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quite often on sunday morning after the memorial meeting is concluded or at memorial meeting is concluded or at least as the memorial meeting is being least as the memorial meeting is being concluded concluded we remember the words that are recorded we remember the words that are recorded in the gospel of matthew in the gospel of matthew and when they had sung a hymn and when they had sung a hymn they went out to the mount of olives they went out to the mount of olives and we sing a hymn then and we leave the and we sing a hymn then and we leave the place where we have place where we have kept the memorial supper kept the memorial supper with jesus and with our brethren the story that we're going to be following this week following this week starts where we usually hear it end starts where we usually hear it end at the breaking of bread at the breaking of bread we're going to go forward from that we're going to go forward from that point point with jesus with jesus and the and the apostles apostles to the garden to the garden to the trial to the trial to the cross to the cross and then beyond the cross after they had sung at hymn then they went out to the mount of olives went out to the mount of olives jesus and the eleven who were with him jesus and the eleven who were with him leave the upper room they go through the quiet streets of jerusalem at midnight jerusalem at midnight out the city gate out the city gate over the brook kidron over the brook kidron through the valley of trees and shadows through the valley of trees and shadows up the hill on the other side up the hill on the other side into the garden called gethsemane into the garden called gethsemane the orchard of olive trees jesus is seeking the strength that comes only from prayer man's fall was in a garden and now man's redemption and now man's redemption is being worked out in another garden we read that jesus goes to gethsemane and a special twist the gospel writer and a special twist the gospel writer says and the disciples says and the disciples follow him follow him it isn't so much that they all go it isn't so much that they all go together together because jesus experience is something because jesus experience is something extraordinary and very different from extraordinary and very different from that of his disciples and yet they that of his disciples and yet they follow after him to the same place follow after him to the same place and i think and i think this thought then gives us a keynote for this thought then gives us a keynote for our classes this week our classes this week we must picture ourselves among the we must picture ourselves among the disciples disciples following after jesus into the garden following after jesus into the garden following after jesus to the trial as following after jesus to the trial as some did some did following jesus to the cross and beyond following jesus to the cross and beyond our experiences cannot be the same our experiences cannot be the same as the experiences of jesus but we must as the experiences of jesus but we must follow after and attempt to make them follow after and attempt to make them the same as best we can the same as best we can and so we recognize and so we recognize in these studies that in these studies that our experiences of the cross our experiences of the cross and the resurrection and the resurrection are very much second hand are very much second hand even more so than those of the even more so than those of the first disciples first disciples but we must try we must try to be there but we must try we must try to be there with jesus to experience as best we can with jesus to experience as best we can what he did experience recognizing all what he did experience recognizing all the time the limitations that are the time the limitations that are inherent in our understanding and also inherent in our understanding and also our situation in the 20th century in our situation in the 20th century in relation to jesus who walked upon the relation to jesus who walked upon the earth so many years ago jesus went into the garden and the disciples followed him disciples followed him they went forth with him without the they went forth with him without the camp of israel outside the city camp of israel outside the city bearing his bearing his reproach and so we do the same reproach and so we do the same in the exhortational words of the in the exhortational words of the apostle paul in hebrews chapter 13. matthew 26 31 i should point out that because of the nature of the study we because of the nature of the study we will have to spend some time looking at will have to spend some time looking at each of the four gospels i'll try to each of the four gospels i'll try to keep the page turning to a minimum but keep the page turning to a minimum but occasionally we will be moving back and occasionally we will be moving back and forth between the gospels to get the forth between the gospels to get the full story of jesus full story of jesus in each of these different situations in each of these different situations matthew 26 matthew 26 and verse 31. then said jesus unto them all ye shall be offended because of me all ye shall be offended because of me this night for it is written this night for it is written i will smite the shepherd and the sheep i will smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad of the flock shall be scattered abroad but after i am risen again i will go but after i am risen again i will go before you into galilee before you into galilee peter answered and said unto him peter answered and said unto him though all men shall be offended because though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will i never be offended of thee yet will i never be offended jesus said unto him verily i say unto jesus said unto him verily i say unto thee that this night before the [ __ ] thee that this night before the [ __ ] crow thou shalt deny me thrice crow thou shalt deny me thrice peter said unto him though i should die peter said unto him though i should die with thee yet will i not deny thee with thee yet will i not deny thee likewise also said likewise also said all the disciples all the disciples peter was so strong peter was so strong and yet and yet in reality so weak in reality so weak it was so easy to say it was so easy to say i will never be offended i will never i will never be offended i will never let you down let you down but it was so difficult to do but it was so difficult to do how pathetic might some of our promises how pathetic might some of our promises sound in retrospect as we look back over sound in retrospect as we look back over the years perhaps to the time of our the years perhaps to the time of our baptism and the vows that we took then baptism and the vows that we took then i will never be offended by thee i will never be offended by thee likewise said they likewise said they all verse 36 then cometh jesus with them unto a place then cometh jesus with them unto a place called gethsemane called gethsemane and saith unto the disciples and saith unto the disciples sit ye here while i go and pray yonder sit ye here while i go and pray yonder he separated himself along with the he separated himself along with the inner circle apparently of peter james inner circle apparently of peter james and john he left behind the others and and john he left behind the others and brought those three with him a bit brought those three with him a bit further along the way to his own private further along the way to his own private gethsemane of prayer gethsemane of prayer and turmoil and suffering james and john had promised just shortly before this that they would drink of his before this that they would drink of his cup and now he was giving them the cup and now he was giving them the opportunity to do so opportunity to do so he said to them pray that ye enter not he said to them pray that ye enter not into temptation christ went to gethsemane because he knew knew that judas would be looking for him that judas would be looking for him there there we're told in john 18 verses 2 and 3 we're told in john 18 verses 2 and 3 that gethsemane was a common place for that gethsemane was a common place for jesus and his disciples to spend their jesus and his disciples to spend their time so here he waits placing himself in judas's hands placing himself in judas's hands verse 37 verse 37 and he took with him peter and the two and he took with him peter and the two sons of zebedee sons of zebedee and began to be very sorrowful and very and began to be very sorrowful and very heavy they came with him as i said heavy they came with him as i said further along this way he began to be sorrowful and very heavy very distressed and very heavy very distressed this of course is the mark not of a god this of course is the mark not of a god but of a man but of a man we begin to see and experience perhaps we begin to see and experience perhaps just a bit just a bit the the sufferings through which jesus was going it was a sign of weakness in a sense the trials that he was facing the trials that he was facing but also for us and i think this is very but also for us and i think this is very heartening heartening it was a sign of the compassion it was a sign of the compassion which jesus is able to feel for all of which jesus is able to feel for all of us who in our own us who in our own rather limited ways rather limited ways suffer as did he suffer as did he paul says in hebrews chapter 4 for we have not and high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities our infirmities but he was in all points tempted like as but he was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin we are yet without sin let us therefore come boldly or let us therefore come boldly or confidently unto the throne of grace confidently unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need to help in time of need the double negative there in verse 15 the double negative there in verse 15 if we omit both of them we have the if we omit both of them we have the plain statement that we do have a high plain statement that we do have a high priest who can be touched with the priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities because he feeling of our infirmities because he was tempted in all points like as we are was tempted in all points like as we are and so we see jesus here in this cameo and so we see jesus here in this cameo picture as he kneels in the garden and picture as he kneels in the garden and we recognized we recognized that he was being prepared at that time that he was being prepared at that time not just for the cross but he was being not just for the cross but he was being prepared also that in heaven itself he prepared also that in heaven itself he might be the true and proper and might be the true and proper and understanding and loving mediator for understanding and loving mediator for all of us who experience our own all of us who experience our own gethsemanes gethsemanes small and limited though they might be small and limited though they might be he can have compassion upon us because he can have compassion upon us because he has experienced the same weaknesses he has experienced the same weaknesses yet of course he himself was without sin and we read in chapter 5 of hebrews in verse 2 verse 2 that the high priest who is taken from that the high priest who is taken from among men can have compassion on the among men can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the ignorant and on them that are out of the way for that he himself also is way for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity compassed with infirmity and it seems to me that paul's whole and it seems to me that paul's whole argument here in hebrews 5 is whatever argument here in hebrews 5 is whatever was true of the high priest under the was true of the high priest under the law in these circumstances is also true law in these circumstances is also true of christ he becomes the antitypical of christ he becomes the antitypical high priest high priest verse seven verse seven now he is speaking of christ directly now he is speaking of christ directly and he says who in the days of his flesh and he says who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he from death and was heard in that he feared feared though he were a son yet learned he though he were a son yet learned he obedience by the things which he obedience by the things which he suffered suffered he offered up prayers and supplications he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears you see with strong crying and tears you see paul has tried to do what we should be paul has tried to do what we should be trying to do this week he has put trying to do this week he has put himself in the place of those disciples himself in the place of those disciples who accompanied jesus to gethsemane he who accompanied jesus to gethsemane he sees him there as though he were there sees him there as though he were there with him the strong crying and the tears with him the strong crying and the tears to him who would save him from death to him who would save him from death or the word literally means out of death or the word literally means out of death jesus knew that death awaited him but he jesus knew that death awaited him but he knew that his father in heaven would knew that his father in heaven would save him out of that death to a new and save him out of that death to a new and glorious life glorious life though he was a son though he was a son yet he learned obedience yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered this was by the things which he suffered this was a learning process for jesus and through a learning process for jesus and through him as we follow in his steps him as we follow in his steps we learn also we learn also we learn the price that god placed upon we learn the price that god placed upon our salvation our salvation we learn the depth we learn the depth to which our sins have carried us out of to which our sins have carried us out of which we needed to be delivered which we needed to be delivered by the wondrous work of jesus by the wondrous work of jesus and so we see here a man and so we see here a man kneeling in the garden in the shadows kneeling in the garden in the shadows very distressed very distressed a man a man not a god then saith thee unto them my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death exceeding sorrowful even unto death we hear so often in the words of jesus we hear so often in the words of jesus here here the echoes of old testament prophecies the echoes of old testament prophecies and especially of the psalms which seem and especially of the psalms which seem to me to me can be read so often as the inner can be read so often as the inner biography of jesus biography of jesus the thoughts of david in all of his the thoughts of david in all of his experiences reflect and look forward to experiences reflect and look forward to the thoughts of jesus in all of his the thoughts of jesus in all of his experiences experiences and so as he says here my soul is and so as he says here my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death exceeding sorrowful even unto death we're reminded of the words in psalm 42 we're reminded of the words in psalm 42 that are repeated throughout psalms 42 that are repeated throughout psalms 42 and 43 almost as a refrain why art thou cast down o my soul psalm 42 and verse 5 why art thou disquieted 42 and verse 5 why art thou disquieted in me in me and then the response arising out of and then the response arising out of that difficulty and that inner turmoil that difficulty and that inner turmoil hope thou and god for i shall yet praise hope thou and god for i shall yet praise him for the help of my countenance and him for the help of my countenance and again in verse 11 and again in verse 5 again in verse 11 and again in verse 5 of psalm 43 why art thou cast down o my of psalm 43 why art thou cast down o my soul why art thou disquieted within me soul why art thou disquieted within me out of the depths jesus is crying to the out of the depths jesus is crying to the father father and out of the depths there arises this and out of the depths there arises this faith as he clings to this faith and faith as he clings to this faith and develops it hope thou in god for i shall develops it hope thou in god for i shall yet praise him even beyond the grave i yet praise him even beyond the grave i shall yet praise him who will be the shall yet praise him who will be the health of my countenance and my god health of my countenance and my god out of the depths jesus christ to the out of the depths jesus christ to the father father in matthew 26 still in verse 38 he says to those who are with him tarry ye hear and watch with me it appears as though his disciples were already beginning to fail him already beginning to fail him verse 39 and he went a little farther verse 39 and he went a little farther and fell on his face and fell on his face and prayed saying and prayed saying o my father o my father if it be possible let this cup pass from if it be possible let this cup pass from me me he goes even a little farther apparently he goes even a little farther apparently it seems to me he leaves behind even it seems to me he leaves behind even those closest three of his followers who those closest three of his followers who had accompanied him thus far had accompanied him thus far and he separates himself from everyone and he separates himself from everyone leaving behind him these three and so we leaving behind him these three and so we picture in our minds a four-fold picture in our minds a four-fold division division almost as though we were looking at the almost as though we were looking at the tabernacle itself tabernacle itself where jesus all by himself approaches where jesus all by himself approaches the father jesus the high priest the father jesus the high priest ministering in the most holy place ministering in the most holy place because where he is in the father's because where he is in the father's presence is the most holy presence is the most holy and then beyond him and then beyond him uh at the first remove peter and james uh at the first remove peter and james and john as though they represented the and john as though they represented the holy place and beyond that the other holy place and beyond that the other disciples who had been able to go with disciples who had been able to go with jesus some distance but not quite as far jesus some distance but not quite as far the other eight the other eight in the outer court and finally as we set in the outer court and finally as we set the stage here jesus in the garden the stage here jesus in the garden the fourth entity are all of those with the fourth entity are all of those with judas who are coming from a distance judas who are coming from a distance outside the tabernacle itself outside the tabernacle itself the world outside judas bringing with the world outside judas bringing with him those who will arrest jesus and lead him those who will arrest jesus and lead him away to his trial him away to his trial jesus then remains in the most holy and jesus then remains in the most holy and there he prays my father if it be possible if it be possible let this cup pass from me let this cup pass from me and perhaps a pause and perhaps a pause perhaps wondering what the response will perhaps wondering what the response will be be and then and then the resignation of the statement the resignation of the statement nevertheless not as i will nevertheless not as i will but as thou wilt but as thou wilt what did jesus mean when he said what did jesus mean when he said may this cup pass from me may this cup pass from me mark chapter 14 and verse 35 in a mark chapter 14 and verse 35 in a parallel reference says parallel reference says let this hour let this hour pass pass was jesus was jesus begging to be spared begging to be spared the trials of waiting the trials of waiting the difficulties that would come to him the difficulties that would come to him before the cross before the cross that's at least one possibility was he possibly asking to be spared the cross itself cross itself and if that were the case he would and if that were the case he would recognize and would repeat very quickly recognize and would repeat very quickly nevertheless not as i will but as thou nevertheless not as i will but as thou wilt knowing that the cross wilt knowing that the cross was inescapable if he was to do the work was inescapable if he was to do the work of his father if he was to love his of his father if he was to love his brethren to the uttermost as he had said again we see here a man and not a god that jesus had a will of his own that he that jesus had a will of his own that he needed to disavow nevertheless not as i needed to disavow nevertheless not as i will will but as thou wilt but as thou wilt paul says in romans 15 3 paul says in romans 15 3 even christ pleased not himself even christ pleased not himself and we see in that i think a wonderful and we see in that i think a wonderful exhortation exhortation all of us find circumstances in which all of us find circumstances in which we rebel against we rebel against those circumstances in which we have those circumstances in which we have been placed and we been placed and we desire to do our will to satisfy desire to do our will to satisfy ourselves to make ourselves comfortable ourselves to make ourselves comfortable to please ourselves to please ourselves and paul looking at the and paul looking at the preeminent example of jesus says and preeminent example of jesus says and even jesus even jesus even jesus above all others who should even jesus above all others who should have been able to please himself have been able to please himself pleased not himself pleased not himself but the reproaches of those who but the reproaches of those who reproached god fell upon him reproached god fell upon him nevertheless not as i will nevertheless not as i will but as thou wilt but as thou wilt with gentle resignation still he yielded with gentle resignation still he yielded to the father's will luke chapter 22 verse forty three and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven from heaven strengthening him strengthening him an angel to sustain him apparently the an angel to sustain him apparently the others others have already fallen asleep have already fallen asleep verse 44 verse 44 and being in an agony and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the great drops of blood falling down to the ground ground the word agony literally means a contest the word agony literally means a contest a struggle and the struggle was so great a struggle and the struggle was so great that the sweat was pouring off him as he that the sweat was pouring off him as he knelt there in the garden knelt there in the garden the shadow of the cross was falling over the shadow of the cross was falling over him his sacrifice had already begun him his sacrifice had already begun and in noting this small point it seems and in noting this small point it seems to me that the gospel writer luke is to me that the gospel writer luke is looking all the way back to the garden looking all the way back to the garden of eden of eden where where as a part of the curse of the first adam as a part of the curse of the first adam he was told in the sweat of thy brow he was told in the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread shalt thou eat bread and now the last adam again in a garden and now the last adam again in a garden beginning to do the work that will undo beginning to do the work that will undo the curse that the first adam brought up the curse that the first adam brought up on the human race on the human race finds the sweat pouring from him finds the sweat pouring from him and again the same thought can occur to and again the same thought can occur to us as we are directed by luke those us as we are directed by luke those words of genesis 3 in the sweat of thy words of genesis 3 in the sweat of thy brow shall thou eat bread brow shall thou eat bread jesus in the sweat of his brow was jesus in the sweat of his brow was preparing the bread of life not the preparing the bread of life not the bread which if a man eats he will hunger bread which if a man eats he will hunger again but the bread of life the bread of again but the bread of life the bread of eternal life through himself he was eternal life through himself he was preparing himself preparing himself as as the bread of life the bread of life and there we go with him and there we and there we go with him and there we feel the sorrow and the struggle and the feel the sorrow and the struggle and the sweat sweat and as we partake of that bread of and as we partake of that bread of eternal life we remember jesus in the eternal life we remember jesus in the garden his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground blood falling down to the ground it has been suggested it seems to me it has been suggested it seems to me rather ingeniously that his sweat would rather ingeniously that his sweat would have been tinged with blood because of have been tinged with blood because of the enormity of the pressures upon him the enormity of the pressures upon him that the small capillaries under the that the small capillaries under the skin perhaps would have burst skin perhaps would have burst it seems to me it seems to me more reasonably or more reasonably or more precisely that more precisely that luke as he envisioned this scene or as luke as he envisioned this scene or as he had it described to him would see the he had it described to him would see the great drops of sweat falling down and great drops of sweat falling down and mingling with the dust under jesus's mingling with the dust under jesus's feet so that as they hit the ground they feet so that as they hit the ground they would appear to be red or brown and would appear to be red or brown and would recall to his mind would recall to his mind uh blood that he had seen dripping from uh blood that he had seen dripping from wounds this is how jesus in the scene in wounds this is how jesus in the scene in the garden impressed him luke calling attention to this blood certainly is calling our attention to certainly is calling our attention to the fact that the sacrifice of jesus was the fact that the sacrifice of jesus was beginning here at this point beginning here at this point we go back to matthew 26 and verse 40. and he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep and saith unto peter findeth them asleep and saith unto peter what could you not watch with me one what could you not watch with me one hour hour watch and pray that ye enter not into watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak he went away again the flesh is weak he went away again the second time and prayed saying oh my second time and prayed saying oh my father if this cup may not pass away father if this cup may not pass away from me except i drink it thy will be from me except i drink it thy will be done and he came and found them asleep done and he came and found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy and he again for their eyes were heavy and he left them and went away again and prayed left them and went away again and prayed the third time saying the same words the third time saying the same words three times the disciples are awakened three times the disciples are awakened and fall asleep again three times jesus and fall asleep again three times jesus prays and then goes to them prays and then goes to them why did they continue to fall asleep why did they continue to fall asleep well for one thing there had been long well for one thing there had been long days of activity preceding the passover days of activity preceding the passover that they had participated with jesus in that they had participated with jesus in there had been the several cups of wine there had been the several cups of wine at dinner which would be traditional at dinner which would be traditional with the passover meal and were probably with the passover meal and were probably observed by jesus observed by jesus and now we had come to a very late hour and now we had come to a very late hour perhaps midnight or later perhaps midnight or later and they sit with jesus in a dark garden and they sit with jesus in a dark garden perhaps i think if we could put perhaps i think if we could put ourselves in their place we would see ourselves in their place we would see how easy it would be to fall asleep even how easy it would be to fall asleep even with the continued admonitions coming with the continued admonitions coming from jesus stay and watch with me still from jesus stay and watch with me still as they would struggle against sleep it as they would struggle against sleep it would overcome them three times jesus has prayed and he has met and overcome the crisis and he has met and overcome the crisis as it seems to me quite interesting also as it seems to me quite interesting also that the high priest went three times that the high priest went three times into the most holy place on the day of into the most holy place on the day of atonement atonement jesus now is bringing about the true day jesus now is bringing about the true day of atonement and three times he finds of atonement and three times he finds himself going into the most holy to himself going into the most holy to commune with god to bring his offering commune with god to bring his offering the offering of his will devoted to god the offering of his will devoted to god into the most holy place and then into the most holy place and then returning to find his disciples rather returning to find his disciples rather than waiting expectantly for that return than waiting expectantly for that return having fallen asleep instead having fallen asleep instead and so in verse 45 he comes to his and so in verse 45 he comes to his disciples and says unto them disciples and says unto them sleep on now sleep on now and take your rest he apparently sits with them there as they recline as they have fallen asleep they recline as they have fallen asleep and the last time he doesn't even bother and the last time he doesn't even bother to wake them to wake them we don't know how much time passes but we don't know how much time passes but we might suppose that a good bit of time we might suppose that a good bit of time does perhaps as much as an hour and does perhaps as much as an hour and jesus jesus having overcome his will having prepared having overcome his will having prepared himself now for the next step in god's himself now for the next step in god's plan and knowing that it will inevitably plan and knowing that it will inevitably come come jesus sits quietly there with them no jesus sits quietly there with them no longer