JUDAS ISCARIOT PLANS TO BETRAY JESUS
After Jesus had finished His prophecy on the Mount of Olives
it was evening time, and He said to His disciples, "You know that
in two days it is the Passover, and the Son of man will be
delivered up to be crucified."
We know from the last hours of Jesus' physical life on
earth, what Jesus said to them (and it was not the first time He
had told them He would die in Jerusalem), went right over their
heads; once more they just did not get it, did not really believe
those words. To them it was just incomprehensible to conceive
that their Lord and Master, the one they knew was the Messiah,
could be put to death.
The chief priests and the elders of the people were at this
time busy gathering together in the palace of the high priest,
who was called Caiaphas, taking counsel with each other, as to
how to arrest Jesus in a secret manner and kill him. They first
thought they better not try to do this during the Feast of the
Passover and days of Unleavened Bread (which was eight days in
total, but during Christ's time the whole period was known
by the name "Passover").
Then something happened to changed their minds about when
they would try to arrest and kill Jesus.
The disciples were really not understanding what was all
going on at this time in Jesus' ministry. They did not understand
the prophecies in the Old Testament about how the Messiah would
come and have to die for the sins of the world. They were
somewhat familiar with the prophecy of the Messiah coming in
power and glory, to reign over the nations and rule the world,
but with all that Jesus was saying, and the people getting
divided over what they wanted to believe the Messiah should be
doing with them, and for them, and against the Romans, there was
confusion even in their minds. Judas Iscariot was as confused as
any of them. Surely he was thinking, the Messiah is going to rise
up with His mighty power and show these scribes and Pharisees and
priests, a thing or two. He was probably thinking Jesus had only
used "words" against them so far, but He must be going to use His
power and obliterate them, literally. Judas was probably thinking
Christ should do that, obliterate those silly hypocritical
religious leaders of Judea. And thought no doubt Jesus would them
continue using His power to bring the people of Judah together,
form an army, fight against the Roman power, destroy them, and
set up the Kingdom of God on earth.
How could he, he thought, help get Jesus started on this
road of conquest. His mind was not just confused, but anxious, on
edge, eagerly desiring to see all this take place. And with his
mind in such a state of unrest and looseness, it was all that
Satan needed. Luke records for us that it was at this time that
Satan entered, literally look over the body and mind of Judas
Iscariot.
Judas, now possessed by Satan the Devil, hurried off to the
chief priests and elders of the people, to offer his service in
how he might betray Jesus and hand Him over to them. The accounts
in the Gospels do not tell us if Judas did this thinking Jesus
would then have to use His power and fight and destroy the
priests and elders, and then move on to destroy the Roman armies,
or if Satan just simple got a hold of his mind, twisted it so
much out of normal, that Judas just wanted Jesus in the hands of
the priests and elders so they could do with Him whatever they
wanted.
Whatever the case as to what was going on in the mind of
Judas at this time, we are told Satan entered him, and off he
went to betray Jesus to the priests and elders of Judea.
The priests and elders of course were delighted that Judas
was offering his help so they could arrest Jesus. They had plans
to kill Him. Judas may not have known that, probably did not,
Satan no doubt kept that from the mind of Judas. Well, the
priests and elders were so grateful for Judas' offer that they
were ready to offer him money. Judas actually asked them how much
they would give him if he delivered Jesus into their hands.
They said they would pay him thirty pieces of silver. Thirty
pieces of silver was the price for a slave (Exodus 21: 32). They
regarded Jesus as worth very little. He agreed, and from that
moment on Judas looked for a way and an opportunity to betray
Jesus into their hands (Mat.26: 1-5, 14-16; Mark 14: 1, 2, 10,
11; Luke 22: 1-6).
PREPARING FOR THE PASSOVER
To understand some of the passages in the Gospels and the
events of the last day of the life of Christ on this earth in
human form, we need to understand some basics about the Passover,
as well as some of the traditions that many of the Jews were
doing at the time of Christ, as taught by the scribes and
Pharisees.
The original Passover of Exodus 12, was a household
Passover, a few families coming together. A priest was not
needed, nor a Tabernacle or Temple. The lamb was chosen and was
kept UP TO the 14th day of the first month. Then at "evening" or
"between the two evening" which was at dusk or sunset, the
beginning of the 14th, that portion of time when the sun first
goes down behind the horizon and when it become black of night.
As the sun set the family or small gathering of two or so
families, killed the Passover lamb, and roasted it, which took a
number of hours (some say 3 or 4 hours) and then sat down with
bitter herbs, unleavened bread, and ate the lamb. It was well
into the night when all of this was finally finished, often
everyone stayed up all during that night of the 14th.
The Passover day was not a Sabbath day, but at the end of
the 14th, the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread began,
and that first day of the Unleavened Bread feast, was a Sabbath
day. It was God's law that by the time the 15th day arrived, all
leaven was to be out of the homes of the Israelites. They had up
to and including the 14th day, to remove the leaven and prepare
for the feast of Unleavened Bread, which was to be observed for a
full 7 days.
Now by the time of Christ the scribes and Pharisees had
introduced and adopted a number of changes to Exodus 12. They and
their followers had gotten into the habit of getting rid of
leaven on the 14th day, and so in Jewish terminology, the 14th
day was "a day of unleaven" because of the tradition taught by
the Pharisees of putting out leaven on the 14th, so there was no
question of any of it being left in the home when the 15th day
arrived.
The Pharisees had taught the people that the lambs for the
Passover were to be slain in the Temple, under the Priests and
Levites. And they traditionally started to do this on the 14th
day, after the morning sacrifice. Some scholars claim they
started at 3 p.m. in the afternoon, but others state it could
have been much earlier, as the priests would not have been able
to kill enough lambs for the people, between only 3 p.m. and 6
p.m.
6 p.m. was when they would start to roast the lamb, which
was the beginning of the 15th day of the first month.
Whatever it may have been, the fact is the Pharisees had
taken the Passover meal and carried it over into the night
portion of the 15th day, which was the start of the 7 days
of the Unleavened Bread feast. They had MIXED the TWO separate
feasts of God and put them together as one, or putting it another
way, they had brought the Passover meal over into the first day
of the feast of Unleavened Bread.
With this in mind, we can begin to understand some of the
words used in the Gospel accounts of this last day of Jesus' life
as a human being.
We read in Mark and Luke that the day of "unleavened" when
the Passover lambs WERE BEING SLAIN (as the Greek tense is) had
just come. This was the "unleavened" day when the Pharisees and
their followers were TRADITIONALLY getting leaven out of
their homes (some even started to clear leaven out on the 13th
day), it was the BEGINNING of the 14th day, which was not a part
of the 7 days feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12), but had
become traditionally a day of "unleavened" because of what
the Pharisees were teaching and had been practicing for a few
centuries by this time.
The disciples knew, from being with Jesus for three years or
so, that He observed the Passover like many other Jews, at the
beginning of the 14th day, the "evening" of the
14th day, as prescribed in the beginning by God in Exodus 12.
The small groups of people in and around Jerusalem, were
beginning to gather together, they were already beginning to kill
the Passover lambs, at sundown. It was sunset at the beginning of
the 14th day of the first month, and Jesus had not said
ANYTHING about where they would keep and observe the Passover
meal. This was very unusual indeed. The disciples were getting
very uptight, very anxious, very bewildered.
Everything seemed very confusing to them, Jesus had said
things about His death that they just could not believe, and they
knew the scribes, Pharisees, and elders of the people were on the
war path as we might put it, with Jesus. And now, it was just
sunset, the beginning of the 14th, the time when groups of people
in their homes were killing the Passover lamb and making reading
to observe the Passover meal, and Jesus had said not one word to
them about where they as a group would observe the Passover meal.
They were now beyond themselves, and had to say something,
they could not retain their anxious thoughts any more.
"Master, master, it is late, you've said nothing to us about
where we shall observe the Passover. People are already killing
the lambs in their groups and places of gathering. Where Lord,
will you have us go and prepare for you and us to eat the
Passover?"
Jesus chose two of them, Peter and John, and sent them,
saying to them, "Go into the city of Jerusalem, and when you
enter you will see a man carrying a jar of water, follow him into
the house where he goes, and say to the house owner, 'The Teacher
says, my time is at hand, and I will eat the Passover at your
house with my disciples.' Ask him to show you the room where we
are to hold the Passover meal. He will show you an upper room
that is furnished; there make ready for us all."
