The Cross

1. The Cross

2. JESUS ARRESTED: Mark 14:43-52 Matthew 26:47-56 Luke 22:47-53 John 18:2-12 And thus about 9 pm on Thursday, Judas arrived in Gethsemane guiding an armed force. The majority of the force consisted of the temple guard, sent by the Sanhedrin, a small detachment of Roman soldiers, from the cohort stationed at Fortress Antonia [as observers and back up], and a few representatives of the Pharisees [only as observers] along with some slaves to carry torches.

3. Judas came directly up to Jesus saying, 'greetings teacher', and kissed his cheek, as was appropriate when greeting a friend. But Jesus said softly to Judas, 'You hand me over with a kiss?' Then Jesus turned to the force and said, 'Who are you looking for?' The leader responded that they sought Jesus of Nazareth. “YHWH (I AM)!” responded Jesus. At the name of God, as given to Moses, the religious people stepped back in the face of such a bold statement. But when the Romans, bewildered by the response of the Jews, asked again for Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus simply said, 'I am he'.

4. By now the disciples were beginning to grasp what was happening. Some pulled knives and prepared to defend both Jesus and themselves. The force also began to prepare for a fight. Simon the Zealot slashed out, cutting off the ear of a torch-bearing servant nearby [it turned out that his name was Malchus who was one of the slaves of Caiphas]. 'That is enough! Put away the weapon', Jesus said calmly to young Simon. Then Jesus reached up, grasped the sliced ear, repositioned it, and applied pressure to stop the bleeding. 'I could bring down thousands of angels to fight for me if I chose to. But it was important that you used your weapon.'

5. As the armed men crowded in with drawn swords and raised batons many of the disciples fled, including the boy Mark, who had nearly been captured but had squirmed out of his cloak and run off in just his tunic. Jesus said to the leader of the force, 'you came for me as though I were a rebel, when you could have "arrested" me any time at the temple. Night is your time. I will not resist if you let my men go'. Since the leader only had instructions to arrest Jesus and did not want a bloody battle, he quickly agreed. The few remaining disciples quickly moved off when the guards ordered them to leave, and they realized that Jesus did not want them to fight. The guards tied Jesus' hands. Jesus was surrounded by guards and "escorted" back to the city.

6. ANNAS QUESTIONS JESUS: John 18:13-24 Jesus was taken from the garden of Gethsemane under guard, to Jerusalem and the palace of Annas, the patriarch of the high priests. He had been High Priest for ten years, had five sons who had been high priests, and now his son-in-law was the current High Priest. He was known for his aggressive questioning style, which could include fists, clubs, staves, and violent servants.

7. This was simply a preliminary investigation held at the palace. It was not an official trial, which could not happen at night, but he was the most powerful religious leader in Jerusalem, and was the one whom Caiphas had convinced that tonight was the right time to arrest Jesus.

8. Annas questioned Jesus with the intent of finding out if Jesus were the leader of a popular uprising that might bring Roman armies against Jerusalem. There were followers of Jesus that were known to be members of a terrorist group called the Zealots. Would Annas recommend that Jesus be put on trial and what charges would there be? Some of the questions that Annas asked Jesus were: 'If you are sent by God, how do you plan to overthrow the Romans? 'Do you plan to be the king in this Kingdom that you proclaim? 'What gives you the right to pass judgment on those who serve in God's temple? 'Just how many followers do you have?

9. But Jesus was not there to answer questions. Jesus was God's question to Annas. 'Will you, as the leader of God's people, or will you not, listen to God and lead Israel to be a light of justice that draws all people to God?' As time went on and Jesus refused to answer any of his questions, Annas asked Jesus one final question. 'Will you not offer proof that will show us that you are sent by God?' And Jesus finally responded. 'I won't show you proof nor answer your questions', at which time a guard slapped Jesus for being discourteous to the High Priest.

