| The Last Six Days Continued...
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed
to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.
And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas [Jesus
Barabbas]. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate
said to them, 'Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas,
or Jesus who is called Christ?' For he knew that because of
envy they had delivered him. While he was sitting on the judgment
seat, his wife sent to him, saying, 'Have nothing to do with
that just man, for I have suffered many things today in a
dream because of him.' But the chief priests and elders persuaded
the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy
Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, 'Which of the
two do you want me to release to you?' They said, 'Barabbas!'
Pilate said to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus who
is called Christ?' They all said to him, 'Let him be crucified!'
Then the governor said, 'Why, what evil has he done?' But
they cried out all the more, saying, 'Let him be crucified!'
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. You see to it.' And all the people answered
and said, 'His blood be on us and on our children.' Then he
released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus,
he delivered him to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium
and gathered the whole garrison around him. And they stripped
him and put a scarlet robe on him. When they had twisted a
crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his
right hand. And they bowed the knee before him and mocked
him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' Then they spat on him,
and took the reed and struck him on the head. Then when they
had mocked him, they took the robe off him, put his own clothes
on him, and led him away to be crucified.
Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by
name. Him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they
had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place
of a Skull, they gave him sour wine mingled with gall to drink.
But when he had tasted it, he would not drink. Then they crucified
him, and divided his garments, casting lots, that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:
"They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing
they cast lots" [Psalm 22:18].
Sitting down, they kept watch over him there. And they put
up over his head the accusation written against him:
THIS IS JESUS
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right
and another on the left. And those who passed by blasphemed
him, wagging their heads and saying, 'You who destroy the
temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are
the Son of God, come down from the cross.' Likewise the chief
priests, also mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 'He
saved others; himself he cannot save. If he is the King of
Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will
believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if
he will have him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'' Even
the robbers who were crucified with him reviled him with the
same thing.
Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness
over all the land [noon to three in the afternoon]. And about
the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why
have you forsaken me?" [Psalm 22:1] Some of those who stood
there, when they heard that, said, 'This man is calling for
Elijah!' Immediatedly one of them ran and took a sponge, filled
it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave it to him
to drink. The rest said, 'Let him alone; let us see if Elijah
will come to save him.' Jesus, when he had cried out again
with a loud voice, yielded up his spirit. And behold, the
veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and
the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves
were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen
asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after his
resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to
many.
Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding
Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened,
they feared greatly, saying, 'Truly this was the Son of God!'
And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering
to him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother
of Zebedee's sons.
Now when the evening had come, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple
of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of
Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean
linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn
out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door
of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and
the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the
chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying,
'Sir, we remember, while he was still alive, how that deceiver
said, 'After three days I will rise.' Therefore command that
the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples
come by night and steal him away, and say to the people, 'He
has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse
than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go
your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went
and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the
guard."
Mark's Account
Mark 14:16-72. "After two days it was the Passover and
the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the
scribes sought how they might take him by trickery and put
him to death. But they said, 'Not during the feast, lest there
be an uproar of the people.'
MONDAY, 12TH NISAN: And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as he
sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of
very costlly oil of spikenard. And she broke the flask and
poured it on his head. But there were some who were indignant
among themselves, and said, 'Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii
and given to the poor.' And they criticized her sharply. But
Jesus said, 'let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has
done a good work for me. For you have the poor with you always,
and whenever you wish you may do them good; but me you do
not have always. She has done what she could. She has come
beforehand to anoint my body for burial.' 'Assuredly, I say
to you, whenever this gospel is preached throughout the whole
world, what this woman did will also be spoken of as a memorial
to her.'
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief
priests to betray him to them. So when they heard it, they
were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how
he might conveniently betray him.
TUESDAY, 13TH NISAN: Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed
the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, 'Where do you
want us to go and prepare, that you may eat the Passover?'
So he sent out two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go
into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher
of water; follow him. And wherever he goes in, say to the
master of the house, 'The Teacher says, 'Where is the guest
room in which I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 'Then
he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared;
there make ready for us.' And his disciples went out, and
came into the city, and found it just as he had said to them;
and they prepared the Passover. In the evening he came with
the twelve. Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, 'Assuredly,
I say to you one of you who eats with me will betray me.'
And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one by one,
'Is it I?' And he answered and said to them, 'It is one of
the twelve, who dips with me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed
goes just as it is written of him, but woe to that man by
whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for
that man if he had never been born.'
Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you will be made to stumble
because of me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike
the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after
I have been raised [from the dead], I will go before you to
Galilee.' But Peter said to him, 'Even if all are made to
stumble, yet I will not be.' And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly,
I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster
crows twice, you will deny me three times.' But he spoke more
vehemently, 'If I have to die with you, I will not deny you!'
And they all said likewise.
Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and
he said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.' And he
took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be troubled
and deeply distressed. Then he said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly
sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.' He went a
little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if
it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said,
'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this
cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what
you will.' Then he came and found them sleeping, and said
to Peter, 'Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one
hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The
spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.' Again he went
away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when he returned
he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and
they did not know what to answer him. Then he came the third
time and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting?
It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is
being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us
go. See, my betrayer is at hand.'
And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of
the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs,
came from the chief priests and the scribes and elders. Now
his betrayer had given them a signal, saying, 'Whomever I
kiss, he is the one; take him and lead him away safely.' And
as soon as he had come, immediately he went up to him and
said to him, 'Rabbi, Rabbi!' and kissed him. Then they laid
their hands on him and took him. And one of those who stood
by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest,
and cut off his ear. [Probably Peter trying to cut off his
head!] Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have you come
out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me?
I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not
take me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.' Then they
all forsook him and fled. Now a certain young man followed
him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And
the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth
and fled from them naked.