disturbing them but allowing them longer disturbing them but allowing them to sleep to sleep as a father perhaps would sit with the as a father perhaps would sit with the sleeping children watching over them sleeping children watching over them sleep on now and take your rest we can sleep on now and take your rest we can imagine he said it very quietly so as imagine he said it very quietly so as not to disturb them not to disturb them and there they slept and there jesus sat and there they slept and there jesus sat with them with them and he looked out across the garden and he looked out across the garden across the valley in between toward the across the valley in between toward the city city and he waited through the dark night and he waited through the dark night all around was quiet everyone was asleep all around was quiet everyone was asleep and then perhaps as he continued to wait and then perhaps as he continued to wait he saw lights he saw lights and the lights came down from the city and the lights came down from the city through the dark night he would see them through the dark night he would see them at some distance at some distance a great many lights perhaps indicating a a great many lights perhaps indicating a number of people number of people at first he couldn't hear them he could at first he couldn't hear them he could only see only see but he waited but he waited the lights went down through the lights went down through the valley the valley and up the other side and up the other side and began to approach the garden now as they neared the garden the last part of this verse the last part of this verse behold the hour is at hand and the son behold the hour is at hand and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners and so with these words jesus sinners and so with these words jesus says rise let us be going behold he is says rise let us be going behold he is at hand that doth betray me the at hand that doth betray me the disciples slept until the last possible disciples slept until the last possible moment jesus then awakened them to meet moment jesus then awakened them to meet what would come what a marvel what patience and loving kindness what willingness there was with kindness what willingness there was with him to bear with the weaknesses of him to bear with the weaknesses of others others and then the time had come and they and then the time had come and they began to enter the garden there was began to enter the garden there was noise and confusion and lights and the noise and confusion and lights and the disciples were awakening themselves in a disciples were awakening themselves in a rather uh rather uh dis dis disjointing circumstance jesus would see disjointing circumstance jesus would see the approach of the party and then they the approach of the party and then they had come and now they were in the garden had come and now they were in the garden verse 47 while he yet spake lo judas one verse 47 while he yet spake lo judas one of the twelve came and with him a great of the twelve came and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and elders of the the chief priests and elders of the people it is suggested that the swords people it is suggested that the swords were the regular weapons of the roman were the regular weapons of the roman soldiers and perhaps there was a soldiers and perhaps there was a contingent of them along with the jews contingent of them along with the jews and the staves or clubs were the regular and the staves or clubs were the regular weapons of the jewish temple guard at weapons of the jewish temple guard at any rate a large detachment with judas any rate a large detachment with judas were coming into the garden now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying whomsoever i shall kiss that sign saying whomsoever i shall kiss that same is he same is he hold him fast and forthwith he came to hold him fast and forthwith he came to jesus and said hail master and kissed jesus and said hail master and kissed him the question occurs to us why was there such a plan as this since jesus such a plan as this since jesus apparently was so well known amongst all apparently was so well known amongst all the people in israel and the leaders of the people in israel and the leaders of the temple certainly that regular the temple certainly that regular identification would scarcely have identification would scarcely have seemed to be necessary seemed to be necessary why was this well i think if we envision why was this well i think if we envision the circumstances in the garden it the circumstances in the garden it becomes quite clear becomes quite clear a number of people in a dark garden a number of people in a dark garden judas knew they would be there he knew judas knew they would be there he knew that jesus would be in the midst of a that jesus would be in the midst of a group and so this sign was developed so group and so this sign was developed so that judas who was familiar to the group that judas who was familiar to the group might be able to come close enough to might be able to come close enough to this party of people to identify jesus this party of people to identify jesus by some sign so that the by some sign so that the guards who were standing at some guards who were standing at some distance away from that would be able to distance away from that would be able to recognize jesus out of this recognize jesus out of this group of shadowy figures and group of shadowy figures and if as judas expected and as they if as judas expected and as they expected they would begin to flee when expected they would begin to flee when they realized that danger was at hand they realized that danger was at hand they would know which of those figures they would know which of those figures to follow after and be able to lay their to follow after and be able to lay their hands on jesus so the circumstances hands on jesus so the circumstances being at night in a dark garden being at night in a dark garden it seems to me would it seems to me would necessitate this sort of a scheme by necessitate this sort of a scheme by which jesus would be identified by the which jesus would be identified by the kiss of judas of course judas and those kiss of judas of course judas and those who came with him failed to appreciate who came with him failed to appreciate as they would that jesus would remain as they would that jesus would remain and wait for them to come so judas approaches jesus and jesus said unto him verse 50 friend and jesus said unto him verse 50 friend a word which means something like a word which means something like comrade or associate comrade or associate wherefore art thou come wherefore art thou come as if this was one final appeal to judas as if this was one final appeal to judas why have you done this judas examine why have you done this judas examine your ways repent before it's too late we turn to john 18 to pick up another incident at this very time john 18 incident at this very time john 18 and verse 4. jesus therefore knowing all things that should come upon him went forth and said should come upon him went forth and said unto them whom seek ye he goes forth to unto them whom seek ye he goes forth to meet them meet them they answered him jesus of nazareth they answered him jesus of nazareth jesus saith unto unto them i am he and jesus saith unto unto them i am he and judas also which betrayed him stood with judas also which betrayed him stood with them them as soon then as he had said unto them i as soon then as he had said unto them i am he they went backward and fell to the am he they went backward and fell to the ground things did not go according to plan instead of rushing forward to lay hold instead of rushing forward to lay hold on him they seem to have been seized on him they seem to have been seized with some kind of irrational fear and with some kind of irrational fear and they fell away backward as perhaps for they fell away backward as perhaps for the last time jesus exercised the power the last time jesus exercised the power that had been given him by the father that had been given him by the father to show them and to show to all those to show them and to show to all those who were there that they did not take who were there that they did not take jesus against his will but that he jesus against his will but that he surrendered himself into their hands surrendered himself into their hands as the good shepherd he was laying down as the good shepherd he was laying down his own life for the sheep it was not his own life for the sheep it was not taken away from him taken away from him the soldiers then fall to the ground and the soldiers then fall to the ground and recall to our minds recall to our minds psalm 27 beginning with verse 1. the psalms of david that it seems to me are are so beautifully indicative of the so beautifully indicative of the feelings and the experiences of jesus feelings and the experiences of jesus psalm 27 and verse 1. the lord is my light and my salvation whom shall i fear the lord is the whom shall i fear the lord is the strength of my life of whom shall i be strength of my life of whom shall i be afraid when the wicked even mine enemies afraid when the wicked even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh they stumbled and fell flesh they stumbled and fell though and host encamp against me though and host encamp against me my heart shall not fear jesus had my heart shall not fear jesus had prepared himself there was for him now prepared himself there was for him now no fear no fear the host that came to encamp against him the host that came to encamp against him to encamp around him to attack him and to encamp around him to attack him and take him found themselves falling away take him found themselves falling away backward at the power that he manifested then ask he them again whom do you seek and they said jesus of nazareth and they said jesus of nazareth jesus answered i have told you that i am jesus answered i have told you that i am he if therefore ye seek me let these go he if therefore ye seek me let these go their way that the saying might be their way that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake of them which fulfilled which he spake of them which thou gavest me have i lost none jesus thou gavest me have i lost none jesus still the good shepherd is caring for still the good shepherd is caring for his sheep even though he is the one his sheep even though he is the one whose life is in imminent danger whose life is in imminent danger his only concern is for those who are his only concern is for those who are with him that he will not lose them with him that he will not lose them and now we recognize though it's taking and now we recognize though it's taking us a few moments to talk about this that us a few moments to talk about this that these things have happened very very these things have happened very very quickly and so quickly and so we turn to matthew 26 again verse 50 and we turn to matthew 26 again verse 50 and we pick up with the disciples and we pick up with the disciples and especially with one of them peter who is especially with one of them peter who is even now in just in these last few even now in just in these last few moments beginning to wake himself from moments beginning to wake himself from sleep being rather distracted sleep being rather distracted by the by the noise and the commotion around him we noise and the commotion around him we read that in matthew 26 and verse 50 read that in matthew 26 and verse 50 when they came and laid hands on jesus when they came and laid hands on jesus only a few words have passed back and only a few words have passed back and forth as we just mentioned and they take forth as we just mentioned and they take him and now peter him and now peter rising up from sleep bewildered by what rising up from sleep bewildered by what he sees he sees one of them who is peter of course one of them who is peter of course stretched out his hand drew his sword stretched out his hand drew his sword which he had with him and struck a which he had with him and struck a servant of the high priest and smote off servant of the high priest and smote off his ear his ear this was peter of course john 18 and this was peter of course john 18 and verse 10 tells us that verse 10 tells us that and it seems to me quite reasonable to and it seems to me quite reasonable to suppose that in the commotion in the suppose that in the commotion in the confusion that peter was trying to confusion that peter was trying to strike judas because if we take our strike judas because if we take our minds back just a few hours to that last minds back just a few hours to that last supper that jesus had with his disciples supper that jesus had with his disciples peter was the one who desperately wanted peter was the one who desperately wanted to know who was it that would betray to know who was it that would betray jesus as though he could take him out of jesus as though he could take him out of the way as though he could put himself the way as though he could put himself between jesus and danger and he was very between jesus and danger and he was very courageous and very strong or so he courageous and very strong or so he thought and now he realizes as he wakes thought and now he realizes as he wakes from sleep that judas must be the one from sleep that judas must be the one that judas has brought the enemies and that judas has brought the enemies and taking his sword he attempts to reach taking his sword he attempts to reach judas but perhaps in the confusion judas judas but perhaps in the confusion judas evades him and evades him and malcus who is standing nearby who is the malcus who is standing nearby who is the servant of the high priest is struck servant of the high priest is struck instead instead only a glancing blow so to speak that only a glancing blow so to speak that cuts off his ear rather than the blow cuts off his ear rather than the blow that peter would certainly intend for that peter would certainly intend for judas which would take off his head we see here it seems to me a wonderful contrast contrast between contrast contrast between the preparation of jesus and the lack of the preparation of jesus and the lack of preparation for peter and we see preparation for peter and we see ourselves perhaps in how peter reacted ourselves perhaps in how peter reacted what had jesus done in these last few what had jesus done in these last few hours hours he knew what was coming he knew what was coming he had watched he had waited he had he had watched he had waited he had prayed and prepared himself so that no prayed and prepared himself so that no longer would his will be dominant over longer would his will be dominant over the father's will but the father's will the father's will but the father's will would be his sole concern would be his sole concern he had weighed the alternatives he had weighed the alternatives and only then had he acted in the and only then had he acted in the correct way correct way peter by contrast peter by contrast had dozed off had dozed off had fallen asleep had wakened up for a had fallen asleep had wakened up for a bit had dozed off again bit had dozed off again had now awakened suddenly in the midst had now awakened suddenly in the midst of confusion had not prepared himself of confusion had not prepared himself had not planned ahead did not know what had not planned ahead did not know what to expect and therefore immediately to expect and therefore immediately grabs his sword which he probably grabs his sword which he probably shouldn't have had in the first place shouldn't have had in the first place and goes out to fight against an enemy and goes out to fight against an enemy which he scarcely understands which he scarcely understands and in the process then strikes off an and in the process then strikes off an ear ear we look at these two examples and we say we look at these two examples and we say to ourselves to ourselves what sort of brother or sister what sort of brother or sister are we are we the sort who look at are we are we the sort who look at potential problems as they develop potential problems as they develop who wait carefully who weigh the who wait carefully who weigh the alternatives who watch alternatives who watch who pray who pray and finally then act cautiously and and finally then act cautiously and carefully and correctly carefully and correctly or are we perhaps like peter who does or are we perhaps like peter who does off spiritually who don't pay attention off spiritually who don't pay attention to what's happening around us and then to what's happening around us and then are caught unawares and the only thing are caught unawares and the only thing we can think to do is take up the sword we can think to do is take up the sword and go out and cut off somebody's head and go out and cut off somebody's head or cut off someone from the ecclesia or cut off someone from the ecclesia perhaps all too often we find ourselves perhaps all too often we find ourselves acting as did peter peter takes the sword then and uses it and thus we find in the words of isaiah and thus we find in the words of isaiah isaiah 53 and verse 12 that jesus was isaiah 53 and verse 12 that jesus was numbered with the transgressors even numbered with the transgressors even before he came to the cross where he was before he came to the cross where he was crucified between two thieves that by crucified between two thieves that by the actions of his followers jesus was the actions of his followers jesus was numbered amongst the transgressors numbered amongst the transgressors in luke 22 in luke 22 51 following up this same incident 51 following up this same incident immediately immediately jesus answered and said suffer ye thus jesus answered and said suffer ye thus far as if to say to them wait just a far as if to say to them wait just a moment before we go on and they waited moment before we go on and they waited for for him and he touched the ear him and he touched the ear of the high priest servant and healed of the high priest servant and healed him him even in his own sufferings jesus was even in his own sufferings jesus was bringing healing to others again bringing healing to others again reminding us of isaiah 53 with his reminding us of isaiah 53 with his stripes we are healed stripes we are healed i mentioned that one of the gospel i mentioned that one of the gospel records points out to us that the name records points out to us that the name of this high priest servant was malcus of this high priest servant was malcus and it seems to me that it's and it seems to me that it's maybe not a hard and fast rule but quite maybe not a hard and fast rule but quite often it appears that when the name of often it appears that when the name of an otherwise obscure person is given in an otherwise obscure person is given in scripture that this is at least an scripture that this is at least an indication we can't say positive proof indication we can't say positive proof but an indication that that person later but an indication that that person later embraced the truth and i think what more embraced the truth and i think what more reasonable would it be than that that reasonable would it be than that that malchus who was miraculously healed by malchus who was miraculously healed by jesus on his way to the cross jesus on his way to the cross would reflect upon what he had seen would reflect upon what he had seen and would eventually align himself with and would eventually align himself with the followers of jesus the followers of jesus uh it seems reasonable that this would uh it seems reasonable that this would be the case that the name would be be the case that the name would be mentioned for that purpose because the mentioned for that purpose because the gospel writers then by putting in the gospel writers then by putting in the name would call attention to the part name would call attention to the part that some believer played at a much that some believer played at a much earlier time so that they would look earlier time so that they would look upon upon malchus who was in their midst and malchus who was in their midst and realize yes that malchus that was the realize yes that malchus that was the one who was there in the garden and who one who was there in the garden and who was converted as a result of what was converted as a result of what happened to him and what he witnessed happened to him and what he witnessed and so we have the rather lovely thought and so we have the rather lovely thought it seems to me that malcus who had begun it seems to me that malcus who had begun that day as a follower as a servant of a that day as a follower as a servant of a corrupt high priest corrupt high priest if he didn't end that day at least if he didn't end that day at least soon thereafter became a follower of the soon thereafter became a follower of the true high priest a servant of jesus true high priest a servant of jesus christ christ the one high priest the one high priest just a suggestion just a possibility just a suggestion just a possibility that we can't prove but it seems to me that we can't prove but it seems to me very fitting very fitting matthew 26 matthew 26 and verse 52 then said jesus unto him unto peter put up again thy sword into its place for up again thy sword into its place for all they that take the sword shall all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword thinkest thou that perish with the sword thinkest thou that i cannot now pray to my father and he i cannot now pray to my father and he shall presently give me twelve legions shall presently give me twelve legions of angels twelve legions one for each of of angels twelve legions one for each of the tribes of israel this was the time the tribes of israel this was the time of the passover and jesus remembering of the passover and jesus remembering and calling their attention to the first and calling their attention to the first passover passover would would would recall their minds to the fact would recall their minds to the fact that the protecting angels had passed that the protecting angels had passed over had over had overshadowed the homes of those in egypt overshadowed the homes of those in egypt and had turned aside the angel of death and had turned aside the angel of death this is the last passover and jesus now this is the last passover and jesus now commands all the legions of the angels commands all the legions of the angels that had watched over the twelve tribes that had watched over the twelve tribes in egypt for he is the embodiment and in egypt for he is the embodiment and the hope of all the twelve tribes the hope of all the twelve tribes but jesus also is the passover lamb but jesus also is the passover lamb and so though he could call those angels and so though he could call those angels to protect him as had been done at the to protect him as had been done at the first passover instead he must play the first passover instead he must play the part of the lamb and he must be led away part of the lamb and he must be led away to his death that others who fear death to his death that others who fear death might be saved out of death so jesus might be saved out of death so jesus knows the part then of course that he knows the part then of course that he will play will play he will be the passover lamb he will be the passover lamb whose blood will be shed for others whose blood will be shed for others verse 54 but how then he says shall the verse 54 but how then he says shall the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be must be mark chapter 14 and there followed him a certain young man man having a linen cloth cast about his having a linen cloth cast about his naked body and the young men naked body and the young men laid hold on him laid hold on him and he left the linen cloth and fred and he left the linen cloth and fred fled from them naked who is this and why fled from them naked who is this and why is this rather extraordinary incident is this rather extraordinary incident recorded in this place one suggestion recorded in this place one suggestion is that this was young john mark who is that this was young john mark who later of course wrote the gospel and later of course wrote the gospel and this is his personal note in his own this is his personal note in his own gospel gospel how did this come about how did this come about well perhaps we can reconstruct some of well perhaps we can reconstruct some of the circumstances the circumstances we are told for example and the we are told for example and the reference is acts 12 and 12. you needn't reference is acts 12 and 12. you needn't bother looking it up but if you want to bother looking it up but if you want to note it down note it down we're told for example that the upper we're told for example that the upper room where often room where often the disciples of jesus met in those the disciples of jesus met in those early days in jerusalem was at john early days in jerusalem was at john mark's house so we can reconstruct the events of that last night perhaps something like this last night perhaps something like this it was at john mark's home where jesus it was at john mark's home where jesus and the twelve had come to partake of and the twelve had come to partake of the passover at least the passover as the passover at least the passover as jesus saw it his passover that he kept jesus saw it his passover that he kept with the disciples with the disciples they had spent much of the evening there they had spent much of the evening there finally after they had left mark perhaps finally after they had left mark perhaps who had been serving them or who had who had been serving them or who had been assisting or observing would go to been assisting or observing would go to bed as with the other members of the bed as with the other members of the family family judas meanwhile had departed and a while judas meanwhile had departed and a while later then after the whole family had later then after the whole family had settled down to sleep there would come a settled down to sleep there would come a loud knock on the door and mark amongst loud knock on the door and mark amongst others would go to see who was at the others would go to see who was at the door it would be judas and with him or a door it would be judas and with him or a band of men where is jesus they would band of men where is jesus they would say he's not here he's gone and say he's not here he's gone and immediately they would leave because immediately they would leave because judas would have an inkling in his mind judas would have an inkling in his mind where to look for him of course the where to look for him of course the garden of gethsemane where he had spent garden of gethsemane where he had spent so much time with his disciples and mark so much time with his disciples and mark in a days having in a days having got himself up from bed got himself up from bed realizes that jesus is in danger and so realizes that jesus is in danger and so he throws a cloak of some sort about his he throws a cloak of some sort about his body which is otherwise naked not body which is otherwise naked not perhaps perhaps absolutely naked but with undergarments absolutely naked but with undergarments on he throws a cloak about him there's on he throws a cloak about him there's no time to waste by getting dressed and no time to waste by getting dressed and immediately he leaves the house to go by immediately he leaves the house to go by another route to the garden of another route to the garden of gethsemane hoping that he will arrive gethsemane hoping that he will arrive there there to enable him to warn jesus that judas to enable him to warn jesus that judas is coming with his enemies to arrest him is coming with his enemies to arrest him but he isn't able to arrive on time he but he isn't able to arrive on time he arrives on the scene too late too late arrives on the scene too late too late in the midst of great confusion and in the midst of great confusion and he has almost apprehended himself they he has almost apprehended himself they grab his cloak and we're told he flees grab his cloak and we're told he flees away naked a rather unusual story away naked a rather unusual story a story which perhaps for modesty's sake a story which perhaps for modesty's sake does not include the name of mark but does not include the name of mark but perhaps it happened in just that sort of perhaps it happened in just that sort of way or in a very similar way as we have way or in a very similar way as we have described over this scene then as it closes are the words of jesus are the words of jesus this is your hour this is your hour and the power of darkness his disciples forsake him and flee away into the darkness into the darkness so weak in their time of testing for so weak in their time of testing for getting the resolution forgetting the getting the resolution forgetting the words that they had spoken just a few words that they had spoken just a few hours before hours before they now flee from him thinking only of they now flee from him thinking only of their own lives their own lives they all forsook him and fled they all forsook him and fled darkness closes upon the scene jesus is bound and they lead him away and we remain there watching in the and we remain there watching in the garden garden the garden with its gnarled old olive the garden with its gnarled old olive trees trees is dark is dark and quiet again and quiet again stillness descends upon the night the silence is broken is broken only by the rustling of the leaves only by the rustling of the leaves and there we wait and there we wait and watch

Transcript

