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From the Passover to the Crucifixion and the last seven sayings of Jesus
Fred R. Coulter—March 16, 2019
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Sabbath services!
We've been going through the last ten days of Jesus' life, and we've been using A Harmony of the Gospels. I ask you to please go through the commentary, pgs 245-255—Jesus' Last Passover and Crucifixion—about the gruesomeness of the crucifixion and so forth. When we go through here, we're going to learn an awful lot.
Advertisement: Sermon Series (Transcript Book and CD): The Love of God and Passover Preparation. The Passover demonstrates the love of God to nth degree. It shows us what Christ really did for us; only He could do it. Why is that? Why do you suppose that is true? Only He could do it because He created mankind and everything on the earth! Everything from the invisible to all the mountains, oceans, the sky and the universe out there. He created us!
- Why could only He do it?
- What else did He do?
In His judgment against Adam and Eve, He gave them 'the law of sin and death,' and that became part of human nature!
What He had to do is also take the 'law of sin and death' within Him, and His struggle was greater than any of ours because He couldn't sin! That's why only He could do it!
Around Jerusalem at that time there were legions and legions of angels. Remember that Jesus said one time when He was testing the apostles if they really believe Him. They said, 'Yes, we believe.' Jesus said, 'What would you do it you saw angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man?'
Also, Satan and the demons were there, so this was a real struggle at Jerusalem. The whole atmosphere was filled with this. That's why, as we saw in part three, Jesus did not tell them where they were going to keep the Passover, because He didn't want Judas coming in and messing up the Passover. So, Judas had to come along with them to the Passover. He couldn't betray them there, so as we will see later, it was out by the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus was betrayed.
A Harmony of the Gospels, pg 274—this is the first part of the New Covenant, the foot-washing. Remember there are three parts:
- foot-washing
- bread
- wine
Passover Day, Nisan 14—Tuesday Evening, April 4, 30 AD
Section 318—Jesus Institutes the New Covenant Passover:
First part of the New Covenant Passover: The Foot-Washing:
John 13:2: "And after supper began…"
or during supper! The King James says ' when supper ended,' but if you read a little further, they were still eating because Jesus dipped the sop and gave it to Judas. So, that's a complete wrong translation and contrary to the Greek.
Verse 2: "And after supper began (the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, that he should betray Him)."
Stop and think about this. All of us have to fight against our own evil thoughts. Sometimes we get provoked, and sometimes we don't even know why we're provoked. I've done it, you've done it and everybody else has done it.
Also, another way the evil thoughts come are from demons and Satan. There's one person that every time I say that 'Satan inspires' I get a postcard saying that Satan can't inspire. But he can put it in the heart, 'the prince of the power of the air' (Eph. 2).
Verse 3: "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; and after taking a towel, He secured it around Himself" (vs 3-4).
This is a tremendous thing for us to understand. What is one of the first things that people stop doing when they're slipping away from the Truth? They give up foot-washing! It is humbling! None of us have picture-perfect feet.
Verse 5: "Next, He poured water into a washing basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel, which He had secured. Then He came to Simon Peter; and he said to Him…" (vs 5-6).
Look at Peter's attitude. Peter had a real lesson to learn this night, and we'll see what that is.
"…'Lord, are You going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but you shall know after these things'" (vs 6-7).
After Jesus was done washing their feet!
Verse 8: "Peter said to Him, 'You shall not wash my feet, not ever.'…."
- Can we ever tell Jesus what to do? Think on that! NO!
- Was Peter hardheaded? Yes!
- Did he learn some lessons? Yes!
- Did he repent? Yes!
- Was he humbled? Yes!
"…Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me'" (v 8).
Look at how quickly his attitude change: from no to everything!
Verse 9: "Simon Peter said to Him, 'Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.'"
Why did Peter say that? Because the priests had to wash their hands and their head!
Verse 10: "Jesus said to him, 'The one who has been washed…'"
This has reference to baptism!
"'…does not need to wash anything other than the feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all.' For He knew the one who was betraying Him; this was the reason He said, 'Not all of you are clean.'" (vs 10-12).
Here are some great lessons for us. Humility does not come because you make yourself humble. Humility comes because you are humbled by the magnitude of what God is doing. That's how humility comes. We don't raise ourselves above other to make ourselves important!
Jesus didn't say to Peter, 'Who do you think you are? I'm the Lord.' Jesus could have said that.
Verse 12: "Therefore, when He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and had sat down again, He said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you?'"
They're probably all thinking, 'I don't have a clue!'
Verse 13: "You call Me the Teacher and the Lord, and you speak rightly, because I am. Therefore, if I, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet…" (vs 13-14).
Notice what He says; this is pretty powerful in the Greek:
"…you also are duty-bound to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an example, to show that you also should do exactly as I have done to you. Truly, truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord…" (vs 14-16).
Never happen!
"…nor a messenger…
This could also be apostle!
"…greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (vs 16-17).