10. While this confrontation was taking place, there was another encounter occurring not far away. Out in the open courtyard of Annas' home, the guards had a fire going to warm their hands and to light the area. John knew a woman in the household of Annas. She allowed him to enter the courtyard. When John asked the woman at the gate to let Peter into the courtyard, she did. But as Peter passed her, she asked Peter, 'Are you not also one of the disciples of the man from Nazareth who is being questioned?' Peter, fear clutching at his gut, quickly said 'No!' Not long after this encounter, Annas finished his fruitless questioning of Jesus. He had found Jesus to be dangerous, just as the leaders of the temple had found Jeremiah dangerous. Annas sent Jesus, with his hands tied, to the palace of his son-in-law, Caiaphas the High Priest. With the guards, Caiaphas sent a message. 'He is dangerous, and must be eliminated for the sake of the country.’

11. CAIAPHAS QUESTIONS JESUS: Mark 14:53-72 Mark 15:1 Matthew 26:57-75 Matthew 27:1-2 Luke 22:54-71 Luke 23:1 John 18:24-28 Around 11 pm, Jesus had been escorted to the Palace of the Chief Priest, and found himself at the bottom of a pit inside the Palace of Caiaphas, who was pondering the message from his father-in-law Annas. Caiaphas would now be expected to take some sort of action.

12. For hours Jesus was kept in this cell while Caiphas sent messengers to key people, that they should come to his home. Though not happy to be disturbed in the early hours of the day as they prepared for a major festival, each recognized the urgency of the summons and came to the palace.

13. During these many cold hours, Peter warmed himself by the fire in the courtyard, having followed Jesus and the guards to the palace. Once the leaders were gathered for this "informal" meeting, Caiphas briefed everyone, and then Jesus was brought in.

14. At about 4 am this "executive committee" began to ask questions and bring forth "witnesses" against Jesus. The real question was not so much one of guilt or innocence, but rather on how to eliminate this problem. One of the temple guards told the gathering that when Jesus went "crazy" in the temple, he had said that the temple would be destroyed and raised in three days. But it was necessary to have two witnesses, and no one else could confirm all the same details. Jesus watched this "exercise in futility" knowing that they could not convict him of anything, yet knowing that, in their minds, they must. Only by convicting him and putting him to death would their rejection of God's Messiah, and their rejection of their calling as God's light to the nations, be complete.

15. Meanwhile, out in one of the courtyards, in the cold hours of the night, Peter was waiting and watching. Trying his best to not be noticed. He heard some rumors of what was happening. But his Galilean accent betrayed him, and for the second time he was asked if he was a follower of Jesus (and could then be called as a witness against Jesus), but again he denied knowing Jesus. Between a "rock and a hard place", between Annas' instructions and the obvious inability of the witnesses to prove some guilt of Jesus, in utter frustration, Caiaphas desperately asked Jesus to convict himself. It was 5 am and time was running short. 'Declare under oath,' he said, 'if you believe that you are the Messiah'!

16. And Jesus, knowing how his mission was to be accomplished, obliged. 'As you say', Jesus said, 'but I am more than just the Messiah, the Son of David. I am The Messiah, the Son of Man, and the Son of God, that Daniel saw sharing power with God. Relief washed over Caiphas. Pretending that he was shocked, Caiphas tore his robes and cried out, 'you have all heard his Blasphemy! This man brings dishonor on God by claiming to be God's partner, God's equal. We need hear no more! What should his punishment be?’ 'He should die,' became the consensus. And thus the "executive committee" decided to call for a dawn meeting of the full council. They would recommend a vote of condemnation.

17. Of course they could not actually carry out a death sentence even if they were able to get a conviction. Jesus may "deserve" death, but that is not an actual death sentence. And even if the full Sanhedrin could convict him, they were not allowed to execute him. Now the problem was that the Romans would not execute a man for blasphemy. There needed to be a more political charge. So Caiphas decided, that IF the council agreed that Jesus deserved to die for his blasphemy, then Caiaphas would send Jesus to Pilate on the charge of "stirring up dissention" against those who governed Judah. That might get the Romans to give the Sanhedrin permission to execute Jesus.