we pick up the story then with john chapter 18 verse 12. then the band and the captain and officers of the jews took jesus and officers of the jews took jesus and bound him bound him and led him away to anas first for he and led him away to anas first for he was father-in-law to caiaphas which was was father-in-law to caiaphas which was the high priest that same year the high priest that same year now caiaphas was he which gave counsel now caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the jews that it was expedient that to the jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people one man should die for the people annus was no longer the official high annus was no longer the official high priest priest but the title and the power and the but the title and the power and the wealth that went along with it he wealth that went along with it he retained retained it remained in his family as a matter of it remained in his family as a matter of fact through fact through as we're told five of his sons and now as we're told five of his sons and now his son-in-law caiaphas as they became his son-in-law caiaphas as they became high priest in turn high priest in turn the family of annas was a ruthless and the family of annas was a ruthless and ambitious family willing to do anything ambitious family willing to do anything possible to retain their power and their possible to retain their power and their preeminence over the nation of israel preeminence over the nation of israel and to use that power and preeminence and to use that power and preeminence for their own for their own uh self-improvement and self-benefit verse 15 and simon peter followed jesus and so did another disciple that and so did another disciple that disciple was known unto the high priest disciple was known unto the high priest this is no doubt john this is no doubt john and he went in with jesus into the and he went in with jesus into the palace of the high priest but peter palace of the high priest but peter stood at the door without stood at the door without then went out that other disciple which then went out that other disciple which was known unto the high priest and spoke was known unto the high priest and spoke unto her that kept the door and brought unto her that kept the door and brought in peter in peter then saith the damsel that kept the door then saith the damsel that kept the door unto peter art not thou also one of this unto peter art not thou also one of this man's disciples he saith i am not man's disciples he saith i am not and the servants and officers stood and the servants and officers stood there who had made a fire of coals for there who had made a fire of coals for it was very cold remember we're talking it was very cold remember we're talking about the middle of the night in the about the middle of the night in the springtime springtime and they warmed themselves and peter and they warmed themselves and peter stood with them and warmed himself at stood with them and warmed himself at the same fire the same fire peter warmed himself by the fire of the peter warmed himself by the fire of the world world and denied his savior and denied his savior who was the living fire the living light who was the living fire the living light and as we think of this incident we and as we think of this incident we remember a passage in isaiah chapter 50 remember a passage in isaiah chapter 50 and verse 11. we'll look at isaiah 50 and verse 11. we'll look at isaiah 50 several times in the course of these several times in the course of these studies for isaiah 50 is one of the messianic prophecies having to do with messianic prophecies having to do with the the sacrifice of christ isaiah 50 and verse sacrifice of christ isaiah 50 and verse 11 11 in the form of a warning in the form of a warning behold all ye that kindle a fire that behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass yourselves about with sparks compass yourselves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled the sparks that ye have kindled this shall ye have of mine hand this shall ye have of mine hand you shall lie down in sorrow you shall lie down in sorrow this very thing was true of peter he this very thing was true of peter he stood and warmed himself by the fire stood and warmed himself by the fire which the world had kindled but he got which the world had kindled but he got no heat no heat and he lay down that night that next day and he lay down that night that next day and the next night in sorrow and the next night in sorrow knowing that he had denied his master knowing that he had denied his master who was the living fire the fire that who was the living fire the fire that the only true fire that could give him the only true fire that could give him spiritual warmth in john 18 and verse 19 the high priest then asked jesus of his the high priest then asked jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine they were disciples and of his doctrine they were still even at this date apparently still even at this date apparently trying to formulate their charges trying to formulate their charges against him something that should have against him something that should have been done already but apparently had been done already but apparently had been neglected or had been rather been neglected or had been rather confused and botched up by confused and botched up by uh the efforts of those who would take uh the efforts of those who would take jesus and put him to death jesus and put him to death in verse 20 we read jesus answered him i in verse 20 we read jesus answered him i spake openly to the world i always spake openly to the world i always taught in the synagogue and in the taught in the synagogue and in the temple whether the jews always go and in temple whether the jews always go and in secret have i said nothing secret have i said nothing why do you ask me why do you ask me ask them which heard me what i have said ask them which heard me what i have said unto them behold they know what i said unto them behold they know what i said jesus shows here a consistent regard for jesus shows here a consistent regard for the legal form of the law in requesting the legal form of the law in requesting other witnesses bring the witnesses let other witnesses bring the witnesses let them testify in this court them testify in this court what i have said or what i have done what i have said or what i have done that is inconsistent with your law that is inconsistent with your law the law of the talmud did not allow the law of the talmud did not allow questioning of the accused in order to questioning of the accused in order to gain a confession and yet in utter gain a confession and yet in utter disregard for the law so desperate are disregard for the law so desperate are the leaders of israel that they try the leaders of israel that they try every possibility to bring judgment every possibility to bring judgment against jesus even to the point of against jesus even to the point of holding what we might call a kangaroo holding what we might call a kangaroo court in the middle of the night rather court in the middle of the night rather than waiting for the day as legitimately than waiting for the day as legitimately they should have done they should have done verse 22 and when he had thus spoken one verse 22 and when he had thus spoken one of the officers which stood by struck of the officers which stood by struck jesus with the palm of his hand saying jesus with the palm of his hand saying answereth thou the high priest so answereth thou the high priest so to strike a prisoner also to strike a prisoner also is illegal before his judgment is illegal before his judgment and in verse 23 jesus responds if i have and in verse 23 jesus responds if i have spoken evil bear witness of the evil but spoken evil bear witness of the evil but if well why smiteth thou me if well why smiteth thou me again jesus calls attention to the law we're told then in verse 24 as it reads in the authorized version now anas had in the authorized version now anas had sent him bound unto caiaphas the high sent him bound unto caiaphas the high priest but the revised standard version priest but the revised standard version and other more modern versions translate and other more modern versions translate this anas then sent him bound unto this anas then sent him bound unto caiaphas the high priest as though what caiaphas the high priest as though what we have been reading previously happened we have been reading previously happened in the presence of anas who had been the in the presence of anas who had been the high priest and now in the second step high priest and now in the second step of the trial jesus is brought to of the trial jesus is brought to caiaphas the actual high priest at that caiaphas the actual high priest at that time time and so we turned then to mark chapter 14 and so we turned then to mark chapter 14 and verse 55 as i said before and verse 55 as i said before we need to do a bit of flipping back and we need to do a bit of flipping back and forth to put together the full story forth to put together the full story presented by all four gospels and the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against jesus council sought for witness against jesus to put him to death to put him to death and they found none and they found none so here we get the picture of a so here we get the picture of a continuing effort on the part of the continuing effort on the part of the high priest and and the sanhedrin at high priest and and the sanhedrin at least those of the sanhedrin that they least those of the sanhedrin that they had assembled for this special night had assembled for this special night meeting to find and clarify and put in meeting to find and clarify and put in an orderly and legal form the charges an orderly and legal form the charges that they would use against jesus that they would use against jesus this of course to fulfill psalm 27 and this of course to fulfill psalm 27 and verse 12. now for the second time in our verse 12. now for the second time in our classes we look at psalm 27 classes we look at psalm 27 as regards jesus psalm 27 as regards jesus psalm 27 and verse 12. remember we saw these the earlier verses of the psalm when they came to arrest of the psalm when they came to arrest jesus when the wicked and my enemies jesus when the wicked and my enemies come against me they come against me they stumbled and fell though and host and stumbled and fell though and host and camp against me my heart shall not fear camp against me my heart shall not fear and now we come to verse 12 of the same and now we come to verse 12 of the same psalm psalm the prayer of the messiah looked at the prayer of the messiah looked at prophetically by david deliver me not prophetically by david deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies for over unto the will of mine enemies for false witnesses are risen up against me false witnesses are risen up against me and such as breathe out cruelty and such as breathe out cruelty the spirits commentary upon the trial of the spirits commentary upon the trial of jesus at this point jesus at this point mark 14 and verse 56 as we continue for many bear false witness against him but their witness agreed not together but their witness agreed not together and we're told by the law of the talmud and we're told by the law of the talmud that these false witnesses who sought to that these false witnesses who sought to bring a charge against jesus bring a charge against jesus should have been punished with the very should have been punished with the very same punishment that they thought to same punishment that they thought to bring upon him but of course we read bring upon him but of course we read absolutely nothing about that the false absolutely nothing about that the false witnesses came and went and apparently witnesses came and went and apparently at least at the present time were at least at the present time were unpunished for their deeds unpunished for their deeds verse 57 verse 57 and there arose certain and bear false and there arose certain and bear false witness against him saying we heard him witness against him saying we heard him say i will destroy this temple that is say i will destroy this temple that is made with hands and within three days i made with hands and within three days i will build another made without hands will build another made without hands but neither so did their witness agree but neither so did their witness agree together still this an obvious together still this an obvious misapplication of the words of jesus for misapplication of the words of jesus for he spoke of the temple of his own body he spoke of the temple of his own body we're told in john chapter 2 this we're told in john chapter 2 this obvious misapplication was the very best obvious misapplication was the very best that they could produce and now we pause that they could produce and now we pause here for a moment and reflect here for a moment and reflect why would the leaders of israel be in why would the leaders of israel be in such disarray such disarray they had had time to plan they had had time to plan this this verbal attack against jesus and to carry verbal attack against jesus and to carry through their scheme through their scheme why did they seem to be so disorganized why did they seem to be so disorganized continually trying to bring witnesses continually trying to bring witnesses and school them in what they should say and school them in what they should say and having those witnesses overturned and having those witnesses overturned perhaps by the skillful questioning of a perhaps by the skillful questioning of a couple of people in the sanhedrin who couple of people in the sanhedrin who were not going along with the scheme of were not going along with the scheme of its leaders why did they have this its leaders why did they have this difficulty and it seems to me the answer difficulty and it seems to me the answer to that question is bound up in the to that question is bound up in the answer to another question where was answer to another question where was judas judas because the leaders of israel when they because the leaders of israel when they sought someone to betray jesus would sought someone to betray jesus would have had much more in mind than simply have had much more in mind than simply finding one of his close friends who finding one of his close friends who would identify him in the garden of would identify him in the garden of gethsemane they must have had in mind gethsemane they must have had in mind someone who had accompanied jesus for someone who had accompanied jesus for years who had heard both his public and years who had heard both his public and his private statements who had seen his private statements who had seen everything that he did and who could everything that he did and who could bring charges against him with the bring charges against him with the expectation of being believed and so the expectation of being believed and so the question where was judas seems to have question where was judas seems to have the same answer as the question what has the same answer as the question what has happened to the carefully planned happened to the carefully planned schemes of the high priest and the schemes of the high priest and the leaders of the sanhedrin leaders of the sanhedrin judas had gone and removed himself judas had gone and removed himself whether he'd actually committed suicide whether he'd actually committed suicide at this point were not positive but he at this point were not positive but he had removed himself from their schemes had removed himself from their schemes and apparently they had been expecting and apparently they had been expecting to use him as the star witness in their to use him as the star witness in their prosecution against jesus but instead prosecution against jesus but instead for some reason he had deserted and hid for some reason he had deserted and hid himself and possibly even himself and possibly even killed himself by this point throwing killed himself by this point throwing their carefully laid plans into complete their carefully laid plans into complete disarray at least it seems to me that disarray at least it seems to me that this is the reasonable way in which we this is the reasonable way in which we should read between the lines of the should read between the lines of the gospel narratives gospel narratives verse 60 verse 60 and the high priest stood and the high priest stood up in the midst and asked jesus saying up in the midst and asked jesus saying answer us thou nothing what is it which answer us thou nothing what is it which these witness against thee this is now these witness against thee this is now apparently as i said caiaphas and again apparently as i said caiaphas and again we're reminded of some old testament we're reminded of some old testament passage psalm 109 verses 2 through 4. we just mentioned some of these passages in the psalms to to convey the idea that in the psalms to to convey the idea that indeed the psalms are the inner indeed the psalms are the inner biography of jesus that they express at biography of jesus that they express at most every point of his life the most every point of his life the thoughts that he must have had as he thoughts that he must have had as he prayed to god in the circumstances in prayed to god in the circumstances in which he found himself psalm 109 verse 2 which he found himself psalm 109 verse 2 for the mouth of the wicked and the for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened mouth of the deceitful are opened against me they have spoken against me against me they have spoken against me with a lying tongue they compassed me with a lying tongue they compassed me about also with words of hatred they about also with words of hatred they fought against me without a cause fought against me without a cause for my love they are my adversaries he for my love they are my adversaries he was in this precise position his life was in this precise position his life being threatened because of the love being threatened because of the love that he had for god dedicated in that he had for god dedicated in absolute service to god and so the absolute service to god and so the sorrowful thought for my love sorrowful thought for my love they are my adversaries they are not they are my adversaries they are not just the enemies of me personally they just the enemies of me personally they are the enemies of the one whom i love are the enemies of the one whom i love they are making themselves the enemies they are making themselves the enemies of god of god but i give myself into prayer and hear but i give myself into prayer and hear the indication that as we see in the the indication that as we see in the gospel narratives jesus does not fight gospel narratives jesus does not fight for his life he does not defend himself for his life he does not defend himself his spoken words are merely to point out his spoken words are merely to point out to to his prosecutors step by step their his prosecutors step by step their failure to keep to the letter of the law failure to keep to the letter of the law as they seek his life but never does he as they seek his life but never does he mount a defense in his own cause i give mount a defense in his own cause i give myself unto prayer as my adversaries myself unto prayer as my adversaries stand before me seeking my life back then in mark 14. verse 61 we see the same thought he held his we see the same thought he held his peace and answered nothing peace and answered nothing his silence then was more eloquent than his silence then was more eloquent than any words any words as a sheep before its shearers is dumb as a sheep before its shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth as the so he opened not his mouth as the charges the false charges were laid upon charges the false charges were laid upon him him again the high priest asked him and said again the high priest asked him and said unto him are you the christ the messiah unto him are you the christ the messiah the son of the blessed the son of the blessed and we read here for parallel keep your and we read here for parallel keep your your thoughts there with mark 14 but we your thoughts there with mark 14 but we read the parallel passage read the parallel passage matthew 26 and verse 63 matthew 26 and verse 63 in this case the high priest says i adjure thee by the living god that thou tell us whether thou be the christ thou tell us whether thou be the christ the messiah the son of god this is the the messiah the son of god this is the so-called oath of the testimony it was a so-called oath of the testimony it was a binding oath upon the witness to answer binding oath upon the witness to answer the question directly without evasion the question directly without evasion and in contrast to english and american and in contrast to english and american law apparently the oath law apparently the oath the swearing of the witness was taken by the swearing of the witness was taken by the high priest on his behalf the high the high priest on his behalf the high priest acting as the prosecuting priest acting as the prosecuting attorney or the judge takes the oath attorney or the judge takes the oath which as he takes it is binding upon which as he takes it is binding upon jesus to respond and so jesus does jesus to respond and so jesus does respond as we see in several of the respond as we see in several of the gospels we're looking now at mark 14 and gospels we're looking now at mark 14 and verse 62 jesus said i am verse 62 jesus said i am in other of the gospel narratives at the in other of the gospel narratives at the same point we have such phrases as thou same point we have such phrases as thou hast said hast said on the surface appear to be evasive but on the surface appear to be evasive but if we compare one gospel to another it if we compare one gospel to another it seems quite evident that whatever seems quite evident that whatever precise form of the words jesus used as precise form of the words jesus used as it was understood by those to whom he it was understood by those to whom he spoke he was directly without evasion spoke he was directly without evasion testifying that he was the messiah testifying that he was the messiah beyond question perhaps the phrase thou beyond question perhaps the phrase thou hast said it hast said it should be should be accepted in the sort of accepted in the sort of colloquialism that we might use yes colloquialism that we might use yes you've said it and it is the truth this you've said it and it is the truth this was certainly the intention of the words was certainly the intention of the words of jesus i am the messiah and so in mark of jesus i am the messiah and so in mark 14 and verse 62 i am the messiah he says 14 and verse 62 i am the messiah he says and you shall see henceforth the son of and you shall see henceforth the son of man sitting on the right hand of power man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven they and coming in the clouds of heaven they were in the role of judges now this is were in the role of judges now this is what jesus is telling them you can sit what jesus is telling them you can sit as judges now but the time is coming as judges now but the time is coming when i will be the judge and you will be when i will be the judge and you will be in the role of the accused you will see in the role of the accused you will see me coming from heaven with the power of me coming from heaven with the power of god and you will know yourselves to be god and you will know yourselves to be those who are held in judgment for your those who are held in judgment for your actions here one day and forever after actions here one day and forever after jesus will play the part of the judge jesus will play the part of the judge verse 63 then the high priest rent his verse 63 then the high priest rent his garments and saith what need we any garments and saith what need we any further witness this was we are told in further witness this was we are told in one place in the law the prescribed one place in the law the prescribed method for dissociating oneself from method for dissociating oneself from blasphemy but as it was mentioned blasphemy but as it was mentioned earlier in one of our discussions earlier in one of our discussions it was illegal apparently for the high it was illegal apparently for the high priest to rend his garments leviticus 21 priest to rend his garments leviticus 21 and verse 10 if it applies being and verse 10 if it applies being the verse that we have in mind the verse that we have in mind perhaps out of his frustration or perhaps out of his frustration or perhaps in triumph we're not certain the perhaps in triumph we're not certain the high priest rends his garments now i high priest rends his garments now i have achieved that goal that i have have achieved that goal that i have sought for so long but also unknowingly sought for so long but also unknowingly it seems to me the high priest was it seems to me the high priest was symbolizing by the rending of his symbolizing by the rending of his garments the end of his own priesthood garments the end of his own priesthood isaiah 50 and verse 9 for the second isaiah 50 and verse 9 for the second time we look at the prophecy of isaiah time we look at the prophecy of isaiah 50. isaiah 50 verse 9 behold the lord god will help me who is behold the lord god will help me who is he that shall condemn me lo they all he that shall condemn me lo they all shall wax old as a garment the moth shall wax old as a garment the moth shall eat them up it's the same sort of shall eat them up it's the same sort of figure that paul uses in hebrews when he figure that paul uses in hebrews when he says that which is waxed old is ready to says that which is waxed old is ready to vanish away and be removed as a rotten vanish away and be removed as a rotten garment garment this was the law and this was the priest this was the law and this was the priest who was the leader the head and the who was the leader the head and the interpreter of the law waxed old as a interpreter of the law waxed old as a garment the moth hath eaten it up filled garment the moth hath eaten it up filled with corruption and ready to be cast with corruption and ready to be cast aside this was the priest and this was aside this was the priest and this was the law as interpreted by the priests the law as interpreted by the priests that condemned jesus and now in his that condemned jesus and now in his death they were ready to pass away death they were ready to pass away mark 14 and verse 64 ye have heard the mark 14 and verse 64 ye have heard the blasphemy what thank ye he said to those blasphemy what thank ye he said to those who are listening and they all condemned who are listening and they all condemned him to be guilty of death ironically it him to be guilty of death ironically it seems the blasphemy was as much against seems the blasphemy was as much against caesar as it was against god in their caesar as it was against god in their estimation that by making himself a king estimation that by making himself a king he had set himself against caesar as he had set himself against caesar as they would formulate and express the they would formulate and express the charge later that charge later that if you as they said to pilate if you are if you as they said to pilate if you are a friend of caesar you will condemn this a friend of caesar you will condemn this man and we have no king but caesar this man and we have no king but caesar this man by setting himself up to be a king man by setting himself up to be a king has mocked and offended the power of has mocked and offended the power of caesar and so they testify in this that caesar and so they testify in this that they were not they were not the subjects of god in heaven as their the subjects of god in heaven as their king but the subjects rather of caesar king but the subjects rather of caesar the god of this world the god of this world isaiah isaiah excuse me verse 65 also a quotation from excuse me verse 65 also a quotation from isaiah isaiah also alluded to in isaiah and some began also alluded to in isaiah and some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to spit on him and to cover his face and to buffet him and to say unto him to buffet him and to say unto him prophesy and the servants did strike him prophesy and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands one day he with the palms of their hands one day he will prophesy and point out those very will prophesy and point out those very people who smote him with the palms of people who smote him with the palms of their hands and isaiah 50 for one final their hands and isaiah 50 for one final time expresses the thoughts that are time expresses the thoughts that are developed here in the gospels isaiah 50 developed here in the gospels isaiah 50 and verse 6 and verse 6 the prophetic words of the messiah i the prophetic words of the messiah i gave my back to the smiters my cheeks to gave my back to the smiters my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair i hid not them that plucked off the hair i hid not my face from shame my face from shame and spitting and spitting there was a complete loss here of all there was a complete loss here of all judicial restraint and dignity judicial restraint and dignity apparently even the members of the apparently even the members of the sanhedrin participating in a very sanhedrin participating in a very undignified fashion in this mockery of undignified fashion in this mockery of their longtime enemy their longtime enemy verse 66 verse 66 and as peter was beneath in the palace and as peter was beneath in the palace there cometh one of the maids of the there cometh one of the maids of the high priest and when she saw peter high priest and when she saw peter warming himself she looked upon him and warming himself she looked upon him and said and thou also was with jesus of said and thou also was with jesus of nazareth but he denied saying i know not nazareth but he denied saying i know not neither understand i what thou sayest neither understand i what thou sayest and he went out into the porch in the and he went out into the porch in the [ __ ] crew surely that should have been a [ __ ] crew surely that should have been a warning and a maid saw him again and warning and a maid saw him again and began to say to them that stood by this began to say to them that stood by this is one of them and he denied it again is one of them and he denied it again and a little later they that stood by and a little later they that stood by said again to peter said again to peter surely you're one of them you're a surely you're one of them you're a galilean your speech betrays you galilean your speech betrays you and he began to curse and to swear and he began to curse and to swear saying i know not the man of whom you saying i know not the man of whom you speak and the second time the [ __ ] crew speak and the second time the [ __ ] crew and peter called to mind the word that and peter called to mind the word that jesus said unto him before the [ __ ] crow jesus said unto him before the [ __ ] crow twice thou shalt deny me three times and twice thou shalt deny me three times and when he thought thereon he wept the gospel of luke verse 22 chapter 22 and verse 61 tells us that we need to and verse 61 tells us that we need to look it up tell us tells us that at this look it up tell us tells us that at this point jesus who was standing in the point jesus who was standing in the court court turned to look upon peter turned to look upon peter and across that court the eyes of jesus and across that court the eyes of jesus met and fused with met and fused with the eyes of peter the eyes of peter even as the words were scarcely past his even as the words were scarcely past his lips lips he saw the eyes of jesus looking upon he saw the eyes of jesus looking upon him him and he stared and no longer could he and he stared and no longer could he