jesus is arrested what happens
next and let’s get into some of the
human details
i think the average christian in reading
the story
is looking at it from jesus’s point of
view looking at it from the point of
view of the frightened disciples
what they don’t usually think about is
how about looking at it from pilate’s
point of view
or from the point of view of caiaphas
and what a lot of christians don’t know
is that caiaphas as the high priest was
rather
low in the public opinion polls
the priests themselves were admired by
most jewish people but the aristocratic
ruling priests were not they were seen
as oppressive
avaricious greedy and so forth
disconnected
very much so in fact you know there’s an
actual text from antiquity it’s not in
the bible it’s an ancient text
where a high priest is quoted saying do
not touch me
lest you pollute me in my
i mean that’s not that’s not going to go
over very well right with the people
and so the difficulty caiaphas has is
how do i condemn this man who frightens
me
who has criticized me in my own backyard
in the temple precincts
and rising in popularity oh the people
love him he’s known as a healer
and an exorcist he’s talking about the
kingdom of god he’s implying that there
will be regime change
he’s approachable on a human level oh
jesus people reach out and touch him he
touches people he blesses children
i cannot compete with him he’s troubled
and if i can’t control the crowds the
romans will remove me from
office so what do i do i have to get rid
of him
of course poncha’s pilot he doesn’t live
in jerusalem
he lives at a beach resort called
caesarea maritima
he’s a good politician he shows up in
jerusalem at passover time
it’s a way of saying hey listen i know
it’s an important holiday for you i’m
here
so he shows up and he’s got a mess on
his hands and the last thing he wants
is to be blamed for the death of a
popular galilean jewish preacher
so these are the dynamics going on
behind the scenes and part of it is
civil or governmental and another is
religious
and as i read the scriptures there are
it seems to me these multiple
trials mark’s gospel tells us that they
met thursday evening
and jesus has been seized he was praying
where he had been doing every night that
week passion week on the mount of olives
judas the betrayer has told them i know
where he goes i can show you and that’s
what he’s done
so now what do they do with them so
caiaphas invites
i think he knows people who will support
him to his home
they interrogate jesus they get
frustrated because they really can’t
implicate him with
a testimony that agrees and so finally
caiaphas just asked him up front tell us
plainly are you
really the messiah the son of god which
is what he’s asked him
and jesus says yes i am you will see the
son of man seated at the right hand
coming with the clouds of heaven that is
a bold statement
he has combined psalm which is a
royal psalm
with that vision in daniel . he is
saying the next time we meet
i will judge you and caiaphas is
outraged and mark says they
all agreed that he should be put to
death all
but the very next morning friday morning
they have to make this official it’s
only a committee recommendation
as it were to use modern language a
committee met informally in the high
priest’s house
they recommend and they bring the
recommendation forward to
the the parliament as it were the
sanhedrin the council
they gathered friday morning and it is
not unanimous
there is disagreement and dissension
joseph arimathea nicodemus
those two council members probably
others did not agree that jesus deserved
to be put to death and so that that just
shows you it’s a difficult
situation unfolding okay so dr evans we
have the disciples fractured because
uh judas is betrayed peter has denied
jesus is arrested
uh there are these hearings pre-trials
trials going on
trying to gather evidence and make a
case you have the jewish leaders then
fractured then over here you have pilate
in a fascinating study let me ask you to
delve into barabbas because there’s an
interesting
thought that you have about followers of
barabbas or he had a corner
that was uh trying to uh there was there
was a political pitch for him
too what’s that all about oh yeah that’s
that’s related to what’s called the
passover
pardon good politics on pilate’s part if
i had been
a roman governor i’d have done the same
thing passover
uh to the jewish people would be like
christmas or easter to christians
and so the secular governor who doesn’t
he’s not a jew he doesn’t believe in
their traditions at all
but he wants to do a political thing and
that’s release a prisoner
the followers of bravos know this so
they
show up for the annual passover offer so
he has a lobby
yeah you’re lobbying for him so the
governor would bring out
you know maybe a few prisoners and say
who would you like
for me to be released and what he’s
basically saying is look i’m a
reasonable man i’m a lenient man i’m a
good roman governor
and out of respect for your holiday i
will release one of your people so you
make the call
that’s really what it is you could
almost make a game show out of it
and so there he is well the followers of
bravos know this so they’re there
now here’s what’s unusual the followers
of caiaphas they know this too
normally the ruling priests and the
barabbas type
crowd which is cut throats calling for
revolution
overthrowing the romans overthrowing the
ruling priests too and replacing them
with better guys
they’re normally at odds lots of agendas
here this time
they have a common goal barabbas’s crowd
wants barabbas released
they’re not impressed with jesus i mean
what kind of a messiah is jesus he says
turn the other cheek pray for your
enemies forget that
and the ruling priests want to get rid
of jesus so all of a sudden they come
together
that’s like oil and water mixed together
and what do they do
they call for the release of barabbas
and when pilate says well then what do i
do with jesus
they all shout out together crucify him
and that is a beautiful study of
of you might say politics unfolding
on the fly so everybody gets what they
want
wow and yet in the midst of all of that
we go back to the all-important
narrative
of jesus christ making his way
to the cross so that we might experience
his forgiveness well what jesus did was
he
bore for us the unbearable
spiritually speaking in reference to the
burden of sin
but also physically speaking with
respect to
the pain of the crucifixion experience
jesus had been beaten so severely i know