18. The rumor of the High Priest tearing his robes shot through the gathered people in the courtyard like an electric shock. One of the slaves that had carried a torch to the arrest of Jesus believed that he recognized Peter. When confronted, fear washed over Peter. Jesus would soon go to trial "deserving death", and Peter's sense of self-preservation controlled his response. 'Damn it, I do NOT know the man!' he bluntly stated. At that moment two things happened. Jesus was being escorted through the courtyard back to his "cell", and a rooster crowed to greet the first light of the new day. Peter was watching Jesus when, for a moment, their eyes met. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said, was ashamed, and looked away. When Jesus was gone, Peter turned and left, ashamed, scared, angry, and confused.

19. Around 6 am, when the sun rose at dawn and the day began, Jesus was brought for trial before the "full" council. There the charges and the "evidence" were quickly presented and Jesus was quickly condemned, by most, as deserving death for blasphemy. Then Caiphas had Jesus sent to the Fortress of Antonia, charged as being a "troublemaker", and hoping that the Romans would allow Caiaphas to have Jesus stoned.

20. JUDAS ACTS: Matthew 27:3-10 Judas, who had led the guards to Jesus, now knew that Jesus would be true to his word not to use his spiritual power as the Messiah to gain a military victory over the Romans and possess a political kingdom over the people of the world. Judas had watched, as Jesus was led from the presence of the Sanhedrin condemned as "deserving death", and being turned over to the Romans. This was not going as he had hoped. Judas was ready to die with Jesus in a revolt against the Romans. But Judas had misunderstood Jesus. Now, because of his actions, Jesus was in serious trouble. He must do something to help Jesus. In desperation Judas went into the palace and demanded a meeting with Caiaphas. His only thought was to return the money and to "call off" the deal that had delivered Jesus into their hands.

21. But when he made the offer to return the money for Jesus' freedom, Caiaphas laughed. This was working out very well. Very soon the Romans would find Jesus guilty, and the religious leaders would be rid of a serious thorn in their side. And, as a bonus, Pilate would be in their debt. Judas, frustrated with impotent rage at the injustice, wanted to strangle these unjust priests. Instead, because of the guards, he threw the coins at their feet. While Judas was being evicted from the palace, he bitterly complained that now he was an accessory to the shedding of innocent blood.

22. After his departure Caiaphas had the money picked up. The priests decided to consider the money as a donation to the temple and to use it to purchase a potters field, as Zechariah prophesied, southeast of the city, in an area called Topheth, near where child sacrifices to Chemosh and Molech had occurred in the time of Solomon, and where now they would bury foreigners who died near Jerusalem "in faith and in poverty".

23. FIRST TRIAL BEFORE PILATE: Mark 15:1-5 Matthew 27:11-14 Luke 23:1-5 John 18:28-38 Pilate had only been in charge for four years. He usually lived in Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast, but came up to Jerusalem for the major festivals. The Roman procurator knew the kind of trouble that could get started in Jerusalem, given the wrong circumstances, and it was a good practice to be where trouble might begin. The Romans had worked out an arrangement with the Jews of Jerusalem. If a non-Jew enters the Temple, then it was OK to kill them in a fit of religious passion. But in other cases, where a trial might take place, the Romans had to be informed and give their consent for the death penalty.

24. The temple guards, and the representative of the religious leaders, marched Jesus to the Fortress Antonia where Pilate was staying while in Jerusalem. The Romans took possession of the prisoner at the gate and escorted him inside. But the Jews, not wanting to "dirty" themselves because tonight they wanted to celebrate the Judean Passover, did not enter inside.

25. Pilate, wanting to get some "political mileage", publicly asked them what the charges were against Jesus. 'Misleading people with bad teaching?' Pilate clearly saw that the religious leaders were trying to make the Romans look bad, and he decided to turn the tables and make them look bad in front of the people. 'What kind of charges are these? They won't hold up in a Roman court. Has this man broken any Roman laws?' The leaders did not want to go this route but were now forced to begin that journey. They pressed on, having received instruction from Caiaphas. 'He claims to be the long awaited Messiah, kind of like a king.'

26. Pilate's response was "dripping" with humorous sarcasm and poisonous barbs. 'Let me get this straight, you are turning over your own king to the Romans for trial?' Pilate knew that the story would get out and the zealots, and others, would never forgive, nor trust, the leaders again. Pilate's work at the gate being done, he went inside to confront Jesus. When Jesus was brought before him, Pilate went straight to the heart of the charges. 'Tell me straight, are you a king?' he asked. After a pause, Jesus answered. 'King is your word. Do I look like a king of the Jews?'

