Matthew 28 Resurrection and the Great Commission.

SLIDE 1 Our theme for this year has been Salt and Light.  Isaiah 9:2 was timely. 

 V.9 The people who walked in darkness
                        have seen a great light;
            those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
                        on them has light shined

 SLIDE 2 We hope you had a blessed Mother’s Day. Jesus loves women. It is evident through the gospels that Jesus had a special place in His heart for women.
 From the cross Jesus instructed John to care for His mother, Mary. John 19:26-27
 These women each had an encounter with Jesus for healing or salvation.

·        Peter’s mother in law healed

·        Jairus’ daughter brought back from dead

·        Woman with an issue of blood healed, Jesus declared her Faith

·        Canaanite woman with demon possessed daughter healed

·        Mary and Martha sisters of Lazarus (Special friends of Jesus in Luke and John)

·        Mary Magdalene cast out seven demons

·        Samaritan women at the well forgiven (John 4)

·        Woman caught in adultery forgiven (John 8)

The Resurrection Story has always proves it. How awesome is it that women were the first to see Jesus after He arose! They were at the foot of the cross and the first to carry the message of His resurrection.

Ladies do you believe Jesus loves you? Do you believe He wants to give you the desires of your heart? Let’s tell others of His great love for His Daughters. Be salt and light to the world. Shine.

SLIDE 3 Matthew 28

·        1-10 Women see angel: Jesus met women v.9-10

·        11-15 Guards bribed to say Jesus’ body was stolen

·        16-20 Disciples meet Jesus at Galilee and received the  Great Commission

SLIDE 4 ¹Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.² And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.⁵ But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.  “Come, see the place where he lay.”

 SLIDE 5 ⁹And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" Not only did He leave a angelic messenger to calm their fears but He waited for them and to reassure them.

"Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

WW “Come and see!” was followed by “Go and tell!” We must not keep the resurrection news to ourselves. The angel sent the women to tell (of all people) Christ’s own disciples. Be salt and light to the world. Go Tell!

SLIDE 6 II-Guards bribed to lie (28:11-15)

¹¹ Guards went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.  They voted and gave money to the soldiers. "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.  We will keep you out of trouble."

The disciples ran from the trial and the cross. Would they be brave enough to steal a dead body from Roman Soldier? Would they die for hoax?

SLIDE 7 The four gospels have subtle differences which do not cause contradiction. One angel or two, inside the tomb or sitting on the stone, the timing of the earthquake, how many women and in what order did they come to the tomb, with spices or not. These small discrepancies prove the story was not a fabrication. The gospels were written by four different men.

These things we know…

o   Very early on the first day of the week.

o   The stone was rolled away.

o   The angels announced “He has risen!”

o   Women were the first to arrive “Come see.”

o   The tomb was empty; grave clothes left

o   Angels command, “Go tell disciples.”

o   Jesus said, “Go tell my brothers.”

The stone was not rolled away to permit Jesus to come out, for He had already left the tomb. It was rolled back so that the people could see for themselves that the tomb was empty.

SLIDE 8 What did they see in the tomb? John 20: 5– 7 ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. (Who would unwrap the body? What robber takes time to fold the napkin?)

 When we finish a meal we may fold the napkin. Maybe Jesus said “Now I am finished.”

SLIDE 9 John 20: 15-18 tells us ¹⁵ Jesus asked Mary "Woman, why are you weeping?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she begged "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."¹⁶ Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"---and that he had said these things to her.

SLIDE 10 Luke 24: 13– 35 gives details when Our Lord also appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

 SLIDE 11 John 20: 19-29 adds the times Jesus came to the disciples through a locked door in the Upper Room. So the other disciples told Thomas, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." Only mention I coul find in the gospels-of the nails used on the cross.

SLIDE 12 One of my favorite stories of forgiveness comes in chapter 21 of John.  Jesus is on the shore, the disciples are fishing.  Jesus instructs them to cast on the right side of the boat, realizing it is Jesus passionate loving Peter jumps in the water and goes to Him. The resurrected Jesus eats fish and bread with them. Then the Master restores Peter three times.

