Are you ready to resume our Tell me the story of Jesus voyage? When we left off Judas, who betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus was
condemned (as Satan had departed from him cuz the deed was done and
Satan no longer needed Judas), he deeply regretted what he’d done, and
brought the thirty pieces of silver to give back to the chief priests
and elders. He said, I’ve sinned by betraying innocent blood. They
replied to him, What does that have to do with us? That’s your
problem. Judas threw down the pieces of silver in the Temple and went
and hung himself. Is that not repenting?
Now, before we begin the Trial of Jesus the Son of God story where Jesus is Crucified on the Cross, here is an interesting question. Where is Judas’
soul? In Heaven or in hell? Judas repented of his sin, and Jesus
taught us that even if one repents in the last hour, he will be
forgiven (Matthew
20:1-16, Luke 15:10) ... Jesus also
said at the Last Supper, while Judas was still at the table
that the twelve of them (Apostles) would be appointed to sit at His
table in His kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of
Israel (Luke
22:30).
Another thing to remember is that GOD KNEW this
exact thing was gonna happen and shared it with us by way of one of
His prophets. In Zechariah
11:10-14 ... God said He
was going to break His Old Covenant (Testament) and bring in a New
Covenant (Testament) and that when this occurred they would weigh His
price as 30 pieces of silver and that these 30 pieces of silver would
be cast down in the House of the Lord (Temple).
So, Judas was a pawn in a chess game between God and Satan concerning the Trial of Jesus the Son of God. God KNEW exactly what would be done before it happened. Jesus is Crucified on the Cross for unconditional Love. Like Peter, Judas was a part of God's strategy to bring His plan to pass. Was it not Satan who premeditated this deed and not Judas? Here is Truth ... GOD is the ONLY Judge as only He knows the heart of man.
See Judas Iscariot Bible study link at end of this study to read more.
We best get back to the The Trial of Jesus the Son of God and Jesus is Crucified on the Cross story now. The chief priests took the silver pieces and because it was the price of blood, it wasn’t
lawful to put them in the treasury, so they decided to buy the potter’s field to bury strangers in and that field is called, The field of blood, to this day. This was also fulfillment of a prophecy, Jeremiah
32:6-9, as well as
Zechariah 11:12-13.
As the morning dawned, the whole multitude led Jesus
away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, who was the governor. Pilate
came out to those bringing Jesus and asked, What is this man accused
of? They answered, if He wasn’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have brought
Him to you. We found this fellow corrupting the nation and refusing to
give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a King. Pilate
said, Take Him and judge Him according to your law, but the Jewish
people said, It isn’t lawful for us to put any man to death.
This fulfilled the words that Jesus spoke about how He would die, being lifted up on a Cross because it was the Romans that crucified their "criminals" ...
Prior to the Trial of Jesus the Son of God, Pilate went back into the judgment hall and asked Jesus, Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Do
you say that I am, or did others tell you that about me? Pilate
answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have
delivered you to me: what have you done? Jesus answered, My Kingdom is
not of this world: if my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants
would fight, so I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews: but my Kingdom
isn’t from here. Pilate said to Him, Are you a king then? Jesus
answered, You say that I’m a King.
For this reason I was born, and for
this cause I came into the world, that I should testify of the TRUTH.
Every one that is of the TRUTH hears my voice.
Pilate said to Him, What is truth? Jesus did not answer.
And the chief priests accused Him of many things
but He answered nothing and Pilate asked Him again, You have nothing to say? Look
at how many things they testify against you. But, Jesus still answered
nothing and Pilate marveled at this. The SILENCE of Jesus fulfills a
Prophecy written in Isaiah.
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was
afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the
slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth
not his mouth.
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After Pilate had said this, he went out again to the
Jews, and said to them, I don’t find Him guilty of anything. And they
were the more fierce, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching
throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee to here. When Pilate heard
of Galilee, he asked whether Jesus was a Galilean. As soon as he knew
that He belonged in Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who
was also in Jerusalem at that time.
When Herod saw Jesus, he was very
glad. He’d been curious about Him for a long time because he heard
many things about Him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.
Herod questioned Him at length; but Jesus answered him nothing.
