DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION #1

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. 1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 3:1
      1. The inspired writers of the gospels devoted much space
         (several long chapters in our Bibles) to the death, burial, 
         and resurrection of Jesus.
   B. In keeping with these thoughts, we want to make a two-part
      study of the crucifixion of Christ.
      1. It is truly the greatest story every told. We need to be
         reminded of it often.
      2. It is the greatest story ever told because it carries with  
         it great and serious consequences. 1 Pet. 2:24

I. THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN.
   A. The story of the crucifixion begins with his agony in the      
      garden of Gethsemane.
      1. Luke 22:39-44; Matt. 26:40-45
      2. He being divine knew exactly what was about to take place.
      3. The next event was the betrayal there in the garden.

II. BETRAYAL.
   A. Matt. 26:46-50
   B. Peter draws his sword and cuts off the right ear of Malchus,   
      the servant of the high priest. John 18:10
      1. Jesus rebukes Peter. Matt. 26:52-54
      2. The disciples flee, but Peter follows afar off. Matt.       
         56b,58a
   C. They then bind Jesus and take Him away to be tried.

III. JEWISH TRIAL.
   A. Jesus was brought before Annas first.
      1. The Romans had displaced Annas as high priest and had put
         Caiaphas in his place. Caiaphas was son-in-law to Annas.
         Caiaphas had the power, but the Jews still respected Annas
         as high priest.
      2. John 18:13, 19-24
   B. Before Caiaphas.
      1. The Sanhedrin council was already assembled.
      2. Mark 14:55-59
         a. They had misunderstood His teaching. John 2:19-21
      3. The high priest began to question Jesus.
         a. Matt. 26:62-63a - Fulfilled Scripture. Isa. 53:7
         b. Matt. 26:63b-64 - Of course, they condemned Him
            upon this statement. They were looking for an excuse to
            kill Him.
      4. Matt. 26:67-68 - All this was unjust, cruel, and            
         disrespectful; it would be to anyone, much less to the Lord 
         and Savior.
      5. They had Peter caught in his predicament at this time. Matt.
         26:73-74
         a. Luke mentions that the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
            Luke 22:61-62

IV. ROMAN TRIAL
   A. The Jews take Jesus before Pontius Pilate.
      1. The next morning (Friday morning) the Sanhedrin assembled
         and condemned Jesus to death. They would have stoned him
         to death for blasphemy, but the right of capital punishment
         had been taken from them by the Romans; thus, they take
         Jesus to Pilate, who was governor of the province of Judea.
      2. John 18:28-32
         a. They hoped that Pilate would readily submit to their
            wishes; they will eventually win Pilate over, but not
            easily. 
         b. They knew that Pilate would not be concerned about
            such things of the Jewish law as blasphemy, so they
            devised other charges. Luke 23:2
      3. In the midst of the confusion of the false accusations and
         half-truths, Jesus tells Pilate some things concerning his
         kingdom. John 18:36-38
      4. John 18:39; Luke 23:4-6 - Pilate did everything he could to
         avoid the death of Jesus but the right thing!
         a. Pilate should have said that the man was innocent and
            no one shall lay a hand on him. In trying to shirk his
            responsibility, he sends him to Herod.
   B. Before Herod.
      1. Luke 23:8-11
   C. Back to Pilate.
      1. It appears that Pilate had ordained the custom of releasing
         one prisoner to the Jews. They could request whomever they
         desired to be released 
         a. At that time there was a notorious insurrectionist,
            named Barabbas, who was a murderer and a robber.
            Mark 15:6-7; John 18:40b
         b. Matt. 27:17-18 - Pilate knowing their envy, uses the
            prisoner-release custom to aggravate the Jews--"Shall
            you choose one of whom there is no doubt, or this one
            whom you claim is an insurrectionist (he won't give
            tribute and says he is a king)?'
      2. Matt. 27:19 - This intensified the situation for Pilate.
      3. Matt. 27:20-23; Luke 23:22 - "I will therefore chastise him
         and let him go;" thus, Jesus received scourging at this     
         point.

V. SCOURGING.
   A. John 19:1-4
   B. Scourging was very cruel and painful. One was literally beaten
      with whips which had metal pieces tied to the ends. 
      1. The Jews were told in the law not to exceed forty stripes.
         Duet. 25:3 They would stop at thirty-nine, to make sure they
         did not go over. 2 Cor. 11:24
      2. The Romans had no such number. It was completely up to
         the officer standing by. They would beat one until they
         thought he was nearly dead. Thus, many died under
         scourging.
      3. Scourging (stripes) was part of the atonement sacrifice.    
         Isa. 53:5 - "stripes" footnote: "Blows that cut in" NKJV
   C. John 19:5-6
      1. Pilate's purpose for the scourging of Jesus was a feeble    
         effort to pacify the Jews.
      2. He brought Jesus out in this deplorable condition and said,
         "Behold the man."
         a. He thought this would make the Jews happy when they
            saw Jesus nearly dead.  
         b. Pilate did not understand the intense hatred the Jews had
            for Jesus. They didn't want Jesus to be beat until He was
            nearly dead, they wanted Him dead. John 19:6-15
         c. History tells us that one of the Caesars had made rings
            that had engraved on them, "Caesar's friend." Only two
            hundred of them were ever made. No doubt Pilate had
            one of these rings. He wanted to demonstrate that he
            was Caesar's friend even if it caused putting an innocent
            man to death.
      3. Matt. 27:24-25
      4. This was the most unjust and cruel trial ever in the history
         of man. 
         a. Jesus actually underwent five trials: before Annas,
            Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and then again before Pilate.
         b. None of the trials were fair and just. Acts 8:33

Concl.
   A. Why did Jesus suffer all these things?
      1. Jesus did not endure all these things that we might feel    
         sorry for Him.
      2. There are great and serious consequences flowing from the
         suffering of Jesus.
   B. If you are not a Christian, you must believe that Jesus died   
      for you, in your stead, to remove your sins.
      1. If you do not believe this and do not humbly submit to His
         will, you show a lack of appreciation for what Jesus did for
         you. John 3:18; 6:40; 8:24
   C. Also, for those of us who are already Christians there are     
      solemn consequences flowing from His suffering that apply to   
      us. 1 Peter 2:24; Heb. 9:14; 2 Cor. 5:21
      1. When one who becomes unfaithful, he crucifies to himself
         the Son of God afreash. Heb. 6:6
         a. He counts the blood of the covenant an unholy thing.
            Heb. 10:29
   D. Let us continue to demonstrate that we truly appreciate what   
      the Lord did for us.