| The Last Six Days Continued...
The King on the Cross
Now as they led him away, they laid hold of a certain man,
Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on
him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
And a great multitude of the people followed him, and women
who also mourned and lamented him. But Jesus, turning to them,
said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep
for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days
are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore, and the breasts which never nursed!'
Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
[Hosea 10:8] For if they do these things in the green wood,
what will be done in the dry?" There were also two others,
criminals, led with him to be put to death. And when they
had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified
him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other
on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they
do not know what they do." And they divided his garments and
cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers
with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let him save
himself if he is the Christ, the chosen of God." And the soldiers
also mocked him, coming and offering him sour wine, and saying,
"If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." And an inscription
also was written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and
Hebrew:
THE IS THE KING OF THE JEWS
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed him,
saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us." But
the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even
fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And
we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds;
but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus,
"Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And Jesus
said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with
me in Paradise."
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over
all the earth until the ninth hour [noon to three p.m.]. Then
the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn
in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a lout voice, he
said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." And having
said this, he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw
what had happened, he glorified God, saying "Certainly this
was a righteous man!" And the whole crowd who came together
to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts
and returned. But all his acquaintances, and the women who
followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these
things.
Jesus Buried in Joseph's Tomb
And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member,
a good and just man. He had not consented to their counsel
and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself
also waited for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped
it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the
rock, where no one had ever lain before. That was the Preparation,
and the Sabbath [The First Day of Unleavened Bread, a Holy
Day] drew near. And the women who had come with him from Galilee
followed after, and they observed the tomb and how his body
was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant
oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment."
John's Account
John 13:1-37. "Now before the feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour had come that he should depart
from this world to the father, having loved his own who were
in the world, he loved them to the end. And supper being ended,
the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot
[Ishkeriot, Heb. "from Keriot"], Simon's son, to betray him,
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his
hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,
rose from supper and laid aside his garments, took a towel
and girded himself. After that, he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with
the towel with which he was girded. Then he came to Simon
Peter. And Peter said to him, "Lord, are you washing my feet?"
Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not
understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said
to him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him,
"If I do not wash you, you have no part with me." Simon Peter
said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and
my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only
to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean,
but not all of you." For he knew who would betray him; therefore
he said, "You are not all clean."
So when he had washed their feet, taken his garments, and
sat down again, he said to them, "Do you know what I have
done to you? You call me teacher and Lord, and you say well,
for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed
your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For
I have given you an example, that you should do as I have
done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not
greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than
he who sent him. If you know these things, happy are you if
you do them. I do not speak concerning all of you. I know
whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against
me.' [Psalm 41:9] Now I tell you before it comes, that
when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am he. Most
assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives
me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me." When
Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit, and
testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of
you will betray me." Then the disciples looked at one another,
perplexed about whom he spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus'
bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter
therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom he spoke.
Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to him, "Lord,
who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give
a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped
the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus
said to him, "What you do, do quickly." But no one at the
table knew for what reason he said this to him. For some thought,
because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him,
"Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should
give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread,
he then went out immediately. And it was night.
The New Commandment
So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man
is glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified
in him, God will also glorify him himself, and glorify him
immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little
while longer. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews,
'Where I am going you cannot come,' so now I say to you.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this
all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love
for one another."
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus
answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now,
but you shall follow me afterward." Peter said to him, "Lord,
why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for
your sake." Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life
for my sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall
not crow till you have denied me three times."
(One of Jesus' last requests to the Father for his disciples.
John 17:11. "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are
in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through
your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one
as we are.")
John 18:1-40. "When Jesus had spoken these words, he
went out with his disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there
was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. And Judas,
who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met
there with his disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment
of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees,
came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore,
knowing all things that would come upon him, went forward
and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" They answered him,
"Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." [he is not in the original Greek. I AM is another name for God,
first given in Exodus. The Jews new this, and this accounts
for their reaction to this answer of Jesus Christ.] And Judas,
who betrayed him also stood with them. Then--when he said
to them, "I am he--they drew back and fell to the ground.
Then he asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am he.” Therefore, if you seek me, let these go their way," that the
saying might be fulfilled which he spoke, "Of those whom you
gave me, I have lost none." Then Simon Peter, having a sword,
drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his
right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then Jesus said
to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink
the cup which my Father has given me?"
Before the High Priest
Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers
of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. And they led him
away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas
who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who gave
counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man die
for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple.
Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with
Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood
at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known
to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the
door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept
the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this Man's
disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." And the servants
and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for
it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with
them and warmed himself.
Jesus Questioned by the High Priest
The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples and his
doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world.
I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the
Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do
you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them.
Indeed they know what I said." And when he had said these
things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with
the palm of his hand, saying, "Do you answer the high priest
like that?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear
witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike me?" Then
Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. [This incident
was with Annas, the real high priest, a cagy old man whom
the Romans feared. The Romans made him give up the high priesthood,
so he had installed one son after another, and finally his
son-in-law Caiaphas, to retain the power of the high priesthood
in his control and family.] [The whole description of what
happened in Caiaphas's house is missing from John's account.
It is to be found in Matthew 26:57-68. Annas's house is thought
to have been adjoining to Caiaphas's house with a common courtyard.]
Peter Denies Twice More
Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said
to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?"
