I think was just added (I promise I never saw it before) was:

¹³ Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

And here we are 2000 years later, in a different culture, in a different language,  on the other side of the world…. retelling what she did!

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Judas agrees to betray Jesus

After Jesus was baptized he was led to the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the devil.  After that scene, it ended with:¹³ When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Well, this is the opportune time. In Luke 22:3, we see that Satan entered into Judas before Judas went to see the chief priests and set things up to betray Jesus. Satan possessed Judas in hopes of using him to destroy Jesus’ ministry and get Him out of the way. In Hebrew culture, thirty pieces of silver was not a lot of money. In fact, it was the exact price paid to the master of a slave if and when his slave was gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32). The slave’s death was compensated by the thirty pieces of silver.   Click here for video.

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The Last Supper

The Passover was the first day of a weeklong festival of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  They were commemorating their redemption from Egypt.  They would retell the account of Moses leading them out of Egypt after God proved He was the ONLY God by sending 10 plagues (to combat the 10 godheads in Egypt). The last god was Pharoah.  Anyone who shed the blood of a spotless and perfect lamb put the blood on the doorpost and believed they would be saved: the angel of death would Pass-Over them, and they would be free.  They would exit Egypt so quickly that they were to make bread for the exodus.  They did not put yeast in the bread (ain’t nobody got time for that!!) so they commemorate God’s provision with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

I am not sure why Leonardo DaVinci painted it this way (“Hey, everyone get on this side of the table for a selfie”).

 But the table would be 3 sided, like a U.  They would sit on the ground or cushions, leaning on one arm.   They would have 4 cups of wine.  1st was for the blessing (The Exodus), the 2nd was the cup of Judgement (the 40 years in the wilderness), the 3rd was the cup of Redemption/the cup of Thanks.4th was the cup of Praise (Psalm 118)

On the 3rd cup Jesus says:

²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus celebrates the LAST Passover supper.  He is fulfilling it. Salvation comes through Christ and the sacrifice of His physical body on the cross.

(More is added in Luke and John 😁)

Cup 4 (possibly) was Psalm 118.  Click here if you would like to read it.

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Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹ Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Jesus quotes from the Messianic prophet-Zechariah! Click here to read.  Peter gets a bad wrap as the one that denies Jesus BUT all his disciples flee when they come to arrest him.

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Garden of Gesthememe

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Look at a map:  Jesus would pass over the Kidron Valley to go to the Garden.  On the first day of the Festival (before the Passover Supper), the lambs would have been slaughtered.  Approximately 285,000 lambs were slaughtered that day at the Temple.  They would build funnels to drain the blood efficiently downhill and away from the city.  It would pour down into the Kidron Valley.  Picture Jesus crossing over to pray, seeing the blood-soaked land, knowing His will be added to it.The garden at Gethsemane, a place whose name literally means “oil press,” is located on a slope of the Mount of Olives. (We could sit on this symbolism all day!!…maybe tomorrow). Jesus moved away from the three men to pray, and twice He asked His Father to remove the cup of wrath He was about to drink, but each time He submitted to the Father’s will.  (In Luke God sends an angel from heaven to strengthen Him).

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Jesus Arrested

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Before Judas was even on the scene, Jesus says “the time has come”

⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Then Judas came and handed him over with a kiss, a sign used for  “honor and respect”.  A large crowd armed with swords and clubs arrested him.

6 separate trials

1. The trial before Annas-The High Priest (click here for video)
2. The trial before Caiaphas (the acting High Priest)
3. The trial before the Sanhedrin
4. Trial before Pilate
5. Trial before Herod
6. The trial before Pilate again

Amazing how the Jewish leaders rebuked Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but they now hated Him so much that they are willing to throw all the Laws out just to kill Him.

1.  No trial was to be held during feast time.
2. Each member of the court was to vote individually to convict or acquit, but Jesus was convicted by the announcement.
3. If the death penalty was given, a night must pass before the sentence was carried out; however, only a few hours passed before Jesus was placed on the Cross.
4. The Jews had no authority to execute anyone (Only Romans could)
5. No trial was to be held at night, but this trial was held before dawn.
6. The accused was to be given counsel or representation, but Jesus had none.
7. The accused was not to be asked self-incriminating questions, but Jesus was asked if He was the Christ.

We have several days to read this.  I will get into more detail as the week goes.

Here is the question:  Jesus will be tried by the Romans for breaking the Roman Law.  Jesus will be tried by the Sanhedrin for breaking Moses’ Law.  They will both find Him guilty for 2 different laws, both punishable by death.  Yet, He will be innocent of both?