Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsamane after they had observed the last supper and while they were there, Judas, one of his disciples, led a group of people to arrest Jesus. Jesus, after His arrest was taken to the house of the high Priest, called Caiaphas. The members of the Jewish Council, called Sanhedrin, had already gathered there. When Jesus was tried, he was found guilty of blasphemy for calling himself the son of God. Such a person should die, according to Jewish law. But the Jewish lacked the power to sentence anyone to death, because the Romans had conquered them and also taken power from them. Then the council took Jesus to Pontius Pilate, who was a representative of the Roman government in Jerusalem, to be tried by him.
Jesus was finally found guilty after the trials and was sentence to death. Though he did not commit any offence to justify that.
The Trials of Jesus
Christ Before the High Priest: (Mathew 26:36-75, Mark 14:53-75, Luke 22:66-71)
The Gospel of Matthew recorded that Jesus was taken to the house of Caiaphas, the High priest, where the Jewish Council had been waiting for his trial. Peter was following Jesus at a distance and later sat down with the guards. The Chief Priest and the members of the Council sought false witnesses against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they could not find any though many people came forward. Later, two false witnesses came forward and said: “This fellow said: “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.”
Jesus was asked by the High priest to answer to the allegation. But, Jesus did not answer. The High Priest then said to him: “I adjure by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God’. Jesus replied: “You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter, you will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven”.
When Jesus said this, the High Priest tore off his clothes, and said:
“He has uttered blasphemy. Why do we still need a witness? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your Judgment?”
They answered that Jesus was guilty. The people then spat on His face and struck Him while some them slapped him, and said;
“Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
The maid saw peter sitting outside in the courtyard and accused him that he was with Jesus of Galilee. But, Peter denied the accusation. Another maid also accused him the same way, but peter denied knowing Jesus with an oath. After sometimes, a bystander also accused him of being one of the followers of Jesus because his accent had betrayed him as a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word of Jesus that:
“Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times”. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
The Significance of the trial before the High Priest
- The Jewish Council arranged some people to bear false witness against Jesus in order to destroy him. We should desist from accusing people falsely. It is against the commandment of God that says, we should not bear false witness against our neighbor.
- After Jesus was falsely accused, he did not defend himself but kept quiet. By so doing, Jesus surrendered himself to the will of God. As Christians, we should also learn to always submit to the will of God.
- Jesus declared his identity before the council. We should not be ashamed to declare who we are before the people. You should declare what God says you are, no matter what the case may be.
Christ Before Pilate and the Roman Authorities (Math 27:11-37, Mark 23:1-25; Luke 23:1-5)
According to Matthew, in the morning, Jesus was bound and brought before Pilate, then the Roman Governor, Pilate asked Jesus whether he was the king of the Jews. Jesus replied him by saying. “You have said so” The Chief Pries and elders also accused him, but he did not answer them and Pilate was surprised.
It was the custom for the governor to release a prisoner requested by the people during the Passover celebrations. Pilate then asked the people who they would want him to release to them between Barabbas, a notorious robber and Jesus Christ. Pilate knew that Jesus was delivered as a result of jealousy, that was why he made this offer, and beside Pilate’s wife had warned him while he was on the judgment throne, that he should “have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.” The Jewish authorities compelled the people to demand for the release of Barabbas, and the crucifixion of Jesus.
Pilate asked them again who they wanted him to release between Barabbas and Jesus. The people asked for the release of Barabbas. When he asked them what should happen to Jesus, they all said he should die. When pilate wanted to know the offence he committed, they shouted the more the he should be crucified. When he realized that he could not prevail upon the people to get Jesus released and that instead riot was about to start, Pilate took water and washed his hands in the presence of the people, saying that he was innocent of the blood of Jesus and asked them to see to his crucifixion. Then the people shouted saying: “His blood be on us and our children”.
Pilate then released Barabbas and scourged Jesus, then delivered him to be crucified. The soldiers took, Jesus to the Praetorium and gathered the battalion before him. They removed his clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. They put a plaited crown of thorns on his head. They also put a reed in his right hand and began to mock him by kneeling before him the spat on him and took the reed from Him and struck him on his head and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away for crucifixion.
The Significance of the Trial before Pilate
- Jesus was innocent yet he was sentenced to be crucified by Pilate out of the fear of Jews. This is a lesson to us that we should ensure that justice is done without the fear of anybody.
- The trial showed clearly that Jesus was delivered out of envy. Even Pilate knew it. We as Christina should learn not to envy anybody’s success; we should rather rejoice.
- Jesus did not commit any sin, but suffered for the sin of the entire world. We should accept Him into our lives and also believe in Him.
Christ Before Herod (Luke 23:6-12)
Only the Gospel according to Luke recorded the trial of Jesus before Herod Antipas who was the ruler of Galilee.
Luke said while Jesus was being tried by Pilate, he discovered that Jesus came from Galilee. He therefore sent him for trial under Herod Antipas, who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was glad when he saw Jesus, because he had been desiring to see him for a long time. He had heard many things about Jesus and was also hopping to see some miracles performed by Him. When Jesus appeared before him, he interrogated him, but he did not respond to any of his questions. As Jesus was being interrogated, the Chief Priests and Scribes leveled various accusations against Him. Herod did not find any fault with Jesus. Herod and his soldiers mocked Him and mistreated him. They dressed him in a gorgeous garment and sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends again; for before this event they were enemies.
