“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.”
(James 5:13 ESV)
>>>HOLY THURSDAY<<<
Before the Last Supper
}The Last Supper took place on Thursday night. Here is what we know about what happened right before this:
}From Mark we learn the day: It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Wednesday). And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (Mark 14:1-2 ESV)
}From Luke we learn the who (Judas Iscariot) and why (Satan): Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. (Luke 22:3-4 ESV)
}From Matthew we learn the price: “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14 ESV)
}From Mark we learn the day: It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Wednesday). And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (Mark 14:1-2 ESV)
}From Luke we learn the who (Judas Iscariot) and why (Satan): Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. (Luke 22:3-4 ESV)
}From Matthew we learn the price: “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14 ESV)
Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, *Luke 22:7-23*
}During the Last Supper Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and passed it out amongst the disciples.
}Then Jesus took a cup of wine, blessed it, and passed it around to the disciples. “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:27 ESV)
}The bread and wine are symbols of Christ's body and blood and in order to remember what he did for us (Dying on the cross) we are to practice communion until he returns.
}Then Jesus took a cup of wine, blessed it, and passed it around to the disciples. “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:27 ESV)
}The bread and wine are symbols of Christ's body and blood and in order to remember what he did for us (Dying on the cross) we are to practice communion until he returns.
Peter too?
}We learn of Satan entering Judas and turning him against Jesus, but we quite often forget that Satan isn't satisfied with just one. Just like in Judas' case, Satan was seeking to get Peter too. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32 ESV)
}Matthew & Mark have Peter's response as, "But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” (Mark 14:31 ESV) Luke adds that Peter says, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33 ESV)
}Peter is told that before the night was out- before the rooster crows (Mark says before the rooster crows twice) - that Peter would deny Jesus 3 times.
}Matthew & Mark have Peter's response as, "But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” (Mark 14:31 ESV) Luke adds that Peter says, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33 ESV)
}Peter is told that before the night was out- before the rooster crows (Mark says before the rooster crows twice) - that Peter would deny Jesus 3 times.
Garden of Gethsemane
}Eight disciples are told to sit and wait- "And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John." (Mark 14:32-33 ESV) Jesus takes Peter, James, and John away from the group but leaves them to pray by himself, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38 ESV)
}Matthew and Mark record that Jesus finds Peter, James, and John sleeping at least twice during his prayer and this time when Jesus returns to the three they are sleeping again.
}Matthew and Mark record that Jesus finds Peter, James, and John sleeping at least twice during his prayer and this time when Jesus returns to the three they are sleeping again.
Jesus betrayed and arrested
}We've all heard the story- Jesus is betrayed by a kiss. But there is much more to this story. At the end of the prayer where Jesus was sweating and it was like drops of blood Judas, the betrayer, shows up in the garden with Temple Security (not their official names). "So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons." (John 18:3 ESV)
}Judas gave the Temple Security a pre-determined sign of who Jesus was- Judas would walk up and give Jesus a kiss. As the crowd gets there Jesus asks who they are looking for and Judas walks forward, says, "Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him." (Matthew 26:49-50 ESV) Luke adds that Jesus says, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48 ESV)
}Judas gave the Temple Security a pre-determined sign of who Jesus was- Judas would walk up and give Jesus a kiss. As the crowd gets there Jesus asks who they are looking for and Judas walks forward, says, "Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him." (Matthew 26:49-50 ESV) Luke adds that Jesus says, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48 ESV)
Jesus betrayed and arrested cont.
}When Jesus is grabbed by the Temple Security, Peter draws his sword and slices the ear off of a servant named Malchus. Jesus tells Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11 ESV) "For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:52-54 ESV)
}Jesus reminds them that they could have grabbed him while everyone was listening in the Temple courts but instead they arrested by night in the darkness.
}Jesus reminds them that they could have grabbed him while everyone was listening in the Temple courts but instead they arrested by night in the darkness.
Jesus goes on trial
}During the night, Jesus is taken to Annas' house and a mock trial (where Jesus would have been mocked and beaten by the captors) takes place. It was while this mock trial/ beating that Peter is waiting outside and denies Christ three times.
}When the morning comes Jesus is sent from the house of Annas to the more "official" Sanhedrin trial. "Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest." (John 18:24 ESV)
}When the morning comes Jesus is sent from the house of Annas to the more "official" Sanhedrin trial. "Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest." (John 18:24 ESV)
>>>GOOD FRIDAY<<<
Jesus & Pilate
•Matthew, in his account of Good Friday, is the only one of the four Gospel writers who tells us what happened to Judas, "And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself." (27:5 ESV) After feeling bad about betraying Jesus, Judas returns to the High Priests and tries to return the money. They won't take it, he hangs himself, and the priests buy a field with the money.