We are told in Acts and 1 Corinthians that the resurrected Jesus was seen by as many as 500 people until forty days when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.

 SLIDE 13 III Matthew 28:16-20 Disciples meet Jesus

¹⁶            Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Ladies we are commanded to make disciples!

Slide 14 Are you willing to be Salt,

to “Go and Tell” bearing witness that is Jesus the Light of the  world?

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan told about an experience in his life that involved this statement. Early in his Christian life, Morgan used to visit several women once a week to read the Bible to them. When he came to the end of Matthew’s gospel, Morgan read, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of this age.” He added, “Isn’t that a wonderful promise?” One woman quickly replied, “Young man, that is not a promise— it is a fact!” WW

Wiersbe, Warren W. (2015-08-18). The BE Series Bundle: The Gospels: Be Loyal, Be Diligent, Be Compassionate, Be Courageous, Be Alive, and Be Transformed (The BE Series Commentary) (Kindle Locations 3908-3911). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition.

Slide 15 In keeping with the Great Commission I will quickly show you  

ONE VERSE EVANGELISM how to use one verse to share salvation to a friend in ten minutes. You make use the back of your book to draw the diagram.

Adapted with permission from One-Verse Evangelism, copyright 2000 Randy D. Raysbrook. All rights reserved.

- Write out Romans 6:23 on a piece of paper or a napkin: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NIV) or ESV.

- Wages Circle the word “wages” and ask, "How would you feel if you were not paid your wages." The answer, of course, is that he would want justice—in this case, the wages he had worked for. Deep down, we all know that it is only right that we get what we deserve. In like manner, we receive “wages” from God for how we have lived our lives.

- SIN Draw a circle around "SIN," asking your neighbor what he thinks when he hears this word. SIN can be more an attitude than an action. It can be either actively fighting God ‘s will for your life or as simple as excluding Him from our lives.

- You can ask, "Has God ever seemed far away?" If he says "Yes," Explain that it is sin separate us from God and He seems far away. Now draw two opposing cliffs with a gap or chasm in between.

- - Now let’s add these two words Wages and Sin on one side.

- Circle this word Death and ask what thoughts come to mind. Explain that death in the Bible always means some kind of separation—when we die it is separation from life.  

Add the word Death under Sin. God is the author of life, a Spiritual Death simply means we are separated from God.

- BUT While circling this word, mention that it is important because it means that a sharp contrast in ideas is coming. Add this word at the bottom of the cliff.

 - What we have just looked at is the bad news; let’s look for the good news.

- Gift Draw a circle around this word. Ask, "If wages are what a person earns, then what is a gift?" - Remind him that though every gift is free for the person receiving it, someone still has to purchase it. Now we will add Free Gift on the opposite cliff.

 - Circle of God this free gift. It is from God Himself. Add of God under Free Gift

- It's so special that no one else can give it. Ask, "How do you feel about a free gift?

- Eternal Life Circle these two words next, and then ask, "How would you define these words?" Add Eternal Life under Free Gift.

- Ask, "What is the opposite of separation from God?"

- Contrast one side of the cliff, Death, with the other side, - Eternal Life.

- Man is separated from a - HOLY GOD by SIN that came into the world through Adam and Eve. Draw a stick figure at the top of the cliff on the left sin and write HOLY GOD on the other side.

-Ask “How we can ever cross such a great chasm?” Wait for answer.

- Circle these two words next, Christ Jesus

- Write these words so they create a bridge between the two cliffs.  Just as every gift has a unique giver, only Christ Jesus can give the gift of eternal life.

- Write this word Trust over the bridge you just drew. Explain that a true friend is a friend you can trust, and tell that Jesus is offering to be a true friend to him.

We trust our car to get us to work; we trust this chair to hold us up.