And the two disciples went and they found it all as Jesus
had told them. And they there prepared the Passover meal
(Mat.26: 17-19; Mark 14: 12-16; Luke 22: 7-13).
Finding a man in Jerusalem as Jesus had described to them,
was not hard, for it was women who usually carried the water
pots, seeing a man doing this would have been very noticeable. To
kill and roast a lamb for Jesus and the twelve disciples,
probably would have taken about 3 to 4 hours. The two disciples
were not sent to find the room until sunset, dusk time, of the
beginning of the 14th day. By the time they arrived in
Jerusalem and found the room and killed and prepared the
Passover, for Jesus and the others to sit down and eat, it would
have been about 10 p.m. possibly even as late as 11 p.m.
This was fine, for as I've said above, the eating of the
Passover and reflections on the whole meaning of it, often went
on all through the night, then they would go to their tents in
the morning and sleep (Deut.16: 7). Of course in Jesus' day it
was not "tents" they went to, but homes or places where they
could sleep during the daylight hours of the 14th day. But this
Passover night and coming day would be like no other ever before
or ever again will be.
The Passover meal was now all prepared. They just had to
wait for Jesus to arrive with the other ten disciples.
JESUS EATS THE PASSOVER MEAL
WITH HIS DISCIPLES
It was late that Tuesday evening (it was a Tuesday evening
when this Passover was observed in the year 30 A.D.) and Jesus
arrived at this upper room with the other ten apostles. The hour
had arrived and they all sat down. Jesus said to them, "I have
earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you all before I
suffer; for I tell you I shall never eat it again, until it is
fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."
They then started into the ancient and traditional Passover
meal of the basic three thing that was always a part of that
observance, namely, the lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs.
You may want to here re-read the Old Testament Bible Story
of Exodus chapter twelve.
It was during this Passover meal that Jesus now introduced
the New Testament ordinance of the "bread and fruit of the vine."
Jesus took some of the unleavened bread and broke it into
pieces, gave thanks, and said, "Take a piece, this bread
represents my body, which is given for you: this do in like
manner in the memorial of me."
Jesus then took the cup of the fruit of the vine, and gave
thanks. He then said to them, "Each one of you, drink from this
cup. The fruit of the vine represents my blood of the New
Covenant, which is poured out for you, for the forgiveness of
sins. I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine again, unto the
day I drink it new with you when the Kingdom of God comes."
They all did what Jesus requested and each took a piece of
unleavened bread, and each drank from the cup of the fruit of the
vine.
The apostle Paul also outlines this New Testament ordinance
in 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26. It is THE memorial service,
remembering the Lord's death. It was introduced by the Lord Jesus
on the evening of the 14th of the first month in the Hebrew or
Jewish calendar. It was only observed in the apostolic Church of
God, once a year, in the first part of the hours of the 14th,
what we call evening time.
After Jesus had introduced and performed this New Testament
ordinance, He looked around at all twelve disciples and in a very
sombre tone of voice, said, "But behold the hand of him who
betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of man goes as it
has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"
Amazement and shock came across the faces of the twelve, on
hearing those words. And soon they began to question each other,
as to which of them it was going to be that would betray Jesus
(Mat.26: 26-29; Mark 14: 22-25; Luke 22: 14-23).
JESUS' WASHES THE FEET OF HIS 12 DISCIPLES
John is the only Gospel writer to record this next event at
that last Passover Jesus held with His disciples.
The supper Passover meal had ended. The KJV translation is
correct when it says, "and supper ended" for the Greek tense here
used by John is "aorist" tense, which signifies a completed
action in the past, an event already finished in the past.
The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot
to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all
things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was
going back again to God, rose from the supper table, laid aside
His outer garments, and girded Himself with a towel. He then
poured water in a bowl, and began to wash the disciples' feet,
and to wipe them with the towel He had around Himself.
He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to Him, "Lord, are
you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "What I am doing now
you do not understand, but you will afterwards, later you will
understand." Peter still shocked at this thought of Jesus washing
his feet, quickly replied, "Oh no Lord, you shall never wash my
feet!"
We have to remember that it was the lowest of the servants
of the household that washed the feet of visitors, washing away
the dust and dirt from their travel. Also remember that the
people wore sandals, and on their bare feet. It was the custom of
the day that if you had visitors you had your lowest ranking
servant wash their feet when they came into your home.
Peter could not think that Jesus was acting out what the
lowest household servant would do. He just was not about to let
Jesus wash his feet, thinking if anything it should be the other
way around, and he should be washing Jesus' feet.
But Jesus answered him with, "If I do not wash your feet,
you have no part in me." Simon Peter then said, "Well Lord, not
my feet only then, but my hands and head!" Jesus said to him, "He
that has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but
he is clean all over; and you are clean but not all of you."
Jesus knew who it was that would betray Him, and that was
the reason He said, "You are not all clean."
The disciples would have bathed themselves before attending
the very important Passover meal. So they really were clean in a
physical way, but in a spiritual way there was need for a lesson
to be learned in Jesus washing all of their feet, even the feet
of Judas Iscariot. They all needed to learn the lesson, which
Jesus explained (and we'll get to that right away), but one of
them (Judas) was unclean in many ways other than the physical. We
have seen he was by now possessed by Satan the Devil himself.
When He had washed their feet, and taken up His garments
again, and resumed His sitting place, He said to them, "Do you
understand what I have done to you? I will tell you. You call me
Teacher and Lord; and you are right, I am indeed both. If I then,
your Lord, and your Teacher, have washed your feet, then you also
ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an
EXAMPLE, that you also SHOULD DO as I have done to you. Truly,
truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master;
nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know
these things, BLESSED are you IF YOU DO them. "
Jesus was demonstrating to them that they should be
servants. And if Jesus could get down and wash His disciples
feet, being much greater than they, being the one to send them
out to do His work, and so if He could humble Himself to wash
their feet, like a lowly servant, how much more should they be
willing to wash one another's feet. He said He had set them the
example, and that they knowing this should do likewise, and
they would be blessed for knowing and doing as He had done to
them.
So today God's people around the world, on Passover evening,
not only take the bread and the fruit of the vine (wine or grape
juice) but also wash each other's feet.
It is an outward symbol of a willingness to be a servant to
others, to not think too highly of themselves, to remember they
are called to serve each other, to live a life of serving and
helping each other, and all mankind, in whatever good ways they
can possibly do, with the gifts, talents, abilities, and material
goods, they have been given from God in order to share and serve
others with.
Jesus was saying all these things to all of them, but ONE,
for He finished this event by saying, "I am not speaking of you
all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the Scriptures may be
fulfilled, 'He who ate by bread has lifted his heel against me.'
I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does
take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to
you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he
who receives me receives Him who sent me" (John 13: 1-20).
The evening had taken on by now a VERY SOMBRE atmosphere, a
grave foreboding was in that upper room. Many of the minds of the
disciples were even more troubled and confused by all that Jesus
had said and done.
The part of that night had come, where it was customary to
leave the supper table and recline and lounge around as we say,
on various types of seats and cushions. It was the time to relax
and ponder and meditate on the Passover and all that it signified
in Jewish history. This Passover was way more significant than
any of them could have possibly imagined. Jesus was about to say
to them words that He had said a little earlier. This would once
more trouble them greatly.
........................................
Written January 2003
All studies by Keith Hunt may be copied, published, emailed, and
distributed, as led by the Spirit. Mr. Hunt trusts nothing with
be changed (except for spelling and punctuation errors) without
his consent.
  Chapter Thirty-six:Jesus' last Passover on earth - part twoJESUS TELLS JUDAS TO DO
HIS WORK QUICKLY
It was well into the night of the 14th. It was the early
hours past midnight, and Jesus was very troubled in spirit, and
said, "Truly, it is indeed true, what I say unto you; one of you
shall betray me."
The disciples again with a sleepy dazed look on their faces,
were not certain of whom He was speaking about. In fact
"betraying" was just too hard for them to imagine. One of His
disciples (it was John) was stretched out somewhat, lying half
across Jesus' chest, as they were all in a relaxed and lazy
lounging position. Simon Peter beckoned to John and asked him to
ask Jesus, whom He was speaking about, as John was the closest to
Christ. So John said to Jesus, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus, paused for a moment, then said, "It is he to whom I
shall give this morsel of bread, when I have dipped it." Jesus
got up and dipped a small portion of bread and He gave it to
Judas Iscariot. Then after Judas took it, Satan once more entered
into him (the Devil had left Judas for a while, but was now back
with a vengeance as we say).
Jesus looked at Judas and said, "What you are going to do,
do it quickly."