And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were
assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.
But Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard
of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed
himself at the fire. And the chief priests and all the council
sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death, and found
none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimonies
did not agree. And some rose up and bore false witness against
him, saying, 'We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple
that is made with hands, and within three days I will build
another made without hands.'' But not even then did their
testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst
and asked Jesus, saying, 'Do you answer nothing? What is it
these men testify against you?' But he [Jesus] kept silent
and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, saying
to him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' And
Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting
at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of
heaven.' Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'What
further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy!
What do you think?' And they all condemned him to be worthy
of death. Then some began to spit on him, and to blinkfold
him, and to beat him, and to say to him, 'Prophesy!' And the
officers struck him with the palms of their hands.
Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant
girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming
himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus
of Nazareth." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor
understand what you are saying." And he went out on the porch,
and a rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him again,
and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them."
But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood
by said to Peter again, 'Surely you are one of them; for you
are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.' But he began to
curse and swear, 'I do not know this Man of whom you speak!'
And a second time the rooster crowed. And Peter called to
mind the word that Jesus had said to him, 'Before the rooster
crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And when he thought
about it, he wept."
Mark 15:1-47. "Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests
held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole
council; and they bound Jesus, led him away, and delivered
him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked him, 'Are you the King of
the Jews?' And he answered and said to him, 'It is as you
say.' And the chief priests accused him of many things, but
he answered nothing. Then Pilate asked him again, saying,
'Do you answer nothing? See how many things they testify against
you!' But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner
to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named
Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow insurrectionists;
they had committed murder in the insurrection. Then the multitude,
crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done
for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, 'Do you want me
to release to you the King of the Jews?' For he knew that
the chief priests had handed him over because of envy. But
the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should
rather release Barabbas to them. And Pilate answered and said
to them again, 'What then do you want me to do with him who
you call the King of the Jews?' So they cried out again, 'Crucify
him!' Then Pilate said to them, 'Why, what evil has he done?'
And they cried out more exceedingly, 'Crucify him!' So Pilate,
wanting to gratify the crowd released Barabbas to them; and
he delivered Jesus, after he had scrourged him, to be crucified."
"Then the soldiers led him away into the hall called Praetorium,
and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed
him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it
on his head, and began to salute him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'
Then they struck him on the head with a reed and spat on him;
and bowing the knee, they worshipped him. And when they had
mocked him, they took the purple off him, put his own clothes
on him, and led him out to crucify him.
Now they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father
of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country
and passing by, to bear his cross. And they brought him to
the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a skull.
Then they gave him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but he
did not take it. And when they crucified him, they divided
his garments, casting lots for them to determine what every
man should take. Now it was the third hour, and they crucified
him. And the inscription of his accusation was written above:
THE KING OF THE JEWS
With him they also crucified two robbers, one on his right
and the other on his left. So the scripture was fulfilled
which says "And he was numbered with the transgressors." [Isaiah 53:12.] And those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging
their heads and saying, 'Aha! You who destroy the temple and
build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from
the cross!' Likewise the chief priests also, together with
the scribes, mocked and said among themselves, 'He saved others;
himself he cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel,
descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.'
And those who were crucified with him reviled him.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over
the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have
you forsaken me?" Some of those who stood by, when they heard
it, said, "Look, he is calling for Elijah!" Then someone ran
and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and
offered it to him to drink, saying, "let him alone; let us
see if Elijah will come to take him down." And Jesus cried
with a loud voice, and breathed his last. Then the veil of
the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Now when the
centurion, who stood opposite him, saw that he cried out like
this and breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the
Son of God!" There were also women looking on from afar, among
whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less
and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed him and ministered
to him when he was in Galilee; and many other women who came
up with him to Jerusalem. [Kind of interesting who followed
and stuck by Jesus Christ to the bitter end. It was the women,
not many of his men disciples were there, just John and Joseph
of Arimathea and Nicodemus.]
Jesus Buried in Joseph's Tomb
Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation
Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea,
a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the
kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that he was
already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if
he had been dead for some time. And when he found out from
the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then he bought
fine linen, took him down, and wrapped him in the linen. And
he laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock,
and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary
Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where he was
laid."
Luke's Account
Luke 23:1-56. "Then the whole multitude of them arose
and led him to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying,
"We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding
to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ,
a King." So Pilate asked him, saying, "Are you the King of
the Jews?" And he answered him and said, "It is as you say."
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find
no fault in this man." But they were the more fierce, saying,
"He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning
from Galilee to this place."
Jesus faces Herod
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the man were a Galilean.
And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction,
he sent him to Herod, who also was in Jerusalem at that time.
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he
had desired for a long time to see him, because he had heard
many things about him, and he hoped to see some miracle done
by him. Then he questioned him with many words, but he answered
him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently
accused him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated him
with contempt and mocked him, arrayed him in a gorgeous robe,
and sent him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod
became friends with each other, for before that they had been
at enmity with each other.
Taking the Place of Barabbas
Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests,
the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought
this man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed,
having examined him in your presence, I have found no fault
in this man concerning those things of which you accuse him;
no neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed
nothing worthy of death has been done by him. I will therefore
chastise him and release him" (for it was necessary for him
to release one to them at the feast). And they all cried out
at once, saying, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"--who
had been thrown into prison for a certain insurrection made
in the city, and for murder. Pilate, therefore, wishing to
release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted,
saying, "Crucify him, crucify him!" And he said to them the
third time, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found no reason
for death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him
go." But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that
he be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief
priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should
be as they requested. And he released to them the one they
requested, who for insurrection and murder had been thrown
into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will."
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