How can we show Trust in Christ Jesus? - circle LORD. We make Him our LORD of our life.

- What does that mean? Every morning thank Him for who He is and ask Him what you can do for Him today. We trust in Jesus means believing that He has power to forgive us for rejecting God and He will wash us clean from all that we have done wrong in life.  Add LORD under the bridge Christ Jesus. Add lines to make the shape of the Cross. See slide at the top.

- Christ Jesus paid for our sin through his death.

- We would all be dead in our sin, BUT GOD in His mercy, sent Jesus to redeem us!

- How do you feel about Jesus?  Will you choose to trust Jesus?

Would you like to ask Jesus to forgive you of all sin even if you don’t know what it is?

If No.  Ask, “Would you like to know more?” Give Him a copy of the Gospel of John.

Ask him to read the short book and plan to talk again.

- If he says "Yes," invite him to pray a short prayer in his own words, asking Jesus to forgive him and give him a better life now and in eternity. Congratulate your friend on their decision to live for Jesus.

Give Him a copy of the Gospel of John. Ask him to read the short book and plan to talk again.

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY

Adapted with permission from One-Verse Evangelism, copyright 2000 Randy D. Raysbrook. All rights reserved.

Matthew 27 Crucifixtion, Death, Burial Prophecies Fulfilled

 SLIDE 1 One Sunday night several churches in our community gathered for a “Song Service.” Though we were the smallest in number, our church choir displayed a passion for singing and beautiful harmony.  When constructing a lesson for the Gospel of Mark several years ago on the Crucifixion and Death of our LORD, I rediscovered the SEVEN LAST WORDS of Jesus from the Cross, using all four gospels to sequence the events.  The Gospels written by four different men at four different times arranged in the book the Harmony of the Gospels designed to show the parallels and differences of the individual writings.

SLIDE 2 As I worked on my lesson for Matthew 27 last week the wonderful scriptures used this week reminded me of all the prophecies fulfilled through the Trial, Crucifixion and Burial of our LORD. Hopefully this presentation will enrich your learning and enhance you appreciation of the priceless gift of Salvation that Christ has offered each of us freely if we only believe.  I will not go over these prophecies since they were covered last week, but it will be on the blog. But I wanted to give you an idea what we will cover tonight about the prophecies Christ fulfilled through these events. Every lady here should read Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 in its entirety.

SLIDE 3 Isaiah 53 2-7 One of my favorite scriptures illuminates the measure of debt we owe.

How could we not love and adore a Savior like that! What can you do to serve Him?

 It is important to understand that the Jews mark time from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  Three specific times are mentioned in this section of Mark: the third hour is 9:00, (Mark 15:25,) the sixth hour is noon, (Mark 15:33) and ninth hour is 3:00pm (Mark 15:34.)

The Crucifixion If you will open your bibles to Matthew 27:32 you can follow along.

There was to be no delay in this execution. The Passover was about to be celebrated, and the Jewish leaders did not want their holy day desecrated by the dead bodies of criminals (John 19: 31). In order to hasten the procession, the soldiers drafted a visitor to Jerusalem, Simon from Cyrene. Wiersbe, Warren W. (2015-08-18)

SLIDE 4 Matthew 27:32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. (The transverse beam of the cross.)

SLIDE 5 ³³And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), Here is an actual photo of the hillside in Israel.

SLIDE 6 Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced. This is verified in scripture after Jesus was resurrected and appeared to John and the other disciples. John 20:25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

It is interesting to note that the awfulness of the crucifixion was not for Roman citizens or women and only the hardest of criminals. The facts of the crucifixtion were so horrible they did not discuss it in polite society. It occurred outside the city as a warning to foreigners the harshness of Roman rule. The only mention of nails was from Thomas after the resurrection.

Psalm 22:16 a company of evildoers encircles me;    they have pierced my hands and feet

 Zechariah 12:10 when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced

SLIDE 7 ³⁴they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. Mark 15:22 says myrrh which was said to be a sedative.

