Sunday School Lessons

JANUARY 17, 2016

 

THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST (CONTINUED)

INTRODUCTION:

In part one of this study we considered Verses 15-32 under two main headings.

I.  Pilate, in spite of his own protests that Jesus was innocent, ended up yielding to the Jews’ demand, and condemned Him to be crucified. (Verses 15-21)

II.  Christ was at the appointed hour led away to the appointed place to be crucified between two thieves. (Verses 22-32)

As we now continue with our study of the crucifixion of Christ, we will be considering Verses 33-41.

III.  CHRIST’S ABUSE AND DEATH WAS PROTESTED, AS IT WERE, BY THE SUN AS IT DID NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, SYMBOLIZING HIS BEING FORSAKEN BY GOD THE FATHER. (VERSES 33-36) The crucified Savior was abused by the people, protested in nature, forsaken of His Father, and finally, honored by God.

A.  HOW THE SUN PROTESTED THE DEATH OF CHRIST. (VERSE 33) The sun, being the very center of the universe, around which all else revolves; and which is the one source of light, heat, energy, and life, refused to shine, in protest to the fact that the Sun of Righteousness, Who is the true light and life of creation was being put to death. Note Spurgeon’s comment: “The sun covered his face and traveled on in tenfold night, in very shame that the great Sun of Righteousness should himself be in such terrible darkness.”

1.  The cause of this darkness was not some natural phenomenon. It was no mere solar eclipse, as some suggest, for it lasted for three hours, and shed darkness over the whole land for that space of time.

2.  An extraordinary light gave notice of the birth of Christ (Matt. 2:2), and therefore it was proper that an extraordinary darkness should notify His death.

B.  HOW CHRIST RESPONDED TO THE EXTRAORDINARY DARKNESS THAT COVERED THE LAND. (VERSE 34) The event has been described poetically as God hiding His face.

1.  After three hours, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

2.  As the ancient poets would describe a display of divine wrath by the withdrawing of the sun’s light, so our Lord seems to have interpreted this awful blackness.

3.  No tongue can tell of the sorrowful agony.

a)  The extreme depth of His agony is signified in the loudness of His cry. “Jesus cried with a loud voice.”

b)  The greatness of His agony and the incredible reason for it are expressed in His words, “Why hast thou forsaken me?”

4.  Our Lord’s bitter cry was made in the words of Psalm 22:1. He even cried them in the tongue of their original human penman. “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabackthani.” In reading the psalm it is clear that the whole of it belongs to Christ. It is a Messianic psalm, much of which is a poetic and prophetic description of the awful events which we are presently considering.

C.  HOW SOME WHO WERE PRESENT INTERPRETED JESUS’ CRY OUT OF THE DARKNESS, AND USED IT TO FURTHER MOCK HIM. (VERSES 35, 36)

1.  Due to their misunderstanding of what Jesus cried in the Hebrew tongue, they thought that He called for Elias (Elijah).

a)  What fools they were. Considering the extraordinary acts of God that they were seeing; why were they not crying out in fear?

b)  Why would He call upon Elijah? He had before assured them that if He wished to be helped, God would, upon His request, dispatch more than twelve legions of angels to the rescue. (Matt. 26:53)

2.  They used their misinterpretation of Jesus’ cry to further mock Him. “Let us see whether Elias will come and take Him down.”

3.  Mark inserts in between the mistaken assumption and the mocking an unrelated incident, in which one ran and served Him vinegar with a sponge. John, however, fills in the needed detail, noting that, “After this, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, saith I thirst,…and they filled a sponge with vinegar…and put it to his mouth.”

a)  How many, many pangs of suffering He might have complained of, yet that the Scripture might be fulfilled in this detail, He mentions only this one, His great thirst.

b)  What regard He had for the sacred Scriptures! Not a single word of divine prophecy would He allow to fail. (Psa. 69:21)

c)  The heartless fool who responded to Jesus’ complaint with such cruelty had no idea that his actions had been foretold by Christ Himself many centuries before, when He said, “…and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

4.  All things now having been accomplished, seeing to the fulfilling of every detail of prophetic Scripture respecting Christ’s sufferings, only one thing remained to be done, and Christ, by an act of His own will, finished it.