What happens when people quit foot-washing? They're throwing away a blessing! Human nature is so basically evil that when they think they're doing something good, it's really sin!
Section 319—Judas Dips the Sop, and Leaves to Betray Jesus
John 13:18: "I am not speaking of you all; for I know whom I have chosen, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' I am telling you at this time, before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe that I AM" (vs 18-19).
The double 'ego emi'!
Verse 20: "Truly, truly I tell you, the one who receives whomever I send is receiving Me…"
This becomes important because you don't receive this to be arrogant and over-lording on the brethren. That's not the way. If you bring the Word of God, that is what is to be done.
"…and the one who receives Me is receiving Him Who sent Me" (v 20).
Think about that for a minute. God the Father is so involved with those who are going to be in the first resurrection, that those who are elders and servants of the people are actually representing the Father. Think of how loving, kind, generous and overwhelmingly good that God the Father is. Look at the attitude of Peter when he denied Christ three times. Peter was forgiven and he knew better! But he wasn't going to tell Jesus what to do, and he wasn't going to save Jesus from what was going to happen.
We need to realize that that being the case, it's a great responsibility and also a great humbling that God would do so.
Verse 21: "As He was saying these things, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, saying, 'Truly, truly I tell you, one of you shall betray Me.'"
Isn't that always something? Someone also sneaks in and gets way up in authority. Then after a while—BANG!—it happens every time. This is how God gets rid of the tares. He scatters the Church and lets the tares stay where they are. But the Church is going on its own and the tares are stuck without God, and they don't even know it!
Verse 22: "Then the disciples looked at one another, wondering of whom He was speaking. Now one of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was leaning on Jesus' chest. And so, Simon Peter motioned to him to ask who was the one of whom He was speaking. Then he leaned back on Jesus' chest and asked Him, 'Lord, who is it?' Jesus answered, 'It is the one to whom I shall give a sop after I have dipped it.'…." (vs 22-26).
People say, 'How can you dip a sop if you have unleavened bread?' Very simple, after services you can take some scooper corn chips and you can scoop up some avocado and salsa. Are the corn chips unleavened bread? Did you dip it in the salsa and avocado? So, He took a piece of unleavened bread and scooped up something with a little morsel and gave it to Judas.
"…And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon's son. And after the sop, Satan entered into him…." (vs 26-27)
Right there at the Passover! Think about that!
"…Then Jesus said to him, 'What you do, do quickly.' But not one of those sitting at the table knew why He said this to him; for some thought, since Judas had the bag, that Jesus was telling him, 'Buy the things that we need for the feast'; or that he should give something to the poor. So then, after receiving the sop, he immediately went out; and it was night. When he was gone, Jesus said, 'Now has the Son of man been glorified, and God has been glorified in Him. If God has been glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall immediately glorify Him'" (vs 27-32).
That was a projection of the completion of all of the rest leading up to the resurrection. After Judas is gone:
Section 320—Second Part: Eating the Unleavened Bread
Matthew 26:26 ""And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread and blessed it; then He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.'"
Remember, He gave a preview of this in John 6, and that was a hard thing for a lot of the disciples to take. What does it mean to eat His body? Some would say that's kind of cannibalistic! No, it's not! Because everything has to come though Christ:
In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God! Everything came into being had to come into being because He brought it into being.
In this way God is projecting that He is going to share His life with us, IF we eat the Bread of Truth, the Word of God, compared to the stones that Satan said to make into bread. Jesus said, 'NO! Man is not to live by bread alone, but by word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!' This fulfills that!
Section 321—Third Part: Drinking the Wine
Verse 27: "And He took the cup; and after giving thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'All of you drink of it; for this is My blood, the blood of the New Covenant…'" (vs 27-28).
In Deut. 32 it talks about the 'blood of the grape.' This was wine. What is a noted feature of wine when it's ready to drunk? Unleavened! All the yeast is out of it! When you have sparkling wine, they put a little bit of leaven back in it so you get the bubbles. Was Christ's blood pure? Absolutely!
"…for this is My blood, the blood of the New Covenant…" (v 28).
Page 258 (Harmony): Chart showing the comparison of the sacrifice of Christ, what He went through and the parallel account with Abraham and the Lord in the Old Testament, and it follows right along exactly.
What did He say about the experience that He was going to go through? He said, 'I have a baptism that I'm going to be baptized by, and I'm in a straight until it's completed!' How was Jesus baptized? In His own blood!
"…the blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins" (v 28).
Think about sin, repentance and forgiveness. What did Jesus say concerning repentance? Someone sins against you, Peter asked, 'What if he does it seven times? Should I forgive him?' Jesus said, 'Yes! Seven times seventy!'
Why did He say that? Because He understood the weakness of human nature! It seems to work that way. Whenever you do something, and it's great and wonderful and 'I know that God was with me and helping me' and you turn around and sin! God is there to forgive you. That's what the sacrifice of Christ is all about!
Verse 29: "But I say to you, from this time forward I will not drink at all of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew with you in the Kingdom of My Father.'
