The Crucifixion of Christ Jesus
It was the time of Passover. Passover is a Jewish celebration of the deliverance of the Israelites, who were Jewish slaves out of Egypt and from the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. It was custom to prepare a feast or large meal and dine with friends and family. Christ Jesus told his disciples to go prepare for the Passover. Two Disciples of Christ Jesus went to the city, found the man with the pitcher of water, followed him home and requested use of the upper room. They then prepared the meat and unleavened bread for Passover (Mark 14:12-16).
That evening Christ Jesus came with the disciples and they sat to eat. Christ Jesus told them that he was eager to spend this time with them before his death, and told them that he knew that this would be his last meal (Luke 22:15-16).
Being the last supper, this Passover meal has great significance. The last supper is the basis of communion, of which many partake in remembrance of Christ Jesus, and his sacrifice for all of mankind. Christ Jesus took the wine and blessed it. He then told them to share it. Christ Jesus also took the bread and blessed it and broke it into pieces and shared it with them. As he did this he told them that the wine was representative of his blood and the bread was representative of his body, and he reminded them that this was his last meal. This was the first communion, and a practice that we still follow.
Luke 22
17And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
As they ate supper, Christ Jesus told them that one of them would betray him. Of course all of the disciples loved Christ Jesus and denied that they would ever betray him, but Jesus knew truth. The man that was to betray Jesus was Judas, but the disciples did not know that (Mark 14:18-21).
John 13:1-3
1Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
The disciplines began discuss among themselves who was more loyal and a better disciple. This was when Christ Jesus decided to wash their feet. Walking dusty dirty roads in sandals made feet very dirty. The washing of feet was usually the duty of the servant of the house. After supper Christ Jesus removed his clothing and wrapped a towel around himself and prepared himself to wash the feet of his disciples (John 13:4-5).
When Christ Jesus knelt before Simon Peter to wash his feet, Peter resisted. Christ Jesus said that if he was not permitted to wash his feet that Peter would not be with Jesus. Peter then requested that Christ Jesus also wash his hands and his head, indicating that he truly wanted to be with Jesus. Christ Jesus answered him that although their feet were washed, that they needed to be cleaned everywhere; meaning that their hearts needed to be pure also. Because Christ Jesus knew who was about to betray him, he then said that not all of them were clean (John 13:6-11).
After Christ Jesus had finished washing their feet and redressed, he sat with them to teach them about what he had just done. Christ Jesus said that as their Lord and Master, he had cared for them and as he had cared for them, they should care for each other. He said that he had set an example for them that they should follow (John 13:12:17).
After supper, and after their feet had been washed, they sung a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives to go to the garden of Garden of Gethsemane. Christ Jesus tried to warn them of what was about to happen. Christ Jesus warned that even Peter, who swore that he loved he loved Jesus, would deny Christ Jesus three times before dawn (Mark 14:26-31).
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said to them, “What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?” And they agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16).
Christ Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane with his disciples and said, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." Jesus took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. Christ Jesus went a further and with his face to the ground he prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." When Christ Jesus returned to find them all asleep, he said "So, you mencould not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Christ went to pray a second time, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." Again Jesus returned to find them sleeping, and Jesus went to pray a third time, praying that God would change his circumstances. Jesus again returned to find them sleeping. Jesus said to his disciples "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand (Matthew 26:37-46)!”
Christ Jesus prayed and prayed, and each time he prayed that God’s will be done. The fervent prayers of Christ Jesus and the willingness to sacrifice his self for God and mankind are something we should all learn from.
While Christ was still speaking, Judas with a large group of people who were sent by the chief priests and elders. Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Jesus responded saying, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and seized Him (Matthew 26:47-50).
As they seized Jesus, one of those who were with Jesus drew his sword and cut off the ear of the slave of the high priest. Christ Jesus told his to put his sword back and said, for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Then Jesus said, "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?" And then to the crowd Jesus said, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets." Then all the disciples left Him and fled (Matthew 26: 51-56).
Christ Jesus, even in this crisis situation, still was compassionate and forgiving and showed this by healing the slave’s ear. Christ Jesus knew that his death was a necessary sacrifice for the salvation of mankind and in order that the scriptures be fulfilled.
Those who had seized Christ Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, who was high priest. The scribes and elders were gathered there. The chief priests and the Council were trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, and found none. Later two men did testify that Christ Jesus had said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.' "Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?" They answered, "He deserves death!" Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You (Matthew 26:57-68)?"