IV.  CHRIST’S DEATH WAS A MARVELOUS ACT OF HIS OWN WILL, WHICH WAS ATTENDED AND FOLLOWED BY MANY MARVELS. (VERSES 37-39)

A.  HOW MARVELOUS THAT IN DYING OUR LORD HAD COMMAND OF HIS OWN SPIRIT. (VS. 37; LUKE 23:46; PSA. 31:5)

1.  Ordinarily men are totally passive in the matter of dying. We have an appointment with death that cannot be either postponed of hastened.

2.  Jesus was totally unique in this regard. He alone had power to either retain or surrender His life at will.

3.  We can be quite sure that it was not mere happenstance that He surrendered His life at the exact time when the paschal lamb was to be slain.

B.  ANOTHER MARVEL IN CHRIST’S DEATH WAS THAT HE SHOUTED IN VICTORY. (VERSE 37)

1.  We have witnessed, as it were, the entire ordeal, which began the night before. It is now three o’clock in the afternoon. Crucifixion is a form of execution which slowly drains every ounce of strength from the body, and also renders one unconscious before life slips away. Yet, when Jesus was only seconds away for His last breath, He SHOUTED WITH A LOUD VOICE.

2.  This was a shout of victory over the enemy. The Seed of the woman here delivered the head-crushing blow to the old serpent. The work of redemption which He came to accomplish was at last FINISHED. (John 19:30)

C.  YET ANOTHER GREAT MARVEL IS THAT WITH HIS SHOUT, THE VEIL IN THE TEMPLE WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY RENT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. (VERSE 38)

1.  Christ’s death was the end of Judaism. Just as Daniel had predicted, Messiah the Prince would, in the midst of the seventieth week, cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. (Dan. 9:27)

a)  The handwriting of ordinances was nailed to the cross. (Col. 2:14)

b)  The Jews did repair the veil, and tried to continue, but Christ’s death effectually put an end to that old system. This is the main point of the book of Hebrews.

2.  Now, there is made an entrance into the holiest of all by the blood of the cross. The way of access to God is opened for all who will come to God by the way of the cross.

D.  MARVELOUS ALSO IS THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE ROMAN SOLDIERS WERE CONVINCED AND CONFESSED, WHILE OTHERS WITH THE SAME EVIDENCE CONTINUED IN THEIR UNBELIEF. (VERSE 39; MATT. 27:54)

1.  Distinguishing grace is always an amazement to us. (Matt. 11:25)

2.  It seems incredible that any could have witnessed the things that happened, and heard the words of Christ and still remained in denial. Yet, the eyes of the Jewish leaders remained blind, while the eyes of these men were opened.

3.  It remains so today. The truth softens the hearts of some, while the hearts of others are hardened by the same gospel.

V.  CHRIST’S CRUCIFIXION WAS VIEWED (DOUBTLESS WITH GREAT SORROW) BY FRIENDS, WHO KEPT THEIR DISTANCE. (VERSES 40, 41)

A.  EVEN THESE DEAR WOMEN HAD TO KEEP AT A DISTANCE FOR FEAR OF THE MOB. (VSE. 40)

B.  SOME OF THESE WOMEN ARE IDENTIFIED, AND ARE FAMILIAR. (VERSE 41)

C.  A NUMBER OF THESE WOMEN HAD FOLLOWED CHRIST AND MINISTERED TO HIM IN GALILEE. (VERSE 41; LUKE 8:2, 3)

Next week, if the Lord wills, we shall resume our study at Verse 42, and hopefully, be able to finish the chapter.

 

JANUARY 10, 2016

 

THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST (PART 1)

INTRODUCTION:

1.  The so-called trial of our Lord before the great Sanhedrin was nothing more than a shameful mockery. (Ch. 14:53-65)

a)  Truth and justice were not the aim of this court, but rather, its goal was to obtain a guilty verdict by whatever means necessary.

b)  Jesus was immediately subjected to horrible disrespect and cruelty by those in attendance, and that, before even a charge was made.

c)  With no credible witnesses, and when even those that had been hired were discredited, still the high priest was intent upon bringing capital charges against Christ.

d)  It turned out to be our Lord’s own true testimony affirming that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God, that Caiaphas seized upon to charge Him with blasphemy.