a lot of people criticize mel gibson’s
film for overdoing it but he didn’t
he didn’t really overdo it in that film
the flagellation
would people would be whipped right
through their skin
right into the muscle sometimes right to
the bone the organs
the first century historian josephus
actually described one man being
flagellated
whipped to the bone i looked it up in
the text
the original language that’s what it
says jesus is so weak
so badly beaten has lost so much blood
he can’t
carry the cross piece i know when you
see reenactments it’s the entire cross
shaped like that
it’s actually only the petibulum the
cross piece
that the crucifixion victim carries
jesus can’t even carry that
and he had told his disciples if you’re
going to follow me you got to be able to
pick up your cross and come after me he
can’t even carry that that’s how
injured he is so when we talk about a
burden it’s
literal and not just spiritual
there’s a number on the screen that you
can call and on the other end of that
phone line
our friends who would love to take an
open bible and
share with you how this one who went to
the cross to die for you
would love to have eternal relationship
with you you can experience the
forgiveness of sins
receive the gift of eternal life the
hymn writer put it well amazing love how
can it be
that thou my god would die for me
jesus christ god and flesh gave his life
for you
would you call us and allow us the
opportunity to pray with you
encourage you and help you understand
this wonderful love of god as best we
can from the scriptures
The Crucifixion of Jesus: Unraveling the Why
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a pivotal event in human history, has intrigued scholars, theologians, and believers for centuries. This profound act of sacrifice, chronicled in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, raises profound questions about why Jesus faced such a brutal fate. Let’s delve into the multifaceted reasons behind the crucifixion, exploring the intersections of religious, political, and historical factors that converged on that fateful day.
Table: Key Factors Leading to the Crucifixion
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Threat to Authority | Jesus challenged religious and political norms, posing a threat to established authorities. |
| Messianic Claims | The perception of Jesus as the Messiah conflicted with prevailing religious expectations. |
| Political Expediency | Pontius Pilate yielded to political pressure to maintain order, leading to Jesus’ crucifixion. |
| Divine Purpose | Christian belief holds that Jesus’ death was a divine plan for the redemption of humanity. |
Challenging Religious and Political Norms
One significant reason for Jesus’ crucifixion was his challenge to existing religious and political norms. His teachings questioned the authority of the religious elite, condemning hypocrisy and emphasizing love, compassion, and equality. The establishment viewed Jesus as a disruptor, a charismatic figure whose influence threatened their control over the masses.
Table: Key Teachings of Jesus
| Teaching | Implications |
|---|---|
| Love your enemies | Undermined the notion of retribution and challenged societal norms. |
| The Kingdom of God | Presented an alternative worldview that conflicted with political structures. |
| Authority of Religious Leaders | Criticized the religious elite, challenging their authority. |
Messianic Claims and Expectations
Another layer to the crucifixion narrative lies in the messianic claims associated with Jesus. The Jewish expectation of a Messiah was deeply ingrained in religious consciousness. However, Jesus’ messianic identity did not align with the anticipated triumphant and political deliverer. His focus on spiritual redemption rather than political liberation clashed with prevailing expectations.
Table: Messianic Expectations vs. Jesus’ Identity
| Expectations | Jesus’ Identity |
|---|---|
| Political Deliverer | Emphasized spiritual redemption rather than political liberation. |
| Conquering Hero | Presented a message of humility, sacrificial love, and forgiveness. |
Political Expediency and Pilate’s Dilemma
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, played a pivotal role in the crucifixion saga. Facing a volatile crowd and pressure from the religious authorities, Pilate succumbed to political expediency, choosing to sacrifice Jesus to maintain order. The fear of a potential uprising and desire to appease the crowds outweighed Pilate’s acknowledgment of Jesus’ innocence.
Table: Pilate’s Dilemma
| Options Considered | Decision and Rationale |
|---|---|
| Find Jesus Innocent | Yielded to political pressure, fearing unrest and rebellion. |
| Release Barabbas | Chose the release of a known criminal over Jesus. |
| Washing Hands Symbolically | Symbolic act to distance himself from responsibility. |
Divine Purpose: Redemption and Atonement
For Christians, the crucifixion is not just a result of human actions but a part of a divine plan for the redemption of humanity. The belief is that Jesus willingly sacrificed himself to atone for the sins of humanity, offering a path to reconciliation with God. This theological perspective adds a profound layer to the understanding of why Jesus had to face such a fate.
Table: Theological Significance
| Theological Concept | Implications |
|---|---|
| Atonement | Jesus’ death is seen as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. |
| Redemption | Belief that through the crucifixion, humanity is redeemed and reconciled with God. |
| New Covenant | The shedding of Jesus’ blood is considered a new covenant with humanity. |
Conclusion: The Intersection of Humanity and Divinity
The crucifixion of Jesus remains a complex interplay of religious, political, and divine elements. His challenge to authority, unorthodox messianic identity, Pilate’s political dilemma, and the theological perspective of redemption converge to form a narrative that transcends historical analysis. Whether viewed through a religious lens or examined as a historical event, the crucifixion of Jesus remains a profound and enduring enigma.
In the crucible of human history, the crucifixion stands as a symbol of sacrifice, love, and divine purpose—a narrative that continues to inspire contemplation, devotion, and theological exploration. The why of Jesus’ crucifixion, multifaceted and profound, invites individuals to grapple with questions of authority, identity, and the intersection of the human and the divine.