The real culprits of the Trial of Jesus the Son of God and true reason why why Jesus is Crucified on the Cross, The chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently
accused Him. Herod and his soldiers belittled Him and ridiculed Him,
and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That
day Pilate and Herod became friends but before that they were not so.
Then Pilate called the chief priests and the rulers of the people
together and said, You’ve brought this man to me as one that corrupts
the people, and look, I’ve examined Him in front of you and haven’t
found Him guilty of any of the things you accuse Him of. I even sent
you with Him to Herod and found that nothing has been done by Him
that’s worthy of death. So, I’ll chastise Him and release Him. And
they did ... Severely.
By custom, Pilate had to release a prisoner to the
people at the feast of Passover. At that time there was a well known
prisoner named Barabbas. Pilate asked, Do you want me to release
Barabbas or Jesus, which is called Christ? He said this because he
knew the chief priests delivered Him out of jealousy.
It is time for the Trial of Jesus the Son of God and time to prepare for the time when Jesus is Crucified on the Cross. When Pilate sat down in the judgment seat, his wife
sent a message to him saying, Don’t do anything against that just man
(Jesus). I’ve suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the people to request
Barabbas be freed and to crucify Jesus. They all shouted at once, Away
with this man, and release Barabbas to us! When Pilate saw that he
wasn’t getting anywhere with the people, but instead they were
stirred, he took water and washed his hands in front of the people,
saying, I’m innocent of the blood of this just man, see to it. All the
people answered, His blood is on us, and on our children. (There is an
old legend that suggests that Pilate is still washing his hands every
day in hell, but as with Judas ... He was but a tool. It is obvious
Pilate tried to spare Jesus but prophecy would prevail. Remember TRUTH
... It is for God to determine anyone's guilt or innocence.)
Now Barabbas had been thrown into prison because he
was a robber and a murderer. Pilate, willing to release Jesus, spoke
to the people again. He asked, What do you want me to do then, with
the man whom you call the King of the Jews? They shouted, Crucify Him,
crucify Him! Then he said to them the third time, Why, what
evil has He done? I find no reason to put Him to death, but Pilate,
willing to please the people said, I’ll chastise Him, and let Him go.
And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that Jesus be
crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
Pilate gave sentence that it should be as the people demanded, and he
released Barabbas. Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
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During the Trial of Jesus the Son of God, the soldiers
platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head. They put a purple
robe on Him, and a reed in His right hand (as if it was His sceptre) and bowed the knee mocking Him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit on Him and took the reed and hit Him on the head.
Pilate said to them, Behold, I bring Him out to you, so you may know that I find no fault in Him. Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe.
And Pilate said to them, Behold the man! When the chief priests and officers saw Him, they
shouted, Crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate said to them, You take Him
and crucify Him: I find Him innocent. The Jews answered him, We have a
law, and by our law He ought to die because He made Himself the Son of
God.
After hearing the H=Jewish people verdict in the Trial of Jesus the Son of God, and after hearing about Jesus being the Son of God, Pilate was the more afraid and
went back into the judgment hall, and said to Jesus, Where are you
from? But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate said to Him, You won’t
speak to me? Don’t you know that I have the power to crucify you, and
the power to release you? Jesus answered, You could have no power at
all against me, unless it were given to you from above: so
the person that delivered me to you has the greater sin. Again we see that
our view is not that of the Lord's at times. HE alone ... Is the
Judge.
From then on, Pilate sought to release Him: but the
Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, you aren’t Caesar's
friend: whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. When Pilate
heard that, he brought Jesus out, and sat down in the judgment seat in
a place called the Pavement. It was the preparation of the Passover.
Pilate said, Behold your King!
But, they all cried out, Away with Him, crucify Him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your
King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. The Trial of Jesus the Son of God was over. Then
Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus,
and took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and
led Him out ... Next, Jesus is Crucified on the Cross.
Some things are hard to understand and even harder to believe. One of those things is how God allowed this to occur and even planned it by way of prophecy. The true reason was because of God's unconditional Love for us. It was the only way. It was the price for our Salvation. The Trial of Jesus the Son of God and the reason why Jesus is Crucified on the Cross is because it was prophecy and why Jesus is crucified would become a blessing which would bring forth
Grace.