2.  Being then charged, Jesus was straightway bound and brought before Pilate the next morning. (Ch. 15:1ff)

a)  Pilate clearly disagreed with the verdict of the ecclesiastical court, and tried desperately to have it overturned. He even tried using the custom in which at the annual feast they could request the release of a prisoner. (Verse 6) That idea also failed. (Verses 7-11b)

b)  In the end, Pilate’s right opinion regarding Christ’s innocence would only prove his own lack of character, and magnify his guilt. Instead of acting as a man of honor to do the right thing, he elected to do the politically expedient thing, and content the people by sentencing an innocent man to be crucified.

I.  PILATE YIELDED TO THE JEWS’ DEMAND, AND CONDEMNED CHRIST TO BE CRUCIFIED. (VERSES 15-21)

A.  PILATE, TO GRATIFY THE JEWS’ MALICE, ORDERED THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST. (VSE. 15)

1.  His motive was political. “Willing to content the people…” His decision was unconscionable. “…he released Barabbas unto them (who was the scandal and plague of the nation) and delivered Jesus (Who was the glory and blessing of the nation) …to be crucified.” This he did “when he had scourged him,” apparently hoping that would content them, still not designing to crucify Him, though he went on to do that. (See Luke 23:16) It’s no wonder that one who could call for the scourging of an innocent man could also go on to order his execution. Political figures historically have done disgraceful things for sake of political gain, but none have stooped so low as Pilate did here.

2.  Christ was crucified. While it is true that the reason why Christ died according to the Roman method of execution was because the scepter was departed out of Judah, and therefore they had no power of capital punishment, the primary reason was that the Scriptures and God’s method of atonement required that Christ must be crucified.

a)  Crucifixion is a bloody death. (Heb. 9:22) The blood is the life. (Gen. 9:4) The Savior must give His life by shedding His life’s blood. It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (Lev. 17:11) this was the message of every bloody sacrifice made under the Levitical system.

b)  Crucifixion was a cursed death. (Deut. 21:23) He that is hanged on a tree is accursed of God. (II Sam. 21:6) It is to be made a public curse. (Gal. 3:13)

c)  In Psalm 22:16, Christ is heard saying, “They pierced my hands and my feet.” In John 3:14 Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent…even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”

B.  THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST WAS PUT INTO THE HANDS OF ROMAN SOLDIERS, WHOSE SICK HUMOR ADDED MUCH ABUSE AND HUMILIATION. (VERSE 16-19)

1.  For no reason other than to abuse and make sport of Him, Jesus was removed into an inner hall where the whole regiment could come in and have a part in His humiliation and abuse. (Verse 16)

2.  Jesus had already been ignominiously abused by servants of the high priest. Now, He must endure shameful, and sometimes painful treatment from the soldiers. He had declared to Pilate that He was a King. It was this claim that they made the focus of their ridicule and mockery.

a)  Since Kings ought to wear royal colors, they clothed Him with purple.

b)  Since Kings need crowns, they platted a crown of thorns and and put it about His head.

c)  Since Kings receive the acclamations of their subjects, they sarcastically bowed and saluted Him with Hail, King of the Jews.

d)  Since Kings have scepters, they put a reed in His right hand.

e)  Since Kings receive adoration form their subjects with tokens of their affection, the solders substituted smiting and spitting while bowing down in mock worship.

C.  THE SOLDIERS AT THE APPOINTED HOUR LED HIM AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED. (VERSES 20, 21)

1.  When they had glutted themselves with sick humor and insults, they restored to Jesus His own robe and led Him away. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. (Verse 20; Isa. 53:7)

2.  They compelled one Simon to carry His cross. (Verse 21)

a)  It is unlikely that this was done out of compassion, more likely it was for expedience. Perhaps they were afraid Jesus would faint beneath the load short of the destination.

b)  Simon was apparently commandeered by authority of the governor to bear the cross. Perhaps he was as some think, a disciple of Christ, and was therefore chosen. Those who will follow Christ must expect to bear a cross for Him.

