Death of Jesus

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Jesus... Luke 23:33

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Crucifixion of Jesus An image of Jesus on the cross.
RELATED TOPICS	Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19 Good Friday, Cross, Atonement, Forgiveness Resurrection of Jesus
SERMONS, ESSAYS AND OPINIONS	* Matthew 27 - Passionate Forgiveness (G.G.)
CONTENTS

Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem around the year 30 AD. In his death, the Bible tells us, he bore all the sins of mankind, so that we could be clean and without sin. His death is remembered on Good Friday but it is not the end of the story. Three days later he appeared to his disciples, risen from the dead and Christians believe that he is alive today.

Events leading up to Jesus' death

Human factors behind the crucifixion

The death of Jesus did not happen spontaneously. In many ways it was premeditated. During his ministry there was an increasing push by the religious and political leaders of the Jews to have him executed.

A major reason why the Jewish authorities wanted him dead was that they believed him to be guilty of blasphemy. This claim is directly acknowledged in John 10:33, Mark 2 and Mark 14:61-64. To the Jewish leaders, the fact that Jesus was placing himself equal with God was a very serious thing.

Another significant human reason for Jesus' death was the Pharisee's and Sadducee's increasing jealousy of Jesus. He was increasingly popular with the common people and they were not.

Although the Jews at the time of Jesus had a great expectation of a Messiah, they generally did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. There was an expectation of a military leader who would overthrow the Romans and restore a mighty earthly kingdom. Jesus, instead, offered a picture of a suffering servant as the Messiah. This was something that the people did not expect, nor want, and this may have contributed to people plotting against Jesus. An example of this clash of expectations can be seen in John 6 where the people try to force Jesus to be king, but he does not accept this.

Human reasoning played a part in the rejection of Jesus. Leading Jews were worried about the loss of their political power - there is evidence that they felt that Jesus would stir up the Romans so that they would lose their place. This is noted in John 11:48-50, after the resurrection of Lazarus.

Leading Jews also hated that Jesus challenged their authority. For example, in Luke 19, Jesus challenged their authority when he over-turned tables in the Temple. This anger likely contributed to the plots against Jesus.

When Jesus was brought before Roman justice, Pilate's fear of an uprising led to his judgment of execution of justice. This is seen in Mark 15.

Christian understandings of God's reasons for the crucifixion of his Son

Christians understand that the death of Jesus was ultimately part of God's plan for the redemption of his people. In his death, Jesus fulfilled prophecy. In his death, he brought forgiveness, which can be understood from different perspectives from the Gospels

• Sacrificial - Matthew 26 - "poured out for the forgiveness of sins"
• Ransom - Mark 14:25 - "ransom for many"
• Substitutionary atonement - John 10 - "lay down his life for his sheep"
• Draw all men to Jesus - John 12

Jesus' death also has eschatological significance, where it ushers in the Kingdom of God (Mark 14:25).

Prophecy in the Old Testament

The death of Jesus is foretold in the Old Testament. As early as the book of Genesis there are hints of it. Abraham is told by God that it is through his children, all people of the world will be saved. More explicit prophecies can be found in the wisdom and prophetic books, especially in Psalms and the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah 53 is a beautiful and well-known passage in which the life and death of Jesus and its meaning is foretold.

Text

The story is told in all the gospel accounts. It can be found in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 and John 19. Below is the text from Matthew 27

Matthew 27

Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

saying, "I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? You see to it."

He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.

The chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, "It's not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood."

They took counsel, and bought the potter's field with them, to bury strangers in.

Therefore that field was called "The Field of Blood" to this day.

Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced,

and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said to him, "So you say."

When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Then Pilate said to him, "Don't you hear how many things they testify against you?"

He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired.

They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"

For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

But the governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"

Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"

But the governor said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they cried out exceedingly, saying, "Let him be crucified!"

So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it."

All the people answered, "May his blood be on us, and on our children!"

Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.

They stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him.

They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

When they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.

They came to a place called "Golgotha," that is to say, "The place of a skull."

They gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.

When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,

and they sat and watched him there.

They set up over his head the accusation against him written, "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.

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, the Pharisees, and the elders, said,

"He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.

He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, "This man is calling Elijah."

Immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.

The rest said, "Let him be. Let's see whether Elijah comes to save him."

Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.

Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked 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 into the holy city and appeared to many.

Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."

Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus' disciple came.

This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.

Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.

Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,

saying, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise again.'

Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He is 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 as secure as you can."

So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.

Quotes

An extract from Bruce Barton's book The Man Nobody Knows

On a barren hill beyond the city walls they nailed His body to the cross. Two robbers were crucified with Him. It was over. The rabble sickened quickly of its revenge and scattered; His friends were hiding; the soldiers were busy casting lots for His garments. There was nothing left of those external influences which fire men's imaginations. Surely the victory of His enemies was complete. And yet - the lasting victory was His. "The man who loses his life," Jesus said, "shall find it."

An extract from I will love you for the cross by Matt Redman

Jesus Christ the sinner's friend.

Does this kindness know no bounds?

With your precious blood you have purchased me

Oh the mystery of the cross

You were punished, you were crushed

But that punishment has become my peace

Yes that punishment has become my peace

And I love you for the cross

I'm overwhelmed by the mystery

I love you for the cost

That Jesus you would do this for me

When you were broken, you were beaten

You were punished, I go free

When you were wounded and rejected

In your mercy I am healed

Links

• Wikipedia - Death and Resurrection of Jesus
• Theopedia - Atonement of Christ

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