The disciples heard Him saying those words and still did not
realize why He had said them, or what they meant. Some thought
that because Judas had the money box (as he was banker for them)
Jesus was telling Judas to go and buy things that was needful for
them as they observed the feast; or, that he should give
something to the poor. Their minds were as far away from knowing
what Jesus really meant and what about was to happen the rest of
that night, as east is from west.
Judas stood up and immediately left. It was a dark night in
more than one way.
After Judas had gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man
glorified, and in Him is God glorified; and if God is glorified
in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself."
The time had come in the history of the universe that God's
great plan of redemption for the human kind, was to take its
literal fulfilment, and the time that BOTH God the Father and
Christ Jesus would be glorified as this plan of salvation took
reality.
Jesus looking more intently at the eleven disciples, went on
to say, "Little children, for yet a little while I am with you.
You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you,
'Where I am going, you cannot come.' A NEW commandment I give to
you, it is, that you LOVE one another, EVEN AS I LOVED YOU, that
you ALSO LOVE one another. And by this all men will know that you
are my disciples, IF you have LOVE one for another" (John 13:
21-25).
Jesus had certainly set that perfect example of how love
between brethren should be lived. He wanted all His disciples to
emulate His example. Then people would indeed know that such
people who lived as Jesus had lived towards His disciples while
on earth, were His true followers. In this down-to-earth,
nitty-gritty, sometimes hard ways to strive against, it is not
always easy to live up to the example of Jesus, as we work with,
fellowship with, talk with, and inter-act with, other disciples
of Christ. But we must try, we must endeavor, to follow His
example in this matter of love towards others in the flock
that belongs to Jesus.
JESUS' WORDS DO NOT IMBED TOO DEEPLY
No sooner it seemed had Jesus spoken these words of the
disciples having love one towards another, that they were into
arguing among themselves as to which one of them was to be
regarded as the "greatest."
Jesus had to intervene with words He had told them once
before, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them;
and those in authority over them are called benefactors. They
rule each other with iron dictatorship. But it shall NOT be so
with you! Rather, let those who would want to be the greatest
among you become as the youngest, and the newest kid on the
block. And those who would want to lead as the one who serves.
For which is the greatest, the one who sits at the table, or the
one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at the table? But I
have been among you as one who serves."
The whole life and ministry of Jesus was one of service, one
of helping, healing, doing goodness, having mercy, on people and
for people. He served in teaching and preaching the wonderful
truths of the salvation and Kingdom of God. Jesus had lived and
acted as anything but a despot or iron fisted dictator, although
He spoke pretty plainly a few times to the religious leaders of
the day.
He had even at this late time in the evening and in His
physical life, to correct His disciples on a matter that was
important. But He wanted to leave this conversation point
in an upbeat, positive manner, so He said, "You are those who
have continued with me in my trials; as my Father has appointed a
Kingdom for me, so I have appointed that you may eat and drink at
my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel" (Luke 22: 24-30).
The Kingdom that Jesus was thinking about, the one that the
Father had appointed Him to have, was to be a literal Kingdom on
this earth, one that would rule all nations. The Kingdom that the
prophets of old had foretold about over and over again in their
writings, was the one that they also foretold the Messiah would
be king over. Jesus again promised His eleven as it was now, that
they would each rule over one of the tribes of Israel when His
Kingdom came.
TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
It was time to close this event of the Passover celebration
in the upper room. They all sang a hymn, and then Jesus and His
disciples went to the mount of Olives.
Peter had not forgotten what Jesus had told them about Him
going away, so he asked Christ, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but
you shall follow afterwards."
Jesus was probably here talking about what would happen to
Him in the next 12 or so hours, eventually dying on the cross.
Though the disciples could not follow Him in all He would under
go the rest of the 14th day, many of them would in their life
time, be put to death for their following in the footsteps of
Christ.
Jesus then looked at all the eleven and said to them, "You
will all fall away because of what I will go through this night;
for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep
will be scattered' (Zech.13: 7). But after I am raised up, I will
go ahead of you into Galilee."
Turning once more to Peter, Jesus, said to him, "Peter,
Peter, Satan desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat
is sifted, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not
fail; and when you are converted with the Spirit, I want you to
strengthen your brethren."
Peter stood up straight at these words from Jesus. He put
his shoulders back, raised his chin, got a strong defiant look on
his face, and with boldness and with force in his voice, said,
"Oh, Lord, even though they all fall away I will not. I am ready
to go with you to prison and death, Yes, I will lay down my life
for you."
Jesus smiled a little, then said, "O, Peter, it is true what
I'm going to say. This very night before the cock crows twice,
you will have denied me three times."
Peter vehemently and immediately shot back with, "Lord, if I
must die with you, I will not deny you." And the other ten
disciples all said the same thing. They had no idea their words
would come flying back in their face, much sooner than they ever
thought, for all of them would have to eat their words, as they
would all forsake Jesus within the next short while, as the
events of that night would escalate and explode out of control.
Jesus said to them, "I sent you out once with no purse or
bag, or extra sandals, and did you lack anything?" They replied
that they did not. "Well now," Jesus continued, "let him who has
a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no
sword, sell his coat and buy one. For I tell you this Scripture
must be fulfilled, 'And he was reckoned with transgressors' (Isa.
53: 12), for what is written about me has its fulfillment."
The disciples looked at each other, some of them moved their
outer garment to reveal a few swords. "Look Lord," they said,
"here we have two swords." And Jesus seeing this said, "Alright,
that is enough, the prophecy is fulfilled" (Luke 22: 31-38;
Mat.26: 30-35; Mark 14: 26-31; John 13: 36-38).
SOME FINAL IN-DEPTH TEACHING
ON FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, AND OBEDIENCE
There was still some time left before He would be betrayed
by Judas Iscariot. Jesus would use that time to give His
disciples some very important teachings and encouragement.
Jesus said:
"Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe
also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it was not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And
in so preparing a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you to be with me, that where I am when I come again, you may be
also. You know the way to where I am going."
Jesus was going to go back to be with God the Father in
heaven. While there He would prepare positions of rulership for
all His disciples. Then He would come again. He would receive His
disciples at His coming, as we have seen, He would receive them
in the clouds, in the air or atmosphere of this earth. The clouds
are relatively close to the earth's surface. From there He would
continue to descend with His followers to the mount of Olives.
His disciples of all ages from the time of Adam, would then be
with Jesus forever more. I have in past chapters given you
passages of Scripture to prove what I have just stated.
At these words from Jesus, Thomas said, "Lord, we do not
know or understand where you are going; so how can we know the
way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life;
no one comes to the Father, but through me. If you have known me
then you will know the Father also; so you really do know the
Father and have seen Him."
Philip spoke up and said, "Lord, show us plainly the Father,
and literally seeing Him we will be satisfied." Jesus replied,
"Oh, have I been all this time with you, and you do not know me
Philip? He who has seen ME has also seen the Father; how can you
say, 'Let us see the Father'? Do you not believe that I am IN the
Father and the Father IN me? The words that I say to you I do not
speak from mine own authority; but the Father who DWELLS IN me
does His works. Believe me that I AM IN the Father and the Father
IS IN me; or believe what I say because of the works I do. Truly,
very true indeed, I say to you, he who believes in me will also
do the works that I have done; and yes, even greater works than
these, many will do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you
ask in my name, I will do, that the Father may be glorified in
the Son. If you ask anything in my name I will do it. IF you LOVE
me, you WILL keep my COMMANDMENTS!" (John 14: 1-15).
Jesus was the very personification of the Father. Seeing and
knowing Jesus as the 12 disciples had for three years or more,
was just like as if they had literally seen the Father. If the
Father had actually come down from heaven and stood before the
disciples, they would have seen another Jesus Christ. What Jesus
was trying to convey to them was that He and Father were like
identical twins. And if you have ever seen identical twins you
will know that it is just about impossible to tell them apart,
they are so much like each other.
Jesus and the Father were IN each other, as was the one so
was the other. And Christ had done the works during His ministry
to prove beyond any question or doubt that He was IN the Father
and the Father was IN Him!
Many would come after He was back in heaven, Jesus said,
that would do the same kind of works as He did, even sometimes
greater works. And this we shall see was indeed true, as we go
through the book of Acts in this New Testament Bible Story.
Jesus once more reminded them to ask in His name, and many
things would be granted, so God could be glorified in the Son.