II.  CHRIST WAS AT THE APPOINTED HOUR AND PLACE CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO THIEVES. (VERSES 22-32)

A.  THE PLACE AND TIME OF THE CRUCIFIXION. (VERSES 22, 25)

1.  The place is called Golgotha – the place of the skull.

a)  Many believe it was given that name because it was the place of execution for malefactors and many heads were there cut off and left.

b)  Perhaps it was simply so called because the rock formation was in the shape of a skull.

c)  The place is significant, because it was the place where Abraham offered Isaac and God made provision; the place from where Abraham had an eye to this day, and called it Jehovah-Jireh, i.e. the Lord will provide, expecting that in the mount of the Lord it would be seen. (Gen. 22:14; John 8:56)

2.  The time when Jesus was crucified was the third hour of the day, that is, about nine o’clock in the morning.

a)  At the time when the priests were supposed to be attending the temple services, offering the peace-offering to begin the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, when there was to be a holy convocation.

b)  Instead of presiding over the public devotions, they were here venting their malice against our Lord. Yet these men pretended to be zealous for the temple, even condemning Christ for allegedly speaking against it. Many will pretend a zeal for the church who regularly shirk their duties to it.

B.  THE MANY INDIGNITIES THAT WERE DONE TO CHRIST AS HE WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS. (VERSES 23, 24 26-32)

1.  He was offered wine mingled with myrrh, which He refused to drink. It was the custom to give wine to persons that were to be put to death. They mingled His with myrrh to make it bitter and nauseous. He tasted it, but refused to drink it. He was willing to admit the bitterness, but not the benefit of it.

2.  The soldiers cast lots for His garments. This too was done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. (Matt. 27:35) The seeming incidental mention of His own clothes being put on Him was just one of the many, many details which providence was directing for the fulfillment of Scripture. (Verse 20) The garments of those executed were part of the executioners’ fee. His own seamless garment would have been of no value if divided, therefore the soldiers cast lots for it. The soldiers were making merry with their sport while Jesus was hanging above them in pain and agony.

3.  They set a superscription over His head by which they intended to reproach Him. “The King of The Jews.”  (Verse 26)

a)  Pilate perhaps intended this to disgrace Christ and the people too. We know that the people protested it, (John 19:21) but Pilate refused to change it. (John 19:22)

b)  God intended it to be the proclamation even of Christ upon the cross, though Pilate knew not what he wrote, any more that Caiaphas knew what he said. (John 11:51)

c)  Christ Crucified is King of the church, His spiritual Israel. Even then, when on the cross, He was a conquering King, conquering and triumphing over His and their enemies. (Col. 2:15)

4.  They crucified Him between two thieves. (Verses 27, 28)

a)  He was placed on the middle cross, between two notorious felons, to indicate that in their eyes He was the worst criminal of the three.

b)  Mark takes particular notice of the fulfilling of the Scripture in this. It is particularly that famous prediction of Isaiah’s prophecy that he cites. (Isa. 53:12)

5.  Christ, as He was on the cross, was insulted by spectators and passers-by. (Verses 29, 30)

a)  How is it that curious passers-by were not moved with compassion at the sight of His suffering? From the things they were saying it appears that they knew about Him. If they knew about Him, they were aware of His wonderful works, yet they added their voices to those of the revilers.

b)  This is a lesson in corrupt human nature. These somehow felt compelled to join with the crowd, and participate in their wickedness. We see this kind of evil inclination demonstrated throughout society.

6.  The chief priest and scribes also cast the same in His teeth. (Verses 31, 32)

a)  There is great irony in their mockery. “He saved others, himself He cannot save.” How true! He, in order to save others, could not save Himself. Thank God, He could not save Himself, because He would not save Himself.

b)  “Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross that we may believe.” Had He come down, He would have relinquished His Kingdom in so doing. Had He come down from the cross, there would be no point in believing on Him. Their unbelief was precisely because they did not understand this fundamental truth. Had He come down, all our believing would be in vain. (Compare I Cor. 15:17)

7.  Even the two thieves on either side of Him reviled Him. (Verse 32b)

a)  We know what one of them said. (Luke 23:39)

b)  Apparently, both of them were saying such things.

c)  But, one of them, glory be to God and His amazing grace, had a change of heart, and did believe on Him, and was saved, and is now in heaven. (Luke 23:38-43)

d)  Sadly, however, the other thief continued in unbelief along with the blind leaders of the blind who sat in Moses’ seat as Israel’s religious leaders.