look and he went out and wept in luke 22 [Music] [Music] verse 66 and as soon as it was day the elders of the people and the chief priests and the the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together and led him into scribes came together and led him into their counsel saying their counsel saying art thou the christ tell us art thou the christ tell us and he said unto them if i tell you you and he said unto them if i tell you you will not believe and if i also ask you will not believe and if i also ask you you will not answer me nor let me go you will not answer me nor let me go hereafter shall the son of man sit on hereafter shall the son of man sit on the right hand of the power of god once the right hand of the power of god once again jesus testifying to the power that again jesus testifying to the power that will be his one day then said they all will be his one day then said they all art thou then the son of god and he said art thou then the son of god and he said unto them ye say that i am again a unto them ye say that i am again a simple declaration of truth simple declaration of truth and they said what need we any further and they said what need we any further witness for we ourselves have heard of witness for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth his own mouth as soon as it was day then they carried as soon as it was day then they carried him away this final audience with annas him away this final audience with annas and caiaphas apparently to formulate the and caiaphas apparently to formulate the charges now they are ready as best they charges now they are ready as best they can be under the circumstances to carry can be under the circumstances to carry jesus to pilate and so we turn then for jesus to pilate and so we turn then for the second portion of the trial to mark the second portion of the trial to mark chapter 15 chapter 15 and verse 1. where we read that after they had formulated the charges before the elders and the scribes and the whole council they bound jesus and the whole council they bound jesus and carried him away and delivered him to carried him away and delivered him to pilate pilate as the jews led jesus to his judgment as the jews led jesus to his judgment before the roman law before the roman law they were in effect leading themselves they were in effect leading themselves to judgment to judgment jesus was the judge jesus was the judge they were the accused carrying they were the accused carrying themselves to judgment their very themselves to judgment their very actions testifying against them actions testifying against them and now what did this man pilot and now what did this man pilot pilate was pilate was a career soldier on various borders of a career soldier on various borders of the roman empire for many years the roman empire for many years he had a family connection by marriage he had a family connection by marriage to tiberius the emperor and this is to tiberius the emperor and this is perhaps why he rose to such preeminence perhaps why he rose to such preeminence his origin certainly didn't dictate that his origin certainly didn't dictate that he was a crude and attackless man he was a crude and attackless man the history of the times reveals that in the history of the times reveals that in several instances he was completely several instances he was completely inconsiderate of the religious inconsiderate of the religious sensibilities of the jews he had no no sensibilities of the jews he had no no time and no inclination for their time and no inclination for their foolish speculations about god in the foolish speculations about god in the law he was a brutal man who did whatever law he was a brutal man who did whatever he pleased he pleased to whomever he pleased to whomever he pleased and yet in and yet in the narrative of the gospels he appears the narrative of the gospels he appears to be a very different man he appears to to be a very different man he appears to be timid and tentative and weak and be timid and tentative and weak and indecisive indecisive and certainly we say to ourselves there and certainly we say to ourselves there must have been some reason for this that must have been some reason for this that his actions as portrayed in the gospels his actions as portrayed in the gospels are a total and complete reversal of all are a total and complete reversal of all of his previous form in his previous of his previous form in his previous life life we'll see perhaps in another reference we'll see perhaps in another reference in a moment why he behaved as he did in a moment why he behaved as he did meanwhile meanwhile we now pause for a moment to look at we now pause for a moment to look at matthew 27 and verse 3 matthew 27 and verse 3 to discuss the fate of judas to discuss the fate of judas and so we read from verse 3 of matthew and so we read from verse 3 of matthew 27 then judas which had betrayed him when he saw that he was condemned so when he saw that he was condemned so here perhaps we have an indication of here perhaps we have an indication of the time at which judas the time at which judas then acted to take his own life then acted to take his own life judas repented himself judas repented himself and brought again the 30 pieces of and brought again the 30 pieces of silver which were probably only a down silver which were probably only a down payment for the money that he was to payment for the money that he was to receive if he had successfully finished receive if he had successfully finished his task his task in the betrayal and the death of jesus in the betrayal and the death of jesus he brought this down payment of the 30 he brought this down payment of the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and elders saying to them i have sinned and that i saying to them i have sinned and that i have betrayed the innocent blood have betrayed the innocent blood and they said what is that to us see and they said what is that to us see thou to that as though they didn't want thou to that as though they didn't want to be bothered anymore with judas don't to be bothered anymore with judas don't don't come to us publicly like this don't come to us publicly like this don't bring this money and he cast down don't bring this money and he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself and departed and went and hanged himself and the chief priest took the silver pieces the chief priest took the silver pieces and in a rather and in a rather curious and ironic curious and ironic concern for concern for legal form and appearance they say it is legal form and appearance they say it is not lawful for to put this into the not lawful for to put this into the treasury it's the price of blood and treasury it's the price of blood and they took council and bought with them they took council and bought with them the potter's field to bury strangers in the potter's field to bury strangers in therefore that field is called the field therefore that field is called the field of blood unto this day thus was of blood unto this day thus was fulfilled the prophecy spoken by fulfilled the prophecy spoken by jeremiah the prophet they took the 30 jeremiah the prophet they took the 30 pieces of silver and gave them for a pieces of silver and gave them for a potter's field potter's field and thus and thus the fate of judas is sealed the fate of judas is sealed we're told that judas repented we're told that judas repented but it seems to me that that word should but it seems to me that that word should be understood in the sense that judas be understood in the sense that judas was grieved and sorrowful for what he was grieved and sorrowful for what he did but he could not and did not bring did but he could not and did not bring himself to change himself to change he was sorry but he could not change he was sorry but he could not change was it inevitable we ask ourselves that was it inevitable we ask ourselves that judas die without forgiveness judas die without forgiveness could jesus have forgiven him could jesus have forgiven him is any sin for that matter unforgivable is any sin for that matter unforgivable and it seems to me the real tragedy in and it seems to me the real tragedy in the case of judas the case of judas by contrast with the case of peter by contrast with the case of peter is that judas did not believe is that judas did not believe that his sin could be forgiven that his sin could be forgiven and therefore and therefore his sin was his sin was unforgivable in the sense in which judas betrayed jesus jesus i think he differed very little from i think he differed very little from peter peter in the actual sin itself in the actual sin itself peter denied jesus three times peter denied jesus three times judas betrayed jesus judas betrayed jesus yet peter found forgiveness and judas yet peter found forgiveness and judas didn't didn't and the difference i think was not in and the difference i think was not in the the character of the sin so much as in the character of the sin so much as in the underlying character of the individual underlying character of the individual judas did not believe that god our judas did not believe that god our christ christ whom perhaps he thought would rise from whom perhaps he thought would rise from the dead could forgive him the dead could forgive him and therefore he wasn't forgiven and therefore he wasn't forgiven the tragedy then is to see in what judas the tragedy then is to see in what judas did the unforgivable sin and to see it did the unforgivable sin and to see it in relation to in relation to the sins that we might commit the sins that we might commit and to recognize that truly the and to recognize that truly the unforgivable sin as far as any of us is unforgivable sin as far as any of us is concerned concerned is not in the degree of the sin but is is not in the degree of the sin but is in our attitude toward the sin in our attitude toward the sin that if we recognize that our sins can that if we recognize that our sins can be forgiven and we go to the place where be forgiven and we go to the place where we can find forgiveness then we will be we can find forgiveness then we will be forgiven forgiven but judas could not do this he didn't but judas could not do this he didn't understand the depth of the love and understand the depth of the love and mercy that could have been his and mercy that could have been his and therefore he not only failed in the therefore he not only failed in the betrayal betrayal he failed in the aftermath and that is he failed in the aftermath and that is the tragedy john 18 and verse 28. we read here that they led jesus from caiaphas unto the hall of judgment caiaphas unto the hall of judgment it was early and they themselves the it was early and they themselves the jews who brought him there would not go jews who brought him there would not go into the judgment hall lest they should into the judgment hall lest they should be defiled but that they might eat the be defiled but that they might eat the passover and again very ironically there passover and again very ironically there is this legalistic concern for is this legalistic concern for defilement under the law of moses while defilement under the law of moses while at the same time their hands were at the same time their hands were dripping with the blood of jesus dripping with the blood of jesus symbolically speaking symbolically speaking they would not so much as enter a house they would not so much as enter a house in which was the least bit of leaven in which was the least bit of leaven lest they be defiled before the passover lest they be defiled before the passover and yet jesus the true passover was and yet jesus the true passover was being sacrificed before their eyes and being sacrificed before their eyes and their hearts and their minds were filled their hearts and their minds were filled with the leaven of malice and wickedness with the leaven of malice and wickedness and they couldn't recognize it verse 29 pilate then went out unto them out of pilate then went out unto them out of the hall and said what accusation bring the hall and said what accusation bring you against this man you against this man and they answered and said unto him and and they answered and said unto him and i think we detect here a note of i think we detect here a note of surprise if this man were not a surprise if this man were not a malefactor we wouldn't have brought him malefactor we wouldn't have brought him to you and it seems to me that what is to you and it seems to me that what is happening is this that there had been a happening is this that there had been a previous consultation with pilate this previous consultation with pilate this judgment had been pre-arranged why else judgment had been pre-arranged why else would they come so early in the morning would they come so early in the morning and pilate go out to meet them the whole and pilate go out to meet them the whole affair had been set up ahead of time affair had been set up ahead of time pilate was to put his stamp of approval pilate was to put his stamp of approval and railroad jesus through to the cross and railroad jesus through to the cross and now pilate comes out to them and and now pilate comes out to them and throws them into disarray for the second throws them into disarray for the second time the first time was with the loss of time the first time was with the loss of judas now the second time when pilate judas now the second time when pilate apparently is not going to cooperate apparently is not going to cooperate with them as they thought he would what with them as they thought he would what are the charges against this man and are the charges against this man and immediately they're surprised immediately they're surprised he's a male factor we wouldn't have he's a male factor we wouldn't have brought him to you if he weren't a brought him to you if he weren't a criminal criminal now that doesn't sound to me like the now that doesn't sound to me like the obvious way in which a trial would be obvious way in which a trial would be opened but rather there is a hint of opened but rather there is a hint of surprise there as i said surprise there as i said why the double cross so to speak why did why the double cross so to speak why did pilate go back on what he had apparently pilate go back on what he had apparently agreed to do and now we come to the agreed to do and now we come to the indication as i mentioned earlier why it indication as i mentioned earlier why it seems to me that pilate who was seems to me that pilate who was otherwise a very strong and forceful otherwise a very strong and forceful person now seems so weak and indecisive person now seems so weak and indecisive and it's in matthew 27 and verse 19 a little incident perhaps perhaps directed by the providence the directed by the providence the overriding hand of god to produce the overriding hand of god to produce the results of the trial as it did and to results of the trial as it did and to testify to those who were witnessing and testify to those who were witnessing and to those who read of the trial ever to those who read of the trial ever after of the character of that trial so after of the character of that trial so pilate's actions here become very pilate's actions here become very important to underline the kind of trial important to underline the kind of trial that jesus is receiving and the that jesus is receiving and the indication of why this happened it seems indication of why this happened it seems to me matthew 27 and verse 19 when he to me matthew 27 and verse 19 when he was set down on the judgment seat his was set down on the judgment seat his wife sent unto him saying have thou wife sent unto him saying have thou nothing to do with that just man for i nothing to do with that just man for i have suffered many things this day in a have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him and if we let our dream because of him and if we let our imaginations uh run a bit we might imaginations uh run a bit we might suppose that pilate's wife had learned suppose that pilate's wife had learned something of jesus that perhaps through something of jesus that perhaps through some of her some of her associations she knew of the kind of associations she knew of the kind of message that he had brought and had some message that he had brought and had some inkling of the kind of man he was and inkling of the kind of man he was and her thoughts began to trouble her and her thoughts began to trouble her and manifest themselves in dreams so that manifest themselves in dreams so that she testified to pilate be very careful she testified to pilate be very careful how you treat this man he's more than a how you treat this man he's more than a common criminal he is a very special man common criminal he is a very special man disregard what the jewish leaders have disregard what the jewish leaders have said to you and be very careful and this said to you and be very careful and this is the sort of thing then that plays is the sort of thing then that plays upon the mind of pilate as he stands or upon the mind of pilate as he stands or as he sits and looks upon judah upon as he sits and looks upon judah upon jesus jesus john 18 john 18 31 31 then said pilate unto them with this then said pilate unto them with this background now as we just said it forth background now as we just said it forth take ye him and judge him according to take ye him and judge him according to your law the jews therefore said unto your law the jews therefore said unto him it's not lawful for us to put any him it's not lawful for us to put any man to death they want pilate to put his man to death they want pilate to put his stamp upon it and pilate is evading in stamp upon it and pilate is evading in every way that he can every way that he can that the saying of jesus might be that the saying of jesus might be fulfilled which he spoke signifying what fulfilled which he spoke signifying what death he should die the jews if they had death he should die the jews if they had had the power and prerogative at this had the power and prerogative at this time which apparently they didn't would time which apparently they didn't would have executed condemned men by stoning have executed condemned men by stoning but jesus threw out had spoken of his but jesus threw out had spoken of his death as a being lifted up john 3 and 14 death as a being lifted up john 3 and 14 john 12 and 32 that he'd spoken just a john 12 and 32 that he'd spoken just a few days previously i if i be lifted up few days previously i if i be lifted up will draw all men to myself and of will draw all men to myself and of course crucifixion was the roman method course crucifixion was the roman method of executing those who were condemned verse 33 then pilate entered into the judgment hall again and called jesus and judgment hall again and called jesus and said unto him jesus following him said unto him jesus following him following him into the judgment hall following him into the judgment hall for a private interview for a private interview are you the king of the jews pilate are you the king of the jews pilate already knew the charges notice he already knew the charges notice he hadn't even been told he knew the hadn't even been told he knew the charges that jesus was one who was charges that jesus was one who was pretending or so the leaders had said to pretending or so the leaders had said to be a king be a king he recognizes however as he looks upon he recognizes however as he looks upon jesus that this is not the conduct this jesus that this is not the conduct this is not the appearance of a mere is not the appearance of a mere political pretender such as barabbas had political pretender such as barabbas had been this is a man of a distinctly been this is a man of a distinctly different character and so almost with different character and so almost with incredulity incredulity pilate says are you pilate says are you the king of the jews the king of the jews verse 34 jesus answered him verse 34 jesus answered him do you say this thing of yourself or did do you say this thing of yourself or did others tell it the of me jesus goes others tell it the of me jesus goes right to the heart of the matter right to the heart of the matter recognizing what has been happening recognizing what has been happening pilate answers pilate answers almost evasive himself am i a jew almost evasive himself am i a jew thine own nation has brought you to me thine own nation has brought you to me what have you done what have you done what do i know of all this nonsense it's what do i know of all this nonsense it's as though pilate is trying to remove as though pilate is trying to remove himself as far as possible from this himself as far as possible from this unsavory and distasteful situation unsavory and distasteful situation verse 36 jesus answered my kingdom is verse 36 jesus answered my kingdom is not of this world not of this world that phrase in the greek is eck which that phrase in the greek is eck which means out of deriving its power from and means out of deriving its power from and the word for world is cosmos this the word for world is cosmos this present arrangement or order of things present arrangement or order of things so jesus is saying my kingdom is not so jesus is saying my kingdom is not deriving its power deriving its power out of this current order of things if out of this current order of things if it were then my servants would fight it were then my servants would fight like the servants of barabbas and they like the servants of barabbas and they would try to achieve a political would try to achieve a political solution to the roman problem today but solution to the roman problem today but that of course was far from jesus's mind that of course was far from jesus's mind but now is my kingdom not from hence but now is my kingdom not from hence these are the words of jesus jesus's these are the words of jesus jesus's kingdom was derived out of heaven it kingdom was derived out of heaven it would be an earthly kingdom but its would be an earthly kingdom but its power and its authority came from god in power and its authority came from god in heaven and it was utterly distinct and heaven and it was utterly distinct and different from all of the worldly different from all of the worldly kingdoms deriving their power and kingdoms deriving their power and authority from one man's oppression of authority from one man's oppression of another man as the roman kingdom and another man as the roman kingdom and even as the jewish kingdom even as the jewish kingdom as it existed in those days as it existed in those days pilate therefore said unto him pilate therefore said unto him are you then a king then still trying to are you then a king then still trying to forge to this point forge to this point still puzzled a little bit by the still puzzled a little bit by the appearance and the conduct of jesus jesus answered thou sayest that i am a king king to this end was i born for this cause i to this end was i born for this cause i came into the world that i should bear came into the world that i should bear witness unto the truth witness unto the truth jesus gives a confident and complete jesus gives a confident and complete witness to the greatest gentile power to witness to the greatest gentile power to the representative of the greatest the representative of the greatest gentile power on the earth testifying gentile power on the earth testifying before kings that he is indeed the true before kings that he is indeed the true king bearing witness to the one truth king bearing witness to the one truth and so pilate says to him in verse 38 and so pilate says to him in verse 38 what is truth what is truth as though he's exasperated as though he as though he's exasperated as though he fails to understand as though all of fails to understand as though all of this is beyond him and he wishes he'd this is beyond him and he wishes he'd never entered into it if someone could never entered into it if someone could tell me what truth is i'd surely like to tell me what truth is i'd surely like to know know and yet ironically and yet ironically pilate has the truth standing before him pilate has the truth standing before him and he fails to recognize it and he fails to recognize it what is truth and a few moments later he what is truth and a few moments later he takes jesus out and presents him to the takes jesus out and presents him to the crowd behold the man john 19 and verse 5 crowd behold the man john 19 and verse 5 the man in whom is embodied all truth the man in whom is embodied all truth all truth was standing before pilate and all truth was standing before pilate and he failed utterly to understand it he failed utterly to understand it still pilate recognizes that there is still pilate recognizes that there is something extraordinary about this man something extraordinary about this man and so in the last part of verse 38 he and so in the last part of verse 38 he goes out again to the jews who are goes out again to the jews who are waiting there expectantly and saith unto waiting there expectantly and saith unto them i find in him no fault at all them i find in him no fault at all but ye have accustomed that i should but ye have accustomed that i should release unto you one at the passover release unto you one at the passover will ye therefore that i release unto will ye therefore that i release unto you the king of the jews and they cried you the king of the jews and they cried again saying not this man but barabbas again saying not this man but barabbas who was a robber and a revolutionary who was a robber and a revolutionary apparently pilate's first report of apparently pilate's first report of christ's innocence should have ended the christ's innocence should have ended the entire trial but the jews are not going entire trial but the jews are not going to let him get away with it they to let him get away with it they continue to press down upon him to use continue to press down upon him to use every devious tactic to bring about his every devious tactic to bring about his pronouncement of judgment and so pronouncement of judgment and so moving over to mark 15 where we get a moving over to mark 15 where we get a fuller fuller picture of this portion picture of this portion of the trial of the trial in verse 3 mark 15 and verse 3. we read that the chief priest accused him of many the chief priest accused him of many things but he answered nothing and things but he answered nothing and pilate asked him again saying answers pilate asked him again saying answers thou nothing behold how many things they thou nothing behold how many things they witness against thee but jesus yet witness against thee but jesus yet answered nothing so that pilate marveled answered nothing so that pilate marveled the jewish leaders were dreaming up all the jewish leaders were dreaming up all kinds of charges they're desperate time kinds of charges they're desperate time is running out they realize that if the is running out they realize that if the fullness of the day comes and the night fullness of the day comes and the night in the city of jerusalem the people in the city of jerusalem the people there become aware of what's happening there become aware of what's happening they may well mount a counter revolt they may well mount a counter revolt against what the jewish leaders are against what the jewish leaders are plotting and refused to allow jesus to plotting and refused to allow jesus to be crucified so much did some of the be crucified so much did some of the common people love jesus but the jewish common people love jesus but the jewish leaders were desperate to be rid of him leaders were desperate to be rid of him as quickly as possible and so they began as quickly as possible and so they began to fight tooth and nail to be rid of him to fight tooth and nail to be rid of him and still jesus does not answer and and still jesus does not answer and we're told that pilate marvels verse 5. verse 5 in that place and they were the more fierce saying he and they were the more fierce saying he stirth up the people teaching throughout stirth up the people teaching throughout all jewry beginning from galilee to this all jewry beginning from galilee to this place place pilate is in a quandary uh before him pilate is in a quandary uh before him stand the enemies of jesus desperately stand the enemies of jesus desperately desiring his death pilate desperately desiring his death pilate desperately desires to be out of this terrible desires to be out of this terrible situation this quandary what will he do situation this quandary what will he do and finally he hits upon this he stirs and finally he hits upon this he stirs up the people beginning from galilee and up the people beginning from galilee and pilate when he heard of galilee verse pilate when he heard of galilee verse six he said is this man a galilean and six he said is this man a galilean and as soon as he knew that he belonged unto as soon as he knew that he belonged unto herod's jurisdiction in galilee he sent herod's jurisdiction in galilee he sent him to herod and wiped his hands clean him to herod and wiped his hands clean one brother referred to this as the one brother referred to this as the civil service mentality pass it along to civil service mentality pass it along to someone else let somebody else bear the someone else let somebody else bear the blame and pilate was only too eager to blame and pilate was only too eager to do so send him to herod let him worry do so send him to herod let him worry about it with what relief he must have about it with what relief he must have he must have said that and so we read in he must have said that and so we read in verse 8 when herod saw jesus because verse 8 when herod saw jesus because herod was in jerusalem at that time he herod was in jerusalem at that time he was exceeding glad was exceeding glad not glad to be in the presence of jesus not glad to be in the presence of jesus to hear what he would say so much as we to hear what he would say so much as we are told he had desired to look upon him are told he had desired to look upon him for a long time and he hoped that he for a long time and he hoped that he would see some miracle herod was just would see some miracle herod was just like the jewish nation of which he was like the jewish nation of which he was king he desired to see a sign there had king he desired to see a sign there had been many signs done in israel and yet been many signs done in israel and yet herod always wanted another sign he was herod always wanted another sign he was a curiosity seeker he was interested a curiosity seeker he was interested only in satisfying his own curiosity and only in satisfying his own curiosity and not in learning what is truth not in learning what is truth and so he questioned him with many words