•The reason Jesus goes before Pilate next is because the Jewish Law did not have provision for the death penalty, so they wanted to condemn Jesus under Roman law and Pilate was the Roman Governor of the area. Although while reading Matthew and Mark we get the impression that there is one appearance before Pilate, we learn from Luke that after the priests tell Pilate that Jesus incites the people, Pilate learns that Jesus is Galilean. Pilate did not want to be the one to put Jesus to death so Pilate attempts to "pass the buck" to the ruler over in Galilee, King Herod. Herod does not find any reason to condemn Jesus to death and has Jesus sent back to Pilate.
•The reason Jesus goes before Pilate next is because the Jewish Law did not have provision for the death penalty, so they wanted to condemn Jesus under Roman law and Pilate was the Roman Governor of the area. Although while reading Matthew and Mark we get the impression that there is one appearance before Pilate, we learn from Luke that after the priests tell Pilate that Jesus incites the people, Pilate learns that Jesus is Galilean. Pilate did not want to be the one to put Jesus to death so Pilate attempts to "pass the buck" to the ruler over in Galilee, King Herod. Herod does not find any reason to condemn Jesus to death and has Jesus sent back to Pilate.
Jesus & Pilate Round 2
•John shares with us a more intimate detail of the trial where Pilate takes Jesus inside and asks Jesus directly if he is the King of the Jews. Jesus tells Pilate that Jesus isn't an earthly king (right now) but is instead a king in Heaven. Pilate decides that there is nothing worth the death penalty in this and tells the crowd that he finds no fault in Jesus.
•Pilate attempts to appease the crowd and (this was actually a tradition in the area) offer up two prisoners to be released around Passover time. The crowd decides on the murderer Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus.
•Pilate tells the crowd that Jesus is going to be flogged but he will not put Jesus to death.
•Pilate attempts to appease the crowd and (this was actually a tradition in the area) offer up two prisoners to be released around Passover time. The crowd decides on the murderer Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus.
•Pilate tells the crowd that Jesus is going to be flogged but he will not put Jesus to death.
Jesus & Pilate Round 2 cont.
•There is a misconception here that when Jesus is flogged, he is whipped 39 times. This would be true if he were whipped under Jewish Law, but he is not. Jesus was ordered to be whipped by Pilate and there was no such provision in Roman Law limiting the number of whippings a criminal would receive.
•Roman Law had it to where you would be beaten to a point where you would be near death, just not dead. More than likely this would have been a vicious beating and whipping of an untold number of whippings to near death.
•Roman Law had it to where you would be beaten to a point where you would be near death, just not dead. More than likely this would have been a vicious beating and whipping of an untold number of whippings to near death.
Pilate gives the death sentence
•The four Gospel accounts give the same events, just not in the chronological order. After the flogging Jesus was mockingly robed like a king, and the crown of thorns was placed on his head. Pilate leads Jesus in front of the crowd to show them that Jesus had been beaten and mocked but the crowd kept screaming for Jesus to die.
• Pilate hears that Jesus had called himself the Son of God and he decides to question Jesus in private again (John 19:9-11). Jesus does not give any indication that he is looking to revolt against Roman rule so Pilate again decides that Jesus is not deserving of death.
• Pilate hears that Jesus had called himself the Son of God and he decides to question Jesus in private again (John 19:9-11). Jesus does not give any indication that he is looking to revolt against Roman rule so Pilate again decides that Jesus is not deserving of death.
Death Sentence Cont.
•The crowd gets increasingly ridiculous and outrageous. When the crowd says, "We have no king but Caesar" they were completely full of hogwash because the Jews were famous for not submitting to any foreign rule; especially to the Romans. It is here that the crowd is near rebellion.
• Pilate decides that he is getting nowhere with this crowd and does not want outright rebellion. He shows the crowd that he does not want any part in being Jesus' condemner so he washes his hands of Jesus' blood. Pilate gives in and turns Jesus over to be crucified.
• Pilate decides that he is getting nowhere with this crowd and does not want outright rebellion. He shows the crowd that he does not want any part in being Jesus' condemner so he washes his hands of Jesus' blood. Pilate gives in and turns Jesus over to be crucified.
*Matthew 27:32-61*; Mark 15:21-47;
Luke 23:26-56; John 19:17-42
•Remember earlier when we touched on Roman flogging? Jesus was flogged to the point where he could not carry his own cross because the Romans were brutal with flogging. Someone had to be forced to carry the cross for Jesus- that was a man named Simon from Cyrene. The place they went to was called Golgotha (in Aramaic) or Calvary (in Latin) for “The Skull”.
Matthew and Mark mention the bitter wine that is given to Jesus before he is put on the cross. Matthew mentions the inscription above Jesus' head (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), but John tells us that it is written in three different languages common to the area (Aramaic, Latin, Greek). Have you ever seen a picture of the sign over Jesus' head and saw the letters "INRI"? This is your Latin for "Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum" (Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews).
