|
The Trial And Crucifixion Of Christ
by Bro. Peter Rahme
 For three and a half years Jesus had taught that he had to go to the cross, take on the sins of the world and die for humanity. In the upper room He and His disciples ate the Passover meal then Jesus washed His disciples’ feet - including Judas, knowing that he would betray Him. Jesus knew what lay ahead of Him. His disciples could not possibly have imagined. He then prayed “Father, the time has come, I have finished the work you gave me. Now these you gave me, make them one as we are one.” (John 17) Then He left to go to the olive grove, better known as the Garden of Gethsemane.
This is where it all began. The time was drawing closer. The next 12-15 hours were the most traumatic Jesus had to face. Who could possibly measure the anguish that He experienced as He submitted His will to that of the Father. He anticipated His separation from His Father, when He would bear the sins of the world.
“…He knelt down and prayed, “Father if it is Your will, remove this cup From Me, nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42
Christ's Arrest
After He had prayed, He awoke his disciples and urged them to pray so that they would not fall into temptation. It was then that He saw the multitude approaching, led by Judas his disciple, soldiers, high priests and some members of the Sanhedrin. They had come to arrest Him, and this was the start of the humiliation and torture He would have to endure as they put Him through six trials.
Three Jewish Trials And Three Roman Trials
There were three Jewish trials and three Roman trials. Most everything they did during these trials was illegal and contrary to the law. For this reason He came to redeem us from the curse of the law.
Six Trials At Night
- The 1st trial was before Annas, the high priest. (John 18:12-13)
- The 2nd trial was before Caiaphas. (John 18:24)
- The 3rd trial before the council of the San Hedrin. (Luke 22:66)
- The 4th trial — before Pilate. (Luke 23:1,6-7)
- The 5th trial — before Herod. (Luke 23:7-8)
- The 6th trial — before Pilate again. (Luke 23:11)
The Romans Had No Law
 The same Jesus, who had performed miracles, healed the sick and loved the unlovable, now had to endure the indignity of their mockery, and the cruel scourging ordered by Pilate. Popular belief is that Jesus took 39 stripes. It was the Romans however, who beat Him, and there was a difference between Jewish and Roman law in this regard. Under Jewish law only 40 lashes were allowed, so beatings were stopped at 39 lashes to be sure that a miscount did not take place. The Romans knew no such limitations. They could beat a man almost to death. This is what happened in the case of Jesus. It was part of the humiliation that the one being crucified had to go through.
Jesus was the only person born on the earth, who could be the ultimate sacrifice for the human race. Throughout the Old Testament when a sacrifice was to be offered for the sins of the people, it was usually a spotless lamb. The day after John baptized Jesus in the river Jordan; he saw Jesus walking towards him and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
Jesus was the only person put to death for who He was and not for what He had done. He suffered the cruelty of crucifixion and gave up His life so that we could be reconciled to God and walk in divine liberty.
Death Could Not Hold Him
But death could not hold Him. The stone was rolled away (in spite of the very efficient Roman guard) and only the linen cloths and the neatly folded head covering were to be found in the tomb!
The Resurrection
On the third day after Jesus had been crucified God the Father raised Him from the dead. The divine plan for the souls of mankind was now in operation and Jesus had conquered hell death and the grave. To this very day the empty tomb is a dramatic testimony to the power of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because Christ was raised from the dead, He now has that infinite capacity to enter a man or woman’s life, forgive them and change them from the inside out. By receiving Him they too are raised together in newness of life
“And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus , 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:5-8
Without the resurrection, the apostle Paul declared that Christian preaching and belief are meaningless. So significant is the resurrection of Jesus that without it there would be no church or Christianity, and we would still be lost in our sins without hope.
 What can we learn through the crucifixion of Christ? To the natural man it is a gruesome act of cruelty. To God, it was an act of pure love and grace, reaching out to a lost world dying in its sin. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are, without a doubt, the most important events in history. This is the Christian’s hope. Jesus completely paid for our sins when He died in our place on the cross. He defeated death and proved in His resurrection, beyond any uncertainty, that all He said was true. This is why we celebrate “the Resurrection,” our risen Savior is alive and now sits on the right hand of the throne of God where He ever lives to make intercession for us.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Bro. Peter Rahme
|