8.  We will stop here for now, and take up with this study of The Crucifixion of Christ at Verse 33 when we continue.

 

JANUARY 3, 2016

 

CHRIST BEFORE PILATE

 

INTRODUCTION:

1.  In the previous chapter we saw what was only the first phase of our Lord’s trial. He was brought before the high priest, who presided over the ecclesiastical court. Their intention was to convict Him of something worthy of death. They were willing to go to whatever lengths necessary, including the hiring of false witnesses, in order to accomplish their purpose. But, when the witnesses could not agree about what they supposedly heard and saw, a completely frustrated and exasperated high priest shouted, “Answerest thou nothing?” It was only when Jesus confessed that He was the Son of God that the high priest had what he wanted. He (falsely) charged Jesus with blasphemy, a crime worthy of death. He could have saved himself a lot of trouble had he just asked that question to begin with. The Son of God could not deny Himself.

2.  Even so, Christ’s condemnation by the ecclesiastical court of the Jews was only the prologue. They could show their teeth, as it were, but they could not bite. The Romans had taken from the Jews the power of capital punishment. They must now convince the Roman authorities that their condemned prisoner is worthy of death. The rulers have declared themselves, now the kings of the earth must gather with them against the Lord and against His Christ. This is how the Holy Spirit by Peter applied Psalm 2:2. (Acts 4:25-27)

3.  Thus, Christ is next brought before Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea.

I.  CHRIST IS ARRAIGNED AND ACCUSED BEFORE PILATE THE ROMAN GOVERNOR. (VERSES 1-5)

A.  A CONSULTATION WAS HELD BY ALL OF THE JEWISH LEADERS TO CONSIDER WHAT WAS TO BE DONE. (VERSE 1)

1.  The council was convened the very next morning. They could not have given much time to sleep, if any.

2.  This was essentially be called a ways and means council, in which they discussed how they might get Christ put to death.

3.  They clearly did not see this as a done deal. Pilate is characterized by the Roman writers of the time as a man of a rough and haughty spirit, willful, implacable, and extremely oppressive, particularly to the Jews. They did not take kindly to him, nor he to them. Yet, they must somehow gain his support, and get him to agree with their case and sentence.

B.  CHRIST WAS DELIVERED UP TO PILATE BY THE COUNCIL IN HOPES THAT HE MIGHT EXECUTE THE SENTENCE THEY HAD PASSED UPON HIM. (VERSES 1b)

1.  Ironically, He whose death they were seeking was Shiloh come, and this proceeding is proof that the scepter was indeed departed out of Judah. (Gen. 49:10) Nevertheless, unto Him shall the gathering of the people be. In being lifted up, He would draw all men, all people, from every nation under heaven, so that all of the Israel  of God shall be gathered to Him.

2.  They bound Jesus, and led Him in a sort of triumph. He had already been bound when arrested, but now being convicted, He is bound again. How easily He, like Samson, could have broken these bonds. But, He is led away, even as a lamb to the slaughter. He was delivered to Pilate, according to that which He had often said, that He should be delivered to the Gentiles.

C.  CHRIST WAS INTERROGATED AND EXAMINED BY PILATE HIMSELF (VERSE 2)

1.  Notice, Pilate asked nothing about whether He claimed to be the Son of God, the claim for which the high priest charged Him with blasphemy and sentenced Him to die.

2.  It would seem that the Jews felt that His claiming to be a King would sooner bring down the wrath of the Roman government, and therefore made that the charge.

3.  Pilate therefore asked Him, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” To this charge also, Jesus answered in the affirmative: “Thou sayest it.” (See John 18:33-37 for the full answer.)

D.  MANY ACCUSATIONS WERE WITNESSED AGAINST CHRIST BY THE CHIEF PRIESTS WHICH DREW NO ANSWER FROM HIM. (VERSES 3-5)

1.  These wicked priests were clearly the children of, and of the same character as those that were condemned by the Old Testament prophets. (Ezek. 22:26; Hos. 5:1; 6:9; Mic. 3:11; Zeph. 3:4; Mal. 1:6; 2:8 See also Lam. 4:13) Wicked priests are generally the worst of men.

2.  When Pilate urged Jesus to clear Himself, and was even desirous that He should, still Jesus stood silent. (Verses 4, 5) He gave a direct answer to Pilate in Verse 2, but would not answer the prosecutors and witnesses, because the things they alleged were notoriously false, and Jesus was well aware that Pilate himself knew they were false.