Then Jesus finished this part of His last hour of teaching
them while still a human being, by telling them that if they
loved Him, they would keep His commandments. This last request or
command certainly does not sound like Jesus was "doing away with"
commandments, but firmly establishing them. And a reading of the
rest of the New Testament, especially the letters of the apostle
John (1, 2 and 3 John) and the letter of James, clearly show that
commandment keeping is to be a very important part of the life
of anyone who claims to love Jesus.
PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus told His disciples, "And I will pray to the Father and
He will give you another encouraging Counselor, to be with you at
all times, even the Holy Spirit which will lead you into all
truth. The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit, because it
neither sees him or recognizes him; you know him, for he dwells
with you now, and shall be in you later. I will not abandon you
as orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will
not see me again, but you will. For I will live again, and you
will also. When I am raised to life again you will know that I am
in the Father, and that you are in me, and I in you.
Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And
because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love
them. And I will reveal myself to each one of those who love me."
Judas (not Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name)
said to Him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself to us
and not to the world at large?" Jesus answered him, "All those
who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and WE
will COME to them and LIVE in them. Anyone who does not love me
will not do what I say. And remember my words are not my own.
What I say is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these
things now, while I am still with you. But when the Father sends
the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, in my name, he will teach you
everything and remind you of everything I have told you.
I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And
the peace I give is not like the peace the world gives. So do not
be troubled or afraid. Remember what I have told you: I am going
away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me
you will be happy for me, because now I can go to the Father, who
is GREATER than I am. I have told you these things before they
happen so that you will believe when they do happen. I don't have
much more time to talk to you, because the prince of this world
approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the
Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love
the Father. Rise up now, and let's go a little further."
In Jesus' last in-depth teaching while still a physical man,
this was the great promise He gave that the Holy Spirit would
come to His disciples and unite with their minds. This came about
on the great feast of Pentecost, as we shall read later in the
second chapter of the book of the Acts of the apostles. From that
day forward the Holy Spirit has ever been available to beget the
children of God. The Holy Spirit is the power nature that comes
from the very being of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and in so
coming into human kind, it is just as if God the Father and Jesus
Christ were BOTH living inside that human being. That is why
Jesus said that both He and the Father would come and live within
the disciple. They live in the disciple by means of their Holy
Spirit.
Jesus here uses "he" for the Holy Spirit, or so the King
James Version and others translate. It is all really a
"technical" Greek grammar rule of writing, which does not
concern us here in this writing of the New Testament Bible Story.
The Holy Spirit is not a literal person, as are Jesus and the
Father. Many writers in the Bible used what is called
"personification" - which is giving human form and character to
things not being a separate individual person. A very good
example is that found in the book of Proverbs. There we see that
"wisdom" (which is of God) is liked unto a physical human woman.
And of course we today in our English language often call our car
or boat "she" - we may say, "Well, something is wrong with my car
today, she just would not start."
Jesus said He would give His disciples "peace" - of mind and
heart. The child of God knows truths of life and death and the
promise of what is to come, that the rest of the world does not
know or understand, not in the way true Christians do. There is
much comfort and peace in knowing the truths of God.
Jesus was freely giving His life as a sacrifice for sins.
The Devil had no power over Him, except what Jesus Himself
allowed, and He was going to allow Satan to kill Him physically
because it was the Father's will, for the salvation plan of
mankind that the Father had ordained from before the world began.
And Jesus was willing to obey the Father's wish, desire, and
commands.
VINE AND BRANCH ANALOGY
AND COMMAND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears NO fruit, He takes
away, and every branch that DOES bear fruit He prunes, so that
they produce even more fruit. You have already been pruned for
greater fruitfulness by the words and teachings I have given you.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot bear
fruit if is cut off from the vine, and so you cannot be
fruitful apart from me.
Yes, I am the true vine and you are the branches. Those who
remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart
from me, cut off from me, you can do nothing that is everlasting,
and eternally good. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like
a useless branch and dries up, being dead. Then such branches are
gathered into a pile and burned. But if you stay joined to me and
my words remain in you, you will receive many answers to your
requests. My true disciples joined to me will produce much fruit.
This brings great glory to my Father."
These are simple words to read and understand. They are also
the heart and core of being a true disciple and child of God the
Father. If we remain in Christ, which means we know His word, and
we are willing to obey His commands, then and only then can we
produce the fruit that is fit for eternal life. Not that we earn
our salvation as I've said a number of times before, but we must
remain IN Jesus so we will not be a cut off branch that is
useless and only good to be burned up. As we stay in Christ, we
will automatically produce fruit, and the Father wants fruit
produced. He expects that when He gives His gift of grace through
Christ to someone, they will use it to grow and produce
worthwhile fruit. He will be glorified by branches (Christians)
of the vine (Christ) producing much fruit.
Jesus finished this thought and teaching with, "I have loved
you even as my Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you
obey me you remain in my love, just as I obey the Father and
remain in His love. I have told you all this that you will be
filled with my joy. Yes, you will have an overflowing joy.
I command you to love each other as I have loved you. And
here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when
people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends
IF you obey me. I no longer call you 'servants' because the
master does not confide and open up to his servants in personal
ways. But I call you 'friends' as I have opened up to you and
told you everything the Father told me. You did not really
choose me. It was I that chose you. I appointed you to go and
produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you
many other things that you may ask for, when using my name. I
COMMAND YOU to LOVE each other!" (John 15: 1-17).
Once more, some pretty simple words to understand, from
Jesus. His followers are to remain in His love, and remaining in
His love means they OBEY Him, as He obeyed the Father. Jesus
commands His disciples to love each other, and the ultimate love
is to lay down our lives for another. Jesus was in a few hours
going to literally lay down His life for the love of His
disciples and for all mankind. We may not be called upon to
literally give our life up for another human person (some people
do as we now and again see on TV news reports), but we must, as
we have seen Jesus emphasize in parables and teachings of the
past, be willing to serve and help others as we can, by the means
that we can, especially those who are the disciples of our Lord
and Savior. This was not a "suggestion" from Jesus, it was a
COMMAND!
Yes, what we are reading, the words of Jesus just before He
gave up His life for His friends, for you and me, are plain and
simple....they are the plain truth.
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Written January 2003
  Chapter Thirty-seven:Jesus' last Passover on earth - part threeJESUS WARNS OF PERSECUTION
Jesus continued with plain words to His disciples, "If the
world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, doing what the world does, the world
would love you; but because you are not living like the general
world lives, but I chose you to live differently, then the world
will hate you. Remember the word I said to you that a servant is
not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they
will also persecute you; if they keep my word, they will also
keep yours. They will persecute you because of me, for they do
not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to the
world, they would not understand what sin is; but now they really
do not have any excuse for their sin.
He who hates me, hates my Father also. If I had not done in
the world the works that I did do, which no one else ever did,
they could say they do not understand what sin is; but now they
have seen and heard, and they hated both myself and the Father.
All this fulfils the words written in their law, 'They hated me
without a cause.' But when the Holy Spirit comes, whom I will
send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, that
proceeds from the Father Himself, he will bear witness of me; and
you also are witnesses because you have been with me from the
beginning of my ministry.
I have said all this to you to help keep you from falling
away. They, your persecutors, will throw you out of the churches;
indeed, the day is coming when whoever KILLS you will THINK he is
offering SERVICE to GOD! And they will do all this because they
have not known the Father, nor known me. But I have said these
things to you, that when they do these things, you will remember
I told you it would happen at times until I come again" (John 15:
18 to 16: 4).
And so the history of the last two thousands year has shown
that at times some of God's true people have been persecuted even
unto death, often by others who claimed the name of Christ,
thinking that by killing people they were actually serving God.
Such can be the depths of deception that the human mind can fall
into, usually helped along in that deception by Satan the Devil
and his demons.
WORDS OF COMFORT
Jesus now goes into quite a long talk about Himself and the
Holy Spirit, to give comfort and encouragement to all His
disciples from the day He spoke them, to the day of His return in
glory.
"I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because
I was with you. But now I am going to Him who sent me; yet none
of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said
these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless
I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for
if I do not go, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I
go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince
and convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of
judgment. Of sin, because they do not believe in me; of
righteousness because I go to the Father, and you will see me no
more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
I have many things to say to you, but now is not the right
time, for you are not in the state of mind to hear all I have to
say to you. When the Spirit of truth has come, he will guide you
all into the truth; for he will not speak to you by his own
authority, but whatsoever the Spirit hears that it will speak to
you, and he will declare and help you understand the things that
are yet to come on this earth. He will glorify me, for he will
take what belongs to me, and declare it to you. All that the
Father has is mine; therefore that is why I said to you he will
take what is mine and declare it to you.