THE FIRST WORD Jesus spoke from the cross is from Luke 23:34
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

as prophesied Messiah would pray for his enemies.

Psalm 109:4 ⁴In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.

How could we not love and adore a Savior like that! Who could you pray for today?

SLIDE 8 Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments.35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.  

Psalm 22: ¹⁸    they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
SLIDE 9 John 19:19-20 ¹⁹ Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS."²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"²² Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

SLIDE 11 Messiah would be crucified with criminals
38Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

Luke23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
SECOND WORD
Luke 23:42-43 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

SLIDE 11 John 19:25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother,

click THIRD WORD"Woman, behold, your son!" click ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

SLIDE 12 Messiah Would Be Mocked And Ridiculed.

Psalm 22 7-8 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;⁸"He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"

39-43 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads⁴⁰and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."⁴¹So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,⁴²"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 in him.⁴³He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

44And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Matthew27:45-46 now from the sixth hour Noon there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.3:00

SLIDE 13 FOURTH WORD  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Messiah Would Be Forsaken By God. Prophecy in Psalm 22:1

⁴⁷And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah."

FIFTH WORD  “I am thirsty” John 19:28

"I am thirsty." Such a simple statement. How many of us make this statement ourselves at some point during each day? With this statement, Jesus acknowledged that a very basic human need was not being met for him as he neared his final moments. Yet such a complex statement from a man who offered living water to all who came to him.

"I am thirsty," words said by Jesus as he hung dying on the cross, while his mother and the beloved disciple, stood near. As a mother can you feel the deep of sorrow that Mary knew. How could we not love and admire a man like Jesus! Who could you give a cup of water to today? http://www.leslieveen.com/sermons/i_am_thirsty.html

SLIDE 14 Messiah would be given vinegar to drink.

Psalm 69:21 and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

Matthew 37:48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.
Hyssop is a plant with stalk-like qualities that commonly grow three to four feet long.
A drink of the Romans solders’- sour wine watered down was considered a drink for common people,
⁴⁹But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." ⁵⁰And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

SIXTH WORD John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said,
"It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

SLIDE 21 Matthew 27:51And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

SLIDE 22 Luke 19:40 Perhaps the Pharisees remember Jesus remarking, "I tell you, if these were silent (children), the very stones would cry out."

SLIDE 23 SEVENTH WORD "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" Luke 23:46

SLIDE 24 Soldiers would pierce Messiah's side. John 19:33-34 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 at once there came out blood and water.

SLIDE 25 Messiah's bones would not be broken Exodus 12:46 speaks of the Passover lamb “ you shall not break any of its bones.”
Psalm 34:20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

John 19:32-36 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³⁵ He who saw it has borne witness---his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth---that you also may believe.³⁶ For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken."

SLIDE 26  ⁵² The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

What amazing love for Jesus to die like that! What can you do to serve Him?

⁵⁵There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him,^{5 6}among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

SLIDE 27 Messiah would be buried with the rich.

⁵⁷               When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.⁵⁸He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.⁵⁹And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud

⁶⁰and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.⁶¹Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

SLIDE 28 ⁶²       The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.'

⁶⁴Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first."

⁶⁵Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.
⁶⁶So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

“When the first missionaries went to Japan, a young Japanese man who wanted to learn English was given the Gospel of John to translate into his native tongue. In a short time he became very restless and agitated. At last he burst out with the question, ‘Who is this Man about whom I have been reading, this Jesus? You call him a man, but He must be God.’”  

“What Manner of Man?” http://www.moreillustrations.com/Illustrations/jesus%201.html.

How could we not love and adore a Savior like that! What can you do to serve Him?