27. Pilate responded, 'How would I know. I am not a Jew.' Then Pilate went through the list of charges asking Jesus to respond to each one. But Jesus remained calm and said nothing throughout the proceedings, as though he were dealing with foolish children's questions rather than the powerful Romans. And by the end of the first round of questions Pilate was getting a queasy feeling about Jesus. Pilate felt that he knew Jesus well enough so as not to believe that Jesus was a terrorist or revolutionary. Yet Pilate was determined to use this situation to his advantage, as any shrewd politician would.

28. The idea crossed his mind to play the crowd against the religious leaders. The religious leaders expected him to announce a finding of guilty and the people expected Roman "injustice" to come to the same conclusion. Good news for the religious leaders, bad news for the people. So when Pilate announced that he found no crime in Jesus, the religious leaders panicked and the people took hope. The religious leaders re-grouped, and again demanded that the Romans find Jesus guilty and condemn him to death. 'He thinks he is a king, and he is stirring up trouble in Judea just as he had in Galilee', they argued. Here was a bit of new information. 'This could be useful', thought Pilate, and had Jesus brought back in.

29. ANTIPAS QUESTIONS JESUS: Luke 23:6-12 It was now about 7 am and Pilate was being challenged by the religious leaders about his conclusion that Jesus was innocent of the charge of sedition. They were describing how Jesus was 'stirring up' the crowds when they mentioned that some of these events occurred in Galilee. Though Pilate had known Jesus to be a Galilean from his accent, clothes, ideas, and the political jealousy Jesus aroused in Jerusalem, he had not considered that Jesus might have caused trouble for Herod Antipas, the tetrarch.

30. Now it happened that Antipas was in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Pilate and Antipas did not "get along" especially well. They were competitors for power. Here was an opportunity for Pilate to put Antipas "on the spot", while appearing to be considerate.

31. Antipas was awakened when the messenger arrived at the Palace of Herod informing him that Jesus was being delivered. Antipas was also briefed on the charges and informed that his opinion of Jesus would be of value. This was a nice gesture by Pilate. In the past Pilate had killed some of Antipas' subjects who were worshiping at the temple. That had challenged the authority of Antipas. Now Pilate was acting appropriately by sending Jesus to him for an opinion.

32. Thus when Jesus was brought before Antipas, who came out of his palace to sit in the courtyard, Antipas was ready. He had long wanted to see this Jesus, of whom he had heard so much. Was this John the Baptizer returned from the grave? Jesus had never really irritated Antipas the way John had, so Antipas was a bit less antagonistic toward Jesus.

33. Yet Antipas had a well-deserved reputation for abusing anyone with less power than his own. Jesus was a toy to be played with. Herod had heard stories about Jesus, the miracle worker, and wanted proof, one way or another, of the power Jesus might possess, and whether or not he was John returned. Antipas began cautiously. But when Jesus said nothing, and showed no evidence of power, Antipas became bolder, and more sadistic. Yet finally Antipas sent Jesus back to Pilate at the Fortress of Antonia with his personal thanks. Antipas now knew that Jesus was NOT John returned and was no one to fear.

34. SECOND TRIAL BEFORE PILATE: Mark 15:6-20 Matthew 27:15-30 Luke 23:13-25 John 18:39-40 John 19:1-15 Antipas had returned Jesus to Pilate. 'Thank you for allowing me to question Jesus', noted Antipas, 'but I do not believe that Jesus has any political ambitions'. At the Fortress of Antonia, Pilate met again with the religious leaders and a small crowd of people, the majority of which were supporters of the leaders and had been gathered by them.

35. Pilate had given the matter some thought. One question kept coming to mind. 'Why are the religious leaders so afraid of Jesus?' Then Pilate devised a test. Do they fear Jesus more than they fear the Romans? Pilate would give the leaders a choice. Pilate would set one prisoner free. Would they choose Barabbas, a known terrorist [or freedom fighter], and thereby antagonize Rome and betray their own God? Or would they choose Jesus of Nazareth, a religious teacher, and have peace with Rome and show loyalty to their God? Pilate took Jesus and Barabbas out to face the leaders and the crowd, and said to them, 'Jesus offers you peace. Barabbas offers you war. Which shall I set free?'