I imagine that that is going to be a spiritual wine. What's that going to taste like? Think of this, right in the middle of the Passover service they have an argument.
Section 322—Contention Among the Disciples as to Who Would be the Greatest
What does this tell you? They understood that there were going to be some great things given, and so forth! Remember 'mama' with James and John? She came to Jesus and said, 'I have one thing to ask You.' What is it? 'That these, my two sons—the sons of thunder—one sit at Your right hand and one sit at your left hand.' Jesus said, 'Woman, you don't know what you're asking.' Here it begins again:
Luke 22:24: "And there was also an argument among them, even this: which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, 'The kings of the nations lord over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors'" (vs 24-25).
- the rulers
- religious leaders
Verse 26: But it shall not be this way among you; rather, let the one who is greatest among you be as the younger, and the one who is leading as the one who is serving."
That's why a hierarchy is counter to what God really wants!
Verse 27: "For who is greater, the one who is sitting at the table, or the one who is serving? Is not the one who sits at the table? But I am among you as One Who is serving. Now, you are the ones who have continued with Me in My temptations" (vs 27-28).
On the Sabbath after the last Holy Day I've given a sermon for that day: What is the Difference Between Temptation and Tribulation? Do you know the difference?
- temptation—you have choices
- tribulation—it comes upon you and you have no choice
Verse 29: "And I appoint to you, as My Father has appointed to Me, a kingdom; so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and may sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (vs 29-30).
Section 323—A New Commandment—Love Each Other as Jesus Love His Disciples
John 13:33: "Little children…"
They weren't too much younger than Jesus!
"…I am with you yet a little while. You shall seek Me; but as I told the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' I am now telling you also. A new commandment I give to you…" (vs 33-34).
We have the commandments:
- love God with all your heart, mind, soul and being
- love your neighbor as yourself
And on those two hang all the Law! Here's the third one, and Jesus also gave a fourth one.
Verse 34: "A new commandment I give to you that you love one another in the same way that I have loved you…
That's pretty strong! This is how you are to love one another. That's commandment #3 in love. Commandment #4 is love your enemies! The best way to love your enemies is to stay away from them.
Verse 35: "By this shall everyone know that you are My disciples—if you love one another."
Section 324—Jesus Prophecies that Peter Will Deny Him Three Times
Mark 14:27: "Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you shall be offended in Me in this night; for it is written, "I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." But after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.' Then Peter said to Him, 'Even if all shall be offended, yet, I shall not'" (vs 27-29).
The most powerful of human nature is not going to overcome what God has said. God has said, 'All are sinners! Some people say, 'I'm not.' You're sinners by nature!
Verse 30: "And Jesus said to him, 'Truly I say to you, today, in this very night…'"
That proves that God reckons the day from sunset to sunset!
"'…before the cock crows twice, you shall deny Me three times.' But he spoke more adamantly, 'If it were necessary for me to die with You, I would not deny You in any way.' And they all spoke in the same manner also" (vs 30-31).
But what did Peter do? He did it! Think of that for a minute. Even your best effort to not do it, when God said you're going to do it, you don't have the strength to go against God. Amazing!
Section 325—The Beginning of the Final Message to His Disciples
We're going to cover John 14 during the Passover so I don't want to go deeply into this:
John 14:20: "In that day, you shall know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you."
Here's how you know. This is a test if you have Christ and the Father in you:
Verse 21: "'The one who has My commandments and is keeping them, that is the one who loves Me, and the one who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him.' Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, 'Lord, what has happened that You are about to manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?'" (vs 21-22).
How does God manifest, or Christ manifest Himself to us today? By convincing you of the Truth! And you prove the Truth! The Truth can be proved and reproved and reproved over and over again down through all time, because it is true and it's eternal!
Verse 23: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.'"
That's one of the most important verses in the Bible. You have two aspects of the Spirit:
- the Spirit of Christ, or the mind of Christ
- the Spirit of the Father, to be a son or daughter of God
Together! That is dwell in us!
When we sin, God doesn't take it away. God is merciful and kind, and will forgive. That's the whole purpose of the Passover and learning to love one another.
Section 326—Some Final Instructions to the Disciples
Luke 22:36: "Then He said to them, 'Now, however, let the one who has a purse take it…'"
Section 327—Take Two Swords
Verse 38: "And they said, 'Lord, see, here are two swords.' And He said to them, 'It is enough.'"
Section 328—They Sing a Hymn and Leave
Matthew 26:30: "And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."
Section 329—Jesus Christ is the True Vine—Last Command to His Disciples
We're going to cover the first part of John 15, because this becomes important. Remember how God compared Israel to a vine. Now He compares Himself to a vine and the Father to a husbandman. Some translate that as the farmer. But husbandman is much different, because husbandman means that you are married to the land to take care of it as a possession of God! So, Jesus makes this comparison:
John 15:1: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. He takes away every branch in Me that does not bear fruit; but He cleanses each one that bears fruit, in order that it may bear more fruit" (vs 1-2).