Pray

Matthew 26:57-27:31 Jesus' Trial and Verdict

Matthew 26:57-27:31 4/28/2016

SLIDE 1 How many of you have been to court? Whether you were a defendant/victim or on the jury, there are procedures that must be adhered to if justice will reign. As a Guardian ad Litem, a court appointed voice of the child in court, GAL’s have been able to hear hundreds of cases where children were the victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.  Each child has at least social worker, DHHS lawyer, a GAL lawyer, GAL team, and if possible a GAL advocate .  Reports submitted by these advocates are given to the judge to provide vital information about the child.

SLIDE 2 Jesus did not have an advocate at either trial. Luke tells us Jesus first went to Annas the former chief priest before he was sent to Caiaphas. The Jewish Sanhedrin Court was very careful to follow the letter of the law. Although Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night, court could not be held until daybreak. And the two advocates for Christ, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, apparently were not present at the trial. McNaughton shows in his art that Jesus was not alone and not forgotten by the Father.

SLIDE 3 Trials and verdicts

•       Trial by the Sanhedrin; (26:57-68) Caiaphas

•       Verdict-Guilty of Blaspheme

•       Peter and Judas (26:69-75)

•       Trial by the Roman Court (27:1-31) Pilate

•       Verdict-Not guilty

Jealousy, fear, and ambition prevent people from seeing Jesus for who He is.
Ask God to reveal anything that keeps you from truly knowing and obeying Jesus?
SLIDE 4 Using all four gospels will give is added information.
John 18:13 First they led Him to Annas John 18:22 an officer struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Caiaphas home probably in Upper City of Jerusalem was large enough to house several families.
SLIDE 5 It is thought that Annas, former chief priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas lived in the same structure. Being large enough to hold the Sanhedrin, Peter appears to have remained in the huge courtyard moving from the entry way to the main courtyard. John says he gained entrance with the help of another disciple. Zondervan commentary

SLIDE 6  Trial by the Sanhedrin; (26:57-68) Caiaphas

•      Son-in-law of Annas former High priest

•      High Priest Appointed by Rome

•      Head of Sanhedrin-70 members Supreme court for Jews

Pharisees,  Elders and Scribes of the Law (Sadducees not mentioned)

John 18:14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Matthew 26:57-62                Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. The whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus to put him to death. At last two came forward and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'" ⁶² And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?"

SLIDE 7 ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

·        Matthew 26:⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,⁶⁸ saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"

·        Mark 16:65 ⁶⁵ Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face. NASV

·        Luke 22:63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him.⁶⁴ They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?"⁶⁵ And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

Ladies, this is the cruelest and most hateful treatment of our LORD, not even death on the cross affected me as much as his brutal treatments by Jews and Romans. To see the humble kindhearted Savior of the world so mistreated breaks my heart. The gospel taken together cannot begin to describe the horrific treatment of Jesus

SLIDE 8 Mark 16:61 Again the high priest asked him, .Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"⁶² And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."⁶³ And the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further witnesses do we need?⁶⁴ You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death. Verdict-Guilty of Blasphemy
Jealousy, fear, and ambition prevent people from seeing Jesus for who He is.

SLIDE 9 Peter (26:69-75)

•       Part of inner circle

•       Self appointed spokesman,

•       Passionate yet impulsive

•       Walked on water to Jesus, then sunk

•       First to Proclaim “Jesus was the Christ”

•       Rebuked by Jesus

•       Proclaimed faithfulness

•       But all we remember is he denied Christ 3 times

⁵⁸ And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.
SLIDE 10 ⁶⁹Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." ⁷¹ And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."⁷² And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man." ⁷³ After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you." ⁷⁴ DENY-Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man."

 SLIDE 11 And immediately the rooster crowed.⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. Fear prevented Peter from standing up for Jesus .