36. To the religious leaders the choice was simple: Jesus must die! Barabbas could never win the hearts of the people and lead the nation against Rome. Jesus could win many, but must ultimately fail. And all the power of Rome would fall upon Israel and they would lose their religious freedoms. Jesus was the greater threat. The leaders had NO choice left. They stirred up the crowd to demand that Barabbas be freed [then they could blame the choice on "the people"]. The choice had been made. Now Pilate needed to decide what to do with Jesus. 'What threat did the religious leaders perceive, such that they were willing to betray one of their own and antagonize the Romans?'

37. So Pilate brought Jesus back inside and questioned him some more. Pilate wanted to set Jesus free in order to antagonize the religious leaders that had already damaged their credibility with their own people. If only Jesus would provide Pilate with some excuse. It was at this time that Pilate received a message from his wife. She had a dream that Jesus was innocent and that Pilate needed to get out of the situation. But Pilate was just a tool and Jesus had no intention of letting Pilate stand in the way of the choice that the religious leaders had made. Just as it was necessary that someone hand Jesus over to the religious leaders in order to force their decision, so it was necessary that someone carry out the death sentence.

38. Pilate brought Jesus before the leaders and those that they had gathered. But this time he was going to push the religious leaders. 'I find no crime against Rome that warrants death', Pilate said. But the religious leaders were ready with their final argument. 'He says that he is a king', they argued. 'What would Caesar do to you if you allowed a rival of Caesar's to live?' Pilate felt fear! Caesar would have Pilate killed (or worse). The implied threat angered Pilate. 'You threatened my power', he thought, 'then I will threaten your power'. Pilate decided to set the religious leaders against their people. Pilate asked, 'what should I do with YOUR king?'

39. 'We have no king but Caesar', someone shouted in the heat of the moment, to be sure that Pilate would condemn Jesus to death, though Israel claimed they had no king but God. When Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, in a moment of religious passion, some there started shouting, 'crucify him'. That was not what Caiaphas would have preferred, but the majority got carried away with religious fervor and there would be no stopping them now. Now the people would know that their religious leaders had arranged for an innocent man to be killed by foreigners. Just as David had done when he had foreigners kill Uriah. That act of injustice had angered God then and would surely anger God now.

40. Now Pilate chose to "twist the knife". He had a basin of water brought out and he announced that he would allow Jesus to be crucified, but that he "washed his hands" of the responsibility for the spilling of the innocent blood of Jesus just as elders in Israel had done in the past. As he was washing his hands someone in the crowd yelled out that they would accept the responsibility for the death of Jesus. At around 8:30 am, Pilate turned Jesus over to his soldiers to be executed, NOW!

41. Jesus would be treated just as hundreds of other leaders that opposed Roman rule had been treated. He was a rebel and he would suffer. The guards took him into the courtyard, where Jesus was stripped. He was tied to a post and whipped, with a short whip with metal tipped thongs, until he was bloodied and weak. The flesh hung in strips down his back, from his shoulders to his knees. But before he could pass out, they stopped. The guards were now free to "play" with this "so called" king. They gave Jesus a crown, like Caesar's wreath crown (only this one had short thorns) from twigs taken from the fireplace. The thorns were pressed onto the head of Jesus. They gave Jesus a scarlet robe, like Caesar's royal purple robe.

42. They even gave Jesus a symbol of authority, a scepter (a stick that was lying nearby), like Caesar's scepter. Then the guards pretended that Jesus was a king and bowed to him, and then hit Jesus with the scepter and spit on him. 'Greetings, king of the Jews', they spat. As they put Jesus on display in front of the people who were gathered outside, they said, 'Behold the man who would be your king'. Sadism was not uncommon under these circumstances and was prophesied by Isaiah. Then the guards took Jesus back inside and made him get dressed in his own clothes. But they left the crown on, to remind everyone that Jesus is their king, and they prepared for the procession thorough Jerusalem, to the place of execution. Now the Judean Jews could spend their time in preparation for the Judean Passover.

