In our Bible Study lesson, we are studying scene by scene the crucifixion of Jesus. It is so good for me to study this right around the upcoming Easter season! Putting my focus on all that Jesus went through ... beatings, mocking, whippings, trials, and so much more makes me realize how much He loves me. He went through all that for me. Me. The whole world! For all sinners!
I wish I could copy and paste all the great insight that Beth Moore gives in our homework lessons about the journey Jesus had to take before getting to the cross. I am going to try to write some of my feelings and thoughts, so if you want, join my journey of thoughts.
Can you imagine? Imagine the walk that Jesus took the 24 hours before his death. He had just shared his "last supper" with his beloved disciples and shared "his body and blood" with them.
In Luke 22, you can read the start of the death story of Jesus. Judas was hanging out with the chief priests and teachers of the law. He was even the one that came up with the plan to show them where and who Jesus was. Why? Why would he do that to Jesus? For money? Because his sights were based on earthly riches and not heavenly? For wasn't he with Jesus when He performed all His miracles and wasn't he listening to all the knowledge Jesus was teaching about? Why are we humans like that? The things that seem so obvious sometimes are blind to us. It seems to me that Judas should have known that this was not the "right plan" or the "right thing to do". Without a doubt the chief priests were happy for his plan and help! For they were sick of Jesus being the talk of town. All the people seemed to flock to hear His words and they even threw a parade right through town for Him! They knew that if something wasn't done soon, this Jesus would steal the hearts of all the towns people and they would be out of a job (or reputation)!
There are a few verses that give us some info about Judas. In John 12:1-6, it shows that Judas was more concerned about the money than for the poor. I know that Judas had to be part of "the crucifixion story" but how sad was his outcome when he did realize his fate!
Peter, too did mess up. He was just a few days before this saying "then wash my whole body and not just my feet" and "I will go with you even if it means dying" and "I will protect you". Jesus didn't need anything Peter had to offer other than his heart! Jesus wanted Peter's heart!
At the last supper with His disciples, when Jesus said that one of them would betray them, they didn't know who that would be. Jesus never showed hatred or ill feelings towards Judas even when He knew who it would be.
Jesus went to the Garden to pray. He took his disciples with him and asked them to pray too that they "might not enter into temptation". As Jesus knelt to pray, he asked God three times to "remove this cup from me". When he went back to the disciples, they were sleeping. Oh, just so human!!! If only they would have realized how important these last few hours for Jesus were! Why is it so hard for me sometimes to realize the need to pray? It was then that a whole group of people came with swords and sticks! Judas was in the crowd and he kissed Jesus. He betrayed Jesus. Then when the other disciples seen what was about to happen, Peter grabbed a sword and cut off a soldiers right ear! Yep, Peter went into the "protection mode" and he was out to defend his Lord! Jesus didn't need any help or defense. He just nicely touched his ear and healed him.
OK, stop right here. He did what? Jesus just put back on an ear that was cut off! Wouldn't that be a huge sign for those soldiers or were they so used to Jesus "fixing things" that they paid no attention?
They took Jesus and headed straight for the high priest's house. I wish the Bible would give more details about Malchus. He was the man that had his ear cut off. Do you think he went with the other soldiers and took Jesus to be tried or do you think his miracle was enough to soften his heart and go home?
As the soldiers lead Jesus, Peter followed but was far behind. Funny, all of a sudden, he's not "in the crowd" but now became just a follower from afar off. Was he scared? Was he wondering why Jesus didn't like his protection?
They took Jesus to Annas. He was the high priest of that year. Annas then sent Jesus to Caiaphas. That's where we will find Peter by a fire burning. I am sure that the chill of the night air made the warmeth of the fire feel good. There was also a maid that came up to the fire and noticed Peter and said that he was one that was with Jesus. Here's the man that was willing to kill for Jesus, and just literally moments later, he didn't want to be called a follower of Jesus! Then a while later, someone else noticed Peter and asked if he was with Jesus. A third person noticed Peter and was sure by his talk that he was with Jesus. All three times, Peter said, "I do not know this Jesus." He had just denied Jesus three times. Isn't it ironic that before Jesus asked Peter three times how much he loves Him?