II.  PILATE MADE A PROPOSAL THAT, HAD THEY ACCEPTED IT, WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR JESUS’ RELEASE, BUT IT WAS REJECTED. (VERSES 6-11)

A.  HOW DISPARATELY PILATE SOUGHT AN OUT FOR HIMSELF.

1.  It was according to custom that each year at the feast a prisoner of their choice could be released.

2.  Pilate, therefore, offered them a choice between Barabbas, perhaps the most notorious of all of the felons that were awaiting execution, and Jesus, Who, as we have noted, was in Pilate’s opinion, falsely accused, and guilty of nothing criminal at all.

3.  Had they made what seemed to be the obvious choice, Pilate would have gotten himself off of the hook. His only problem would have been having to live with the fact that he had released a vicious murderer back into society.

B.  HOW DELIBERATELY THE JEWS MADE THEIR CHOICE OF A DANGEROUS FELON TO CHRIST. (VERSES 8-11)

1.  It was a great surprise to Pilate when he found the people so much under the influence of the priests that they all desired that Barabbas should be released. (Verses 8-10)

a)  The multitude desired of him to honor the custom, and release a prisoner. (Verse 8)

b)  Pilate then inquired if they desired that Jesus should be released. (Verse 9) He probably thought it was a no brainer, as we say.

c)  Pilate knew what the motive of the chief priests was in delivering Jesus, and it was personal, and did not equal anything close to a capital offense. (Verse 10)

2.  Yet, the decision was final. The chief priests had convinced the people to ask that Barabbas be released to them. Pilate could not believe it!! (Verse 11)

III.  THE JEWS PERSISTED IN THEIR CALL FOR CHRIST TO BE CRUCIFIED. (VERSES 12-14)

A.  PILATE FOUND THE CLAMOR FOR CHRIST’S DEATH TO BE OUTRAGEOUS, AND OPPOSED IT ALL HE COULD. (VERSE 12)

1.  It is as if he was saying, “Since you call for Barabbas to be set free, what will ye then that I shall do unto Jesus, would not ye that I release Him too?”

2.  It is clear that the governor had no heart for what he was being pressured to do. Sadly, however, he had not the character enough to simply refuse them on the basis that he found no fault in Him. (Luke 23:14; John 19:6)

B.  THE PEOPLE WERE UNMOVED BY PILATE’S PASSIONATE PLEA. (VERSE 13)

1.  John shows more clearly how the people were responding to the agitation and manipulation of the chief priests and elders.

2.  To Pilate’s question, “What will ye then that I do unto him?” We see their only response: “And they cried out again, Crucify him.” The context of the question was that Jesus was an innocent man. Yet, the people had been worked up into such a frenzy that it did not matter to them.

C.  PILATE’S FINAL QUESTION WHICH IMPLIED CHRIST’S INNOCENCE WAS ANSWERED WITH THE SAME DEMAND. (VERSE 14)

1.  Although the name Pilate will forever be held in contempt for what he did, the apostles later correctly charged the Jews with the crucifixion of Christ. (Acts 3:15; 5:30; I Thess. 2:15)

2.  Pilate, we are told, released according to the will of the people, one who was a murderer, but he delivered up Jesus to die, for which Peter charged the Jews with killing the Prince of Life. (See Acts 3:14, 15)

3.  There is a deeper meaning, however, in what Pilate did when he condemned the innocent prisoner and acquitted the guilty murderer. The whole transaction shows how Christ became the sinner’s substitute.

a)  Like it or not, we are Barabbas. We are guilty and condemned to die for our sins.

b)  Christ the innocent has been reckoned guilty in the stead of those who are actually guilty. We, the guilty, are therefore reckoned innocent being set free from condemnation. (II Cor. 5:21)

 

 

DECEMBER 20 / DECEMBER 27, 2015

CHRIST’S TRIAL / PETER’S DENIAL

INTRODUCTION:

1.  We will now consider Christ’s arraignment, trial, conviction, and condemnation in the ecclesiastical court before the great Sanhedrin, of which body the high priest was the president, or judge of the court.

a)  Thus was Christ brought to the palace of Caiaphas who was the acting, Roman appointed, high priest that year. Annas was the rightful high priest since the office was a lifetime appointment. It was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. (See John 18:13, 14; 11:49, 50)

b)  Some of the chief priests and elders were so engaged against Christ that they went with the mob to the Garden of Gethsemane to apprehend Him. The great majority of them were assembled at the house of Caiaphas.

