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.