.SLIDE 12 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.² And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

SLIDE 13 Judas (27:1-10)

•       Treasurer of disciples

•       Thirty pieces of Silver from priests

•       Betrayed Jesus with a Kiss

•       In Remorse changed his mind-saw Jesus declared guilty and beaten

•       Threw back the 30 pieces of silver; priest called it blood money 27:3

³Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,⁴ saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."⁵ And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. Jealousy, greed, and ambition made Judas betray Jesus.
Only suicide recorded in New Testament ; condemned by Jews
SLIDE 14 Matthew 27:6 It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.”  Field of Blood bought with silver-for burial of foreigners, 80 burial caves

SLIDE 15 Trial by the Roman Court (27:1-31)Pilate

•       Appointed by Emperor Tiberius –financial officer of a province

•       Procurator/Governor of Judea-legate over military

•       Prefect-high official or magistrate over admin, financial, military, judicial

•       Final Judge in a region(under Emperor) power to pronounce death sentence  seated on the Bema

•       Verdict-Not guilty of plot to overthrow Rome

Pilate saw the strength and dignity of Jesus, and he knew this was no criminal or revolutionary. Pilate actually sat and talked to Jesus Matthew’s gospel is very short on words that Jesus spoke

 SLIDE 16 Luke 23:5-9 "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place."  Pilate asked whether Jesus was a Galilean. And when , he sent him over to Herod, in Jerusalem at that time. Herod gladly saw Jesus: he was hoping to see some sign done by him. But Jesus again was silent.

SLIDE 17 John 18: ³⁶ Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world---to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."³⁸ Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"

SLIDE 18 John 19:¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?"¹¹ Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."

SLIDE 19His wife sent word to him “Have nothing to do with that righteous man27:19

SLIDE 20 Luke 23:15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.
Releasing a prisoner for Passover

•       "Which of the two shall I release…27:24

•       "I find no guilt in him.  John 19:4; Luke 23:4

•       This just man

•       "Why, what evil has he done?"  Mark 15:14 &

•       Luke 23:22 I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.”

SLIDE 21 John19:12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar."¹³ So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat … Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

Matthew 27:16 a notorious prisoner called Barabbas, Luke and Mark 15:7 had committed murder in the insurrection; John18:18 Barabbas was a robber.

SLIDE 22 ¹⁶ So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. ..washed his hands before the crowd "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.”27:

²⁶ Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. 24 Blind ambition and fear prevented Caesar from seeing Jesus as the Christs.

SLIDE 23 Such was the Romans' attitude toward crucifixion. It was to be reserved for the worst of criminals, a means of showing extreme contempt for the condemned. The suffering and humiliation of a Roman crucifixion were unequaled. Guzic

Everything about this was intended to humiliate Jesus.28-31

•       They publicly stripped him and

•       put a scarlet robe on him, Only Kings and rulers wore scarlet, the dyes expensive. The scarlet robe was intended as cruel irony.

•       ²⁹ twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. This was a crown that cut, pierced, and bloodied the head of the King who wore it. A pyracantha bush, thorn long enough to pass through my garden shoes, pierced hands even with garden gloves .

•       put a reed in his right hand.  Scepter symbolizes power. In their mockery of Jesus, they gave Him- but a thin, weak reed.

•        kneeling before him, They offered mocking worship to this King.

•       they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  In their spite they mocked Jesus with this title. Not only to humiliate Jesus, but also the Jews - saying, "This is the best King they can bring forth."

•       And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.

SLIDE 24 When he had scourged Jesus: The blows came from a whip with many leather strands, each having sharp pieces of bone or metal at the ends. It reduced the back to raw flesh, and it was not unusual for a criminal to die from a scourging, even before crucifixion.

  "Scourging was a legal preliminary to every Roman execution, and only women and Roman senators or soldiers (except in cases of desertion) were exempt." (Dr. William Edwards in the article "On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ" from the Journal of the American Medical Association, 3/21/86)

 The goal of the scourging was to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse and death. "As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim's back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Then, as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock. The extent of blood loss may well have determined how long the victim would survive the cross." (Edwards) Biblegateway.com guzic

 SLIDE25 ³¹ And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Will you ask God to deal with anything that keeps you from truly knowing and obeying Jesus?