and so he questioned him with many words but jesus answered him nothing and the but jesus answered him nothing and the chief priests and the scribes tagging chief priests and the scribes tagging right along behind stood and vehemently right along behind stood and vehemently accused him and herod and his men of war accused him and herod and his men of war notice the sarcasm in that the men of notice the sarcasm in that the men of war of a previous herod who had put to war of a previous herod who had put to death the babies in bethlehem now this death the babies in bethlehem now this herod with his men of war mocks and herod with his men of war mocks and scoffs at an unarmed innocent man before scoffs at an unarmed innocent man before him such men of war is that they set him him such men of war is that they set him at not they mocked him they put upon him at not they mocked him they put upon him a gorgeous robe and sent him back to a gorgeous robe and sent him back to pilate and herod did nothing either and pilate and herod did nothing either and so we see however as verse 12 tells us so we see however as verse 12 tells us that in the same day pilate the greek that in the same day pilate the greek the gentile and herod the jew were made the gentile and herod the jew were made friends together and paul comments on friends together and paul comments on this in romans 3 when he says we have this in romans 3 when he says we have concluded both jews and gentiles that concluded both jews and gentiles that they are under sin and in a quotation they are under sin and in a quotation from psalm 2 peter says in acts 4 the from psalm 2 peter says in acts 4 the very same thing against the lord and very same thing against the lord and against his anointed they were raised up against his anointed they were raised up the kings of the jews and the kings of the kings of the jews and the kings of the gentiles all people testifying the gentiles all people testifying against jesus and testifying to their against jesus and testifying to their own sin by mocking and criticizing jesus own sin by mocking and criticizing jesus himself himself against god's anointed they were raised against god's anointed they were raised up both jews and gentiles and jews and up both jews and gentiles and jews and gentiles both were being condemned in gentiles both were being condemned in the trial of jesus and so finally herod the trial of jesus and so finally herod lobs the ball back into pilot's court lobs the ball back into pilot's court and we come there for the final stage of and we come there for the final stage of the trial pilate has not been able to the trial pilate has not been able to evade his responsibility he must evade his responsibility he must continue to face up to it but he still continue to face up to it but he still tries to be rid of jesus without tries to be rid of jesus without pronouncing judgment upon him and so we pronouncing judgment upon him and so we read in verse 13 of luke 23 pilate says read in verse 13 of luke 23 pilate says unto them you have brought this man unto unto them you have brought this man unto me as one that perverted the people i've me as one that perverted the people i've examined him before you i found no fault examined him before you i found no fault in him i wish you would just let me in him i wish you would just let me release him and they cried out once again verse 18 away with this man once again verse 18 away with this man give us barabbas instead who for a give us barabbas instead who for a certain sedition had been cast into certain sedition had been cast into prison pilate therefore willing to prison pilate therefore willing to release jesus spoke again to them but they cried saying crucify him crucify him and he said unto them the crucify him and he said unto them the third time why what evil hath he done i third time why what evil hath he done i find no cause of death in him whatsoever find no cause of death in him whatsoever i will therefore chastise him and let i will therefore chastise him and let him go as brother carter says in one him go as brother carter says in one place pilate hoped that mangling an place pilate hoped that mangling an innocent man with a savage roman scourge innocent man with a savage roman scourge would suffice as a compromise but even would suffice as a compromise but even that wasn't enough for the jews that wasn't enough for the jews he hoped that he could release him but he hoped that he could release him but it was entirely impossible so much did it was entirely impossible so much did the jews the jewish leaders press down the jews the jewish leaders press down upon him john 19 then upon him john 19 then at verse 1. at verse 1. so pilate took jesus and scourged him so pilate took jesus and scourged him and the soldiers planted a crown of and the soldiers planted a crown of thorns and put it on his head thorns and put it on his head and they put on him a purple robe and and they put on him a purple robe and said hail king of the jews and they said hail king of the jews and they smote him with their hands pilate smote him with their hands pilate therefore went forth again and said unto therefore went forth again and said unto them behold i have brought him forth to them behold i have brought him forth to you that you may know that i have found you that you may know that i have found no fault in him no fault in him then came jesus forth wearing the crown then came jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the people of thorns and the people and the purple robe and pilate said unto and the purple robe and pilate said unto them behold the man as though perhaps in them behold the man as though perhaps in their witnessing of this man who had their witnessing of this man who had been scourged and so mistreated they been scourged and so mistreated they would perhaps now have compassion on him would perhaps now have compassion on him and let him go but still they demand his and let him go but still they demand his life life when the chief priest therefore an when the chief priest therefore an officer saw him they cried out crucify officer saw him they cried out crucify him crucify him pilate said unto them him crucify him pilate said unto them you take him you crucify him and of you take him you crucify him and of course knowing that they couldn't still course knowing that they couldn't still he contends for the fourth or fifth time he contends for the fourth or fifth time it must be i find no fault in this man it must be i find no fault in this man ever after pilate's words stand as a ever after pilate's words stand as a witness to the world that there was no witness to the world that there was no fault in this man that he was crucified fault in this man that he was crucified through the malice and the sin of his through the malice and the sin of his own countrymen own countrymen the jews answered him we have a law and the jews answered him we have a law and by our law he ought to die because he by our law he ought to die because he made himself the son of god we have no made himself the son of god we have no king but caesar this was their intention king but caesar this was their intention that any man who elevated himself up that any man who elevated himself up against the civil and religious against the civil and religious authorities as they thought jesus had authorities as they thought jesus had done deserved to die never mind that he done deserved to die never mind that he might be the messiah he was threatening might be the messiah he was threatening their position and he must be removed their position and he must be removed when pilate therefore heard that saying when pilate therefore heard that saying he was the more afraid and went again he was the more afraid and went again into the judgment hall and said unto into the judgment hall and said unto jesus whence art thou desperately he jesus whence art thou desperately he wants something from jesus that will wants something from jesus that will enable him to let him go and still keep enable him to let him go and still keep his his his throne and his power his throne and his power then said pilate unto him speaketh thou then said pilate unto him speaketh thou not unto me don't you know that i have not unto me don't you know that i have power to crucify thee and power to power to crucify thee and power to release thee release thee jesus answered calmly jesus answered calmly thou good it could have no power at all thou good it could have no power at all against me except it were given thee against me except it were given thee from above from above therefore he that delivered me unto thee therefore he that delivered me unto thee have the greater sin have the greater sin and the utter calm and composure with and the utter calm and composure with which jesus answers which jesus answers must have convinced pilate what an must have convinced pilate what an extraordinary man he was dealing with extraordinary man he was dealing with and from thenceforth pilate continued to and from thenceforth pilate continued to seek to release him but the jews cried seek to release him but the jews cried out and finally they hit the nerve in out and finally they hit the nerve in pilate that he could not deny and evade pilate that he could not deny and evade if you let this man go you are not if you let this man go you are not caesar's friend and veiled behind that caesar's friend and veiled behind that statement was the threat statement was the threat if you don't do what we say now you've if you don't do what we say now you've been in trouble before in rome we'll see been in trouble before in rome we'll see that you lose your position because that you lose your position because you're not cooperating with us the you're not cooperating with us the delegated leaders of the jews you'll be delegated leaders of the jews you'll be sorry if you do this and finally this sorry if you do this and finally this last desperate effort and attempt last desperate effort and attempt convinces pilate that he can only convinces pilate that he can only cooperate cooperate whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against caesar against caesar in matthew 27 and verse 24 which we in matthew 27 and verse 24 which we won't bother looking up pilate now calls won't bother looking up pilate now calls for a basin of water and publicly before for a basin of water and publicly before them washes his hands of the affair them washes his hands of the affair perhaps calling to their attention perhaps calling to their attention deuteronomy 21 verses 5 and 6 deuteronomy 21 verses 5 and 6 that the elders of a city nearest to a that the elders of a city nearest to a slain man that has been discovered will slain man that has been discovered will wash their hands and declare their wash their hands and declare their innocence innocence pilate unknowingly plays the part of pilate unknowingly plays the part of this elder declaring his innocence such this elder declaring his innocence such as he is able to do by washing his hands as he is able to do by washing his hands and they cry out we have no king but and they cry out we have no king but caesar crucify him his blood be upon us caesar crucify him his blood be upon us and upon our children and it has been and upon our children and it has been from that day to this from that day to this and so and so we conclude then with mark 15 can no longer evade he has to fear for his no longer evade he has to fear for his own skin and finally against everything own skin and finally against everything that is crying out within him he goes that is crying out within him he goes forward and sends jesus to his death forward and sends jesus to his death mark 15 verse 16 mark 15 verse 16 and the soldiers led him away into the and the soldiers led him away into the hall called praetorium hall called praetorium and they called together the whole band and they called together the whole band and they closed him with purple and and they closed him with purple and platted a crown of thorns and put it platted a crown of thorns and put it about his head about his head and began to salute him hail king of the and began to salute him hail king of the jews and they smote him on the head with jews and they smote him on the head with a reed and did spit upon him and bowing a reed and did spit upon him and bowing their knees worshipped him their knees worshipped him and when they had mocked him they took and when they had mocked him they took off the purple from him and put his own off the purple from him and put his own clothes on him jesus is standing in pilate's hall friendless forsaken betrayed by all friendless forsaken betrayed by all hearken what meaneth that sudden call hearken what meaneth that sudden call what will you do with jesus jesus is standing on trial still you can be false to him if you will you can be false to him if you will or you can be faithful through good or you can be faithful through good and ill what will you do with jesus what will you do with jesus neutral neutral you cannot be

Transcript

we start our class this morning with what seems to me to be a supreme irony what seems to me to be a supreme irony turn with me first to john chapter one verse 11. [Music] here we read john 1 and 11 that jesus who was the word made flesh that jesus who was the word made flesh came unto his own came unto his own and his own received him not and his own received him not as many as received him as many as received him john continues john continues to them gave he power to become the sons to them gave he power to become the sons of god of god even to them that believe on his name even to them that believe on his name then we turn to john chapter 19 there we read that pilate delivered jesus therefore unto them to be jesus therefore unto them to be crucified and they took jesus and led him away they received jesus they received jesus and led him away to his crucifixion and led him away to his crucifixion it is the identical thought they received jesus not to believe in the sense that we read not to believe in the sense that we read of in john 1 and verse 12 of in john 1 and verse 12 not to become the sons of god not to become the sons of god not to have their sins to forge to be not to have their sins to forge to be forgiven forgiven but they received jesus but they received jesus only to put him to death only to put him to death and we're left then to ask ourselves the and we're left then to ask ourselves the question question is it possible is it possible that we can receive jesus that we can receive jesus in the same way verse 28 he that despised moses law died without he that despised moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden underfoot the son of god trodden underfoot the son of god and counted the blood of the covenant and counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing thing and hath done despite and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace unto the spirit of grace it is just possible it is just possible that we have received jesus in the same that we have received jesus in the same way that his enemies did way that his enemies did only to put him to death again only to put him to death again only to trample him under foot and treat only to trample him under foot and treat the blood of the covenant as though it the blood of the covenant as though it were an unholy thing as we go through this study then as we go through this week let us ask go through this week let us ask ourselves ourselves in what way in what way for what purpose for what purpose have we received jesus john 19 and verse 16 they received jesus they received jesus and led him away and led him away as the lamb was led to the slaughter and he bearing his cross went forth the camp outside the city as paul says in hebrews 13 and 12 in hebrews 13 and 12 and we seek to follow after him to that and we seek to follow after him to that place place to a place called to a place called the place of a skull the place of a skull in the hebrew in the hebrew golgotha golgotha in the hebrew signifies skull it is from the hebrew word apparently it is from the hebrew word apparently gal al which means a circle gal al which means a circle something which is round something which is round that we find that we find reproduced also in the name galilee are reproduced also in the name galilee are the circle of the gentiles the circle of the gentiles most likely golgotha was a hill north of most likely golgotha was a hill north of the city of jerusalem on the damascus the city of jerusalem on the damascus road where criminals were executed on a road where criminals were executed on a regular basis it got its name perhaps from the fact that it was the place of death that it was the place of death perhaps because the hill itself perhaps because the hill itself was shaped like a skull was shaped like a skull with recesses in its sides for the eyes with recesses in its sides for the eyes and the mouth and so forth and the mouth and so forth perhaps also there are certain perhaps also there are certain scriptural scriptural illusions implicit in this name illusions implicit in this name it is suggested it is suggested by ancient hebrew tradition by ancient hebrew tradition that that adam died adam died and was buried near jerusalem and was buried near jerusalem at the place called golgotha at the place called golgotha again its association with death again its association with death so perhaps where the first adam died so perhaps where the first adam died where the failure of the first adam was where the failure of the first adam was sealed sealed permanently permanently the last adam in his death was the last adam in his death was successful to remove that curse it is suggested also on the basis of first samuel 17 and verse 54 first samuel 17 and verse 54 that this was the site of the that this was the site of the burial of the head of goliath and burial of the head of goliath and perhaps even goliath's name is perhaps even goliath's name is reproduced in reproduced in golgotha or gaul goliath the head of golgotha or gaul goliath the head of goliath and so the place where the great enemy of israel the head of the philistines of israel the head of the philistines came to rest came to rest was the place where jesus won the great was the place where jesus won the great victory victory over the philistine power of sin an english explorer named gordon discovered and excavated a tomb discovered and excavated a tomb commonly referred to as the garden tomb commonly referred to as the garden tomb just under a hill just under a hill north of the city north of the city a hill shaped roughly like a skull this a hill shaped roughly like a skull this in the late in the late 1800s as far as we can determine this is 1800s as far as we can determine this is the place the place the location where jesus died and was the location where jesus died and was buried and as they led him away they laid hold upon one simon a sirenian they laid hold upon one simon a sirenian coming out of the country and on him coming out of the country and on him they laid the cross that he might bury they laid the cross that he might bury it after jesus there are a couple of parallel passages here we won't bother looking them up for here we won't bother looking them up for the sake of time the sake of time but you might note the references but you might note the references mark 15 and verse 21 mark 15 and verse 21 where simon is spoken of as the father where simon is spoken of as the father of alexander and rufus of alexander and rufus and romans 16 and verse 13 where the and romans 16 and verse 13 where the same information basically is passed same information basically is passed along along putting these passages together with putting these passages together with what we read here in luke it appears what we read here in luke it appears very strongly as though simon himself very strongly as though simon himself later became a christian later became a christian if he had no awareness of jesus at this if he had no awareness of jesus at this time or little awareness that awareness time or little awareness that awareness would be deepened by those things which would be deepened by those things which he witnessed in the next few moments he witnessed in the next few moments in the next few hours jesus says that if any man loves him he must take up his cross and follow after must take up his cross and follow after him him and simon the sirenian was the first in and simon the sirenian was the first in a very literal way to take up the cross a very literal way to take up the cross of jesus and follow after him of jesus and follow after him jesus said in matthew 5 and verse 41 as jesus said in matthew 5 and verse 41 as a part of the sermon on the mount if a part of the sermon on the mount if they the they the roman authorities compel you to go with roman authorities compel you to go with them one mile go with them too do more them one mile go with them too do more than is required of you by the than is required of you by the authorities and it was apparently under authorities and it was apparently under this very law that simon was compelled this very law that simon was compelled to bear this burden to bear this burden at the at the instigation of the roman authorities instigation of the roman authorities and it presents us the lovely thought and it presents us the lovely thought that simon this man that simon this man from cyrenia from cyrenia simon simon who was compelled perhaps even against who was compelled perhaps even against his will at the beginning his will at the beginning to bear that cross to bear that cross continued to bear that cross for the continued to bear that cross for the rest of his life as he followed after rest of his life as he followed after christ christ the journey he began the journey he began this fateful day this fateful day he followed to his own grave the words of simon as as imagined by imagined by a writer a writer and i like to think of it as and i like to think of it as something like the reminiscences of the something like the reminiscences of the old man simon old man simon years and years later years and years later as he recounted perhaps for the as he recounted perhaps for the hundredth hundredth or the 500th time what had happened to or the 500th time what had happened to him on that day him on that day so we listened then to simon there is no mark of course but i can feel but i can feel here on my shoulder to this very day here on my shoulder to this very day the grinding weight where that rough the grinding weight where that rough timber lay and left an hour or two timber lay and left an hour or two it's vivid seal it's vivid seal i had no thought no patriotic zeal that i had no thought no patriotic zeal that morning there morning there a hero's part to play only i saw his eyes i saw his eyes which as he laid down in the dust held which as he laid down in the dust held mine in mute appeal mine in mute appeal a curse on you roman dogs i cried a curse on you roman dogs i cried and i never felt the lash the soldiers and i never felt the lash the soldiers swung then we went together side by side side by side my back bent double as we climbed the my back bent double as we climbed the hill hill to golgotha to golgotha where on the cross he hung and i'm proud to say i feel that burden still the old man simon speaking to his children and his speaking to his children and his grandchildren grandchildren of that day luke 23 verse 27 and there followed him a great company of people of people and of women which also bewailed and and of women which also bewailed and lamented him lamented him but jesus turning unto them said but jesus turning unto them said daughters of jerusalem daughters of jerusalem weep not for me but weep for yourselves weep not for me but weep for yourselves and for your children for behold the and for your children for behold the days are coming into which they shall days are coming into which they shall say blessed are the barren and the wombs say blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bear and the paps which never that never bear and the paps which never gave suck then shall they begin to say gave suck then shall they begin to say to the mountains fall on us into the to the mountains fall on us into the hills cover us for if they do these hills cover us for if they do these things in a green tree things in a green tree what shall be done in the dry what shall be done in the dry if this is what your nation is capable if this is what your nation is capable of now of now think what will be your fate in the days think what will be your fate in the days to come to come this was the warning word of jesus this was the warning word of jesus verse 30 they shall say to the mountains verse 30 they shall say to the mountains fall upon us into the hills cover us are fall upon us into the hills cover us are a conscious quotation from hosea chapter a conscious quotation from hosea chapter 10 and verse 8 let's turn to that 10 and verse 8 let's turn to that prophecy and we see that these illusions are not haphazard but illusions are not haphazard but that a pattern is developed here that a pattern is developed here hosea chapter 10 and verse 8 hosea chapter 10 and verse 8 they shall say to the mountains cover us they shall say to the mountains cover us to the hills fall upon us is a part of a to the hills fall upon us is a part of a prophecy developing through the last few prophecy developing through the last few chapters of hosea a prophecy looking chapters of hosea a prophecy looking vividly with great detail upon what we vividly with great detail upon what we are witnessing today as we read from the are witnessing today as we read from the gospel narrative gospel narrative hosea 9 and verse 12 hosea 9 and verse 12 though they bring up their children yet though they bring up their children yet will i bereave them that there shall not will i bereave them that there shall not be a man left this the judgment coming be a man left this the judgment coming upon the nation of israel even as they upon the nation of israel even as they nationally pretended to judge jesus nationally pretended to judge jesus verse 14 verse 14 give them o lord what will thou give give them o lord what will thou give them give them miscarrying womb and dry them give them miscarrying womb and dry breasts breasts all their wickedness is in gilgal all their wickedness is in gilgal almost the equivalent in the hebrew of almost the equivalent in the hebrew of golgotha golgotha all their wickedness is there for there all their wickedness is there for there i hated them for the wickedness of their i hated them for the wickedness of their doings i will drive them out of mine doings i will drive them out of mine house house that very thing happened to the nation that very thing happened to the nation of israel verse 17 of israel verse 17 my god will cast them away because they my god will cast them away because they did not hearken unto him did not hearken unto him and they shall be wanderers among the and they shall be wanderers among the nations nations chapter 10 and verse 3 for now they chapter 10 and verse 3 for now they shall say we have no king shall say we have no king we have no king but caesar and they we have no king but caesar and they denied the true king given to them denied the true king given to them verse 5 for the glory thereof the glory verse 5 for the glory thereof the glory is departed from israel the glory of is departed from israel the glory of israel was dying in the midst of israel israel was dying in the midst of israel and god veiled the scene with and god veiled the scene with darkness verse 8 darkness verse 8 they shall say to the mountains cover us they shall say to the mountains cover us to the hills fall upon us and verse 15 that awful last phrase that awful last phrase in a morning in a morning shall the king of israel shall the king of israel utterly be cut off and so they came to golgotha golgotha where they crucified him where they crucified him and two other with him on either side and two other with him on either side one and jesus in the midst as though he one and jesus in the midst as though he were the worst of the lot were the worst of the lot and again isaiah 53 and 12 he will be and again isaiah 53 and 12 he will be numbered with the transgressors numbered with the transgressors mark 15 mark 15 verse 23. mark 15 verse 23 and they gave him to drink wine drink wine mingled with myrrh mingled with myrrh the parallel passage matthew 27 and the parallel passage matthew 27 and verse 34 says with gall verse 34 says with gall and he received it not by tradition this and he received it not by tradition this drink was said to be provided by women's drink was said to be provided by women's society of jerusalem as a humanitarian society of jerusalem as a humanitarian gesture to ease the excruciating pain gesture to ease the excruciating pain and torture of crucifixion and torture of crucifixion jesus recognizes it for what it is jesus recognizes it for what it is he recognizes that taking this drug he recognizes that taking this drug would distort would distort the sacrifice of his will the sacrifice of his will if not the sacrifice of his body if not the sacrifice of his body and so he refuses maintaining to the and so he refuses maintaining to the very end despite the pain that he must very end despite the pain that he must have felt continually have felt continually a conscious a conscious reasoning reasoning obedience of his mind and his will to obedience of his mind and his will to god god so that paul when looking back upon this so that paul when looking back upon this in romans 12 says in romans 12 says let us follow his example and present let us follow his example and present ourselves as living sacrifices which is ourselves as living sacrifices which is our reasonable duty and responsibility our reasonable duty and responsibility and that word reasonable means our and that word reasonable means our reasoning are our logical reasoning are our logical duty and responsibility duty and responsibility jesus jesus was conscious was conscious of the work that he must do and that of the work that he must do and that work continued right onto the cross work continued right onto the cross until the moment of his death and so he until the moment of his death and so he maintained maintained through the pain through the pain through the through the billowing clouds of pain that must have billowing clouds of pain that must have come upon him he maintained come upon him he maintained his consciousness his consciousness that his mind might continue to function that his mind might continue to function that he might continue to pray that he might continue to pray to the father for strength to the father for strength for forgiveness for his brethren for forgiveness for his brethren he was he was the perfect the perfect