Matthew and Mark mention the bitter wine that is given to Jesus before he is put on the cross. Matthew mentions the inscription above Jesus' head (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), but John tells us that it is written in three different languages common to the area (Aramaic, Latin, Greek). Have you ever seen a picture of the sign over Jesus' head and saw the letters "INRI"? This is your Latin for "Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum" (Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews).
The Hour Has Come
•While up on the cross Jesus is mocked and taunted by the peanut gallery. How sad that they couldn't grasp the concept that Jesus was allowing his crucifixion to take place because it had been prophesied and must happen as the perfect sacrifice for sins...
•It has been mentioned that if Jesus were to have nails put through his hands it would not have supported his weight on the cross (which is true) but the purpose of the nails through your hands was not for support; it was to make it so that you could not manipulate the rope tied around your wrists (which was for support). Also the nails would have inflicted extra pain...
•It has been mentioned that if Jesus were to have nails put through his hands it would not have supported his weight on the cross (which is true) but the purpose of the nails through your hands was not for support; it was to make it so that you could not manipulate the rope tied around your wrists (which was for support). Also the nails would have inflicted extra pain...
The promised sacrificial Lamb of God
•While up on the cross Jesus is mocked and taunted by the peanut gallery. How sad that they couldn't grasp the concept that Jesus was allowing his crucifixion to take place because it had been prophesied and must happen as the perfect sacrifice for sins...
•It has been mentioned that if Jesus were to have nails put through his hands it would not have supported his weight on the cross (which is true) but the purpose of the nails through your hands was not for support; it was to make it so that you could not manipulate the rope tied around your wrists (which was for support). Also the nails would have inflicted extra pain...
•It has been mentioned that if Jesus were to have nails put through his hands it would not have supported his weight on the cross (which is true) but the purpose of the nails through your hands was not for support; it was to make it so that you could not manipulate the rope tied around your wrists (which was for support). Also the nails would have inflicted extra pain...
Sacrificial Lamb Cont.
•Matthew and Mark record Jesus crying out at 3 pm, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 ESV) Some of the mockers thought Jesus was calling for Elijah, the Old Testament prophet, to come save him.
•John records Jesus saying "I thirst" at this point so the on-lookers give him some of that sour wine on a sponge attached to a long stick. Luke records Jesus saying his last words, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (23:46 ESV)
•John records Jesus saying "I thirst" at this point so the on-lookers give him some of that sour wine on a sponge attached to a long stick. Luke records Jesus saying his last words, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (23:46 ESV)
It is Finished
•John records that in order to speed up the criminals' deaths the Roman Centurions keeping watch were going to break the criminal's legs. They didn't break Jesus' legs because he was already dead. Instead they pierced his side with a spear. It is interesting to note that in ancient times the kidneys (not the heart) were thought to be the seat of emotion. Piercing someone's kidneys would have "broken their heart".
•Matthew, Mark, and Luke record the Temple curtain being torn in two from TOP to BOTTOM- this couldn't have happened unless God Almighty himself were tearing it. This split in the curtain represents that there was no longer a barrier between man and the Lord God. Matthew & Mark also record earthquakes but Matthew tells of people coming alive up out of their graves and walking around the town for awhile.
•Matthew, Mark, and Luke record the Temple curtain being torn in two from TOP to BOTTOM- this couldn't have happened unless God Almighty himself were tearing it. This split in the curtain represents that there was no longer a barrier between man and the Lord God. Matthew & Mark also record earthquakes but Matthew tells of people coming alive up out of their graves and walking around the town for awhile.
It is Finished Cont.
•Matthew & Mark (after the earthquake) and Luke as well record a centurion's thoughts about who Jesus was. Matthew & Mark have the centurion saying that Jesus was the Son of God & Luke has him saying that Jesus was innocent.
•Evening comes and Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple of Jesus- also a member of the Jewish council who did not agree with the council's decision on Jesus, comes to take the body of Jesus and put him into the tomb.
•Evening comes and Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple of Jesus- also a member of the Jewish council who did not agree with the council's decision on Jesus, comes to take the body of Jesus and put him into the tomb.
Remember this...
•It is tempting to think back on all that we've gone over from only two days worth of events and remember the suffering and passion that was felt by Jesus Christ and focus on the sacrifice that Christ made for us on the cross BUT…
•I implore that you take a look at this picture<====
•and remember that Christ was placed on this cross ONCE, and sacrificed ONCE, but now the cross sits empty as a reminder of that SINGLE sacrifice. That is right folks, Jesus is not still nailed to the cross as a continuing sacrifice- that is not necessary- instead for right now he lays in the tomb awaiting his appearance for the single greatest event of all time...
•I implore that you take a look at this picture<====
•and remember that Christ was placed on this cross ONCE, and sacrificed ONCE, but now the cross sits empty as a reminder of that SINGLE sacrifice. That is right folks, Jesus is not still nailed to the cross as a continuing sacrifice- that is not necessary- instead for right now he lays in the tomb awaiting his appearance for the single greatest event of all time...