Simply Jesus The Life and Ministry of God s Son Lesson 27 Introduction Jesus had been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and taken to the house of Annas the high priest. Then He was moved to the palace of Caiaphas. At daybreak, He was brought before the council of the Sanhedrin. Then finally, the civil trials began first before Pilate, then Herod, and then back to Pilate again. There were six interrogations in all. In between, the men who held Jesus mocked and beat Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him on the face, spat on Him, spoke blasphemies against Him, placed a crown of thorns upon His head and used Him for their own entertainment. Pilate asked Jesus, Are You the King of the Jews? He answered him saying, It is as you say. So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, I find no fault in this Man (Luke 23:3 4). Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who was exceedingly glad to see Him, hoping to witness a miracle. As Herod proceeded to question Jesus, the chief priests and scribes hurled vehement accusations at Him, and Jesus answered nothing. Herod and his men also mocked Jesus, arraying Him in a royal robe and sending Him back to Pilate. Scripture tells us that Pilate and Herod became friends that very day. In addition to inquiring about whether He was truly a king, Pilate asked Jesus another question that has been earnestly debated for over two thousand years: What is truth? Jesus declaration of Himself had prompted the question when He stated: You say rightly that I am a King. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice (John 18:37 38). But Pilate and the people were not open to their opportunity to hear the truth, choosing instead to release the robber Barabbas in place of the innocent Jesus. Did you know ~ It is this same King Herod that eighteen months earlier was moved to conviction by the preaching of John the Baptist. Herod liked to listen to John preach and whenever he did, his heart was stirred. But Herod s wife, Herodias, hated John for pointing out the fact she was living in sin with him. One night during a drunken party, Herod offered up to one-half his kingdom to his daughter for dancing before the king and his drunken friends. Herodias duped the king by having her ask for the head of John. Now, a year and a half later, although delighted to meet Jesus, Herod was no longer convicted by hearing truth; his conscience had become seared. The lesson in this is: be careful to listen when God speaks. Answer the door of your heart when He knocks. He ll knock more than once; but if you ignore His voice long enough, like Herod, you ll go from hearing Him gladly to treating Him contemptuously. Beware: then there will be no sense of guilt or fear of appearing before God one day to answer for your sin! 1
Open your Bible and lesson each day by beginning with a word of prayer. Up Close ~ The chart below represents a reader s guide to the contents of this week s lesson. The topical teachings and/or events covered are followed by the primary scriptural text as well as the supportive parallel passages. You will be able to receive and grasp a well-rounded picture of the story narrative in the Gospel harmony by reading every passage. However, using the bolded text as your point of reference (your anchor text) will allow you to determine the facts, lessons, and personal applications necessary to formulate your own conclusions. Teaching / Event Scripture Text Parallel Passages Truth on Trial John 18:28 19:1 16 Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23 The King on a Cross John 19:17 30 Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23 Jesus Buried in Joseph s Tomb John 19:31 42 Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23 First Impressions: Group Discussion Reflect for a moment on the passages you have just read. Respond by recording your first impressions from your initial reading of the text. Be prepared to share one of your impressions with your discussion group. Heartbeat: John 18:37b NKJV (Memory verse) (Write it out once in the space below. Practice it each time you open your lesson.)... Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. 2
Part One: John 18:28 19:1 16 Truth on Trial Pilate s wife had urged him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him (Matthew 27:19). His own conscience bore witness that before him stood an innocent Man. Yet, ultimately, Pilate succumbed to the pressure of the religious leaders that had stirred up the people: When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person (Matthew 27:24). So thus began the blasphemous mocking and physical torment of the Lord. 1. In your reading of this passage, write down your findings for the following... a. vv. 1 4: The physical suffering Jesus endured at the hands of the soldiers. b. vv. 5 7; 12 15: The mental, emotional abuse Jesus received from His own people. c. vv. 8 11: The humiliation of surrendering Himself to the earthly authority of Rome. 2. The Roman scourging was done with a leather whip woven around sharp jagged pieces of metal, bone, and stone. Each stroke of the lash broke open the skin, causing layers of torn, bleeding tissue and tremendous pain. The severity of the beating Christ endured is evidenced by what, according to Luke 23:26? Pilate undoubtedly hoped that the sight of a severely beaten and abused Jesus would strike some chord of compassion with the crowd: Behold the Man! (v. 5). But the unanimous response was Crucify Him! In the end, early Friday morning, Pilate sat down in the judgment seat and presented a bloody, beaten, battered Jesus: Behold your King! (v.14). Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. Selah ~ The cup of suffering Jesus endured was a necessary part of the work He accomplished for your salvation. Scripture says that it pleased the Lord [God] to bruise Him. Take a moment to meditate on Isaiah 53:3 10a and record your thoughts below. Think about the fact that what He suffered was so that you don t have to! 3