living sacrifice in contrast to the living sacrifice in contrast to the sacrifices of the law of moses which sacrifices of the law of moses which when their throat was cut died almost when their throat was cut died almost immediately jesus continued to live immediately jesus continued to live continued conscious upon the cross that continued conscious upon the cross that he might finish the work that was there he might finish the work that was there for him to do the gospel record says it was the third hour hour approximately 9 a.m in the morning approximately 9 a.m in the morning and they crucified him have we tried have all of us tried from time to time have all of us tried from time to time to imagine what the crucifixion was like they would take the rough beam that was carried by simon the rough beam that was carried by simon to this place of death to this place of death would lay it upon the ground in jesus on would lay it upon the ground in jesus on top of it top of it the nails would be the nails would be affixed through affixed through his hands or his wrists his hands or his wrists to the rough wood to the rough wood then the cross piece would be lifted and then the cross piece would be lifted and attached to the upright attached to the upright piece to form the cross spikes would be placed in his ankles the whole affair would be jolted down into the hole in the earth into the hole in the earth ripping the muscles in the flesh i think we can scarcely imagine the waves of pain that continued to the waves of pain that continued to engulf him there coupled with the heat the heat the thirst the flies that would circle around the blood that flowed blood that flowed the dust that would billow up from the the dust that would billow up from the earth the difficulty continually more so in breathing and in maintaining his breathing and in maintaining his consciousness the abuse from observers who were there the shame that that sensitive soul must have felt have felt with the nakedness that with the nakedness that was probably was probably arranged for him by his enemies arranged for him by his enemies as they looked upon him the psalmist says yea though i walk through the valley yea though i walk through the valley the shadow of death the shadow of death thou art with me jesus here was experiencing the shadow of death and we go with him there trying as we can as we can trying as we can as we can in a second hand way in a second hand way to experience to experience something of that day something of that day something of that time but failing no doubt really to appreciate really to appreciate what happened that day out of the sea of pain in which he was drowning there comes the voice father father forgive them it's commonly supposed that jesus's prayer was for mercy prayer was for mercy on behalf of the romans who had no way of knowing truly what they were doing they were doing and i think that's true but it seems to me quite reasonable to suppose that jesus's prayer was on suppose that jesus's prayer was on behalf behalf of the jews as well of the jews as well that if there were any opportunity that if there were any opportunity for repentance and recognition of what for repentance and recognition of what they had done would god please forgive them perhaps his prayer was for saul of tarsus tarsus who began at this point or soon who began at this point or soon thereafter a hateful campaign against the christians christians until finally he was arrested by the until finally he was arrested by the vision of the glorified jesus vision of the glorified jesus why are you persecuting me perhaps his prayer was for saul of tarsus saul of tarsus perhaps his prayer perhaps his prayer there was for all of us who through our indifference and our weakness weakness and our forgetfulness and our forgetfulness time after time time after time turn aside from the way in which we turn aside from the way in which we should go should go and have to come back to this place to see the effect of our sins the effect of our sins perhaps he prayed for us john 19 verse 19. and pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross and put it on the cross and the writing was and the writing was jesus of nazareth jesus of nazareth the king of the jews the king of the jews the four gospel records the four gospel records give give somewhat different versions of the somewhat different versions of the precise wording precise wording that was on the cross that was on the cross this is perhaps most reasonably this is perhaps most reasonably explained by what follows in verse 20. explained by what follows in verse 20. this title then read many of the jews this title then read many of the jews for the place where jesus was crucified for the place where jesus was crucified was nigh to the city and it was written was nigh to the city and it was written in hebrew and greek and latin in hebrew and greek and latin so we might suppose that each of the so we might suppose that each of the languages languages gave a slightly different version gave a slightly different version of the words of the words this one in john this one in john can perhaps suffice for the rest can perhaps suffice for the rest jesus of nazareth the king of the jews then said the chief priests of the jews to pilate to pilate don't write the king of the jews but don't write the king of the jews but that he said that he said i am the king of the jews i am the king of the jews and pilate quite obviously and pilate quite obviously shaken by the things that he had been shaken by the things that he had been witnessing witnessing this day this day replies bluntly what i have written i replies bluntly what i have written i have written have written jesus of nazareth the king of the jews jesus of nazareth the king of the jews pilate perhaps beginning pilate perhaps beginning to wonder to wonder and to doubt the part that he had been and to doubt the part that he had been forced forced against his will against his will to play to play in this vile act verse 23 then the soldiers when they had then the soldiers when they had crucified jesus crucified jesus took his garments took his garments and made four parts to every soldier and made four parts to every soldier apart and also his coat apart and also his coat now the coat was without seam woven from now the coat was without seam woven from the top throughout the top throughout they said therefore among themselves let they said therefore among themselves let us not rend it but cast lots for it us not rend it but cast lots for it whose it might be whose it might be john inserts then the thought that the john inserts then the thought that the scripture might be fulfilled which saith scripture might be fulfilled which saith psalm 22 verse 18 psalm 22 verse 18 they parted my raiment among them and they parted my raiment among them and for my vesture they did cast lots here we see the disposal of the personal effects of jesus his purse his money had already gone to judas his money had already gone to judas who better to receive it who better to receive it his clothes now went to the roman his clothes now went to the roman soldiers soldiers leaving his naked body upon the cross jesus himself in verses 26 and 27 of this chapter in verses 26 and 27 of this chapter bequeaths bequeaths his mother his mother to john to care for to john to care for where were jesus's brothers and finally as he dies he commits his spirit he commits his spirit his life force his life force to his father leaving nothing of jesus himself but the body empty of the spirit which goes to joseph which goes to joseph who carries it away to the tomb naked he came into the world came into the world and naked and without possessions and naked and without possessions he departed the world he departed the world blessing the name of god luke 23 verse 35. and the people stood beholding and the rulers also with them derided and the rulers also with them derided him saying he saved others let him save him saying he saved others let him save himself if he be the messiah the chosen himself if he be the messiah the chosen of god of god the words of psalm 22 the words of psalm 22 fulfilling as they fulfilling as they spoke these words psalm 22 verse 8 he trusted on the lord that he would he trusted on the lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him seeing deliver him let him deliver him seeing he delighteth in him spoken scornfully he delighteth in him spoken scornfully as they directed as they directed their taunts toward that figure on the their taunts toward that figure on the cross cross verse 13 verse 13 they gaped upon me with their mouths as they gaped upon me with their mouths as a ravening and a roaring lion a ravening and a roaring lion i am poured out like water all my bones i am poured out like water all my bones are out of joint are out of joint my heart is like wax it is melted in the my heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels midst of my bowels my strength is dried up like a potsherd my strength is dried up like a potsherd my tongue cleaveth to my jaws my tongue cleaveth to my jaws thus brought me into the dust of death thus brought me into the dust of death for dogs have come past me for dogs have come past me the assembly of the wicked that word the assembly of the wicked that word assembly the word used for the sanhedrin assembly the word used for the sanhedrin have enclosed me have enclosed me they pierced my hands and my feet i may tell all my bones all my bones they look and stare upon me in luke 23 verse 36 verse 36 the soldiers also mocked him the soldiers also mocked him coming to him and offering him vinegar coming to him and offering him vinegar and saying and saying if you be the king of the jews save if you be the king of the jews save yourself the words of the lamentations of jeremiah is it nothing to you jeremiah is it nothing to you is it nothing to you is it nothing to you all ye that pass by and see my sorrow all ye that pass by and see my sorrow we are being called to see that sorrow we are being called to see that sorrow does it mean nothing to us mark 15 verse 29. and they that passed by railed on him railed on him wagging their heads and saying ah thou wagging their heads and saying ah thou that destroys the temple and builds it that destroys the temple and builds it in three days in three days save yourself save yourself come down from the cross come down from the cross they said to him but if he had done so how could god's will have been fulfilled how could god's will have been fulfilled instead he would come up instead he would come up from the grave from the grave a greater miracle yet a greater miracle yet and still the nation would not believe we read that the two thieves also the two thieves also observing this treatment of jesus observing this treatment of jesus began to speak against him to rail upon began to speak against him to rail upon him save yourself and save us in the him save yourself and save us in the bargain while you're at it bargain while you're at it look at the fate we have brought look at the fate we have brought ourselves to but gradually as the hours pass as the hours pass one of those thieves observing jesus one of those thieves observing jesus hearing his words hearing his words seeing his actions seeing his actions begins to change his mind begins to change his mind begins to remember what he has heard begins to remember what he has heard before about this man jesus of nazareth before about this man jesus of nazareth and so we read in luke 23 and verse 39 that one of the malefactors which were that one of the malefactors which were hanged hanged railed on him railed on him one continued despite what he saw one continued despite what he saw his own pain his own torment blinding his eyes to what he saw before him him saying if thou be christ save thyself in saying if thou be christ save thyself in us but the other us but the other answering finally answering finally rebuked him saying rebuked him saying dost not thou fear god seeing thou art dost not thou fear god seeing thou art in the same condemnation and we indeed in the same condemnation and we indeed justly justly for we receive the due reward of our for we receive the due reward of our deeds deeds but but this man this man has done nothing amiss has done nothing amiss and he said unto jesus and he said unto jesus lord lord remember me remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom consider the statement of faith of this second thief of this second thief in verse 40 as we see it before us in verse 40 as we see it before us he acknowledges his fear of god he acknowledges his fear of god his own mortality and condemnation his own mortality and condemnation in verse 41 in verse 41 his sinfulness we indeed suffered justly his sinfulness we indeed suffered justly the due reward of our deeds implicit in that his repentance he looks at jesus and sees in him a man he looks at jesus and sees in him a man but a very special man but a very special man a man who has done nothing whatsoever a man who has done nothing whatsoever amiss amiss a man who has been perfectly obedient a man who has been perfectly obedient and yet is dying upon this cross and yet is dying upon this cross and in verse 42 and in verse 42 as he speaks to jesus he acknowledges as he speaks to jesus he acknowledges his lordship his lordship his kingship his kingship the hope of a kingdom to go with that the hope of a kingdom to go with that king king and the hope of a resurrection lord and the hope of a resurrection lord remember me when you come into your remember me when you come into your kingdom kingdom in that future day notice also that the thief that the thief was being was being baptized with jesus baptized with jesus in a way that none of us can approximate in a way that none of us can approximate he was literally he was literally being crucified with jesus being crucified with jesus as romans 6 implies that we should be in as romans 6 implies that we should be in a spiritual sense a spiritual sense well we should be in a spiritual sense well we should be in a spiritual sense he was literally he was literally as jesus had said to james and john as jesus had said to james and john can you be baptized with my baptism can can you be baptized with my baptism can you die my death you die my death this man this man was dying the death of jesus was dying the death of jesus and somehow and somehow any question at this point of any question at this point of baptism or otherwise baptism or otherwise seems rather pointless seems rather pointless lord lord remember me when you come into your remember me when you come into your kingdom and jesus said unto him verily i kingdom and jesus said unto him verily i say unto thee today say unto thee today we understand how that sentence we understand how that sentence should be read should be read thou shalt be with me one day thou shalt be with me one day in paradise in the garden they were in a garden at that very time they were in a garden at that very time jesus body was to be laid in a tomb jesus body was to be laid in a tomb nearby nearby where there was a garden where there was a garden all of this harking back to that picture all of this harking back to that picture in the beginning the garden of eden in the beginning the garden of eden where man had failed and now the last where man had failed and now the last adam succeeds in another garden adam succeeds in another garden thou shalt be with me in that garden of thou shalt be with me in that garden of eden restored eden restored paradise paradise the kingdom of god with this promise in his heart the thief will die john 19 verse 25. now there stood by the cross of jesus his mother his mother and his mother's sister and his mother's sister mary the wife of cleophas and mary mary the wife of cleophas and mary magdalene magdalene when jesus therefore saw his mother and when jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciples standing by whom he loved the disciples standing by whom he loved he saith unto his mother woman behold he saith unto his mother woman behold thy son then sayeth he to the disciple behold thy mother and from that hour behold thy mother and from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home that disciple took her unto his own home even in even in intense suffering intense suffering the first thoughts of jesus the first thoughts of jesus or for the welfare of others and from the sixth to the ninth hour there was darkness over the whole land there was darkness over the whole land from approximately noon until 3 pm from approximately noon until 3 pm darkness covered the scene matthew 27 verse 46. and about the ninth hour jesus cried with a loud voice saying eli jesus cried with a loud voice saying eli eli lama sabachthani eli lama sabachthani that is to say that is to say my god my god my god my god why hast thou forsaken me the words are the first words of psalm 22 which we've already looked at in some 22 which we've already looked at in some detail detail the words of jesus the prayer of jesus the words of jesus the prayer of jesus upon the cross and perhaps we worry over much what jesus might have worry over much what jesus might have meant when he supposed that god had meant when he supposed that god had forsaken him forsaken him because if we can enter into his because if we can enter into his feelings upon the cross feelings upon the cross no doubt there would be the fleeting sense of withdrawal of the father from him of the father from him as he faced death on his own as he faced death on his own the one place that he would go without the one place that he would go without his father his father why have you forsaken me why have you forsaken me the doubt the fear the doubt the fear that came into his heart and yet that came into his heart and yet dispelled rather rapidly as the words of dispelled rather rapidly as the words of the psalm impressed upon his mind the psalm impressed upon his mind began to assert themselves began to assert themselves and strengthen and uplift his faith and strengthen and uplift his faith out of that possibility of doubt and out of that possibility of doubt and despair despair the words of psalm 22 the words of psalm 22 the words of jesus the words of jesus on the cross on the cross psalm 22 oh my god i cry in the daytime but thou hearst not hearst not and then as the darkness would come upon and then as the darkness would come upon him and in the night season i cry and i am not silent not silent but thou art holy but thou art holy oh thou that inhabitest the praises of oh thou that inhabitest the praises of israel our fathers trusted in thee they israel our fathers trusted in thee they trusted thou just delivered them can i trusted thou just delivered them can i do anything less we continue through the words of the psalm psalm verse 19 verse 19 be not thou far from me o lord be not thou far from me o lord o my strength o my strength haste thee to help me deliver my soul haste thee to help me deliver my soul from the sword my darling thine only one from the power of the dog from the power of the dog save me from the lion's mouth thou hast save me from the lion's mouth thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorn verse 25 we sense the elevation of his spirit even as the body was spirit even as the body was slowly drowning in death slowly drowning in death the spirit was being lifted up in faith the spirit was being lifted up in faith as the body grew weak the spirit grew as the body grew weak the spirit grew stronger my praise shall be of thee stronger my praise shall be of thee verse 25 in the great congregation i verse 25 in the great congregation i will pay my vows before them that fear will pay my vows before them that fear him verse 28 the kingdom is the lord's him verse 28 the kingdom is the lord's he is the governor among the nations he is the governor among the nations verse 30 verse 30 as perhaps he looked upon those around as perhaps he looked upon those around him him not those so much who were mocking him not those so much who were mocking him but those but those who had been close to him throughout the who had been close to him throughout the last few years last few years his family his friends as they stood his family his friends as they stood apart from the cross apart from the cross verse 30 a seed shall serve him it shall verse 30 a seed shall serve him it shall be accounted to the lord for a be accounted to the lord for a generation generation in the words of isaiah 53 again he saw in the words of isaiah 53 again he saw the travail of his soul and was the travail of his soul and was satisfied it was given to him a vision satisfied it was given to him a vision of what would come in the future of what would come in the future when those who were gathered about the when those who were gathered about the cross cross and those as yet unborn and those as yet unborn throughout the world throughout the world would have new life would have new life through what he was accomplishing through what he was accomplishing a seed shall serve him it shall be a seed shall serve him it shall be accounted to the lord for a generation accounted to the lord for a generation they shall come they shall come they shall declare his righteousness they shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born after this jesus knowing that all things were now jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished accomplished that the scripture might be fulfilled that the scripture might be fulfilled saith i thirst saith i thirst now there was set a vessel full of now there was set a vessel full of vinegar and they filled a sponge with vinegar and they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it upon hyssop and put vinegar and put it upon hyssop and put it to his mouth it to his mouth and he received this drink and he received this drink when jesus therefore had received the when jesus therefore had received the vinegar he said vinegar he said it is finished it is finished and he bowed his head and he bowed his head and gave up the spirit it is finished the last words of psalm 22 the last words of psalm 22 they shall come and declare they shall come and declare that it hath been done that it hath been done this is the sense of those words psalm this is the sense of those words psalm 22 and verse 31 and now jesus with his 22 and verse 31 and now jesus with his last breath last breath says yes says yes it is done it is done it is finished it is finished the first recorded words of jesus at the the first recorded words of jesus at the age of 12 age of 12 in the temple did you not know that i in the temple did you not know that i must be about my father's business must be about my father's business that i must be doing those things that i that i must be doing those things that i must be in those things that pertain to must be in those things that pertain to my father my father and now his last words as he died it is and now his last words as he died it is finished finished the work of the father was finished the old testament prophecies and symbols and types and sacrifices had come to an and types and sacrifices had come to an end as jesus died end as jesus died the new testament activity and teaching the new testament activity and teaching of jesus reached its climax upon the of jesus reached its climax upon the cross cross it is finished he cried it is finished he cried it was the cry of a sufferer it was the cry of a sufferer whose sufferings have come to an end whose sufferings have come to an end it is finished he cried it is finished he cried the cry of a servant the cry of a servant whose work is finally done whose work is finally done it is finished it is finished the cry of a conqueror the cry of a conqueror who has won his last battle he bowed his head he breathed his last the spirit the life the life returned to the giver of life matthew 27 and verse 51 tells us that the veil of the temple was rent entwined from the top to the bottom rent entwined from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake and the rocks and the earth did quake and the rocks rent rent perhaps this perhaps this is a hint to us of the reason for is a hint to us of the reason for the conversion of so many priests that the conversion of so many priests that we read of in acts chapter 6 and verse 7 we read of in acts chapter 6 and verse 7 perhaps who had witnessed perhaps who had witnessed this miracle and recognized vaguely the this miracle and recognized vaguely the significance of the rending of the veil significance of the rending of the veil and the opening of the way into the most and the opening of the way into the most holy holy precisely at the time that jesus of precisely at the time that jesus of nazareth died on the cross the veil was rent from top to bottom as though done by the hand of god though done by the hand of god and the way into the most holy was and the way into the most holy was opened and the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints which slept arose bodies of the saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared unto many a rather strange and appeared unto many a rather strange miracle a miracle that perhaps leaves us miracle a miracle that perhaps leaves us with questions that we can't quite with questions that we can't quite satisfy satisfy how long did these saints remain alive how long did these saints remain alive who were they what was the effect of who were they what was the effect of their appearance their appearance we're not told we're not told verse 54 verse 54 now when the centurion and they that now when the centurion and they that were with him watching jesus were with him watching jesus saw the earthquake and those things that saw the earthquake and those things that were done they feared greatly saying were done they feared greatly saying truly this was truly this was the son of god the son of god this was this was a righteous man we read briefly in the narratives that now as the end of the day approached they came and broke the legs of the two thieves that broke the legs of the two thieves that they would die rather quickly not being they would die rather quickly not being able to support their bodies able to support their bodies and suffocating but when they came to and suffocating but when they came to jesus they marveled jesus they marveled that he was already dead that he was already dead why did jesus die sooner than the two why did jesus die sooner than the two thieves thieves perhaps that intense period of work and perhaps that intense period of work and sleeplessness preceding his arrest in sleeplessness preceding his arrest in his trial perhaps the thieves had not been scourged perhaps they had not been scourged perhaps they had not been mistreated to the extent that jesus had mistreated to the extent that jesus had been by his vindictive enemies been by his vindictive enemies at any rate at any rate jesus before the others jesus before the others was already dead they did pierce his side and there came out out water water and blood and blood the apostle john picks this up in his the apostle john picks this up in his first letter first letter chapter 5 chapter 5 when he says that jesus came when he says that jesus came and was witnessed by the water and was witnessed by the water and the blood and so we in our lives in the truth witnessed to in our lives in the truth witnessed to jesus in his death jesus in his death by the water in the blood the water of by the water in the blood the water of baptism baptism the blood symbolized by the wine which the blood symbolized by the wine which we drink each first day of the week we drink each first day of the week jesus came and died by water and by jesus came and died by water and by blood blood and we remember that to this day in john 19 verse 38 and after this joseph of arimathea being a disciple of jesus a disciple of jesus but secretly for fear of the jews but secretly for fear of the jews he's also called an honorable counselor he's also called an honorable counselor in mark 15 and 43. in mark 15 and 43. that is he was one of the that is he was one of the priests priests who sat in the committee just under the who sat in the committee just under the jurisdiction of the high priest a very jurisdiction of the high priest a very important man a very educated man in important man a very educated man in israel israel this joseph of arimathea this joseph of arimathea came to pilate and besought him that he came to pilate and besought him that he might take away the body of jesus might take away the body of jesus willing to affiliate himself with this willing to affiliate himself with this man and his death when he had been man and his death when he had been afraid to do so while jesus was alive afraid to do so while jesus was alive surely joseph had seen through portions surely joseph had seen through portions of the trial of the trial and that which followed that this indeed and that which followed that this indeed was the messiah and joseph was the messiah and joseph before any of the disciples perhaps before any of the disciples perhaps believed believed that jesus was the messiah so he took the body of jesus and there came also nicodemus and there came also nicodemus another who had been fearful to another who had been fearful to associate with jesus while he was yet associate with jesus while he was yet alive alive who had come to him by night in john who had come to him by night in john chapter 3 chapter 3 and now and now in the light of day for all to see he in the light of day for all to see he associates himself with this dead body associates himself with this dead body and joseph and nicodemus and joseph and nicodemus bear the body of jesus away with the mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pound weight about a hundred pound weight and they take the body of jesus and they take the body of jesus and wind it in linen clothes with the and wind it in linen clothes with the spices as the manner of the jews is to spices as the manner of the jews is to bury bury now the place now the place where he was crucified where he was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a there was a garden and in the garden a new sepulcher wherein was never man yet new sepulcher wherein was never man yet laid here is the second garden where the second are the last adam second are the last adam overcame overcame and and undid the damage that was brought by the undid the damage that was brought by the first adam first adam in this garden in this garden the last adam the last adam was put to sleep was put to sleep so that out of his pierced side would be so that out of his pierced side would be created a bride the multitudinous bride created a bride the multitudinous bride to share with him in subjecting the to share with him in subjecting the earth earth the last adam succeeding where the first the last adam succeeding where the first adam had failed adam had failed and they laid him in a tomb where never and they laid him in a tomb where never man was laid such a tomb would be very man was laid such a tomb would be very uncommon in palestine uncommon in palestine but here christ when raised but here christ when raised would in the words of psalm 16 and verse would in the words of psalm 16 and verse 10 literally see 10 literally see no corruption no corruption because there were no dead bodies around because there were no dead bodies around him him also also no one no one ever after would be able to produce out ever after would be able to produce out of that tomb of that tomb a corpse a corpse and contend and contend that the claim of the resurrection was that the claim of the resurrection was invalid invalid and so jesus was laid and so jesus was laid in in a tomb where never man for never body a tomb where never man for never body had previously been laid the one who began his life in a virgin womb womb is put to rest in a virgin tomb is put to rest in a virgin tomb as there was a joseph who is called in as there was a joseph who is called in the scripture record a just man the scripture record a just man at the beginning of jesus's life to care at the beginning of jesus's life to care for him for him so as he died there was another joseph so as he died there was another joseph also a just man also a just man to care for his dead body and they marked the place we were told where his body was laid where his body was laid this did the women this did the women so that they might return at the so that they might return at the appropriate time appropriate time to finish to finish the acts of burial and then finally matthew 27 now the next day that followed the day of the preparation the day of the preparation the chief priests and pharisees came the chief priests and pharisees came together and to pile it again saying sir together and to pile it again saying sir we remember that that deceiver we remember that that deceiver notice they notice they they refused to use the name jesus which they refused to use the name jesus which means savior that that deceiver said means savior that that deceiver said while he was yet alive while he was yet alive after three days i will rise again now after three days i will rise again now they've got their story right they've got their story right now they are beginning to wonder now they are beginning to wonder command therefore that the sepulcher be command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day lest his made sure until the third day lest his disciples come by night and steal him disciples come by night and steal him away and say unto the people he has away and say unto the people he has risen from the dead risen from the dead so the last error shall be worse than so the last error shall be worse than the first and notice the subtlety in the first and notice the subtlety in that statement that statement worse than the first error already they worse than the first error already they are beginning to doubt what they have are beginning to doubt what they have done though they hate the man done though they hate the man who is in the tomb who is in the tomb still still they doubt they doubt and pilate and pilate his doubts his doubts impinging upon his mind impinging upon his mind says unto them says unto them you have a watch you have a guard go you have a watch you have a guard go your way use them make it as sure as you your way use them make it as sure as you can can and in that last word and in that last word an element of doubt entering in an element of doubt entering in the mind of pilate the mind of pilate as sure as you can as sure as you can so they went and made the sepulcher so they went and made the sepulcher sealing the stone and setting a watch sealing the stone and setting a watch it was a somber weekend the disciples it was a somber weekend the disciples fleeing and hiding in fear confused over fleeing and hiding in fear confused over what had happened what had happened the women alone and grieving the women alone and grieving the jewish leaders vaguely worried about the jewish leaders vaguely worried about this chain of events which they had set this chain of events which they had set in motion in motion the common people bewildered and angry the common people bewildered and angry at their would-be king who was taken at their would-be king who was taken from them and in a new tomb dark and damp dark and damp behind a large stone a body scarcely cold scarcely cold lies wrapped in grave clothes