He denied it and said, "I am not!" One of the servants of
the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off,
said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter then
denied again: and immediately a rooster crowed.
In Pilate's Court
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it
was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the
Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might
eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, "What
accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered and
said to him, "If he were not an evildoer, we would not have
delivered him up to you." Then Pilate said to them, "You take
him and judge him according to your law." Therefore the Jews
said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,"
that the saying of Jesus might be fulfiled which he spoke,
signifying by what death he would die. Then Pilate entered
the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to him, "Are
you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking
for yourself on this, or did others tell you this about me?"
Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief
priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?" Jesus
answered, "My kingdom is not of this world [Gr. "Age"]. If
my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so
that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom
is not from here." Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you
a king then? Jesus answered, "You say 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." Pilate said to him, "What
is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to
the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in him at all."
Taking the Place of Barabbas
"But you have a custom that I should release someone to you
at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you
the King of the Jews?" Then they all cried again, saying,
"Not this man, but Barabbas! Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 19:1-42. "So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged
him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it
on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. Then they
said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him with their
hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, "Behold,
I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find
no fault in him." [Apparently, Pilate has tried twice now
to get Christ off the hook.]
Pilate's Decision
Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple
robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" Therefore,
when the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out,
saying, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "You
take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him." The
Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law
he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."
Therefore when Pilate heard that saying he was the more afraid,
and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where
are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said
to him, "Are you not speaking to me? Do you not know that
I have the power to crucify you, and power to release you?
Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against me
unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one
who delivered me to you has greater sin."
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried
out, saying "If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's
friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar."
When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus
out and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is
called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the
Preparation Day of the Passover [the fourteenth Nisan], about
the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"
But they cried out, "Away with him, away with him!" Pilate
said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests
answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" So he delieverd him
to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away.
The King on the Cross
And he, bearing his cross, went out to a place called the Place
of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Galgotha, where they
crucified him, and two others with him, one on either side,
and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put
it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS
Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where
Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written
in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then the chief priests of the
Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,'
but 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."' Pilate answered,
"What I have written, I have written." Then the soldiers,
when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made
four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now
the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.
They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it,
but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture
might be fulfilled which says:
"They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing
they cast lots," [Psalm 22:18]
Behold Your Mother
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his
mother's sister, Mary wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple whom
he loved standing by, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold
your son!" Then he said to the disciple [John], "Behold your
mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his
own home.
It Is Finished
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,
that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now
a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled
a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to his
mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, he said,
"It is finished!" And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.
Jesus' Side Is Pierced
Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day,* that the bodies
should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath
was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might
be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers
came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who
was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw
that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But
one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately
blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified,
and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling
the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were
done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of
his bones shall be broken." [Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm
34:20.] And again another Scripture says,
"They shall look on him whom they pierced." [Zechariah
12:10 {another prophecy in Zechariah which was quite literal,
and had a literal fulfillment}]
Jesus Buried in Joseph's Tomb
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus,
but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might
take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission.
So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who
at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture
of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took
the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the
spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place
where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden
a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they
laid Jesus, because of the Jew's Preparation Day, for the
tomb was nearby."
* the fourteenth Nisan, the day the Jews would prepare
and kill the Passover lambs prepatory to observing the Passover
meal that evening leading into the fifteenth Nisan when the
Jews historically observed the Passover meal. Jesus Christ's New Testament observance of the
Passover Service had taken place the previous evening leading
into the fourteenth Nisan (some feeling he was setting a
precedent for new covenant Christians). The New Testament
Church of God during this first era of the Church, continued
to observe the Passover once a year from here on out to the
time of Polycarp and Polycrates, whose strong letters to the
Bishop of Rome showing 'how they continued to observe the
Passover on a yearly basis on the 14th Nisan from the time
of John, who learned it from Jesus Christ, to their present
time,' was recorded in the Catholic Church's Post and Antinicene
Fathers.
Mark 16:1-20. "Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices,
that they might come and anoint him. Very early in the morning,
on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the
sun had risen. And they said among themselves, "Who will roll
away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" But when
they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for
it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young
man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side;
and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed.
You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen!
He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go
and tell his disciples--and Peter--that he is going before
you into Galilee; there you will see him, as he said to you."
And they went quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled
and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they
were afraid.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
Now when he rose, early on the first day of the week he appeared
first to Mary Magddalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons.
She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned
and wept. And when they heard that he was alive and had been
seen by her, they did not believe.
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
After that, he appeared in another form to two of them as
they walked and went into the country. [cf. Luke 24.] And
they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe
them either.
The Great Commission
Afterward he appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table;
and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because
they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the
gospel* to every creature. He who believes and is baptized
will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name
they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly,
it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the
sick, and they will recover."
Christ Ascends to God's Right Hand
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received
up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. And they
went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them
and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
[Luke 24 and Acts 1 show that Jesus Christ remained with them
for forty days, and then ascended to heaven at the Mount of
Olives, just ten days before the Day of Pentecost, a Holy
Day, when they all received the Holy Spirit. John had a habit
of condensing events but amplifying concepts dealing with
love.]
This ends a Bible study dealing with the last six days of the life of Jesus Christ, based upon a sermon given by a pastor in a Sabbatarian Church of God. To learn more about Sabbatarian Churches of God, log onto http://www.unityinchrist.com/history2/earlychurch4.htm
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