In a little while, you will see me no more; then again in a
little while, you will see me once more. "
Some of the disciples said to each other, "What is this that
Jesus talks about, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and
again a little while and you will see me'; and 'because I go to
the Father'? They said to each other that they did not understand
what Jesus was saying by "a little while.' They were again very
puzzled by many things He was saying of late, and now puzzled
over this, "a little while" talk.
Jesus knew they wanted to ask Him to be clearer in His
talking to them. Jesus said to them, "Is this what you are
asking each other, what I meant by saying, 'A little while, and
you will not see me, and then a little while and you will see
me'? Well, shortly you will all weep and lament, while the world
will rejoice; you will be filled with sorrow, but your sorrow
will be turned into joy. When a woman goes into labor and is
ready to deliver a child, she has sorrow and anguish because her
time to bring forth a child has come; but when she has brought
forth her baby, her anguish she no longer remembers, for her
joy that a child is born over shadows any anguish she had. So,
you have sorrow now, you are down cast and low in the spirit of
your minds, but I will see you again and your heart will then
rejoice, and no one will be able to take away your joy of heart.
On that day you will ask me no questions. But truly I say to you,
if you do ask anything of the Father, He will give it to you, in
my name. If you have not yet asked anything in my name, then ask,
and you will receive, in order that your joy may be full.
Yes I know I have often spoken to you in parables and
analogies; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to
you in parables and analogies, but I will tell you clearly and
plainly what comes from the Father. At that time you will ask in
my name; and I will not have to pray to the Father for you; for
the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved me and have
believed that I came from the Father. So the Father will answer
you. Yes, I have come from the Father into this world, and again
I am going to leave this world and return to the Father."
"Ah, now you are speaking plainly," the disciples said, "and
not in parables. We know that you know all things, and need no
one to question you about that fact. And by all this we believe
you have come from God."
Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? The hour is
coming, indeed it has come, when you will all be scattered, every
man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for
the Father is with me. I have said this to you, that in me you
may have peace of heart. In the world you will at times have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world,
and you can also, if you have me with you" (John 16: 4-33).
Once more Jesus gave them the hope and comfort that the Holy
Spirit would come and lead them, teach them, give them strength,
and guide them into remembering all that Jesus had taught them,
and also lead them into more of the truths of God.
Jesus was telling them that He would be taken away from them
in a very short time, that they would be scattered, they would be
in sorrow, anguish, very low in their hearts and minds, somewhat
like being very sad over the loss of a close friend, or a pet
dog or cat. But, He was also assuring them that they would see
Him again, and they did indeed after He had risen from the grave.
And Jesus told them that at that time they would be in utter joy,
which, as we shall see later, they certainly were.
He told them to be asking the Father in His name, and He was
telling them that the Father loved them, because they had loved
Him and believed that He did come from the Father. He told them
He did come from the Father, and that He now needed to go back to
the Father.
The disciples could now understand those clear words of
Jesus' and they told Him they very much believed He had come from
the Father.
Jesus acknowledged what they now confessed, but wanted to
tell them that even in their state of belief, they would very
shortly be scattered by the events that would unfold, and He
would be a lonely individual, yet not alone because the Father
would be with Him.
Jesus told them that sometimes in the life of a disciple of
His, there would be trials, tests, troubles, and tribulation; but
He wanted them to know they could still have great joy, to be of
good cheer, for as He had overcome the world with all its
tribulations, so they likewise could overcome the world.
With God the Father and Jesus Christ living within us
through the Holy Spirit, we can have victory over Satan, our
carnal pulls of the flesh, and over all the tribulations that
the world can sometimes throw at us. When those disciples were
filled with the Holy Spirit on the feast of Pentecost (Acts 2),
they were filled with the very power and nature of God, and did
go forth into the world, did at times face tribulations, but they
remembered and understood all the words Jesus had spoken to them,
while He was with them on earth. They did have cheer in their
hearts and they did overcome the world.
JESUS' PERSONAL PRAYER FOR HIS DISCIPLES
Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the
hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
since you have given Him power over all flesh, so that he might
give ETERNAL LIFE to all whom YOU have given to HIM. And this is
eternal life, that they may KNOW YOU the ONLY true God, and Jesus
Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having
accomplished and done all the works you gave me to do; and now,
Father, glorify me in your own presence with the GLORY I HAD
WITH YOU BEFORE the world was made.
I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave to me
out of this world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and
they HAVE KEPT my WORD. Now they KNOW that EVERYTHING you gave me
was FROM you; and they have BELIEVED that YOU DID send me. I am
praying FOR THEM; I am not now praying for the world, but for
THOSE whom you gave to me, for they are YOURS. All mine are
yours. And yours are mine. I am glorified in them.
Now I will soon be no more in this world, but they will
remain in this world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father,
PLEASE KEEP THEM in the name which you gave to me, that THEY may
be as ONE, even as WE are ONE.
While I was with them I kept them in the name you gave to
me; I have guarded and protected them, and not one of them is
lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be
fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I have
spoken while in the world that my disciples may have the joy
fulfilled in themselves. I have given THEM your WORD; and the
world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I
am not of the world. Please Father, set them apart in the truth;
YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. As you did send me into the world, so I send
them into the world. And for their sake I set myself apart in
you, that they also may be set apart in the truth.
I do only not pray for these by disciples that are here, but
also for those who will believe in me through their word of
teaching, that they ALL may be ONE; even as you, Father, are in
me, and I in you, that they also may be IN US, so that the world
may believe that you DID SEND me.
The glory that you gave to me I give to them, that THEY may
be ONE even as WE are ONE. I in them and you in me, that THEY may
become PERFECTLY ONE, so that the world may know that you did
send me, and have loved THEM as you loved ME.
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may
be with me where I will be, in your Kingdom, to behold my GLORY
which you have given me in the love for me before the foundation
of the world.
O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I HAVE
KNOWN you; and these my disciples have known that you have sent
me. I made known to them YOUR NAME, and I will make it known
always, that the love with which you have loved me may be in
THEM, and I IN them" (John 17: 1-26).
There is little to comment on here, the words of Jesus in
this prayer are clear and simple to read and understand. It is
worth going over them again, slowly, and often, with thoughtful
meditation.
When Jesus had spoken these words He went on with His
disciples, across the Kidron Valley to a garden called
Gethsemane.
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Written January 2003
  Chapter Thirty-eight:Jesus in Gethsemane - is Betrayed and Arrested After Jesus had told His disciples all the things we covered
in the last two chapter, He and His disciples crossed the Kidron
Valley and entered a garden called Gethsemane.
"I want you to sit here," Jesus told them all, as He Himself
would go a little further into the garden. He took with him,
Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, namely, James and John. Jesus
became very troubled and sorrowful. He said to the three that
were with Him, "I am very sorrowful, even unto death; I want you
to remain here, and watch with me." He went on alone a little
further, about a stones throw, and fell down on His knees
and with great anguish prayed, "O Father, if it be possible, let
this hour pass from me; nevertheless, let it not be my will, but
your will that is done."
Jesus was feeling weak in the knees, and as we feel when
about to faint. There appeared to Him an angel from heaven, who
was sent to strengthen Him.
And He came back to the three disciples and found them
sleeping. He said to Peter, "Could you not watch with me for just
one hour? Watch and pray that you will not enter into
temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
Jesus went away for the second time, and prayed, "My Father,
if it be possible let this time be taken away, so I don't have to
drink it, but your will be done."
Again, He came to the three disciples and found them
sleeping, for their eyes were too heavy to stay awake, as it was
well into the night of this 14th Passover day.
Jesus was in emotional agony by now, so much so that His
sweat was mingled with blood. As the medical world, this is quite
possible, you can be so intense that your blood vessels break
beneath your skin and blood does indeed mingle with your sweat.
Jesus for the third time went away and prayed the same words.
Then returning to the disciples for the third time and
finding them still asleep, said, "Are you still sleeping. Rise up
and pray that you do not enter into temptation. Behold, the hour
is at hand, and the Son of man will is going to be betrayed into
the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see my betrayer is
coming."