Transcript

at the end of our previous class we waited and watched we waited and watched as we saw the as we saw the dead body of jesus being laid in the dead body of jesus being laid in the tomb now we try to experience as best we can experience as best we can in a second hand sort of way in a second hand sort of way the sorrow and the sense of loss that the sorrow and the sense of loss that the brethren of christ the brethren of christ the women that accompanied him for years the women that accompanied him for years must have felt when he was taken away must have felt when he was taken away from them from them let's turn to matthew chapter 28 and let's turn to matthew chapter 28 and verse 1. in the end of the sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week dawn toward the first day of the week came mary magdalene and the other mary came mary magdalene and the other mary to see the sepulcher to see the sepulcher as soon as the sabbath restrictions were as soon as the sabbath restrictions were passed that kept them bound in their passed that kept them bound in their homes homes that is apparently after sunset on that is apparently after sunset on saturday these women who were the close companions of christ in his life companions of christ in his life prepare now to give him their last token prepare now to give him their last token of love of love in his death in his death to prepare the body finally and to prepare the body finally and completely for burial early on sunday morning as the first light of the sun appears in as the first light of the sun appears in the east they set out for the tomb it should be pointed out of course that as we look at certain portions of the as we look at certain portions of the four gospel records four gospel records there can be some difficulty in there can be some difficulty in reconciling the four gospel accounts reconciling the four gospel accounts with one another with one another this is true in this is true in any portion of the gospel story but it's any portion of the gospel story but it's especially true with these last events especially true with these last events concerning the death and resurrection concerning the death and resurrection and it seems to me that one of the ideas and it seems to me that one of the ideas that is conveyed by this that is conveyed by this rather confusing presentation if we try rather confusing presentation if we try to bring the four gospels together is to bring the four gospels together is the very thing that must have happened the very thing that must have happened on that day there must have been serious on that day there must have been serious confusion as people ran back and forth confusion as people ran back and forth wondering what had happened hearing wondering what had happened hearing rumors that they couldn't substantiate rumors that they couldn't substantiate by the evidence of their own senses and by the evidence of their own senses and therefore there were difficulties therefore there were difficulties involved involved even for those who are on the very scene even for those who are on the very scene in piecing together in piecing together what actually happened on this day so what actually happened on this day so some of the things that i'm suggesting some of the things that i'm suggesting and certainly the order of the events and certainly the order of the events that i'm suggesting might be open to that i'm suggesting might be open to uh some counter proposals and i uh some counter proposals and i recognize that we're simply trying to recognize that we're simply trying to see how it might have happened and of see how it might have happened and of course i would expect that you would course i would expect that you would make some allowances for the possibility make some allowances for the possibility of there being different ways of putting of there being different ways of putting these verses together these verses together so we read in matthew 28 and verse 2 so we read in matthew 28 and verse 2 that that when they came to see the sepulcher when they came to see the sepulcher behold there was a great earthquake behold there was a great earthquake apparently this is something that had apparently this is something that had happened just previously happened just previously to their arrival to their arrival for the angel of the lord descended from for the angel of the lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door of the sepulcher stone from the door of the sepulcher there in the garden and sat upon it there in the garden and sat upon it the angel perhaps the angel perhaps rolled the stone back some considerable rolled the stone back some considerable distance from the door itself we're distance from the door itself we're going to see some verses in a moment going to see some verses in a moment that uh seem to imply that and we'll that uh seem to imply that and we'll defer until we get to that to make the defer until we get to that to make the the actual point the actual point but it seems as though the angel rolled but it seems as though the angel rolled the stone back some considerable the stone back some considerable distance from the sepulcher he laid it distance from the sepulcher he laid it flat so it couldn't be easily lifted up flat so it couldn't be easily lifted up again to be rolled back and he also for again to be rolled back and he also for a time sat upon it a time sat upon it therefore it would be impossible to therefore it would be impossible to replace it without a lot of time and replace it without a lot of time and effort effort and and the angel by his action the angel by his action sealed the tomb open sealed the tomb open and we and we hearken back in our thoughts to what was hearken back in our thoughts to what was described the other day that described the other day that the jewish leaders attempted in their the jewish leaders attempted in their misguided zeal to seal the tomb of jesus misguided zeal to seal the tomb of jesus shut that it could not be opened now the shut that it could not be opened now the very reverse of that is being brought very reverse of that is being brought about by the power of god the tomb is about by the power of god the tomb is being sealed open with the angel sitting being sealed open with the angel sitting upon it putting the divine seal upon it putting the divine seal upon this action upon this action the great earthquake reminds us of the great earthquake reminds us of the earthquake that had happened just the earthquake that had happened just previously at the death of christ and we previously at the death of christ and we can imagine then that the earth which can imagine then that the earth which trembled with horror at the death of trembled with horror at the death of christ now leaps for joy at his christ now leaps for joy at his resurrection resurrection in verse 3 of chapter 28 we read that in verse 3 of chapter 28 we read that the countenance of the angel was like the countenance of the angel was like lightning and his raiment white as snow lightning and his raiment white as snow and for fear of him the keepers did and for fear of him the keepers did shake and became his dead men falling to shake and became his dead men falling to the ground at the spectacle of what they the ground at the spectacle of what they had seen had seen the soldiers who had been assigned to the soldiers who had been assigned to guard the dead quite an irony isn't that guard the dead quite an irony isn't that now become as dead men themselves now become as dead men themselves paralyzed with fear they cower on the paralyzed with fear they cower on the ground they faint and when they finally ground they faint and when they finally come to their senses and and realize come to their senses and and realize that it is apparently safe for them then that it is apparently safe for them then they they they come to their feet and they creep they come to their feet and they creep and they scuttle away and they scuttle away back to tell of what they have seen to back to tell of what they have seen to their leaders to their captains their leaders to their captains john chapter 20 and verse 1 is the next john chapter 20 and verse 1 is the next step now in the picture we read that on the first day of the week mary on the first day of the week mary magdalene came early while it was still magdalene came early while it was still dark to the sepulcher dark to the sepulcher very interesting phrase there the first very interesting phrase there the first day of the week literally in the greek day of the week literally in the greek it is on day one it is on day one of the seven of the seven first day of the week it reminds us first day of the week it reminds us doesn't it very much of genesis chapter doesn't it very much of genesis chapter one one of the new creation on the first day of of the new creation on the first day of the seven days the beginning of the new the seven days the beginning of the new creation when god said let there be creation when god said let there be light and the world that was filled with light and the world that was filled with chaos and darkness received the light chaos and darkness received the light and god's and god's literal creation literal creation was begun let there be light here again was begun let there be light here again in the new testament is the beginning of in the new testament is the beginning of a spiritual creation a new creation a spiritual creation a new creation after the pattern of the original after the pattern of the original creation in genesis and so this is creation in genesis and so this is indicated by the opening phrase of john indicated by the opening phrase of john 20 on the first day of the week day one 20 on the first day of the week day one of the beginning of a new creation of the beginning of a new creation there are several new testament passages there are several new testament passages that it seems to me that it seems to me refer to this and fill out this picture refer to this and fill out this picture where where wherein wherein the writer paul for example in one place the writer paul for example in one place certainly seems to have in mind the certainly seems to have in mind the resurrection of christ as the beginning resurrection of christ as the beginning of a new spiritual creation let's look of a new spiritual creation let's look at one of those which is colossians at one of those which is colossians chapter 1 chapter 1 beginning with verse 15. colossians 1 15 15 paul says paul says speaking of jesus that he is the image speaking of jesus that he is the image of the invisible god the firstborn of of the invisible god the firstborn of every creature or we might say by every creature or we might say by paraphrase the firstborn of all creation paraphrase the firstborn of all creation this is the kind of verse that can this is the kind of verse that can present us some difficulty when we're present us some difficulty when we're trying to explain uh our position in trying to explain uh our position in regard to the pre-existence of christ to regard to the pre-existence of christ to those who are not crystaldelphians who those who are not crystaldelphians who are not believers notice however what are not believers notice however what follows thereafter and i think the point follows thereafter and i think the point will become clear will become clear far by him are in him were all things far by him are in him were all things created that are in heaven that are in created that are in heaven that are in earth visible and invisible thrones earth visible and invisible thrones dominions principalities or powers all dominions principalities or powers all things were created by him things were created by him the word there is literally the word there is literally dia which means through all things were dia which means through all things were created through christ and created through christ and for him that is directed toward him all for him that is directed toward him all things were created through christ and things were created through christ and toward christ and he is before all toward christ and he is before all things and by him are in him all things things and by him are in him all things consist and still we have a problem consist and still we have a problem we've read these three verses how should we've read these three verses how should they be explained to someone who doesn't they be explained to someone who doesn't believe believe or someone who does believe in the or someone who does believe in the pre-existence of christ verse 18 makes pre-existence of christ verse 18 makes it quite plain and shows the it quite plain and shows the vantage point from which paul is looking vantage point from which paul is looking at the coming of christ he is paul says at the coming of christ he is paul says in verse 18 the head of the body the in verse 18 the head of the body the church or the ecclesia who is the church or the ecclesia who is the beginning beginning the creation remember what we read in the creation remember what we read in verse 15 and 16 the beginning of god's verse 15 and 16 the beginning of god's creation creation in that he was and i'm paraphrasing of in that he was and i'm paraphrasing of course but that is his point in that he course but that is his point in that he was the firstborn from the dead was the firstborn from the dead and so the resurrection of jesus from and so the resurrection of jesus from the dead marks in paul's mind the the dead marks in paul's mind the beginning of a new creation light beginning of a new creation light shining out of darkness the light of shining out of darkness the light of renewed and glorious life shining out of renewed and glorious life shining out of the darkness of the grave he is the the darkness of the grave he is the beginning of god's new creation beginning of god's new creation everything that everything that comes into a spiritual existence after comes into a spiritual existence after the time of christ comes as a result of the time of christ comes as a result of the resurrection of christ himself this the resurrection of christ himself this is the point and so verses 15 through 17 is the point and so verses 15 through 17 or explained it seems to me quite amply or explained it seems to me quite amply by what follows in verse 18 that jesus by what follows in verse 18 that jesus in being the firstborn from the dead not in being the firstborn from the dead not the first one literally to be raised the first one literally to be raised from the dead but the first one through from the dead but the first one through whom the process was completed bringing whom the process was completed bringing him on to immortality him on to immortality thereby jesus is the beginning of god's thereby jesus is the beginning of god's spiritual creation all of it begun on spiritual creation all of it begun on the first day of a new creation week the first day of a new creation week to the disciples then this day when they to the disciples then this day when they understood it more fully later understood it more fully later would mark the beginning of would mark the beginning of their new lives their new lives jesus as the son s-u-n of righteousness jesus as the son s-u-n of righteousness had arisen with healing and his beams to had arisen with healing and his beams to shine forth upon them and now their shine forth upon them and now their lives would never again be the same as lives would never again be the same as they were before they were before the sun had arisen in this new creation the sun had arisen in this new creation to drive away the dark shadows of to drive away the dark shadows of despair and lost hope that they had despair and lost hope that they had experienced before and to create a new experienced before and to create a new spirit within the disciples and so we spirit within the disciples and so we refer again to a second passage from the refer again to a second passage from the apostle paul second corinthians chapter apostle paul second corinthians chapter 4 4 and verse 6. for god he writes who commanded the light to shine out of darkness pointing light to shine out of darkness pointing all the way back to genesis 1 all the way back to genesis 1 hath shined in our hearts now he's hath shined in our hearts now he's putting it on the spiritual level god putting it on the spiritual level god hath shined in our hearts to give the hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of light of the knowledge of the glory of god in the face of jesus christ the face god in the face of jesus christ the face of the risen jesus christ in whom the of the risen jesus christ in whom the glory of god shone forth glory of god shone forth in a reassuring way to the disciples to in a reassuring way to the disciples to whom he appeared whom he appeared paul says it is as though that light paul says it is as though that light still shines and it shines not upon us still shines and it shines not upon us physically but it shines in our hearts physically but it shines in our hearts to give our lives new and glorious to give our lives new and glorious meaning meaning the apostles and disciples then one by the apostles and disciples then one by one had to fully understand what was one had to fully understand what was being accomplished on their behalf being accomplished on their behalf for the present time mary magdalene as for the present time mary magdalene as she has seen the empty tomb on this she has seen the empty tomb on this first day is not quite able to conceive first day is not quite able to conceive of the events that must have brought it of the events that must have brought it about she assumes as we see in these about she assumes as we see in these chapters that his dead body had been chapters that his dead body had been stolen away and so she runs to tell stolen away and so she runs to tell peter and john about it peter and john about it meanwhile and remember what i said that meanwhile and remember what i said that we're trying to reconcile some records we're trying to reconcile some records that are rather difficult and there may that are rather difficult and there may be other possibilities to see be other possibilities to see the chronology of the accounts but the chronology of the accounts but meanwhile it seems to me as mark 16 meanwhile it seems to me as mark 16 tells us tells us as mary has run back to tell peter and as mary has run back to tell peter and john there now approach the tomb the john there now approach the tomb the other women who are referred to mark 16 other women who are referred to mark 16 verse 2 verse 2 very early in the morning the first day very early in the morning the first day of the week they came unto the sepulcher of the week they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun and they are at the rising of the sun and they are described in verse 1 as mary magdalene described in verse 1 as mary magdalene mary the mother of james and salome mary mary the mother of james and salome mary magdalene we've already explained her magdalene we've already explained her situation apparently she was a bit situation apparently she was a bit in front of the others and came to the in front of the others and came to the sepulcher first saw the empty tomb and sepulcher first saw the empty tomb and then left to tell peter and john the then left to tell peter and john the others now apparently others now apparently come unto the sepulcher and they say to come unto the sepulcher and they say to themselves verse 3 themselves verse 3 who shall roll us away the stone from who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher and when they the door of the sepulcher and when they looked they saw that the stone was looked they saw that the stone was rolled away for it was very great now rolled away for it was very great now that's the verse that i was mentioning that's the verse that i was mentioning to you earlier it literally means the to you earlier it literally means the stone was rolled away backward away from stone was rolled away backward away from the sepulcher it's a very uh precise the sepulcher it's a very uh precise word and a very strong word it doesn't word and a very strong word it doesn't mean simply move to the side a little mean simply move to the side a little bit so that one could enter into the bit so that one could enter into the tomb but rather moved all the way away tomb but rather moved all the way away from the tomb quite some distance and from the tomb quite some distance and this of course attracts their attention especially as the last part of verse 4 tells us because the stone was very tells us because the stone was very great and of course it would be great and of course it would be impossible humanly speaking for one or impossible humanly speaking for one or two people to have moved that stone two people to have moved that stone especially for women to have moved it especially for women to have moved it so they realize immediately that so they realize immediately that something extraordinary has happened something extraordinary has happened they come up to the entrance of the tomb they come up to the entrance of the tomb and they enter into the sepulcher verse and they enter into the sepulcher verse 5. there they see what mary magdalene 5. there they see what mary magdalene apparently did not see just before a apparently did not see just before a young man sitting on the right side young man sitting on the right side clothed in a long white garment and now clothed in a long white garment and now they were frightened naturally and he they were frightened naturally and he saith unto them be not a frighted ye saith unto them be not a frighted ye seek jesus of nazareth which was seek jesus of nazareth which was crucified he is risen he is not here crucified he is risen he is not here behold the place where they laid him behold the place where they laid him so they are told very plainly he is so they are told very plainly he is risen risen and perhaps their minds now began to and perhaps their minds now began to turn over what they had been told turn over what they had been told previously by jesus what they had seen previously by jesus what they had seen when the scriptures were open to them when the scriptures were open to them that their great teacher their master that their great teacher their master their rabbi had prophesied his own death their rabbi had prophesied his own death and resurrection and they had continued and resurrection and they had continued to suppose time after time when he told to suppose time after time when he told them that he was speaking in parables them that he was speaking in parables verse seven verse seven the message from the angel continues but the message from the angel continues but go your way tell his disciples and peter go your way tell his disciples and peter that he goeth before you into galilee that he goeth before you into galilee notice notice a nice little touch there a nice little touch there tell the disciples and especially tell tell the disciples and especially tell peter the message was being sent to peter the message was being sent to peter especially that his master was peter especially that his master was risen risen this was this was certainly christ's way of conveying to certainly christ's way of conveying to peter the fact that his sins could peter the fact that his sins could potentially be forgiven that his denial potentially be forgiven that his denial of jesus would not destroy his of jesus would not destroy his relationship with him relationship with him all of the apostles of course needed to all of the apostles of course needed to be saved from the despondency and be saved from the despondency and bewilderment of the crucifixion bewilderment of the crucifixion but none needed that so much as peter but none needed that so much as peter peter had been so strong peter had been so strong or so he thought he had been so willing or so he thought he had been so willing to even die for jesus he had been the to even die for jesus he had been the most loving the most ambitious the most most loving the most ambitious the most desirous of serving christ desirous of serving christ and he had failed the most miserably and he had failed the most miserably and his fall must have been great peter would have died for jesus but he failed terribly instead the but he failed terribly instead the message is sent to him that jesus had message is sent to him that jesus had died for died for peter peter so so after the women now go their way with after the women now go their way with this new and wonderful message peter and this new and wonderful message peter and john apparently coming in a different john apparently coming in a different direction so as not to intersect them direction so as not to intersect them in response to the message brought to in response to the message brought to them by mary magdalene that the tomb was them by mary magdalene that the tomb was empty that the body was apparently empty that the body was apparently stolen now they come not yet knowing of stolen now they come not yet knowing of the angel's revelation to the other the angel's revelation to the other women peter and john now run to the tomb women peter and john now run to the tomb and we're back in john chapter 20 again and we're back in john chapter 20 again john 20 and verse 3. peter therefore went forth and that other disciple and came to the sepulcher other disciple and came to the sepulcher so they ran both together and the other so they ran both together and the other disciple did outrun peter this is the disciple did outrun peter this is the way it seems to me by which john always way it seems to me by which john always refers to himself and came first to the refers to himself and came first to the sepulcher and john stooping down and sepulcher and john stooping down and looking in saw the linen clothes lying looking in saw the linen clothes lying there inside the sepulchre yet he did there inside the sepulchre yet he did not go in there's apparently some not go in there's apparently some feeling of deference to peter who may be feeling of deference to peter who may be older older then cometh simon peter following after then cometh simon peter following after john running to the sepulcher and he john running to the sepulcher and he goes in immediately