- How does He cleanse it? By revealing the sin within so you can repent, that's how!
- How much sin do we have stored in our mind?
- Do you want me to get a CD and play Christmas Carols? You have them stored in the mind!
You have them all right there!
- What else do you have there? Every once in a while your human nature cuts loose!
It's happened to me! It's happened to you! The cleansing is the pruning to get it out in the open so that you can repent!
Verse 3: "You are already clean through the word that I have spoken to you. Dwell in Me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, but only if it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you are dwelling in Me" (vs 3-4).
I remember one Feast of Tabernacles we were in a beautiful place for a Feast. We had for the first time people come from Michigan. We had 12 people! We thought this was something. So, we broke off some branches from a tree and we just put up where we were meeting so we could watch them. Every day of the Feast we looked at the branches. The second day looked like the first day. Third day they were drooping. Fourth day they were really getting bad. Fifth day they were getting very, very dry. Sixth-eight days there was nothing left.
That shows that we need to stay in Christ! How do we stay in Christ? By loving, praying, repenting, overcoming, asking God to help us in everything!
Verse 4: Dwell in Me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, but only if it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you are dwelling in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who is dwelling in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; because apart from Me you can do nothing" (vs 4-5).
What did Jesus say of Himself when He was here? I do nothing of Myself, that is out from within Me! The Father does the works.
Verse 6: "If anyone does not dwell in Me, he is cast out as a branch, and is dried up; and men gather them and cast them into a fire, and they are burned."
Here is a promise for prayer:
Verse 7: "If you dwell in Me, and My words dwell in you…"
Both!
"…you shall ask whatever you desire, and it shall come to pass for you. In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples" (vs 7-8).
Then He tells how! It's very interesting and very important! There are 1700 ifs in the Bible, and all of them are contingent upon what people choose to do or not do.
Verse 10: "If you keep My commandments, you shall live in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and live in His love. These things I have spoken to you, in order that My joy may dwell in you, and that your joy may be full" (vs 10-11).
Think about poor Lot living in Sodom; that's about what it is for us today! He didn't have much joy because he was always upset over what was happening. Finally, when it came time to go, the only ones who went were he and his wife and two daughters. All the rest of the family said, 'You're nuts! It's not going to happen!'
So, they were going out and the angel said, 'Don't look behind!' Guess what happened? Lot's wife looked behind and turned into a pillar of salt! I don't know if it was true our not, but Josephus writes that that pillar of salt was still there in his day.
Section 330—Final Words of Encouragement
John 16:26: "In that day, you shall ask in My name; and I do not tell you that I will beseech the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you…" (vs 26-27).
That is a profound statement! Whenever you're down at the bottom of the pit and you think all is lost, it's not! Whether you're way up here, and you're knocked down, remember that the Father—Who is Sovereign of the whole universe—loves you! He loved the Son—didn't He?But look what Jesus had to go through, and that had to be because of Jesus' love back to the Father and the love for the plan of God and what He's going to do for all human beings. So, we pray to the Father directly!
"…because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father" (vs 27-28).
Section 331—All Will be Scattered. Jesus Has Overcome the World
Verse 32: "Listen, the time is coming, and has already come, that you shall be scattered each to his own, and you shall leave Me alone; and yet, I am not alone because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation…." (vs 32-33).
A lot of difficulties and things come upon us that we have no control over! That's tribulation!
"…But be courageous! I have overcome the world" (v 33).
(go to the next track)
Section 334—Jesus Prays for Three Hours
They go out to the area of the Garden of Gethsemane
Matthew 26:39: And after going forward a little, He fell on His face, praying, and saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.'
So, He had to overcome even the human element of knowing how bad that this would be that He was saying, 'Will You delay it?'
Verse 40: "Then He came to His disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, 'What! Were you not able to watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak'" (vs 40-41).
That's true for all human beings. Last time we had the best thought in the world, we end up doing the worst thing in the world.
Verse 42: "The second time He went again and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if this cup cannot pass from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.'"
Through prayer He was able to overcome that pull of human nature the first time!
Verse 43: "Now, when He came to them, He found them asleep again, because their eyes were heavy. And leaving them, He went again and prayed the third time, saying the same thing" (vs 43-44).
Luke 22:44: "And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became as great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
This shows how deeply He had to pray!
Passover Day, Nisan 14—Wednesday Morning, April 5, 30 AD
Section 335—The Lord's Prayer
When you really analyze it, this shows you the whole plan of God in that one chapter (John 17). Just to give you something to think on: How did John know this prayer if he was sleeping? Jesus had to give him this prayer sometime later! It's word for word of what Jesus was saying, and it's the whole plan of God! So much so that I'm going to save that for a separate sermon, because if I get to deeply involved in it here, we won't get to where we need to be.
John 17:11: "And I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, those whom You have given Me, so that they may be one, even as We are one."
Sidebar on this with the name: If you meet a sacred-namer and he says that you have to have this Hebrew name, this name and the other name. If you turn to John 17, in the Greek it is 'ho pater': Father! That's His sacred name for the New Testament. There's no other name. It's not here. So, keep that in mind.