2.  We also have here the sad story of Peter’s denial of his Lord at the same time as His arraignment before the high priest.

a)  This record is sad and deeply humbling, but it also serves a good purpose. Peter did not know his own weakness and vulnerability, but then, neither do any of us.

b)  This account also supplies proof that the Christian religion is not of man’s invention. Men would never call attention to the shameful failure of one of the chief apostles of their religion.

I.  JESUS’ ARRAIGNMENT AND TRIAL IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURT BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN. (VERSES 53-65)

A.  CHRIST WAS HURRIED AWAY TO THE HOUSE OF THE HIGH PRIEST. (VERSE 53)

1.  Even though Caiaphas was only nominally the high priest, and appointment and a tool of the Roman government, still the typology is accurately fulfilled. The paschal lamb was first examined by the priest in order to be approved as a lamb without spot or blemish.

a)  Just as Pilate would later find no fault in Him, neither could this court come up with any legitimate charge. They would need to pay false witnesses to tell lies.

b)  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, became the sinless substitute for sinners by being made sin for us. (II Cor. 5:21)

2.  The assembly was made up of scribes, the principle teachers of the law, and elders, the principle rulers in the Jewish religion. This council had here assembled two days before to lay this plot, and now they are convened at the same place to prosecute it. (See Psa. 2:1, 2; Acts 4:25-28; Psa. 22:16)

3.  These leaders waited through the dead of night, waiting for Judas to make good on his agreement and lead the band of soldiers and the riotous mob to Christ so that they might bring Him to stand before them.

B.  PETER, WE ARE TOLD, FOLLOWED FROM A DISTANCE. (VERSE 54)

1.  Does this indicate the degree of cowardice to which his late courage had been reduced? Or did he trail behind for other reasons? That he will later play the coward there is no question, but at this juncture, both he and John were keeping at a distance, and there was certainly no cowardice in what John did. (John 18:15) Only moments before this Peter had attempted to take on the whole Roman legion with one sword.

2.  After Peter was admitted into the courtyard he left himself open to temptation, and would indeed play the coward, and shamefully fulfill his Master’s prediction.

a)  It was John who arranged for Peter’s admittance. (John 18:16)

b)  Peter then sat and warmed himself at the enemies’ fire. Thus, he became only an idle spectator, rather than a bearer of his Master’s reproach. “He sat with the servants to see the end.” (Matt. 26:58b)

C.  GREAT EFFORT WAS MADE ON THE PART OF THE COUNCIL TO OBTAIN WITNESSES TO TESTIFY AGAINST CHRIST. (VERSES 55, 56)

1.  He was accused of being a malefactor, and now they needed witnesses who would testify to that effect.

2.  They tampered with some of their prospects, tried to persuade others with bribery, but all was to no avail. “…and found none.”

D.  AT LENGTH, SOME DID WITNESS AGAINST HIM, CHARGING HIM WITH SPEAKING AGAINST THE TEMPLE. (VERSES 57-59)

1.  This charge involved something that they had supposedly heard Jesus say some years before.

2.  But their witnesses did not agree. (Verse 59)

a)  One said that he heard Jesus say, “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.” (See Matt. 26:61)

b)  Another said that he heard Jesus say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.”

3.  The witnesses, not being agreed, had to be dismissed, because according to the law, the charge must be established by the mouth of at least two witnesses.

E.  FINALLY, HE WAS ADJURED TO BE HIS OWN ACCUSER FOR WHICH THE CHARGE WOULD BE BLASPHEMY. (VERSES 60-65; MATT. 26:62-66)

1.  The high priest, in pretense of justice stood up and shouted in anger, “Answerest thou nothing?” the real design was to ensnare Christ, so that he might accuse Him. (Luke 11:53, 54)

a)  Still the Lord answered nothing. (I Pet. 2:23a)

b)  Jesus showed patience and prudence, committing Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. (I Pet. 2:23b)

2.  When He was adjured to confess whether He was the Christ, He confessed and denied not. (Verses 61, 62)

a)  The high priest placed Him under oath. I ADJURE thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matt. 26:63)

b)  Here, God is called “The Blessed.” “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”  The Jews, when they spoke the name of God generally added blessed forever. Therefore, “The Blessed” is a title for God. This is a title applied to Christ Himself. (Rom. 9:5)

3.  For the proof of His being the Son of God, Jesus declares how He shall appear at His second coming. (Verse 62)

a)  He now appeared most humble and nothing more than human, for His inward glory was veiled.

b)  But, not so when He shall come a second time in power and great glory to judge the world.

