Jesus is tried, is crucified, dies, & is buried before sunset
(THE TRIAL PHASES)
Taken to the house of Caiaphas (current high priest)
(PHASE 1)
Annas (Caiaphas’ father in law, former high priest, has considerable influence in Jewish affairs) questions Jesus on His doctrine and His disciples
Annas feels questions not answered so sends Jesus to Caiaphas for further questioning (possibly Annas questioned Jesus in other quarters of Caiaphas’ house and if so Jesus is just taken to a different location in the house)
(PHASE 2)
Chief priests and Sanhedrin (Jewish governing authority) attempt to find evidence to put Jesus to death
False witnesses brought forth but testimonies didn’t agree & most evidence not admissible
High priest asks Jesus ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ Jesus responds ‘I am’
High priest tears his clothes & members of Sanhedrin state Jesus is worthy of death
Peter follows Jesus to high priest’s home, in courtyard sitting with guards at fire and denies Jesus 3 times
(#1 Denies to the servant girl of high priest when asked directly)
(#2 Denies when servant girl repeats accusation to others)
(#3 Denies when those standing by him accuse him)
When Peter denies the 3rd time, the cock crows, and Peter weeps bitterly
(PHASE 3)
Approximately dawn
Sanhedrin (Jewish governing body) meet and recommend sending Jesus to the Roman governor to put to death for blasphemy
(Blasphemy is a death penalty under Jewish law but Jews can’t carry out a death sentence under Roman rule)
Judas seeing Jesus will be condemned, is remorseful and tries to return the 30 pieces of silver
When chief priests won’t take the silver pieces, Judas throws the money into the temple and goes and hangs himself
(PHASE 4)
Romans are the only ones who can give the death sentence, so chief priests and elders take Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor
Pilate not interested in offenses against Jewish religious law.
Pilate asks Jesus about being king of the Jews, Pilate finds no basis for execution
Religious leaders won’t accept that decision and talks of Jesus stirring up the people
Pilate finds out Jesus is a Galilean under Herod’s jurisdiction & sends Jesus to Herod as Herod is in Jerusalem at this time
(PHASE 5)
Although Herod (Herod Antipas) wants to meet Jesus, he has no desire to make a final judgement in the case and doesn’t find Jesus guilty of a capital offense
Herod questions, mocks, ridicules Jesus and then sends Jesus back to Pilate
(PHASE 6)
Pilate is in a difficult situation as there is no basis for a charge against Jesus, Pilate just wants to punish Jesus and release Him
Jewish leaders refuse this possibility, so to make sure Pilate will do what they want they accuse Jesus of treason
Pilate fears consequences of NOT agreeing with Jewish religious leaders as Pilate didn’t want an incident which would lead to a confrontation
Blasphemy wasn’t the charge for Pilate to agree to the Sanhedrin’s wishes, BUT claiming to be king was in conflict with the rule of Rome
Claiming to be king was treasonous - a political threat not to be ignored by Pilate
Jewish people ask Pilate to grant amnesty to a prisoner (which was normally done on Passover)
Pilate agrees to this custom and the Jewish people choose Barabbas (a freedom fighter and murderer) to give amnesty
Jewish leaders incite a mob demanding Jesus’ death
Jewish people ask to crucify Jesus
(PHASE 7)
Following the Jewish people’s choice, Pilate washes his hands
Pilate has Jesus flogged (flogging consisted of victims being stripped of garments and stretched against a pillar. The instrument of torture was a short wooden handle that had several strips of leather attached to it with bits of iron or bones interwoven into the leather. Two men usually whipped the victim one from each side resulting in the flesh being cut so severely that veins, arteries and sometimes even inner organs were exposed. Sometimes the victim died during the flogging)
Jesus is led to Roman Praetorium (palace) & handed over to company of soldiers
Soldiers prepare and place a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head
Soldiers dress Jesus in purple robe
Soldiers mock, beat and lead Jesus to be crucified
(FACTS REGARDING TRIAL)
Highly irregular
Conducted late at night instead of normally during the daytime
No defense witnesses called
Prosecutions witnesses couldn’t agree
Treason was not the preliminary charge
Death sentence should not have been pronounced until day after the trial
Convicted murderer set free and Jesus was flogged, sentenced, and led away to die
(THE CRUCIFIXION)
Relatively short time — arrested at midnight and crucified by 9 am
Crucified at Golgotha - place of a skull - 1 km or 1/2 mile from Praetorium
Romans crucified not only as a punishment but also as a terror tactic to keep people ‘in line’
Crucifixion sights were not ‘out of the public eye’ but were normally on high traffic roads so that people would see the event
Simon from Cyrene forced to carry cross of Jesus
Custom was for someone to walk before each criminal with written charge stating offense
2 other ‘robbers’ were probably political rebels or political revolutionaries
Jesus - ‘King of the Jews’
6 hours from Jesus’ crucifixion to His death
1st period - 9am to 12 pm - soldiers cast lots for Christ’s garments
2nd period - 12 pm to 3 pm - darkness over the whole land and Jesus dies
(7 SAYINGS CHRIST SPOKE ON THE CROSS)
‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’
‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’
‘Dear woman, here is your son, ... Here is your mother’
‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’
‘I am thirsty’
‘It is finished’
‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’
(3 THINGS OCCURRED WITH JESUS’ DEATH)
Curtain of temple was torn in two from top to bottom
The earth shook and rocks split (Matthew)
Tombs of dead believers in Jesus opened and their bodies raised to life. After Jesus’ resurrection these people appeared to many in Jerusalem (Matthew)
(THE BURIEL)
Jesus crucified on Preparation Day (day before the Sabbath/Saturday)
They didn’t want to defile the area with dead bodies - the Law states capital offense bodies couldn’t be kept left unburied overnight
They requested Pilate hasten death so the bodies would be removed before sunset
(normally they would break their legs like they did the robbers but when they got to Jesus, He was already dead so they pierced His side bringing forth a flow of blood and water - bringing forth prophecy of scripture)
Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple, and the Pharisee, Nicodemus both members of the Sanhedrin went to Pilate & asked for Jesus’ body
(While the Sanhedrin actively participated in Jesus’ death, some believed in Jesus)
Pilate consented and both men prepared and buried the body of Jesus in a tomb Joseph purchased near Golgotha
Buried before sunset on Friday
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus saw where Jesus was buried