Verse 12: "When I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. I protected those whom You have given Me, and not one of them has perished except the son of perdition, in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled."
Then it shows that we are to become at-one with Christ and the Father!
Verse 20: "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who shall believe in Me through their word."
That's us! Everybody all down through time who had the Word of God, the New Testament! He's praying, and He makes intercession for us. Notice how Jesus always keeps His mind on the goal.
Verse 21: "That they all may be one, even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, in order that the world may believe that You did send Me."
Section 336—The time of the Betrayal Approximately 12:20 A.M.
There's a two page chart—pgs 256-7—showing the whole thing hour by hour down through the time.
Matthew 26:45: "Then He came to His disciples and said to them, 'Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise! Let us be going. Look, the one who is betraying Me is approaching'" (vs 45-46).
That was quite a thing!
Section 337—Judas Betrays Jesus with a Kiss
John 18:1: "After saying these things, Jesus went out with His disciples to a place beyond the winter stream of Kidron, where there was a garden into which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who was betraying Him, also knew of the place because Jesus had often gathered there with His disciples. Then Judas, after receiving a band and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with torches and lamps and weapons. Jesus, therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forward and said to them, 'Who are you seeking?' They answered Him, 'Jesus the Nazarean.' Jesus said to them, 'I AM.' And Judas, who was betraying Him, was also standing with them. But when He said to them, 'I AM,' they went backward and fell to the ground" (vs 1-6).
He gave them a chance to not do it!
Verse 7: "Then He asked them again, 'Who are you seeking?' And they said, 'Jesus the Nazarean.' Jesus answered, 'I told you that I AM. Therefore, if you are seeking Me, allow these to go their way'; so that the saying might be fulfilled which He had said, 'Of those whom You have given Me, not one of them have I lost'" (vs 7-9).
Section 338—Peter Cuts Off an Ear of the High Priest's Servant, and Jesus Heals Him
I often wondered what happened with this, because Peter cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Then He healed it by putting it back on. If I were that soldier, I would be feeling my ear all night. 'It's still there. I saw that Peter cut off and this Man put it back on!' You could say today, and no stitches!
John 18:10: "Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the servant's name was Malchus. But Jesus said to Peter, 'Put your sword into the sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me?' Then the band and the chief captain and the officers of the Jews took hold of Jesus, and bound Him" (vs 10-12).
Section 339—All Was Done to Fulfill Prophecy
Matthew 26:56: "But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled…."
Think about that. There's a section on pgs 268-273: Twenty-Eight Prophecies Fulfilled on the Crucifixion Day.
How were all of those fulfilled? The angels were making sure that they were done! The demons were carrying out what they were allowed to do.
"…Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled" (v 56).
Section 340—Jesus is Led Away to the Priest's House
John 18:13: "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 had given counsel to the Jews that it was profitable for one man to perish for the people" (vs 13-14).
Section 341—Peter Follows Them into the Courtyard
- Why did Peter follow along?
- Why didn't he just follow the others?
- What had to happen to Peter?
- Peter had to deny Christ three times, so he couldn't go off by himself!
John 18:15: "But Simon Peter and the other disciple followed Jesus. And that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest. But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in" (vs 15-16).
The angels must have been really, really busy at that time making sure that everything was done!
Verse 18: "Now, the servants and the officers had made a fire, for it was cold; and they were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was also standing and warming himself."
- I wonder what he thought, because who was there with the healed ear?
- Who was the one who had the sword to cut it off? Peter!
Section 342—Annas Questions Jesus and Sends Him to Caiaphas
John 18:19: "Then the high priest questioned Jesus concerning His disciples and concerning His teachings. Jesus answered him, 'I spoke openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always assemble, and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Ask those who have heard what I spoke to them; behold, they know what I said'" (vs 19-21).
A good lesson: you don't answer every question directly, but answer with a question! Put the burden of proof on them!
Approximately 2 AM
John 18:22: "But after He said these things, one of the officers who was standing by struck Jesus on the face, saying, 'Do You answer the high priest in that way?' Jesus answered him, 'If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?' Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest" (vs 22-24).
Section 343—The Chief Priests Illegally Condemn Jesus
Matthew 26:59: "Now, the chief priests and the elders and the whole Sanhedrin…"
The whole Sanhedrin was 120!
"…sought false evidence against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death; but they did not find any. Although many false witnesses came forward, they did not find any evidence. Then at the last, two false witnesses came forward and said, 'This man said, "I have the power to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days"'" (vs 59-61).
This sounds like the hearings of the Democrats today! 'We've got to find a crime…'
Verse 62: "And the high priest rose up and said to Him, 'Have You no answer for what these are testifying against You?' But Jesus was silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, 'I adjure You by the living God that You tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.' Jesus said to him, 'You have said it. Moreover, I say to you, in the future you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven'" (vs 62-64).