While Jesus was still uttering these words Judas Iscariot
came. Now, Judas was well acquainted with the garden of
Gethsemane, for Jesus often met there with His disciples. He knew
Jesus would probably be in the garden during the hours of the
Passover night. Judas procuring and gathering together a band of
soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and some of the
Pharisees, came with lanterns and torches and weapons that
soldiers of the day used in warfare. Judas had arranged that he
would kiss Jesus, so the soldiers and Pharisees would know which
one was Jesus. It was the dark of night, and Jesus looked very
much like all Jews of the day, so the soldiers and Pharisees
needed Judas to point out which one was Jesus. As soon as he came
to the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas immediately
came up to Jesus and kissed Him on the cheek. Jesus said to
Judas, "Friend why are you here? Would you betray the Son of man
with a kiss?" We are not told if Judas ever answered.
Jesus, knowing all that was to befall Him, then came forward
and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"
They answered Him, "We seek Jesus of Nazareth."
"I am he," said Jesus. At those words they drew back and
fell to the ground. They knew Jesus had great super-natural
powers, and they were fully expecting that He would use them.
They were at this point very scared as to what Jesus would do.
Again, Jesus said, "Whom do you seek?" And they once more
replied, "We seek Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have
told you that I am he, so if you seek only me, then let these men
that are with me, go." This was to fulfil the word which He had
spoken, "Of those whom you gave me Father, I have lost not one."
The soldiers and Pharisees by now had realized no
flames of fire were coming from heaven to devour them. Jesus was
not using His mighty powers to fight them. They grew braver every
second. Then they came forward to lay hands on Jesus and arrest
Him.
Some of the disciples seeing all that was going on, asked
Jesus if they should bring out their swords, the few they had,
and fight. Jesus, with a wave of the hand, told them they should
not.
Peter, either did not see Jesus' reaction to the disciples
question as to if they should fight, or simply was too angry at
the whole scene. He could see what was going to take place, and
now fully awake and on edge, he drew the sword that he had and
slashed out with it, cutting off the ear of the high priest's
slave as he ducked the silver flash of the sword as it passed
over his head.
For whatever reason John's Gospel account records the slaves
name, it was Malchus, but we know no more about him, other than
what Jesus did next.
Jesus said to Peter with a firm voice, "Put your sword away;
shall I not drink of the cup which the Father has given me to
drink?" Then bending down He picked up the ear of the slave and
did a miracle by re-attaching it to his head as if it had never
been sliced off.
Turning to His disciples Jesus said, "All who will take the
sword will perish by the sword. Do you not realize that I can
appeal to my Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve
legions of angels to protect me. But then how should the
Scripture be fulfilled, that must come to pass as written?"
Then turning to the crowd that had come to arrest Him, He
said, "Have you come out as if I was a robber, with swords and
clubs, to capture me? Day after day I sat in the Temple,
teaching, and you did not arrest me. But I realize all this has
taken place that the Scripture of the prophets might be
fulfilled."
It was indeed the time for all that was written about this
part of the Messiah's life, and His arrest, and His death, to
come to pass.
So the band of soldiers and the officers of the Jews, with
the Pharisees, seized Jesus, bound Him, and led Him away.
At this sight, of Jesus being arrested and led away, the
eleven disciples panicked, and like scared rabbits, ran away as
fast as their legs could go. By now some other people had come
along to see all that was happening. It was Passover night and
many were as I've mentioned, up all night on this particular day.
A young man, only wearing a linen outer cloak followed Jesus, and
they were going to arrest him also. They were laying hands on
him, grabbing his linen cloak, when he also fled from them
leaving his cloak in their hands, and ran away naked (Mat. 26:
36-56; Mark 14: 32-52; Luke 22: 39-53; John 18: 1-12).
Jesus, was now alone, all His disciples at this point were
gone, but He was not alone, for as He had said, the Father, was
ever with Him.
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Written January 2003
  Chapter Thirty-nine:Jesus on Trial - part oneJESUS BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST
The soldiers and the Pharisees that had come to the garden
of Gethsemane with Judas, took Jesus first to Annas. Now Annas
was father-in-law to Caiaphas who was the High Priest that
particular year. His house (Annas) was probably the closest to
Gethsemane, and Annas had been High Priest himself for a long
period. History tells us that he had five sons who also had
functioned as High Priest in Judea, and now his son-in-law was
High Priest. They probably thought it was important to gain his
counsel in the work of evil they were now planning against Jesus.
And they wanted a little more time to gather more people from the
Jewish Sanhedrin before taking Jesus to the High Priest
himself, so they first went to the home of Annas.
They were not there that long, and Annas had Jesus bound and
they were all off to the palace of Caiaphas the High Priest. It
was Caiaphas who had given counsel to the Jews that it was
expedient that one man should die for the people.
By now it was probably between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. when Jesus
was inside the palace of Caiaphas. You will remember that the
eleven disciples had scattered when they arrested Jesus in
Gethsemane. Now Peter, after gaining back some courage, decided
he would follow the band of people who had arrested Jesus, but he
was keeping his distance, not wanting to get himself arrested.
There was also another disciple who decided to follow also. The
name of that disciple we are not specifically told by the
Gospel writers, but we are told he had some "pull" or was as we
say, "on the in" with the High Priest. Some Bible Commentators
think this other disciple may have been the apostle John, but we
simply cannot say for sure, because his name is not given to us
in the Gospels.
The soldiers, the scribes (some of), the Pharisees (some
of), the elders (some of), arrived at the palace of the High
Priest, with Jesus who was now bound with a rope or chain. The
palace had a kind of "porch" entrance, then a gate from the porch
into a court-yard area, then there was a second story area that
was not enclosed but open, so you could look down from it into
the courtyard. Jesus was taken up onto the second story to
face questioning by the High Priest, and others.
Peter had followed to the porch of the palace, but was not
permitted to enter the "court" area. The other disciple who
followed and was "on the good side" with the High Priest, was
permitted to enter the courtyard and witness all that was going
to take place. As this other disciple had some pull with the High
Priest (how that was we are not told), he was able to go to the
servant maid who looked after the door from the porch to the
courtyard, and persuade her to let Peter into the court area.
Peter was now inside the court area and Jesus could see from
above, where He was, both of the disciples below.
Some of the following, was taking place at the same time,
but I shall have to give them separately, but I will use at times
the phrase "mean while this was happening" so you can get a
better picture of the whole scene and what probably lasted for a
couple of hours.
Peter was now in the courtyard. The soldiers had built a
fire to keep themselves warm, and Peter was also taking advantage
of the fire, sitting with the guards to keep himself warm also.
The chief priests and Jewish council (the ones who were
there) had been as busy as bees trying to find people who would
testify against Jesus, even willing to lie about Jesus, so they
could condemn Him to death. Well, it was all back-firing on them,
as the witnesses were contradicting each other, even as they lied
about what Jesus had done and said. Finally they managed to get
two people to say, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the
temple of God, and to build it back again in three days.' " Now
the religious leaders took those words of Jesus to mean He was
talking about the great physical Temple in Jerusalem, but we know
Jesus was not talking about any physical Temple, but was talking
about Himself, His death and resurrection in three days.
The High Priest looked at Jesus and said, "Do you hear what
these witnesses say about you? How do you answer what they have
said you once said?" Jesus did not say a word in His defence. He
gave no reply.
The blood pressure of the High Priest was rising. With a
loud voice and nearly to the point of shouting, he barked out at
Jesus, "I command you by the living God of our people, tell us if
you are the Christ, the Son of God!!"
Jesus replied, "You have said it! Yes, I am! From now on Son
of man will be sitting at the right hand of Power, the right hand
of God. And will come again with the clouds of heaven."
"So you are the Son of God then?" many shouted back at
Jesus. "You have said the words," Jesus replied, "and yes, so I
am."
At this the High Priest and others were ready to blow their
gasket as we say. They were hot under the collar, and just about
ready to lynch Jesus on the spot. To them anyone saying he was
the Son of God, was blasphemy. Many were crying out, "We have
heard it from his own lips! We do not need to hear any more. This
is blasphemy, and so he deserves to die. Put him to death!"
Meanwhile, as all this was going on up on the second floor
of the palace, down in the courtyard a servant maid was looking
intently and closely at Peter sitting by the fire.
She kept gazing at him, finally it hit her like a bold of
lightning, and she said to all around, "This man here was also
with him, part of his disciples!" Peter immediately responded by
saying, "I do not know what you are talking about. Woman, I do
not know this man called Jesus!"
Peter was disturbed, he arose quickly, and went to the porch
area, near the gateway from the porch to the courtyard, trying
to keep his head low, so no one could see him very well.
