Christ ’ s Betrayal and Arrest

Christ’s Betrayal and Arrest • Matthew 26:14-16 • Judas was embarrassed in front of the other disciples when Mary anointed Jesus • Judas was so angry with Jesus for rebuking him, he went to the chief priests and made a deal to betray Jesus • Judas arranged a signal that he would kiss Jesus to let the soldiers know who they should arrest

Christ’s Betrayal and Arrest • Judas left the Last Supper to finish the betrayal • He found Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane • John 18:2-3 • Judas knew Jesus would be there because he often went there with his disciples

Christ’s Betrayal and Arrest • When the soldiers stated that they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth, he replied “I am he.” • The authority with which he spoke the name I AM caused the Jews present to fall down in fear of the Lord. • The Romans may have thought “I AM” was a cue for an attack so they fell thinking that they were being ambushed

Christ’s Betrayal and Arrest • When the soldiers tried to arrest JesusPeter took out his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus • No faith on the part of Malchus but Jesus could not allow violence from his disciples • Two swords among the disciples (Luke 22:36-38)

Christ’s Betrayal and Arrest • Malchus was the servant of Caiaphas. • Servants typically stood to the left of their master. (The right would have been a place of honor.) • Caiaphas would speak into the right ear of Malchus • Malchus may have been the “ear” of Caiaphas around Jerusalem, listening to everything going on in the city and reporting back to Caiaphas

Christ’s Betrayal and Arrest • Jesus went peacefully with the soldiers (healed Malchus) • Matthew 26:55-56 Am I leading a rebellion that you come out with swords and clubs to capture me? • The disciples fled • Most likely toward Bethany • Peter and John did not

Trial #1 • Jesus before Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-24) • Annas regarded by Jews as the true High Priest (v 19 “the high priest questioned Jesus”) • Romans thought Annas was too powerful so they removed him from power • Annas chose his own son-in-law so that he would still have authority (v 24 “then Annas sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.”)

No witnesses • Jesus was asked to prove his innocence • Typical trials had witnesses to prove guilt • Jesus struck in the face • Open hand slap

Trial #2 • Jesus before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:53-65) • The chief priests stood up to testify against Jesus but their testimonies did not agree • Caiaphas then questioned Jesus • Jesus remained silent and gave no answer (Isaiah 53:7)

Finally Caiaphas asked “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” • Jesus answered “I am” • Caiaphas tore his clothes and accused Jesus of blasphemy • Other priests condemned him worthy of death, spit on him, struck him with their fists, blindfolded him, and commanded him to prophesy who hit him

Then they handed him to the guards to take and beat him • Jesus prophesied all of this in Mark 10:33-34 • They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.

Trial #3 • Jesus before Caiaphas and Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:1-2) • Formal trial at dawn • Trials at night were illegal and the priests knew it • They arranged for this trial so that their decision would be legal

The Jews held no right to execute anyone • Restriction put on the Jews by the Romans • Sometimes the Romans overlooked stoning • They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor

Trial #4 • Jesus before Pilate (Luke 23:1-7) • Priests accused Jesus of opposing taxes • A false charge! (Luke 20:20-26) “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public

Priests accused Jesus of claiming to be the Messiah • Pilate did not question Jesus on the tax issue, but the Messiah issue • “Are you the king of the Jews?” – P • “My kingdom is not of this world” – J Yes, but I’m not trying to depose Rome.

You are a king! – P • “I came into this world to testify to truth” – J Yes, but I’m here only to teach truth, not to claim a throne on earth • “What is truth?” – P There’s no such thing as truth. Everyone lies for their own gain. • “I find no basis for a charge against him.” • “He stirs up people…he started in Galilee.” – Crowd

Pilate found no reason to crucify Jesus • But the priests persisted. They mention Galilee • Pilate knew he was off the hook • Galilee was Herod’s jurisdiction

Trial #5 • Jesus before Herod (Luke 23:8-12) • Herod was glad to see Jesus • He had been wanting to see some miracles • Jesus performed no miracles • Herod asked him many questions • Jesus answered no questions

Trial #5 • Herod’s motives were for his own entertainment • Jesus called Herod a fox (Luke 13:32) • Herod didn’t get any miracles from Jesus so he forced his own entertainment • He dressed him in an elegant robe and ridiculed and mocked him • Sent him back to Pilate

Trial #6 • Jesus before Pilate (Luke 23:13-25) • Pilate gathered the priests and informed them that neither he nor Herod found Jesus guilty of the charge “inciting the people to rebellion” • Pilate agreed to punish Jesus then release him

Trial #6 • Pilate’s plan was to have Jesus scourged • Scourging was done with the Roman Flagrum (Cat of Nine Tails)

Roman Flagrum • Roman torture device used to get information • Had bits of glass, bone, and/or nails embedded in lead on the end of the leather straps • 3-12 leather straps • Lashings often caused death, though that is not the purpose

Trial #6 • After the scourging, Pilate presented Jesus to the Jews yet they cried “Crucify Him!”

Trial #6 • It was the custom that the governor release one prisoner during Passover • Pilate gave the Jews a choice between Barabbas (a murderer who took part in a rebellion) and Jesus • The Jews called for Barabbas to be released instead • Pilate washed his hands and handed him over to be crucified

Crucifixion • Jesus as our Sin Offering • Different animals were sacrificed for different reasons (Leviticus 4) • High priest = Young Bull • Priest = Male Goat or Lamb • Common People = Female Goat or Lamb • We are to be considered Priests • 1 Peter 2:9 – You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation

After the sacrifice, the priest must eat the animal (Lev 6:24-27) • Whatever touches the sacrifice will become holy • John 6:53-56 – You must eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood. • Communion

Crucifixion (Matthew 27:32-56, Mark 15:21-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:16-37) • Simon of Cyrene (father of Alexander and Rufus) was forced to carry Jesus’ cross to Golgotha • John says “carrying his own cross” • Rufus and Alexander were probably well-known, early church leaders • It was the 3rd hour (9:00 am)

Two other men, both criminals, were led out as well • One crucified on his right and one on his left (Luke 23) • People passed by and hurled insults at him (Mark 15) • You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself • He saved others, but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe

One criminal mocked Jesus but the other defended him • “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” • At the 6th hour (noon) darkness came over the whole land for three hours • At the 9th hour Jesus cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani” (Psalm 22:1)

Sour wine was offered to him (wine mixed with myrrh) (Ps 22:15) • He cried “It is finished” (Ps 22:31) • The Temple veil was torn from top to bottom and there was an earthquake

Burial • Jesus’s Secret Disciples • Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus • Both were most likely members of the Sanhedrin • Mark calls Joseph an honorable Council member • Luke calls him a member of the Council who was good and just

Burial • When these men saw what Jesus endured during his trials and on the cross, they were ashamed of their own cowardice • In repentance Joseph gave his own tomb for Jesus and Nicodemus bought 75 pounds of burial spices • A royal burial

Christ ’ s Betrayal and Arrest