Projecting clear forward to His second coming! They understood this because they knew Dan. 7, that 'the Son of man came to the Ancient of Days.' They knew that!
Verse 65: "Then the high priest ripped his own garments, saying, 'He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, you have just now heard His blasphemy. What do you think?' They answered and said, 'He is deserving of death!' Then they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists; and some struck Him with rods, saying, 'Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one that struck You?'" (vs 65-68).
Section 344—Peter Denies Jesus Three Times
Luke 22:56: "And a certain maid saw him sitting by the light; and after looking at him intently, she said, 'Now this one was with Him.' But he denied Him, saying, 'Woman, I do not know Him.' And after a little while, another saw him and said, 'You also are one of them.' But Peter said, 'Man, I am not.' Now, after about an hour had passed, a certain other man strongly affirmed, saying, 'In truth, this one also was with Him, for he is indeed a Galilean.' And Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are talking about.' And immediately, while he was yet speaking, the cock crowed" (vs 56-60).
This scene always intrigues me:
Verse 61: "Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the cock crows, you shall deny Me three times.' And Peter went outside and wept bitterly" (vs 61-62).
- How great a sin was that? Pretty powerful!
- Did Peter remember this the rest of His life? Yes, he did!
We'll see that later, right before Jesus ascended, He had a special message for Peter because of this!
Section 345—The Sanhedrin Condemns Jesus and Sends Him to Pilate
Luke 22:66: "Now, as soon as it was day, the elders of the people assembled together, with both the chief priests and the scribes, and they led Him into their Sanhedrin, saying, 'If You are the Christ, tell us.' And He said to them, 'If I should tell you, you would not believe Me at all; and if I should also ask you, you would not answer Me at all, nor let Me go. Hereafter, shall the Son of man be sitting at the right hand of the power of God.' And they all said, 'Then You are the Son of God?' And He said to them, 'I am that One, as you say.' Then they said, 'What need do we have of any other witness? For we ourselves have heard from His own mouth'" (vs 66-71).
Luke 23:1: "And when the entire assembly of them arose, they led Him to Pilate."
Note sermon: The Enigma of Judas Iscariot. Why did he have to die the way that he did? If you commit or are an accomplice in murder, you have to die, too.
- Would the Jews execute him?
- Would the Romans execute him?
- Could the disciples execute him?
- No!
- Who executed Judas? Himself!
That was the only way that he could have been given the death penalty, because no one else would have done it.
Section 346—Judas Repents and Hangs Himself—The Chief Priests Buy Potter's Field
Matthew 27:3: "Now, when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, he changed his mind and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, 'I have sinned and have betrayed innocent blood.' But they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it yourself.' And after throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he went out and hanged himself" (vs 3-5).
Look at how 'righteous' they were!
Verse 6: "But the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, 'It is not lawful…'"
Here they are killing Christ, and now they're saying
"…'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.' And after taking counsel, they bought a potter's field with the pieces of silver, for a burial ground for strangers. Therefore, that field is called The Field of Blood to this day" (vs 6-8).
Section 347—Jesus is Condemned Before Pilate; He Questions Jesus
Matthew 27:11: "Then Jesus stood before the governor…"
Who was it that killed Jesus? All of us! But Jesus' death covers the sins of the whole world. So, what do we find here? Pilate represented the Roman Empire—government! Pilate was symbolic of all governments of the world!
The high priest was symbolic of… Remember that Jesus said, 'You are of your father the devil.' Are all the religions of the world of the devil? Yes! So, the high priest was symbolic of all the religions of the world!
All the people who said, 'Crucify Him! Crucify Him!' was symbolic of all of the people of the world who rejected Christ!
This was a great and fantastic thing that was going on; way beyond just the account there that we have in the Bible. It has great ramifications.
"…and the governor questioned Him, saying, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' And Jesus said to him, 'It is as you said.' And when He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, 'Don't You hear how many things they testify against You?' And He did not answer even one word to him, so that the governor was greatly amazed" (vs 11-14).
Then Pilate finds out that Jesus was from Galilee!
Section 348—Pilate Sends Jesus to Herod
Luke 23:5: "But they were insistent, saying, 'He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all of Judea, beginning from Galilee even to here.' And when he heard Galilee named, Pilate asked whether the Man were a Galilean; and after determining that He was from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, since he also was in Jerusalem in those days. And when Herod saw Jesus, he rejoiced greatly; for he had long been desiring to see Him because he had heard many things about Him, and he was hoping to see a miracle done by Him. And he questioned Him with many words; but He answered him nothing. All the while, the chief priests and the scribes stood vehemently accusing Him. Then Herod and his soldiers treated Him with contempt; and after mocking Him, he put a splendid robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. And on that same day, Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, because before there was enmity between them" (vs 5-12).
- Can Satan bring people together?
- Bring them so they agree with each other and they're happy about it?
- Yes, he can!
Remember that in WWII Germany made a peace alliance with Russia and they were happy and glad that it occurred. But that turned out to be a total disaster.