Back up on the second floor, they were so angry at the words
Jesus had said to them, admitting He was the Christ, that some
began to SPIT in His face. Some PUNCHED Him. Then others covered
His eyes with a blind-fold, and began to SLAP Him and PUNCH Him,
saying to Him, "All right you Son of God, you the Christ, work
your powers and tell us who it was that just hit you!" The big
strong guards wanted in on the action, and they also began to hit
Jesus with their hands and fists. All were mocking Him and
laughing at Him. Now that Jesus was blind-folded He could not
prepare Himself for their punches. They all landed on Him with
full force. He did not know when or where the slapping and
punches would come from.
Meanwhile down where Peter was, at the gateway by the porch
and courtyard, the servant maid whose duty it was to look after
that area, the same servant maid who had allowed Peter to enter
into the courtyard, after the other disciple had talked to her,
was able to see Peter close at hand and for a longer time. She
also said to others standing there, "This man was with Jesus of
Nazareth. He is one of his disciples."
"I tell you with an oath, I do not know this man called
Jesus," Peter shouted out. The cock crowed.
Peter once more nervous, made his way back into the
courtyard area, still keeping his head low, as not to be seen. An
hour or so had gone by since Jesus had been brought to the palace
of the High Priest. Then a servant of the High Priest, a blood
relative to the man whose ear Peter had cut off in the garden of
Gethsemane, and who had heard Peter speaking as he denied ever
knowing Jesus, said to Peter, "I know you are one of this man's
disciples. I saw you in the garden of Gethsemane with him, and
your accent also bears this out, for you are from the Galilee
area, where this Jesus is from."
"May my head of hair turn white," Peter began to loudly
protest, "if I know this man. May the house of my parents crash
down around them if I am lying. May I drop dead on the spot, if I
do not tell the truth. I do NOT know this man from Galilee, who
you speak about!" Peter was now invoking various curses upon
himself and swearing vehemently that he in no way knew this man
called Jesus.
Then as Peter finished his last words, the cock crowed a
second time. Like a sharp two edges knife cutting into his heart,
Peter remembered at the sound of the cock once again crowing,
that Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you
will deny knowing me three times."
It was now way too much for Peter to bear, as Jesus looked
down from above (the blind-fold having been removed from His
eyes) at him standing in the courtyard, knowing that Jesus knew
he had denied knowing Him three times, indeed before the cock had
crowed twice.
Peter was shattered, he felt like he would break apart into
a thousand pieces. He found himself a lonely spot in the court
area, leaned forward, put his head in his hands and cried like a
baby. He had denied his Lord, his Master, his Savior. He wept and
he cried some more.
As Peter was crying his heart out, the assembly of scribes,
Pharisees, elders, and priests, up on the second floor were
making the decision to put Jesus before the whole Jewish council,
the great Sanhedrin. It was close to daybreak, the sun was coming
up, and soon it would appear over the horizon. Now it would be
easy to call all the members of the Sanhedrin together and bring
Jesus before them all, at Caiaphas' palace.
Word was soon sent that an emergency council meeting was
needed, and before long Jesus stood before the great council of
the Jews. They once more asked Him, "If you are the Christ, then
tell us."
"If I tell you again," Jesus answered, "you will still not
believe me. You haven't believed me at any time. But the Son of
man will be seated at the right hand of God."
They all said, "So you are the Son of God then?" And Jesus
said to them, "You've said it."
The council members then replied, "Oh, what further
testimony do we need? We have heard this man blaspheme with his
own voice, from his own lips. We need to bring him before Pilate,
and get Rome's permission to put him to death." The Jews could
not put anyone to death without permission from the Roman
authorities, that was the one thing the Romans would not allow
the Jews to do. The Romans allowed the Jews freedom to practice
their religion in pretty well all aspects save putting people to
death.
It was now morning, the sun was just up over the horizon,
when they led Jesus away to the Roman governor called Pilate
(Mat.26: 57 to 27: 1; Mark 14: 53-72; Luke 22: 53-71; John 18:
13-27).
.................................
Written January 2003
  Chapter Forty:Jesus on Trial - part twoJESUS BEFORE PILATE
And they took Jesus from the palace of Caiaphas the High
Priest to the palace (called "praetorium" in John's Gospel) that
Herod the Great built for himself, and which became the palace
that the governor of Judea resided in when on duty in the Holy
Land. The governor at this time in history, over the area, was
Pilate, who had risen in the ranks of the Roman Empire, and for
his faithful dedication to the world power of Rome, was appointed
governor of Judea by Tiberius in 26 A.D. The governor of Judea
usually resided in Caesarea, but Pilate moved his headquarters
and army to Jerusalem. He was there quite often, and especially
it was the custom for the governor of Judea to be at Jerusalem,
when the feasts of the Jews were being celebrated, to make sure
peace and order was preserved.
It was very early in the morning of the 14th day of the
first month, which corresponds to our March/April. They brought
Jesus before Pilate. The Jews themselves would not enter the
palace of a Gentile, or anyone they considered a Roman Gentile,
especially just hours before they would partake of the Passover
which they held, by traditions from the Pharisees, on the 15th of
the first month, which was actually the first day of the seven
day feast of Unleavened Bread. For them to have entered this
palace would have been a religious "defilement" and would have
kept them from the Passover they were to observe in about twelve
hours.
It was Pilate who first came out to them, probably not
pleased at all that Jews had got him up so early in the morning,
concerning what he would have thought as "their religious
problems."
"You have brought this man before me, for what reason? What
is he accused of? Pilate said to the Jews.
They answered, "If this man was not an evil doer, we would
not have brought him to you."
"Why don't you take him yourself and judge him by your laws
of Moses?" returned Pilate in a straight crisp tone of voice.
The Jews replied, "It is not lawful under Roman law for us
to put a man to death."
The Jews made various accusation against Jesus, and Pilate
somewhat listened to them. Jesus did not try to defend Himself
against their accusing vicious remarks. After a while Pilate told
the Jews to be quiet, and turning to Jesus said, "Do you not hear
how many things they testify against you? Are you not going to
defend yourself and answer them?"
But Jesus made no attempt to answer the Jewish Sanhedrin
members. And Pilate was greatly impressed, and was amazed at
Jesus' cool composure, under the onslaught of Jewish accusations.
The Jews then said to Pilate, "We found this man perverting
our nation, and forbidding us to give taxes to Caesar, and saying
that he himself is a king." Now Pilate pricked up his ears and
stood tall, when this was said about the man they had brought
before him. Pilate would now want to speak in a private manner to
the man called Jesus. He entered the palace and called to have
Jesus come before him, and then asked this question to Christ,
"Are you indeed the King of the Jews? Do you claim to be a KING?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did
others, like those Jews outside, say this about me, and put this
idea in your mind?
Pilate replied, "Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief
priests have handed you over to me as a criminal; what have you
done?"
Jesus replied, "My Kingdom is not of this age and time, you
have nothing to fear. If my Kingdom was of this age and time,
then would my servants fight, that I would not be handed over to
the Jews so they could have me put to death. My Kingdom and
Kingship is not of this world and age."
"So you are a King then?" Pilate said to Jesus.
"You have said it, that I am a King," Jesus said, "For this
reason I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to
bear witness to the TRUTH. Every one who is of the truth hears my
voice,"
Pilate looked at Jesus in wonderment, and said, "Well, what
indeed is truth?"
The governor Pilate, spent some years in the British Isles
under the schooling of the famous Druids, who were quite well
respected by Rome. The Druids were well known for asking the
question "What is truth?" They would spend much time in debating
that question. So when Jesus said He had come to bear witness to
the truth, it was very natural for Pilate to have replied with
"What is truth?"
We know from Jesus' own words as He prayed to the Father
earlier that night, that truth is the WORD of God. Jesus had
said, "Your word is truth" (John 17: 17).
Pilate was very impressed and somewhat awe struck by this
man called Jesus. He walked back outside to the chief priests and
the other Jews, and said, "I find no fault in this man!"
That is NOT what the Jews wanted to hear. Those were the
last words they wanted Pilate to say. And so they were more
urgent and pressing in their words to Pilate, saying such things
as, "This Jesus, stirs up the people, teaching throughout all of
Judea, from Galilee even to this city."
When Pilate heard the word "Galilee" he asked if Jesus was
from Galilee. And on hearing that He belonged to the jurisdiction
of Herod, he immediately saw a way out from the problem before
him, a way out so he thought. He would send Jesus over to Herod,
who just happened to be in Jerusalem at this time (Mat.27: 2,
11-14; Mark 15: 1-5; Luke 23: 1-5; John 18: 28-38).