God the Creator is judge of sin. No one else is or could ever be. The judgments of men in the court of law are based on the laws and ordinances of man, established by men, and are not judgments of sin, even though many laws that have been established are based on the Ten Commandments. Luke 6:37 - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
Peter, who had followed, was sitting outside in the courtyard waiting to see the outcome. A servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are oneof them; for even the way you talk gives you away." Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly (Matthew 69-75).
Christ Jesus had warned previously that if anyone denied knowing him, that Christ Jesus would also deny knowing them to God his father in heaven. Matthew 10:33, "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor (Matthew 27:1-2). Now Jesus stood before Pilate, the governor, and he questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." As Christ Jesus was being accused, he remained silent. Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" Christ Jesus did not answer (Matthew 27:11-14).
Pilate, at the feast, the custom to release one prisoner of the people’s choosing. Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. But the governor said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!" And he said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they kept shouting saying, "Crucify Him!" Pilate took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to thatyourselves." Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified (Matthew 27:15-22).
Pilate, being governor, had the power to release Christ Jesus without reason but did not. Pilate could have told the crowd that Christ Jesus had not broken a law and then released him but did not do that either. Pilate washed his hands and proclaimed his innocence in the matter, but God will determine the guilt or innocence of Pilate.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. They put a crown of thorns on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross (Matthew 27:27-32).
And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it,He was unwilling to drink. And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. And above His head a sign which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS." The two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. People mocked him as he hung on the cross (Matthew 27:33-44).
Galatians 6:7 - Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Those that mocked Christ Jesus probably did not receive the same mercy and grace from God as others. After they repented, if they repented, God was surely merciful to them and forgave them their sin.
They gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, they gave him soured wine that had become vinegar mixed with gall, which is poison. This was often given to those being crucified, in order that they die more quickly. Crucifixion was a Roman act of torturously killing someone by nailing their arms and feet to a cross, made of a long wooden stake, with a cross plank to outstretch the arms of the victim. The nails were driven through the victims wrists to the cross plank, and through the ankles of the victim. A cross plank was near the feet, so that the victim could raise himself up to take a breath, otherwise he would suffocate without air. The breaking of the victims legs would prevent them from taking this breath, and make them die more quickly; otherwise the crucifixion might last as long as three days.
Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elias." Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, "Let see whether Elias will come to save Him (Matthew 27:45-49).”
Eli translates to mean God. There may be a time when we feel forsaken, but we have to believe that God is with us, and God understands our pain. Christ Jesus was able to avoid the crucifixion completely but chose to follow God’s plan.
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God (Matthew 27:50-54)!”
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and begged for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away (Matthew 27:57-60).
On the next day, the after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, "Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I am to rise again.' "Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it assecure as you know how." And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone (Matthew 27:62:66).
After the Sabbath, on the first dayof the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you (Matthew 28:1-7)."
And as they went to tell his disciples, Jesus met them, saying “All Hail”. And they came and held him by his feet and worshiped him. Jesus told them to not be afraid and to go into Galilee and he would see them there (Mark 28: 9:10). Mary and Mary relayed the message to the disciples, and the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to a mountain where Jesus had told to go (Mark 28:16).
Mark 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Because Christ Jesus came to this earth and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin, having died completely innocent of sin, and because Christ is risen from the grave, and reigns in heaven on the right hand of God, those who believe on Christ Jesus have salvation, being forgiven of sin, and will avoid paying for their sin by going to hell.
God created all that exist, regardless of its form, to have relationship with him. God fully intended for all that he created to be righteous and when sin came to exist, God had to find a way to allow forgiveness for those who truly desired forgiveness. I believe that all forms of existence, regardless of sin, have the ability to repent and have relationship with God. I believe that all forms of existence have the ability to seek him. I also believe that God looks for sincerity in prayer, thus the need for fervent prayer.
In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray to Christ Jesus requesting you know we are grateful that you left the bliss of heaven to come to this earth. Lord Jesus, we are grateful that you walked among us and loved us in spite of our sin. We are grateful that you taught us to love each other, and taught us to have relationship with God. We are grateful for your sacrifice in order that we might escape hell by believing in you. Lord Jesus I believe in you. I pray and request for forgiveness of my sin, and request that all my sin be washed away with the blood that you shed for me. Christ Jesus I beg forgiveness that you were ever hurt, but I am grateful for your great sacrifice for mankind. I thank you Christ Jesus for salvation and I ask for Christ Jesus to lead me and guide me. Bless you Lord Jesus! I pray this request. Amen.