4.  One would think this would have given cause for pause among His accusers, but that was not at all the case.

F.  THE HIGH PRIEST IMMEDIATELY CONVICTED HIM AS A BLASPHEMER WORTHY OF DEATH. (VERSE 64, 65)

1.  The previous charge upon which the two witnesses did not agree would most likely have been pursued regardless, had guilt therein constituted blasphemy. The high priest was looking for something more, and now he had it, and with Christ’s confession he had no need of other witnesses.

2.  Caiaphas then stood up and rent his clothes (probably his priestly garment) not at all realizing the significance of that action. If Saul rending Samuel’s mantle signified the rending of the kingdom from him (I Sam. 15:27, 28) much more did this signify the rending of the priesthood from the Jewish priest.

G.  THEY ALL AGREED THAT CHIRST WAS GUILTY OF BLASPHEMY, AND BEGAN TO ABUSE HIM. (VERSES 64, 65)

1.  The priest asked, “What think ye?” but in fact the prejudgment was already made. “Ye have heard the blasphemy.”

2.  What a scene it turned into. The priests and elders all forgot the duty and dignity of their office and joined in the spitting, the slander, the abusing of their prisoner.

3.  Not only so, but they totally forgot the solemnity with which this night of observation was to be attended. They turned it into a night of revelry and abuse. None could ever imagine a greater display of shameful behavior.

II.  THE STORY OF PETER’S DENIAL OF HIS LORD. (VERSES 66-72)

A.  HOW SMALL AND GRADUAL WERE THE STEPS THAT BROUGHT HIM DOWN TO SUCH A PLACE.

1.  It began with a self-confidence, followed by indolence, and neglect of prayer. (Verses 29, 37)

2.  He then followed Christ at a distance. (Verse 54) Whether or not this was the action of a coward in order to avoid physical danger, it was most certainly flirting with spiritual danger.

3.  His next downward step was taken when he began mingling in bad company. He is even seen associating with the servants of the high priest and warming himself at their fire. (Verses 66, 67)

4.  He then refused to be identified with Christ’s followers. (Verses 67, 68; Matt. 26:69, 70)

5.  His decline ended in out and out denial of his Lord.

B.  PETER’S FALL WAS AS CHRIST HAD PREDICTED, IN THREE STAGES. (VERSES 66-71)

1.  The first denial was simply pretending not to know who it was that the young girl who kept the door was talking about. (Verses 66, 67; Matt. 26:70) Such pretense is a form of lying.

2.  The second denial was clear and plain, and sworn by an oath. (Verse 68; Matt. 26:71, 72)

3.  His third denial was meant to be most convincing. He adds cursing to this denial. What could be more convincing proof that one does not know Christ?

4.  Thank God the story does not end here.

C.  THE LORD RETRIEVED THE APOSTLE AND DREW HIM BACK FROM THE BRINK OF APOSTASY (VERSE 72)

1.  Satan desired to have him, and no doubt, thought he did have another “Judas” to his credit, but Jesus had prayed for him that his faith fail not. (See Luke 22:31-34)

a)  Christ’s prayers for His chosen ones are effectual.

b)  None whom the Father hath given Him shall fall away, because He has prayed for them. (John 17:9-24)

2.  Notice what led to Peter’s repentance.

a)  The rooster crowed, causing him to remember “the Word that Jesus said.”

b)  Luke tells us that the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. (Luke 22:61)

(1)  As the Holy Spirit moved Peter, he looked, and their eyes met.

(2)  Jesus’ look was a look of love and forgiveness.

c)  This look produced godly sorrow in Peter, which always produces repentance. (II Cor. 7:10)

3.  The Lord restored Peter, and afterward used him mightily. Clearly this was a necessary part of Peter’s training and preparation. (Luke 22:32)