JESUS BEFORE HEROD
Herod was delighted to meet Jesus, for he had heard about
Him for a long time, and was hoping to see some kind of miracle
performed by Jesus. Herod questioned Him at some length, but
Jesus made no answer, which then upset Herod, for the chief
priests and scribes and others from the Sanhedrin stood by,
vehemently accusing Him. Herod was displeased with the whole
scene, but especially with Jesus, after waiting for so long
a time to meet Him.
Herod and his soldiers finally treated Jesus with contempt
and mocking laughter, then, putting on Him some very expensive
apparel (mocking Him as a King) they sent Him back to Pilate.
Herod and Pilate that day became very good friends, whereas
before that day they were at enmity and had disdain for each
other (Luke 23: 6-12).
JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF
Judas saw all that was going on, first with Pilate, then
with Herod, and now back with Pilate. Deep remorse and sorrow
filled his heart. Satan had by this time left him. He brought
back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the
elders, saying to them, "I have sinned in betraying innocent
blood." Things just did not go the way Judas expected. Jesus was
not defending Himself or using His mighty power to crush His
enemies.
The chief priests and elders said to Judas, when he returned
the money and declared Jesus to be innocent, "What do we care
about what you say. See if you can do anything about it now! It's
too late!"
And so throwing down the pieces of silver Judas departed
from the Temple, and straight away went and committed suicide by
hanging himself.
The chief priests and elders now had the thirty pieces of
silver. What would they do with them was the big question. One of
them said, "It is not within our law to put this money into the
Temple treasury, since it is now 'blood money'." They sat with
each other to figure what to do. They decided to use the money to
buy a no good piece of land called "the potters field" in which
strangers were buried, people who no one knew where they were
from, or who were their relatives. Somewhat like what we today
call "homeless" or "street" people. That piece of land then
became known as "The field of blood." All this was done that the
words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah might be fulfilled, saying,
"And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on
whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they
gave them for the potter's filed, as the Lord directed me."
Jeremiah never wrote down those words. They are not
contained in the Old Testament book called Jeremiah. They are
words that Jeremiah must have said at one time, and others took
note of them and one way or another had preserved them and
handed them down from generation to generation (Mat.27: 3-10).
BACK BEFORE PILATE
Jesus is now back before Pilate at the palace built by Herod
the Great. Jesus is inside being questioned again by Pilate. The
Jews are outside, not going in lest they be "religiously" defiled
(entering the palace of a Gentile) and would not be able to
observe the Passover which they kept on the 15th day of this
first month.
Pilate goes out to the Jews, and says to them, "You brought
me this man as one who was perverting the people; and after
examining him, I find this man not guilty of any of your charges
against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to me. There
is nothing done by this man that is worthy of death. There is no
crime done by this Jesus. I will chastise him some, and then
release him."
The Jewish leaders, now supported by many people who had
become disgruntled and impatient with Jesus (because He had not
brought them together and used His mighty power to overthrow the
Roman armies), immediately, upon hearing Pilate's words, began to
shout and cry out at the top of their voices, that they wanted
Jesus condemned to death.
Pilate was shocked at their reaction, was speechless for a
moment, then an idea flashed into his mind, that he hoped would
spare the innocent Jesus. It was the custom at Passover time that
the governor release a prisoner, one of their own choosing. In
prison at this time was a notorious fellow by the name of
Barabbas. He had killed people in an insurrection or uprising
against Rome. He was also a robber of some fame.
"Whom do you want me to release for you? Shall it be
Barabbas or shall it be Jesus who is called the Christ?" Pilate
called out to the Jews.
Now he knew very well that they had delivered Jesus up to
himself because they were envious of Him. Then, besides that,
while he had been sitting on the judgment seat, questioning
Jesus, his wife had sent word to him, saying, "Have nothing to do
with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today
in a dream."
The chief priests and elders had already persuaded the
people to demand that Jesus be destroyed and Barabbas released.
They knew that Pilate might resort to this tactic, so they were
prepared for it. Pilate once more shouted out to them, "Which of
the two do you want me to release to you." He himself was hoping
they would say it was Jesus they wanted to have released.
But the crowd shouted back, "Release to us Barabbas!"
Pilate then said to them, "Well, what shall I then do with
Jesus who is called the Christ?"
All with one voice loudly proclaimed, "Let him be
crucified!"
Pilate could not believe what he had heard, "Why crucify
him, what evil has he done? I have found nothing in him worthy of
death," he replied to the crowd.
The crowd ignored his question and shout even more loudly,
"Let him be crucified!"
When Pilate saw that he was gathering no ground, but rather
that a riot could well break out, he took a water bowl and washed
his hands before them all, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of
this man; see to it yourselves." And all the people answered,
"His blood be on us and on our children." (Mat.27: 15-26; Mark
15: 6-15; Luke 23: 13-25; John 18: 38-40).
And so it was that Barabbas was released to the Jews, while
Jesus was handed over to them, to be crucified. And Jesus' blood
was indeed upon them and their children. That generation with
their children, did not repent as a whole from the sin they
committed, and their attitude led them into huge troubles with
the Roman authorities over the next 40 years. It finally
culminated in the Roman general Titus bringing his armies against
Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and destroying most of the city, and the
people therein.
CONCLUSION OF JESUS' TRIAL
Pilate told his soldiers to take Jesus into the palace. He
then called for all the whole battalion of soldiers to come and
be present while Jesus would be "scourged." The scourging that
Roman soldiers did was often VERY brutal, so brutal at times that
many people did not live passed being scourged. They used a whip
that had little bones attached to the long thong strips of the
whip. These little sharp bones would tear the skin apart on the
back and around the sides of the person being scourged. It was
most brutal a whipping, was the Roman scourging, and there was no
limit as to how many whip lashes could be inflicted.
Jesus was of magnificent bodily health and strength, and He
did live through the scourging, but much skin and blood was lost
from His back and sides. The soldiers were not finished with Him
yet. They stripped Him of what clothes He had and put on Him a
purple cloak and then a crown of plaited thorns was placed on His
head. They put a reed in His right hand. Then they began to
salute Him, some kneeling before Him in mockery, and saying,
"Hail, King of the Jews!"
Some took turns beating on His head with a reed. The sharp
needles of the crown of thorns were now being hammered into
Jesus' scull. The pain...well you can imagine if you ever have
had a thorn needle stuck in your hand.
The soldiers also spat upon Jesus and hit Him with their
fists as they continued to mock Him for quite some time.
Pilate took Jesus back out to the railing mob of Jews
outside the palace. "Look, I am bring Him out to you so you can
know that I find no fault or crime in this man."
Jesus stood there wearing the crown of thorns smashed into
His head and the purple cloak. Pilate again said, "Here is the
man." When the chief priests and the elders and those of the
Sanhedrin, saw Jesus, they cried out with frenzied voices,
"Crucify him, crucify him!"
Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him;
for I cannot find any fault or crime in this man."
The religious leaders shouted back, "We have a law, and by
that law he should die, because he has made himself the Son of
God."
When Pilate heard those words he was even more afraid. He
hurried Jesus back into the palace again and said to Him, "Where
are you from?" But Jesus did not answer. Pilate therefore said,
"So you will not speak to me. Do you not know that I have power
to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus then answered,
"You would have no power over me unless it had been given to you
from my Father above; therefore he who delivered me to you has
the greater sin."
Pilate was by now very upset and certainly afraid, and sort
even the more to release this Jesus, but the Jews cried out, "If
you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who
makes himself a King sets himself against Caesar."
The Jews were now resorting to every "political" angle they
could think of, to insure Jesus would be crucified.
When Pilate heard these last words from the Jews, he brought
Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place in the
palace called the "Pavement." All was in full view of the mass
of Jews and the members of the Jewish Sanhedrin. It was the
"preparation" day as the Pharisees Jews called it, the day they
prepared for the keeping of their Passover on the 15th day. It
was still the 14th day of the first month and it was about the
3rd hour (as it should be, not the 6th hour as the KJV gives in
the Gospel of John, which was an error, as the original Greek
manuscripts say "it was the third hour"), which was as we count
time, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Pilate said to the Jews, "Here is your King!" They answered,
"Away with him, away with him, crucify him!"
Pilate replied, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief
priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."
Then Pilate had the purple coak taken off Jesus and His own
clothes put back on, and handed Jesus over to the Jewish leaders
and the mob of people, for them to crucify Him. The prophecies of
how the Messiah would die were now quickly coming to pass
(Mat.27: 27-31; Mark 15: 16-20; John 19: 1-16).
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Written January 2003
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