Section 349—Pilate Finds Jesus Innocent
John 18:31: "Then Pilate said to them, 'You take Him and judge Him according to your own law.' But the Jews said to him, 'It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death'; so that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He had spoken to signify by what death He was about to die" (vs 31-32).
What did Jesus tell Nicodemus on that night? When the Son of man is lifted up! He knew how He was going to die! Nicodemus didn't know a thing. His mind was closed and later it was opened. But I tell you, he had to come at night because he was afraid of the other ones. 'We know You're a man from God, but tell us something.' He didn't tell them anything! Unless you are born again you're not going to see the Kingdom of God.
I imagine Nicodemus was saying, 'What is this?' Jesus said, 'If I tell you earthly things, what would you do if I told you heavenly things? Here we have it that they could not kill Jesus.
Verse 33: "Then Pilate returned to the judgment hall and called Jesus, and said to Him, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered him, 'Do you ask this of yourself, or did others say it to you concerning Me?' Pilate answered Him, 'Am I a Jew?…." (vs 33-35).
How am I supposed to know?
"'…The chief priests and your own nation have delivered You up to me. What have You done?' Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, so that I might not be delivered up to the Jews. However, My kingdom is not of this world.' Pilate, therefore, answered Him, 'Then You are a king?' Jesus answered, 'As you say, I am a king. For this purpose I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, that I may bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.' Pilate said to Him, 'What is Truth?' And after saying this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, 'I do not find any fault in Him'" (vs 35-38).
But it shows mob action!\
Section 350—Pilate Releases Barabbas and Crucifies Jesus, 8 AM
John 18:39: "'And it is a custom with you that I release one to you at the Passover. Do you then desire that I release the King of the Jews to you?' But they all shouted again, saying, 'Not this one, but Barabbas.'…." (vs 39-40).
Do you know what that name means? Bar-Abbas, son/father, so of the father. How ironic.
"…Now, Barabbas was a robber" (v 40).
Luke 23:19: "He was the one who had been cast into prison on account of making a certain insurrection in the city and committing murder."
Sounds almost like our justice system in Washington, DC, today!
Verse 20: "Therefore, Pilate again called to them, wishing to release Jesus. But they kept crying out, saying, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!' And a third time he said to them, 'But what evil did this Man commit? I have not found any cause worthy of death in Him. Therefore, after chastising Him, I will release Him.' But they were urgent with loud voices, asking for Him to be crucified. And their voices, and those of the chief priests, prevailed" (vs 20-23).
Section 351—Pilate Washes His Hands in a Show of Innocence
Political! He gave in!
Matthew 27:24: "Now Pilate, seeing that he was accomplishing nothing, but that a riot was developing instead, took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, 'I am guiltless of the blood of this righteous man. You see to it.'
Section 352—Pilate Releases Barabbas; Jesus is Beaten and Scourged
Matthew 27:26: "Then he released Barabbas to them; but after scourging Jesus, he delivered Him up so that He might be crucified. Then the governor's soldiers, after taking Jesus with them into the Praetorium, gathered the entire band against Him; and they stripped Him and put a scarlet cloak around Him. And after platting a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a rod in His right hand; and bowing on their knees before Him, they mocked Him, and kept on saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'" (vs 26-29).
Remember, He's got the crown of thorns on His head!
Verse 30: "Then, after spitting on Him…"
I'm sure it wasn't just a little water!
"…they took the rod and struck Him on the head" (v 30).
So, those thorns would go right in under the skin right next to His skull!
Verse 31: "When they were done mocking Him, they took the cloak off Him; and they put His own garments on Him and led Him away to crucify Him."
Section 354, pg 300—the Soldiers Lead Jesus Away to be Crucified, and Make Simon of Cyrene Carry His Cross
Luke 23:26: "And as they led Him away, they laid hold on a certain Cyrenian named Simon, who was coming from a field; and they put the cross on him…"
The cross that you see in movies is not anything like this. They would take a tree and they would put huge iron clasps on it, u-shaped so they could take a cross-bar and put it right there. When the person died they would take it out and put someone else there.
So, when Jesus was carrying His cross, He was carrying the crossbar, not the whole thing. That's why it says in other places that He was crucified on a tree, because it was a tree, and there were two trees, one on each side, for the other malefactors.
Verse 27: "And following Him was a great multitude of people with many women, who also were bewailing and lamenting Him. But Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming in which they shall say, "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that did not bear, and the breasts that did not give suck." Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us"; and to the hills, "Cover us."….'" (vs 27-30).
He goes right from that time to the destruction of Jerusalem, and then on into the part of Rev. 6 where the heavens roll back as a scroll and the mountains, earth and everything is shaken, and they go to the holes in the ground.
Section 355—Jesus Refuses Wine and Myrrh (Vinegar and Gall)—They Crucify Him
Matthew 27:34: "They gave Him vinegar mingled with gall to drink; but after tasting it, He would not drink."