The Significance of the Trial before Herod
- Pilate was fair in sending Jesus to Herod for trial, because the charge against Jesus was that he had been stirring up the people against the Roman government from Galilee to Jerusalem. Therefore, we should learn to be fair in judgment.
- Herod wanted Jesus to perform some miracles for him but Jesus refused. This is because Jesus was not looking for favour from Herod. Christians should be aware not to use God’s power and gifts for their selfish end.
THE TRIAL, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
The crucifixion Death and Burial of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:32-56) The Gospel of Matthew recorded that after Pilate had condemned Jesus, He was led out to be crucified. He was carrying His cross and the soldiers were leading him to Golgotha to be crucified. When he was on His way, a man called Simon of Cyrene was called upon to help Jesus carry his cross. In Golgotha, Jesus was given wine mixed with gall, to drink. When he tasted it, he refused to drink it. Then they crucified Jesus and the soldiers casts lots to divide His garments among themselves. When all these had been done, the soldiers were watching him. They wrote an inscription that indicated His charge over His head which read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”. Two robbers were also crucified with Him, one on the right and the other on the left.
Those who were passing through the place where Jesus was crucified began to revile Him, and to wag their head saying: “You who would 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 the scribes and the elders also mocked Him saying. “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel, let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him; for He said, “I am the son of God”.
One of the thieves, who was crucified with Him also mocked Him.
Now, from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. About the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: “Eli, Eli, lama Sabachthani?”. Meaning: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
When some of the people that were standing there heard that, they said Jesus was calling Elijah. Then one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed and gave Him to drink. The rest of the people said: “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come and save Him”.
When Jesus had cried again with a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.
After the death of Jesus, the curtain of the temple tore into two, from top to bottom; and there was an earthquake and the rocks were split; graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose and came out of the graves after His resurrection and went into the holy city, and appeared to many. When the centurion and the soldiers watching over Jesus saw the earthquake, and those things that had happened, they feared God greatly, saying: “Truly this was the son of God”
The women were also there, beholding what was happening afar off. These were the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and John, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
The Significance of the Death of Jesus on the Cross
- Jesus died on the cross of cavalry for the sin of the whole world. He himself did not commit a single sin yet he sacrificed himself that we might be saved from the impending wrath of God that is coming on sinners. There is no need for another sacrifice because Jesus has done it once and for all. We should accept Jesus into our lives in order to live a life that is pleasing to God.
- When Jesus died, the curtain of the temple tore into two from the top to bottom, which shows, that those who accept the sacrificial work of Christ now have direct access to God. They are now children of God. What is expected of them is to live sacrificial lives of holiness and righteousness.
The Burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-66)
Matthew wrote that in the evening of the day that Jesus died, a man called Joseph of Arimathea, who was among the disciples of Jesus went to Pilate and asked for His body. Pilate gave an order that the body of Jesus should be given to him. Joseph took the body of Jesus from the cross and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. Joseph rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, were sitting over the Sepulcher. On the following day which was the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together and said to Pilate: “Sir, we remember that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, ‘After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, he is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse that the first”.
Pilate said to them: “You have a watch: go your way, make it as secure as you can”. So they went and watched over the tomb, and sealed the stone.
- Joseph of Arimathea personally took care of the burial of Jesus. He wrapped the body of Jesus in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb. This is a way of contributing to the work of God. We should learn to contribute our resources and time to the furtherance of the work of God. By so doing, God will bless us in return.
- The women disciples of Jesus demonstrated their love for Jesus by witnessing his burial. They were still at the tomb of Jesus even when every other person had left. This shows that we as Christians should demonstrate genuine love to others. We are to visit the bereaved and comfort them in the period of their sorrow.
THE TRIAL, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
The Synoptic Accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11)
The three Gospels wrote about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All of them wrote that when the female disciples of Jesus went with spices to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body, they discovered the he had risen from the dead. Matthew added that there was a great earthquake at the tomb when the women got there and the stone by entrance of the tomb was rolled away by an Angel who also told the women that Jesus had risen from the dead. But Mark and Luke did not mention anything like an earthquake. Mark said a young man in white robes told the women of the resurrection of Jesus. Luke said that two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them and informed them that Jesus had risen from the dead. Luke also said that the disciples of Jesus did not believe when the women told them that Jesus had risen.
Mathew said, after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone covering the entrance to the tomb and sat upon it. His appearance was like lighting, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The Angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was laid. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that he has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee; there you will see him. Now I have told you.”
When the women heard the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, they hurried away from the tomb with great joy and ran to tell his disciples.
The Importance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
- The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the foundation of the Christian faith. If Jesus did not resurrect as he said, there would have been nothing like Christianity today.
- The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings the hope of salvation. Anyone who accepts Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, receives new life as a result of Jesus’ resurrection.
- The resurrection of Jesus brings victory over death for believers (Christians). The death of a Christian is just a translation to God’s kingdom. Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, so will God raise the true Christians on the day of resurrection.
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