The Trial and Crucifixion of Christ, DCLM Adults Search
Lesson 65
Last week, we looked at ‘’Peter Denies Christ’’. In this study, lesson 65, we will learn about ‘’the trial and crucifixion of Christ’’
MEMORY VERSE: “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots” (Matthew: 27:35)
TEXTS: Matthew 27:1-66; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 23:1-56
Every judicial system frowns at the miscarriage of justice, unfairness and perversion. It abhors all attempts to oppress those who cannot defend themselves and upholds the principle of fair hearing. It protects the rights of innocent persons and punishes only the convicted and the guilty. But Christ’s case was different. Sent into the world as Savior, He was persecuted, humiliated and rejected by the same people to whom He was sent. They arrested Him, assembled a band of false witnesses who testified against Him in order to convict Him. At last, He was crucified. The account in our texts suffices as the highest level of injustice, hate and odium against an innocent person. However, all that happened to Christ has been predetermined.
His purpose for coming into the world was foreordained by the Father in Heaven. In this case, His persecution, arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial were in fulfilment of the Scriptures (Matthew 17:22,23; 20:18,19; Mark 14:21; Luke 22:22).Nothing happened in His life and ministry that had not been written beforehand so that the plan and purpose of God might be fulfilled. His death, however, brings the good news of salvation to the world of dying souls. What was thought to be the enemy’s masterstroke became the Almighty’s master plan, “Which none of the princes world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” ( Corinthians 2:8).
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DECISION OF THE COUNCIL AGAINST CHRIST
Matthew 27:1-10; Mark 15:1-5;Luke 23:17;Psalm 2:2; Luke 22:66;John 18:28
Christ’s persecution and hatred began as soon as He was born. Beginning with Herod who felt that he was mocked by the wise men and sought to kill baby Jesus, to the scribes and Pharisees who tried to discredit Him at every opportunity, to the elders and the religious council who wanted Him destroyed, Christ had been the subject of intense persecution. On several occasions, they sought to lay hands on Him but could not because His time had not yet come (Luke 20:19; John 8:20).
At last, in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, He was arrested and brought before Pilate for trial. “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death” (Matthew 27:1). The elders and chief priests did not hide their malice for the Lord Jesus Christ. They despised Him because,
One, through His doctrines, He had sought to denounce the false religious practices of His day and deliver the people from the stranglehold of religious bondage.
Two, His truth has exposed the hypocrisy of the leaders in both national and religious circles. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).
Three, their craft was fast losing patronage due to the new revelation from Christ (Acts 19:25-27). When opportunity thus presented itself, “…they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor” (Matthew 27:2) for trial. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed…” (Psalm 2:2). Judas Iscariot realized the consequence of his action and went back to the officials to return the thirty silver. He had not envisioned that the outcome of his betrayal would lead to the condemnation and crucifixion of Christ. But they refused to collect the money and he cast it down before them and went and hanged himself. The guilt of betraying an innocent soul was too much for him to bear.
Unlike Peter, his remorse did not contain the ingredients of genuine repentance. If he had repented genuinely, God would have forgiven him. However, the money was used to purchase a parcel of land where strangers were buried. “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value” (Matthew 27:9). While there is life, no sinner is irredeemable; God’s grace is still available to save every repentant sinner (1 John 1:9).
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DELIVERING CHRIST TO BE TRIED AND CRUCIFIED
Matthew 27:11-44;Luke 23:8; Isaiah 53:7;Acts 8:32,33
Christ was delivered to Pilate the governor for interrogation and trial. “And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest” (Matthew 27:11). Pilate’s question was followed by accusations from the chief priests and elders, but He answered nothing so much that they marveled greatly at His silence. Probably the governor had never seen anyone remain calm and composed under an attack before.
The trial of our Lord Jesus Christ here was based on three grounds: “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King” (Luke 23:2). “This fellow” was a phrase of contempt meant to malign and ridicule Him (1 Samuel 21:15; 1 Kings 22:27; Matthew 12:24;John 9:29; Acts 18:13; 24:5).
One, He was accused of perverting the nation; that is, exciting the people to sedition and tumults.
Two, Christ was accused of preventing people from paying taxes, which was not true because He paid taxes also (Matthew 17:27).