43. PROCESSION TO CRUCIFIXION: Mark 15:21-22 Matthew 27:31-33 Luke 23:26-32 John 19:16-17 Pilate's order was carried out almost immediately. An execution squad of four solders was organized. Since Jesus was to be crucified now, the Romans decided to execute two "other" criminals at the same time. There had been some concern that Pilate was crucifying them during the Judean Passover, but Pilate believed that it sent a strong message, and that there was little chance of a riot because the Judean Jews would be busy celebrating their Passover.

44. The squad gathered the three criminals to be crucified and assigned the 100-pound wooden crossbeams for each to carry. The beams were tied to their shoulders, and then the criminals were lined up. Then began the procession, with Jesus, as the most important criminal, to be the first of the prisoners leading the procession.

45. As the procession moved through the streets of Jerusalem, some people lined the way. Some were supporters of the religious leaders, and they verbally assaulted Jesus. Some had been followers of Jesus, and they cried with this injustice. Some shopkeepers and their customers were curious, while others who just happened to be walking down the street, were forced to stop and wait until the condemned went past. As the procession left the "Seat of Judgment" in the public square west of the Fortress of Antonia western gates, it became quickly obvious that Jesus was far too weak. The guard had not been sufficiently careful. Jesus staggered repeatedly and the wood gouged his exposed muscles. Jesus was kicked to "encourage him" to get up and keep moving, but though he tried, and did in fact go a short distance, he eventually fell down and could not rise.

46. So one of the guards picked a man from the crowd, who looked strong, to carry the crossbeam of Jesus to the site of the execution. They happened to pick a foreign Jew who had come to Jerusalem for the festival, from the North African city of Cyrene, west of Egypt. He had rented a place outside the city and had come into Jerusalem today to worship at the temple. The solders untied the crossbeam from Jesus, and Simon picked it up and joined the procession right behind Jesus. Simon had a vague sense of who Jesus was, but little suspected that this "random selection" would radically change his life as well.

47. Most of the people were sorry that the Romans were executing these Jews. The local women expressed their anguish with loud cries and other physical displays, such as hitting themselves with their hands. Jesus became aware of these expressions of sorrow, and he tried to reach out to them. As he walked past them he tried to warn them. 'My suffering is ending, cry for Jerusalem. A time is coming, soon, when you will wish for death to release you from the suffering.' Jesus led the convicted through the gate in the west wall, just north of the three towers near the Palace of Herod, to the site where the crucifixion would occur.

48. JESUS CRUCIFIED: Mark 15:23-28 Matthew 27:34-38 Luke 23:33-34 John 19:18-25 By 9:15 am the procession had traveled the 600 to 700 yards from the Fortress Antonia, through the western gate, to Golgotha, the rock quarry, at the northern extension of the Valley of Hinnon that had served as the city dump, beside the major roads that intersected on the western side of Jerusalem. There, permanently buried in the ground were a series of upright wooden beams, and a number of old olive trees, that were used for crucifixion.

49. When they arrived there, Jews being crucified were offered a drink. There was a custom that the condemned could have a drink of wine, with some bitter anesthetic added to the glass, to dull the pain and the mind. But once Jesus tasted it, he chose not to drink more. The process of crucifixion proceeded quickly. Simon put down the crossbeam. Then the condemned men were laid down face up, on the ground, with their crossbeam under their shoulders. With their elbows slightly bent, heavy, square iron nails were pounded through the palm of the hands and deep into the crossbeam. Then a short piece of rope was used to tie the criminal to the beam.

50. The soldiers knew that these men would have to be killed before night fall and wanted to inflict as much pain as possible before that time. Then, with the victim attached, the crossbeam was lifted up to the top of the upright beam, or against an old tree, where it was secured. With the knees slightly bent, the feet of the victims were set side by side with the upright beam between them, and a nail driven from the outside of the foot below the ankle and into the beam, or tree. Since there were only three being crucified today they each were attached to an upright beam. Then the sign with the written official charge was secured above the head of the condemned and could be clearly read. The one over the head of Jesus declared, in three languages [Hebrew, Latin, and Greek], that he was from Nazareth and that he was the "KING OF THE JEWS".