Week 64: Matthew 27:1 – 14; Mark 15:1 – 5; Luke 22:66 -72; 23:1 – 12; John 18:28 – 38; Acts 1:18 – 20 Although, the decision to put Jesus to death had been reached, the Jews did not have the power to inflict the death sentence. They needed the Romans to do that for them. However, the Romans would not be concerned about matters relating to the Jews/the law/blasphemy, etc. rather they would inflict the death sentence if there was a political reason behind it. So, at daybreak, Jesus is once again led back into the council of the elders of the people that included both the chief priests and teachers of the law. They now ask Jesus if he was the Christ. Jesus responds saying that if he told them they would not believe him and if he asked them they would not answer. He then says, ‘but from now, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.’ The leaders now ask him if he was the Son of God. Jesus responds that they were right in what they were saying. At this, they remark that they did not need any more testimony because they had heard it from him own lips. At this time, Judas who had betrayed Jesus is filled with remorse and returns the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders saying that he had sinned by betraying innocent blood. The leaders brush that off saying that it was not their concern and that it was Judas’ responsibility. Judas throws the money and goes away and hangs himself. The chief priests pick up the coins and say that it was unlawful to put that money into the treasury because it was blood money. So they buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners – that field is called the Field of Blood (Akeldema). This fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah. In Acts 1:18 – 20, Peter refers to Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8; the first reference concerning the field and the second reference concerning the need for another person to take Judas’ place among the twelve. The leaders lead Jesus away to Pilate, the governor. It was early morning by this time; in order to avoid ceremonial uncleanness, the Jews do not enter Pilate’s palace. Pilate instead comes out to them and asks them what they were charging Jesus with. They respond saying that if Jesus were not a criminal they would not be handing him to Pilate. Pilate asks them to take Jesus themselves and judge him by their own law. The group now responds that they didn’t have the authority to execute anyone. Jesus is accused by the chief priests and the elders but gives them no answer. Then Pilate asks him about the testimony that was being brought against him. To the great amazement of Pilate, Jesus does not reply to a single charge that is brought against him. The accusers tell Pilate that they had found Jesus to be subverting the nation, that he opposed payment of taxes to Caesar and that he claimed to be the Christ, a king. Pilate asks him if he was the king of the Jews. Jesus asks Pilate if this was his idea or if others talked to him/Pilate about himself/Jesus. Pilate responds by saying that he was not a Jew and that it was Jesus’ people who had handed him over. Pilate asks him what he had done. Jesus responds that his kingdom was not of this world; if it were so, his servants would fight to prevent his arrest by the Jews. Rather his kingdom was from another place. Pilate then says, ‘You are a king, then!’ Jesus answers that it was correct that he was a king. He goes on to say that he had been born for this very reason, to testify to the truth. He says that everyone on the side of truth listened to him. Pilate responds, ‘What is truth?’ Jesus, by his answers, clearly shows Pilate that his kingdom was not a threat to the Roman empire; he didn’t have an army or servants that would fight on his behalf. Rather he had asked Peter to put his sword back when he had cut Malchus’ ear. Pilate then goes out to the Jews again and tells them that he found no basis for a charge against Jesus. But they insist that Jesus was a trouble-maker and that he had stirred up the people all over Judea by his teaching; they state that he started in Galilee and had come all the way there. (Please have a map to show the group) Upon hearing that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sends Jesus to Herod who was also in Jerusalem at that time because of the festival. When Herod sees Jesus, he is elated because he had heard about Jesus and wanted to meet him in the hopes that Jesus was perform some miracle that he/Herod could see. He asks Jesus several questions, but Jesus does not answer any of them. The group continues to accuse him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridicule him, dress him in an elegant robe and send him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate become friends – prior to that they had been enemies. Week 65: Matthew 27:15 – 34; Mark 15:6 -24; Luke 23:13 – 31; John 18:39, 40, 19:1 – 17
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 22:59:22 +0000
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