Three, He was also charged with attempt to unseat the Roman king by claiming to be King. All these charges were concocted in order to convict Him of treason and execute Him. However, Pilate declared that Christ is innocent, just like other people (Matthew 27:3,4,19,24,54;Luke 23:14,15) and would have Him released, but perceived that the people were implacable and ready to cause unrest if he did not do their bidding to release Christ to be crucified. In spite of the fact that He had been proved by the Roman authorities to have done nothing worthy of death, the Jews yelled out that a notorious murderer, Barabbas, should be granted amnesty, in place of Jesus. They preferred that a murderer be set free than an innocent and sinless Christ. “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, let him be crucified”(Matthew 27:22). When he saw that he could not prevail against their demand, he succumbed. “Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified” (Matthew 27:26). The soldiers, as an assembly of the wicked enclosing their victim (Psalm 22:16), having received orders, began a regime of torture and cruelty against the Lord. They stripped, beat, spat on Him and plaited a crown of thorns which was forced on His head and they led Him to a place called Golgotha to be crucified. There, “they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots” (Matthew 27:35). Crucifixion was the most shameful and painful way to execute a criminal. While on the cross, passers-by reviled Him, casts aspersions on His person, mission and ministry. They shook heads, wagged tongues and the highest level of mockery was hauled at Him. Some said, He saved others, but could not save Himself. “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Matthew 27:43). Even one of the thieves crucified with Him joined in the scorn. As believers, we may encounter situations and challenges that call ‘our faith to question; let us remain firm and trust the Lord to deliver us.
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DEATH AND BURIAL OF CHRIST AND THE JEWS’ CONSPIRACY
Matthew 27:45-66; Mark 15:33-47;Luke 23:44-56; Isaiah 53:3-12; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4;1 Peter 3:18;Hebrews 13:12
Within a period of about twelve hours, the judgment and condemnation of Christ was hastily concluded under Pilate and He was released to be crucified on the cross. His response to daughters of Jerusalem who bewailed His maltreatment was, “weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children”. His response reveals that the depraved state of sinners and their eternal doom are greater causes of wee ping than the death of a saint. Therefore, He prayed for His persecutors, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..”(Luke 23:34). “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour” (Luke 23:44).
Christ died an unusual and unique death. The whole elements of nature responded to His death-there was an earthquake with violent convulsion of the ground; the rocks split asunder and the sun refused to shine. It was said that the quaking of the ground reverberated to other countries beside Israel just because an innocent Soul, the King of kings and Lord of lords was cruelly murdered for sins He did not commit. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).
Also, the veil to the holy of holies, into which the high priest alone went, once a year, to atone for the sins of the people (Hebrews 10:19,20) was rent from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), which signified that the middle wall of partition between the Jews and Gentiles was broken down (Ephesians 2:14-18), and that each believer now have personal access to God. Two malefactors were crucified also with Jesus but only one of them seized the golden opportunity to be saved. How many people miss a lifetime opportunity to be saved and make heaven! They grow up in a Bible-believing church, hear the word of God repeatedly and have access to Christian materials.
But they could not make use of the spiritual resources that they had. When Jesus finally gave up the ghost, one of His disciples, a rich man of Arimathaea named Joseph, went and begged Pilate to remove His body for burial in his own new tomb, where no man had been laid. Joseph and others gave their best to the Master, so must we give of our best to Him. Christ suffered all these to redeem and deliver us from the hands of our enemy so that we can serve Him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives (Luke 1:74,75). He paid for everything that pertains to life and godliness. It is left to whoever will appropriate the complete work of Christ on the Cross and be saved in order to get to heaven. Whoever gets lost would be guilty of spurning the offer of grace, which was wrought by Christ.
Questions for Review:
- Why were the religious Jews bent on putting Christ to death despite many testimonies of His innocence?
- Why did the Jewish leaders prefer a murderer to be released to them, rather than the Messiah?
- How does Judas’ repentance differ from Peter’s?
- What can we learn from Christ’s preservation from His enemies until it was time to go to the Cross?
- Give some reasons Christ had to suffer these humiliations.
- What makes some people to miss a lifetime opportunity to get saved?
- Mention some benefits of Christ’s death on the cross.
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