The cock crew. "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crew, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly." Peter realized what he had just done. He really just denied his Lord. He thought he was strong enough to face temptations. Especially, denial. Peter was so sorry and sad that he cried and cried. He might have even ripped his clothes or kicked the stones on the ground.
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Back to Jesus, he was now being mocked and hit! They blind folded Jesus and after they hit Him, they wanted Him to say who it was. He knew. He knew exactly who it was even if He didn't actually see the person. They blasphemed Jesus all night long.
As the morning sun rose that next morning, the leaders all came together and led Jesus into their council. I can't imagine how tired and exhausted Jesus must have been. No sleep and bet all night long. They asked Him if He was Christ? Jesus answered, "If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, not let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God." Jesus always answered with wisdom. Humanly, I would probably have shouted back in their faces and said, "Yes. I am who I am. God's son! Christ!!!" But he didn't. What was the point driving home the point if they wouldn't listen or have a change of heart anyway? Then they asked Him if He is the Son of God? Again, Jesus replied, "Ye say that I am." That made them mad! They thought that was proof enough!
They took Jesus to Pilate. They began telling Pilate all the things they heard Jesus proclaim. Pilate didn't seem to want to hear what they had to say but what Jesus would say. He asked Jesus if he did proclaim to be the King of the Jews? "Thou sayest it," Jesus said back. Pilate looked at the leaders and said, "I don't find a thing wrong with this man." The leaders didn't respond good to that. They got even madder now! They said that He stirs up the people. He teaches to the Jews from Galilee to here! That's when Pilate realized that Jesus was a Galilean and so he sent Him to Herod.
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When Herod saw Jesus he was so happy! He had heard a lot of this Jesus and he wanted to see Jesus do a miracle. Mockery. When Herod started to ask Jesus a bunch of questions, Jesus was quite. He said nothing. This made the leaders again so mad! It made Herod mad too. Herod and his men mocked Him. They put a gorgeous robe on Jesus and made fun! Then they sent Him back to Pilate.
Was this some kind of joke? This sounds like no one really wanted to deal with Jesus. No one but the religious leaders. They kept pushing Jesus from one person to the next. Each time Jesus got mocked at. Laughed at. Hit. Beat.
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They took Jesus back to Pilate after Herod had his fun with mean words and mockery. Pilate got all the desperate leaders together and said, "Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that pervereth the people: and, behold, I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this Man touching those things whereof ye accuse Him. No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him."
These religious leaders were so not cool with just a severe beating! What was their problem? Were they so hard hearted and furious with Jesus, that the only thing they wanted with for Him was to die? They knew that they needed to prove to Pilate that Jesus should die. In Mark 15, it says that Pilate asked them, "Will ye that I release unto you The King of the Jews?" He knew they were there because of envy. Pilate was also warned by a note from his wife. She told Pilate to have nothing to do with this man because she had a dream and is very troubled!
Finally, Pilate said to do with Jesus what the crowd wants to do with Him. The soldiers platted a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They put a purple robe on him. They mocked Him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They hit Him with their hands.
Jesus was brought forth before the crowd wearing the thorns and robe. When they saw him, they cried out "Crucify Him!" Pilate told the chief priest and officers to take Jesus and crucify Him themselves. The Jews said back, "We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard them say that, he was even more afraid. He went away to the judgement hall and again said to Jesus, "Where do you come from?" No answer. Then he asked, "Why don't you answer me? Don't you know that I have power to either crucify you or release you?" Then Jesus answered and said, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." Pilate sought to release Jesus after he heard this, but the Jews kept crying out, "If you let Him go, you are not Ceasar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaketh against Ceasar."
So, Pilate set Barabbas free and gave Jesus over to be crucified.
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Are you imagining this whole story with me? If you are so involved and need to know now the rest of the story, go to Luke 23:26 and read! Read it all!
More to come later ...