Part Two: John 19:17 30 The King on a Cross The most pivotal event in human history was about to be accomplished the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. All four gospels depict the event in vivid detail but John s account is a deeply personal one, as only he from among all the disciples remained close to Jesus as He died on the cross. Later on in looking back as he wrote his account, the beloved disciple remembers the tender instructions given by Jesus regarding His mother in verses 26 27. Contrast the intimacy of John s remembrance of that moment with the horror of what Jesus went through. Crucifixion was the most horrific form of Roman execution, usually reserved for the worst capital offenders. It involved tying or nailing the individual to wooden cross beams so as to suspend their body by the arms, causing a slow death by suffocation each time they rose up to attempt a breath. Whenever the man tried to use his legs to support his lungs in gasping for air, he would slow the process of death, sometimes taking up to a week of suffering before he died. When the Roman soldiers wanted to hasten death, they would break the legs with a mallet, making it impossible for the prisoner to support himself. Look closer ~ The parallel accounts of the crucifixion are listed in order for you below. Record the events as they unfolded from the references given. Notice that the seven statements Jesus spoke from the cross are highlighted in bold. Briefly state in your own words what each reference reveals. When you re finished re-read the account in its entirety to see the BIG picture. 1. John 19:17 2. Luke 23:26 3. Matthew 27:33 34 4. John 19:18 5. Luke 23:34 6. Matthew 27:39 44 7. Luke 23:38 42 8. Luke 23:43 9. John 19:26 27 10. Matthew 27:45 4
11. Matthew 27:46 12. John 19:28 13. John 19:29 14. John 19:30a 15. Luke 23:45 16. Luke 23:46 17. John 19:30b Selah ~ Only John records the details concerning this beloved apostle and the Lord s mother (vv. 25 27). Think of it: even in His hour of greatest personal agony, Jesus provides out of His loving Shepherd s heart. What provision does He make for her? Personal: Jesus hung on that cross for you. What does this tell you about how He will most certainly also provide for you in your hour of need? Part Three: John 19:31 42 Jesus Buried in Joseph s Tomb In the Apostle John s narrative of vv. 28 30, he says: After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst! Earlier Jesus refused the offer of sour wine; this time He accepts it. Once He does, He declares, It is finished! At that moment, Jesus bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Death did not have dominion over Him; He willingly surrendered to it. 1. What did the Jews request of Pilate? Why? a. What happened when the soldiers came to Jesus body? 5
Had Jesus legs been broken, it would have violated the requirements and prophecy in Exodus 12:46; meaning that for the Passover, the bones of the sacrificial lamb would not be broken. 2. To ensure Jesus had died, what did they do and what followed? v. 34 3. John himself testified that these things were true, so that we might believe. What two prophecies were also fulfilled? a. Psalm 34:20 b. Zechariah 12:10 4. In contrast to the hatred and hostility of the Jews, two individuals emerge: Joseph and Nicodemus. What good deed does each perform on behalf of Jesus? a. Joseph of Arimathea b. Nicodemus These two men kept their support of Jesus secretive until circumstances drove them out into the open to honor the Lord. They performed the ceremonial anointing and wrapping of the body in linen cloths. According to Luke 23:55 56, the women who witnessed the burial returned home to prepare spices and fragrant oils to finish following the Sabbath observance. John paints a graphic portrayal of the interrogations, trials, crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Contained within the details are the specific choices and consequences to individuals. And behind those we recognize the overriding will of our sovereign God. Pilate chose compromise and wound up with the blood of God s Son on his hands. The crowd chose a wicked robber over Jesus and chose to crucify their Savior. Joseph and Nicodemus chose to courageously honor Jesus and are forever remembered for their loving deed. Lastly, and most importantly, Jesus chose the cross, securing our salvation and place with Him in eternity. He now reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords and one day we will reign with Him! You have a choice to make: believe in Jesus or oppose Him. God has given you a free will; He will not force you. If you haven t already, will you make the right choice and give your heart to Jesus Christ? He is waiting to call you His. The Bible says that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father! Will you make Him yours and choose life? 6
Behold & Be Transformed What did you see as you beheld God s Son? How does beholding (looking upon) Him, motivate you to change your thoughts, habit, attitude, speech or actions? Pause... What is the most significant lesson you have learned this week? Ponder... How will you put it into practice? Pray... Write out your prayer and be specific. 2013 Janis J. Vance, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. 7
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