SECTION 12: THE TRIAL – DEATH –
AND RESURRECTION OF THE KING
CHAPTER 65
THE CRUCIFIXION AND BURIAL
OR
COURAGE IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS
Scripture To Consider:
“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Jesus and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. Then when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”
“Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of the Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when Jesus tasted it, He would not drink. Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: ‘They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.’ Sitting down, they kept watch over Jesus there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
“Then two robbers were crucified with Jesus, one on the right and another on the left. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ Likewise, the chief priests, also mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him; for He said, “I am the Son of God.”‘ Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.” Matthew 27.27-44
A Few Words Of Warning:
The title placed by Pilate above the cross forms a fitting superscription for the gospel of Matthew, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” To demonstrate this fact is the unfailing purpose of the author, and on no other page is it more evident than when Matthew sketches the agonizing story of the crucifixion. The title was prepared in derision, but it recalls a claim, it embodies a realty, and it suggests an Old Testament prophecy.
For making that claim Jesus was condemned; yet He is in reality the King of the Jews, and that nation will attain its predicted glory when in repentance, “They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced.” And when they shall welcome Him with the cry, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” But until then the nation of Israel will reap what they have in haste and hatred sown.
This title upon the cross was but one of the forms of derision heaped upon the innocent Sufferer, and all the others echoed the same claim of kingship and were unintentional testimonials to the same truth. The brutal soldiers hailed Jesus, “King of the Jews,” and they robed Him in scarlet and crowned Him with thorns and gave Him a reed as a scepter and bowed before Him in derisive mockery.
The people taunted Jesus with His claim to be the Son of God. The chief priests and elders cried out in scorn, “He saved others: Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.” Even the robbers who were crucified with Jesus united in taunting Him because of his kingly claims. The reality and truthfulness of the claims were soon attested by the accompanying events.
More Scripture To Consider:
“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And 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?’ Some of these who stood there, when they heard that, said, ‘This Man is calling for Elijah!’ Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, ‘Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.'”
“Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
“Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’ And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” Matthew 27.45-56
Something To Consider:
Surely Jesus died as a King for the sun was hidden and there was darkness over all the land, and the earth was shaken; rocks were broken, and the tombs of believers were opened. Meanwhile the primary Sufferer uttered no word of complaint, only what appeared to be a cry of anguish as if Jesus felt He was forsaken by His Father. We will speak more of this in the few final words section.
For now, it was no wonder the centurion who was watching Jesus feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” No wonder the women who were there looking on from afar, looked with breaking hearts upon the scene of terror. They knew Jesus and loved Him and beneath the disguise of His humiliation they had beheld the majesty of a King.
According to Matthew, “The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.” This is the key to the mystery. Therefore, why did Jesus die? Why did the sinless One thus suffer? Why was the Son of God asked to endure this shame and agony of death? It was that He might bring us to the Father, and that He might open for us a new and living way into the divine presence of God. Christ’s death in this manner was so we might be justified by faith rather than by the continual sacrifice of animals, and that we might have access to peace with God and be able to rejoice in the hope of His eternal glory.
More Scripture To Consider:
“Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to Joseph of Arimathea. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.”
“On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, ‘Sir, we remember, while He [Jesus] was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘Jesus has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”
“Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.” Matthew 27.57-65
Something Else To Consider:
Even the burial of Jesus has its touches of royalty. His lifeless body was secured by a rich ruler named Arimathea. His body was wrapped in costly linen and placed in a new tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and which was sealed with a great stone. There Matthew pictures the faithful women seated nearby and guarding the tomb as the day drew to its close.
There were other guards, however, appointed to watch the tomb. The chief priests and Pharisees appealed to Pilate, telling him of a promise which Jesus had made to rise from the dead. They stated their fear lest His disciples should steal His body and the belief in His resurrection should be established and should prove more dangerous than the current belief that Jesus was a King. With the consent of Pilate, they sealed the stone which closed the tomb and appointed a guard of soldiers. It established the fact that if the tomb was really found empty on the third day, Jesus must have risen from the dead.
Something More To Consider:
The crucifixion of Jesus brought a distinct separation among the multitudes who previously enjoyed following Jesus. At the crucifixion there were only a handful of onlooking women and John the disciple of whom Scripture declared, Jesus loved. And yet, a behind the scenes follower named Joseph of Arimathea, found the courage to stand for Jesus and before Pilate even in the midst of so much chaos that surrounded the death of Jesus Christ.
According to Mark’s gospel record, chapter 15 and verse 43; Joseph of Arimathea was a respected member of the counsel, possibly a member of the Sanhedrin. According to John 19.39-40; Nicodemus, another secret follower of Jesus, purchased costly spices and aloes and joined Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the body of Jesus for burial. Both of these behind-the-scenes followers of Jesus, stepped out of obscurity and placed their lives, the lives of their families, their homes, their reputations, and their possessions on the line for Christ. On that day, these two one-time secret followers of Jesus rose to the occasion even in the midst of the crucifixion chaos.
Why is it that the chief priests and Pharisees seemed to believe or to at least fear Jesus’ predictions of rising from the dead after three days; and the reality of Jesus’ rising was to become a surprise to the disciples? And yet, no matter how many measures were taken by those who thought they were in charge, to secure the tomb, the power of God was not in the least diminished. How many times in our own lives are we hampered by our thoughts of seemingly overwhelming situations and circumstances?
May we be encouraged on a daily basis by the fulfillment of God’s Word and the promises of God in and through Jesus Christ. May we also take courage even in the midst of our own chaos in the times in which we are living. All over the globe, Christianity is under attack and facing brutal opposition. And according to Jesus, this will only increase as we approach the end of this age. Let us be willing to be like both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus and many others since. Let us, therefore, faithfully endure unto the end as the Spirit of God enables us to do so!
A Few Final Words:
We are told by Matthew, that Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” For those onlookers and most of every generation since who are unfamiliar with Scripture, would be assured that His cry was one of anguish due to God having forsaken Him. It could very well be that God was forced to forsake His Son in that moment of cruelty, and yet, if that was the case, it would be true for the human race, past, present, and future might have a way to be saved from their sin.
There is another very plausible reason and explanation for Jesus crying out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” It coulod very well be because Psalm 22 begins with the very same words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” From that opening statement of Psalm 22, the writer gives us a most vivid word picture of death by crucifixion in great detail. And if prayerfully read, it appears to have been written from Jesus’ perspective while hanging in the balance for all of mankind.
Verse 14-15 of Psalm 22 declares, “I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint, My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me, My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.” The writer continues his precise description of Jesus’ crucifixion, by stating in verses 16-18, “For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”
In Closing:
The writer concludes Psalm 22, by proclaiming, “All those who go down to the dust [those who die] shall bow before Him [Jesus], even He who cannot keep Himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He [Jesus] has done this.” This alone should give us courage to endure unto the end even in the midst of so much end time chaos and prophesied of tribulation!
Let’s Pray:
Our Father in heaven, thank You for such a detailed account of the crucifixion, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus our Lord, Savior, and King. Thank You Father for the record of men and women stepping up for Jesus and putting their lives in danger for the cause of Christ and the enlarging of the kingdom of heaven. Thank You Jesus for Your willingness to obey Your Father wishes concerning our redemption. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 