Section 356—The Soldiers Cast Lots for His Garments—Jesus Asks the Father to Forgive Them for Crucifying Him
Matthew 27:35: "And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments by casting lots; so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, 'They divided My garments among themselves, and for My vesture they cast lots.' And they sat down there to keep guard over Him" (vs 35-36).
How did the soldiers know to do that? Probably was an angel right there! Couldn't see him, but making sure that this prophecy was fulfilled! That's how it had to be done.
Section 357—Pilate Has a Title and Accusation Written and Put on the Cross
Luke 23:38: "And there also was an inscription over Him written in Greek and Latin and Hebrew: 'This is the King of the Jews.'
John 19:20: "As a result, many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek and in Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, 'Do not write, "The King of the Jews"; but that He said, "I am King of the Jews."' Pilate answered, 'What I have written, I have written'" (vs 20-22).
Even down to the last thing, try and change it all!
Section 358—Two Malefactors (Thieves) Crucified with Jesus
Matthew 27:38: "And two robbers were crucified with Him, one at the right hand and one at the left."
I do not know how one commentator said that there were two on the right hand and two on the left hand. I couldn't find it. But that's what some people believe.
Mark 15:28: "Then the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, 'And He was numbered among lawbreakers.'"
All of that! Why were two others crucified? Why didn't they just crucify one? They were busy getting rid of 'bad' people!
Section 359—The People, Priests and Two thieves Mock and Revile Him. Darkness From the Sixth Hour to the Ninth Hour (Approximately Noon to 3 PM)
Matthew 27:39: "Then those who were passing by railed at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, 'You Who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself….'" (vs 39-40).
Could Jesus have done that? But that would have been against the will of God, so He didn't!
"'…If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.' And in the same way also the chief priests were mocking, with the scribes and elders, saying, 'He saved others, but He does not have the power to save Himself. If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down now 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."' And the two robbers who were crucified with Him also reproached Him with the same words. Now, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness was over all the land" (vs 40-45).
Luke 23:39: "Then one of the malefactors who was hanging there railed at Him, saying, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.' But the other one answered and rebuked him, saying, 'Do not even you fear God, you who are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving due payment for what we did; but this Man did nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom'" (vs 39-42).
The Seven Sayings of Jesus:
Verse 43: "And Jesus said to him, [#1]'Truly, I tell you today, you shall be with Me in paradise.'"
Why could it not be that day? He was saying today that 'you shall be with Me in paradise.' He didn't say that 'today you shall be in paradise.'
Section 360—Jesus Makes John Responsible for His Mother: Mary
John 19:25: "And Jesus' mother stood by the cross, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, [#2]'Woman, behold your son.' Then He said to the disciple, [#3]'Behold your mother.' And from that time, the disciple took her into his own home" (vs 25-26).
Section 361—At the Ninth Hour Jesus is Forsaken and Offered Vinegar—A Spear is Truth into His side and He Dies—The temple veil is torn in Two
Matthew 27:46: "And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, [#4]'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' That is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'"
He had to be forsaken by the Father completely in order to be that perfect sacrifice!
Verse 47: "And some of those who were standing there heard and said, 'This one is calling for Elijah.'"
Luke 23:46: "And after crying out with a loud voice, Jesus said, [#5]'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.' And when He had said these things, He expired.
John 19:28: "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had now been finished, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, [#6]'I thirst.' Now, a vessel full of vinegar was sitting there. And after filling a sponge with vinegar and putting it on a stick of hyssop, they put it up to His mouth And so, when Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, [#7]'It is finished.'…." (vs 28-30).
Scriptural References:
- John 13:2-32
- Matthew 26:26-29
- Luke 22:24-30
- John 13:33-35
- Mark 14:27-31
- John 14:20-23
- Luke 22:36, 38
- Matthew 26:30
- John 15:1-8, 10-11
- John 16:26-28, 32-33
- Matthew 26:39, 40-44
- Luke 22:44
- John 17:11-12, 20-21
- Mathew 26:45-46
- John 18:1-12
- Matthew 26:56
- John 18:13-24
- Matthew 26:59-68
- Luke 22:56-62, 66-71
- Luke 23:1
- Matthew 27:3-8, 11-14
- Luke 23:5-12
- John 18:31-40
- Luke 23:19-23
- Matthew 27:24, 26-31
- Luke 23:26-30
- Matthew 27:34-36
- Luke 23:38
- John 19:20-22
- Matthew 27:38
- Mark 15:28
- Matthew 27:39-45
- Luke 23:39-43
- John 19:25-26
- Matthew 27:46-47
- Luke 23:46
- John 19:28-30
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Ephesians 2
- John 6
- Deuteronomy 32
- Daniel 7
- Revelation 6
Also referenced:
Book: A Harmony of the Gospels by Fred R. Coulter
Sermon Series (Transcript Book and CD):
- The Love of God
- Passover Preparation
Sermon:
- What is the Difference Between Temptation and Tribulation?
- The Enigma of Judas Iscariot (#4 Assaults Against Jesus)
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 3/21/19
Copyright 2019—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.