into the sepulcher goes in immediately into the sepulcher as john stands aside to let him go as john stands aside to let him go and seeth the linen clothes lie and seeth the linen clothes lie and the napkin that was about his head and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the other clothes but not lying with the other clothes but wrapped together in a place by itself wrapped together in a place by itself two portions of grave clothes there in two portions of grave clothes there in the sepulchre then went in also the other disciple following after peter which came first following after peter which came first to the sepulcher and he saw and believed to the sepulcher and he saw and believed very significant now john records his very significant now john records his immediate belief on going into the immediate belief on going into the sepulcher and seeing the grave clothes sepulcher and seeing the grave clothes lying there and then a rather unusual lying there and then a rather unusual verse by way of explanation but it seems verse by way of explanation but it seems to me it presents more of a problem than to me it presents more of a problem than it explains far as yet he knew not the it explains far as yet he knew not the scripture that jesus must rise from the scripture that jesus must rise from the dead and yet he believed this is the dead and yet he believed this is the point that john is making and we say why point that john is making and we say why this note of explanation it seems to me this note of explanation it seems to me this is the point this is the point john believed in the resurrection of john believed in the resurrection of jesus based simply on what he saw on the jesus based simply on what he saw on the evidence of his own senses not on a full evidence of his own senses not on a full understanding of the scriptures understanding of the scriptures concerning the resurrection of christ concerning the resurrection of christ which would come much later what did he which would come much later what did he see that convinced him see that convinced him he went into the sepulcher and he saw he went into the sepulcher and he saw the linen clothes lying there the linen clothes lying there and and immediately the realization dawned upon immediately the realization dawned upon him which apparently it didn't upon him which apparently it didn't upon peter yet peter yet that no men in their right senses would that no men in their right senses would first of all unwrap a corpse before first of all unwrap a corpse before carrying it away to another place carrying it away to another place the presence of the wrappings of the the presence of the wrappings of the body then was to john in his perceptive body then was to john in his perceptive mood the plainest possible proof that no mood the plainest possible proof that no one had carried away a dead body instead one had carried away a dead body instead christ had risen from the dead had put christ had risen from the dead had put aside his old grave clothes and put on aside his old grave clothes and put on new robes that had been provided for him new robes that had been provided for him no doubt by the angels so apparently peter and john go their way way peter's still puzzling over what they've peter's still puzzling over what they've seen but john beginning to understand seen but john beginning to understand and believe and believe that there has been a resurrection as that there has been a resurrection as jesus had mentioned earlier jesus had mentioned earlier now it seems as though mary now it seems as though mary mary magdalene following behind the men mary magdalene following behind the men returns the second time to the tomb and returns the second time to the tomb and notice as i as i pointed out already uh notice as i as i pointed out already uh there are some difficulties here in there are some difficulties here in understanding how there seem to be so understanding how there seem to be so many visitations and so many people many visitations and so many people returning from the tomb and yet returning from the tomb and yet apparently not exchanging information apparently not exchanging information with one another since we don't know the with one another since we don't know the actual topography of the area actual topography of the area or the situation of the individuals and or the situation of the individuals and we don't know the exact time element we don't know the exact time element then we have to it seems to me postulate then we have to it seems to me postulate something like this in order to make all something like this in order to make all the accounts fit together as i said the accounts fit together as i said there may be other ways of putting it there may be other ways of putting it together as well together as well at any rate mary seems to be following at any rate mary seems to be following behind them and she comes the second behind them and she comes the second time to the tomb still unaware of the time to the tomb still unaware of the angel's appearance to the other women angel's appearance to the other women unaware of peter and john and what they unaware of peter and john and what they had seen now she comes back to the tomb had seen now she comes back to the tomb and so we pause here for a moment with and so we pause here for a moment with mary there was no reason why she should come to this place again why she should come to this place again except perhaps that she felt this was except perhaps that she felt this was the last place where her the last place where her dead master her lord dead master her lord had been laid had been laid and perhaps she wanted to be there as and perhaps she wanted to be there as close as she could to where his body had close as she could to where his body had been been in the past two days she had shed tears in the past two days she had shed tears as never before as never before and now more than ever and now more than ever her crying could not be restrained her crying could not be restrained if only she might be able to express her if only she might be able to express her love in one last act of devotion in love in one last act of devotion in caring for his poor caring for his poor wretched body wretched body but even this is apparently denied her but even this is apparently denied her for for it seems as though his body has been it seems as though his body has been stolen away and she doesn't know where stolen away and she doesn't know where it is it is to this rather to this rather pathetic pathetic downcast figure downcast figure this figure of sorrow and despair this figure of sorrow and despair was about to come one of the greatest was about to come one of the greatest privileges of all time privileges of all time the first sight of the resurrected jesus the first sight of the resurrected jesus within moments that depth of despair in within moments that depth of despair in which she had been cast would give way which she had been cast would give way forever to the greatest possible joy forever to the greatest possible joy and so we read in verse 11 of john 20 and so we read in verse 11 of john 20 that mary stood without at the sepulcher that mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping weeping and as she wept she stooped down and and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher looked into the sepulcher and there she saw not one but two angels and there she saw not one but two angels in white sitting the one at the head and in white sitting the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of the other at the feet where the body of jesus had lain apparently she supposes that they were simply workmen in the area simply workmen in the area and they said unto her woman why weepest and they said unto her woman why weepest thou she saith unto them because they thou she saith unto them because they have taken away my lord and i know not have taken away my lord and i know not where they have laid him where they have laid him and when she had thus said she turned and when she had thus said she turned herself back and saw jesus standing herself back and saw jesus standing beyond her and knew not that it was beyond her and knew not that it was jesus jesus perhaps because of the early morning perhaps because of the early morning shadows as the sun was just rising shadows as the sun was just rising perhaps the sun was behind the figure of perhaps the sun was behind the figure of jesus as she turned from the door of the jesus as she turned from the door of the sepulcher so that she couldn't recognize sepulcher so that she couldn't recognize the features of the one whom she loved the features of the one whom she loved so so and she supposed it was someone else and she supposed it was someone else perhaps this is one of joseph's men come perhaps this is one of joseph's men come to this place to this place so in verse 15 jesus speaks to her so in verse 15 jesus speaks to her woman why weepest thou the very same woman why weepest thou the very same words that the two inside the grave had words that the two inside the grave had asked her she's supposing him to be the asked her she's supposing him to be the gardener gardener saith unto him saith unto him sir sir in an act of beseeching in an act of beseeching sir sir if thou have borne him hence if thou have borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and i tell me where thou hast laid him and i will take him away will take him away reading between the lines here it seems reading between the lines here it seems that she really expects no help or that she really expects no help or comfort from this direction in response comfort from this direction in response to her appeal to her appeal and so and so she is apparently moving away she is apparently moving away when one word spoken by this figure when one word spoken by this figure turns her around in her tracks and she turns her around in her tracks and she realizes with a great realizes with a great explosion of understanding that this is explosion of understanding that this is the master the master in verse 16 the word in verse 16 the word mary was it the way he spoke it was mary was it the way he spoke it was there something familiar in the ring of there something familiar in the ring of that word and she turned herself and saith unto him rabboni great master she turned around and stared in shock and then at a moment she is at his side and then at a moment she is at his side reaching for him to hold him to confirm reaching for him to hold him to confirm by the evidence of her own touch and her by the evidence of her own touch and her other senses that it is jesus that it is other senses that it is jesus that it is not an apparition that he is there with not an apparition that he is there with her her there was nothing to say except that one there was nothing to say except that one word word rabboni rabboni the silent road from which no traveler the silent road from which no traveler ever returns ever returns had yielded back the one that she loved had yielded back the one that she loved above all others above all others and she couldn't let go of him and she couldn't let go of him how blind she had been not to recognize how blind she had been not to recognize it sooner a wild jumble of emotions it sooner a wild jumble of emotions plays upon her mind and all the while plays upon her mind and all the while she seeks to hold him closer to herself she seeks to hold him closer to herself and understand that truly he is there and understand that truly he is there verse 17 jesus says to her verse 17 jesus says to her touch me not mary touch me not mary and the words mean literally do not keep and the words mean literally do not keep holding to me there's no suggestion here holding to me there's no suggestion here once we understand the meaning in the once we understand the meaning in the greek of any of any action on the part of jesus to stop her from touching him at all for stop her from touching him at all for any legal defilement or any such idea any legal defilement or any such idea but rather this expression do not keep but rather this expression do not keep holding to me do not cling to me mary holding to me do not cling to me mary there is something i must do instead there is something i must do instead i am not yet ascended to my father i am not yet ascended to my father but go to my brethren and say unto them but go to my brethren and say unto them i ascend unto my father and your father i ascend unto my father and your father and to my god and your god and to my god and your god jesus had other duties to perform and jesus had other duties to perform and they involved what he called an they involved what he called an ascending to the father ascending to the father now now could this be jesus referring to what he could this be jesus referring to what he would do 40 days later that seems to me would do 40 days later that seems to me very unreasonable in that it doesn't very unreasonable in that it doesn't suit the context why would jesus say suit the context why would jesus say don't don't hold me now because 40 days from now i'm hold me now because 40 days from now i'm going to heaven going to heaven there seems very little relevance in there seems very little relevance in that that it seems to me that something else it seems to me that something else altogether is going on altogether is going on that when jesus says i must ascend unto that when jesus says i must ascend unto the father the father that he has in mind going to some that he has in mind going to some particular place particular place and there are at least three and there are at least three possibilities it seems to me jesus as the high priest who has offered himself is the perfect who has offered himself is the perfect sacrifice sacrifice must now must now following the analogy of the high priest following the analogy of the high priest on the day of atonement take the tokens on the day of atonement take the tokens of his sacrifice the high priest on the of his sacrifice the high priest on the day of atonement took the blood of the day of atonement took the blood of the offerings for himself and for the people offerings for himself and for the people and carried them into the most holy and carried them into the most holy jesus must now take the tokens of his jesus must now take the tokens of his sacrifice which are the wounds in his sacrifice which are the wounds in his hands the scar in his side and he must hands the scar in his side and he must carry them as the high priest would into carry them as the high priest would into the presence of god that the sacrifice the presence of god that the sacrifice might be accepted might be accepted so it seems to me at least three so it seems to me at least three possibilities of where jesus intended to possibilities of where jesus intended to go go one would be that he simply intended to one would be that he simply intended to go to another place of seclusion go to another place of seclusion where in a private communion and prayer where in a private communion and prayer with the father he could present himself with the father he could present himself as the finished sacrifice as the finished sacrifice and there receive immortality that he and there receive immortality that he might return to his brethren might return to his brethren that's one possibility that's one possibility a second one is it seems to me that he a second one is it seems to me that he could have been intending and did in could have been intending and did in fact ascend to heaven very quickly after fact ascend to heaven very quickly after this point this point for a brief for a brief interview in the presence of the father interview in the presence of the father again after the analogy of the high again after the analogy of the high priest going into the most holy place priest going into the most holy place from thence to return to the earth after from thence to return to the earth after his immortality after his glorification his immortality after his glorification and to go with the message to his and to go with the message to his brethren and the third possibility brethren and the third possibility occurred to me recently when i was occurred to me recently when i was considering considering what we studied or what we referred to what we studied or what we referred to briefly in a previous class that at the briefly in a previous class that at the death of christ death of christ the veil the veil in the temple between the holy and the in the temple between the holy and the most holy was rent and twain from the most holy was rent and twain from the top to the bottom top to the bottom this would indicate as paul says in this would indicate as paul says in hebrews the veil representing the flesh hebrews the veil representing the flesh of jesus that the way into the most holy of jesus that the way into the most holy place was made open through the death of place was made open through the death of christ and now that that way was made christ and now that that way was made open it seems to me as the third open it seems to me as the third possibility that that might have been possibility that that might have been precisely the place to which jesus went precisely the place to which jesus went that he would go into the most holy that he would go into the most holy place where the presence of god dwelt place where the presence of god dwelt among israel and there he would present among israel and there he would present as did the high priest on the day of as did the high priest on the day of atonement the token of his sacrifice atonement the token of his sacrifice it seems to me in following up on this it seems to me in following up on this significant that when jesus does appear significant that when jesus does appear to his assembled brethren in the upper to his assembled brethren in the upper room the first thing he says to them is room the first thing he says to them is peace be unto you peace be unto you we think about that phrase that is the we think about that phrase that is the phrase or a variation of it which the phrase or a variation of it which the high priest would use when he would high priest would use when he would return from the offering of the return from the offering of the sacrifice to the people who were waiting sacrifice to the people who were waiting outside the tent to inform them that yes outside the tent to inform them that yes indeed the sacrifice had been accepted indeed the sacrifice had been accepted and so it seems to me that this or some and so it seems to me that this or some variation of this uh intention is what variation of this uh intention is what jesus had when he says to mary do not jesus had when he says to mary do not keep holding to me for there is keep holding to me for there is somewhere i must go there is something i somewhere i must go there is something i must fulfill before i can be with you must fulfill before i can be with you and with the other and with the other the other of my brethren in the near the other of my brethren in the near future mary apparently then goes with the message in verse 18 to tell his message in verse 18 to tell his disciples that she had seen the lord disciples that she had seen the lord that he had spoken these things unto her that he had spoken these things unto her apparently as we see from other of the apparently as we see from other of the gospel records the disciples who had not gospel records the disciples who had not yet witnessed any of these things had yet witnessed any of these things had great difficulty in believing what mary great difficulty in believing what mary told them told them so now we can imagine the scene as it so now we can imagine the scene as it existed that existed that sunday morning sunday morning in various houses in and around in various houses in and around jerusalem there were on that sunday jerusalem there were on that sunday groups of disciples who had come to the groups of disciples who had come to the holy city to celebrate the passover they holy city to celebrate the passover they had come some of them in the expectation had come some of them in the expectation that the kingdom of god would that the kingdom of god would immediately appear immediately appear but instead of acclaiming jesus as king but instead of acclaiming jesus as king they mourned for him they mourned for him for them there was no passover feast of for them there was no passover feast of joy and triumph but rather misery and joy and triumph but rather misery and lamentation and danger as they realize lamentation and danger as they realize the threat to them as well as to jesus the threat to them as well as to jesus of the roman authorities and the jews of the roman authorities and the jews is it possible that in the midst of is it possible that in the midst of their gloom they might have remembered their gloom they might have remembered the words of jesus the words of jesus when so many days before he had sat on a when so many days before he had sat on a mountain with his disciples gathered mountain with his disciples gathered about him and had said to them about him and had said to them blessed blessed happy are they that mourn for one day happy are they that mourn for one day they shall be comforted from place to place now the various women scurry to see all of the disciples women scurry to see all of the disciples and tell them of what they've witnessed and tell them of what they've witnessed telling these marvelous stories but telling these marvelous stories but apparently they are not believed their apparently they are not believed their reports are met with reports are met with scoffing and ridicule the disciples can scoffing and ridicule the disciples can scarcely bring themselves to believe in scarcely bring themselves to believe in the possibility of the resurrection the possibility of the resurrection we now go to matthew 28. these wonderful events were going on among the wonderful events were going on among the small and scattered band of the small and scattered band of the followers of jesus equally strange followers of jesus equally strange events were transpiring in the jewish events were transpiring in the jewish halls of authority halls of authority matthew 28 and verse 11 tells us that matthew 28 and verse 11 tells us that those who had been assigned to guard the those who had been assigned to guard the tomb tomb brought their story brought their story into the city into the city now when they were going behold some of now when they were going behold some of the watch came into the city and showed the watch came into the city and showed unto the chief priests all the things unto the chief priests all the things that were done and when they were assembled with the elders they took counsel together and elders they took counsel together and gave large sums of money unto the gave large sums of money unto the soldiers saying soldiers saying say ye his disciples came by night and say ye his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept and if stole him away while we slept and if this come to the governor's ears we will this come to the governor's ears we will persuade him and secure you so they took persuade him and secure you so they took the money and did as they were taught the money and did as they were taught and this saying is a commonly reported and this saying is a commonly reported one among the jews until this day thus these rulers who had repeatedly come to jesus demanding a sign from come to jesus demanding a sign from heaven were now given a sign from hell a heaven were now given a sign from hell a sign from the grave which they could sign from the grave which they could scarcely believe scarcely believe and thus the jewish leaders and the and thus the jewish leaders and the nation deceived themselves with lies nation deceived themselves with lies which were perpetuated have been which were perpetuated have been perpetuated generation after generation perpetuated generation after generation to this very day that his disciples to this very day that his disciples stole away their body his body stole away their body his body they closed their eyes to the truth they closed their eyes to the truth their ears became dull of hearing in the their ears became dull of hearing in the words of isaiah that they could not open words of isaiah that they could not open themselves up to receive the revelation themselves up to receive the revelation of the resurrection of christ of the resurrection of christ the story became true of them therefore the story became true of them therefore even if untrue of the roman soldiers the even if untrue of the roman soldiers the very story they had concocted that they very story they had concocted that they lost the messiah because they were fast lost the messiah because they were fast asleep not fast asleep literally but asleep not fast asleep literally but fast asleep spiritually that they could fast asleep spiritually that they could not perceive the truth that was being not perceive the truth that was being presented to them presented to them luke 24 13. we now have an incident that apparently occurred occurred later on later on on this same day the sunday of the on this same day the sunday of the resurrection resurrection and we begin with verse 13. and we begin with verse 13. and behold two of the disciples went and behold two of the disciples went that same day to a village called emmaus that same day to a village called emmaus which was from jerusalem about three which was from jerusalem about three score furlongs about seven to eight score furlongs about seven to eight miles miles as they went they no doubt were as they went they no doubt were talking together verse 14 tells us of talking together verse 14 tells us of the things which had happened they had the things which had happened they had probably heard some of the rumors that probably heard some of the rumors that had been circulating wildly in the city had been circulating wildly in the city that day as various of the followers of that day as various of the followers of jesus met one another and reported what jesus met one another and reported what each one had seen or what they had heard each one had seen or what they had heard someone else someone else say that they had seen say that they had seen so as they walk along so as they walk along they speculate they speculate they had been thinking of the ritual of they had been thinking of the ritual of the feast of the passover the trial and the feast of the passover the trial and the crucifixion of this prophet this the crucifixion of this prophet this leader jesus and now on the third day leader jesus and now on the third day reports from the disciples of an empty reports from the disciples of an empty tomb and angels and other tomb and angels and other rather outlandish things what were they rather outlandish things what were they to make of it all to make of it all they were so wrapped up as they walked they were so wrapped up as they walked along in their speculations and their along in their speculations and their discussions that they didn't even notice discussions that they didn't even notice as on a converging path a stranger as on a converging path a stranger approached them and then began to walk approached them and then began to walk with them with them perhaps they didn't look closely at the perhaps they didn't look closely at the stranger stranger perhaps he had a hood or a veil about perhaps he had a hood or a veil about his face and they didn't take time to his face and they didn't take time to look at his face or perhaps there was look at his face or perhaps there was some other reason why their senses were some other reason why their senses were were blinded so that they did not were blinded so that they did not recognize who it was recognize who it was so verse 15 tells us it came to pass so verse 15 tells us it came to pass that while they communed together and that while they communed together and reasoned reasoned the sense of arguing vehemently about the sense of arguing vehemently about what they had seen apparently one what they had seen apparently one believing and the other not disposed to believing and the other not disposed to believe it all believe it all jesus himself came near and began to jesus himself came near and began to walk with them walk with them they did not know who he was verse 16 they did not know who he was verse 16 tells us tells us and finally after listening for a while and finally after listening for a while he speaks to them he speaks to them what manner of communications are these what manner of communications are these that you have one to another as you walk that you have one to another as you walk and are sad and are sad and the one of them whose name was and the one of them whose name was cleopas answering said unto him rather cleopas answering said unto him rather scornfully are you a stranger in scornfully are you a stranger in jerusalem that you has not known the jerusalem that you has not known the things which are come to pass there in things which are come to pass there in these days these days notice notice their friend their their comrade as he walks with them does not say he does not know say he does not know but rather he says verse 19 what things but rather he says verse 19 what things asking them to explain what they have in asking them to explain what they have in mind so they began to tell him this story they say unto him they say unto him concerning jesus of nazareth which was a concerning jesus of nazareth which was a prophet mighty indeed and word before prophet mighty indeed and word before god and all the people and how the chief god and all the people and how the chief priest and our rulers delivered him to priest and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and have crucified be condemned to death and have crucified him him and then the rather plaintive and then the rather plaintive but we trusted that it would have been but we trusted that it would have been he who would have redeemed israel and beside all this today is the third day they said since these things were day they said since these things were done yea and certain women of our done yea and certain women of our company made us astonished which were company made us astonished which were early at the sepulcher and when they early at the sepulcher and when they found not his body they came saying found not his body they came saying they'd seen a vision of angels which they'd seen a vision of angels which said he was yet alive said he was yet alive they turned these things over in their they turned these things over in their minds minds and certain of them which were with us and certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher and found it even went to the sepulcher and found it even so as the women had said but they didn't so as the women had said but they didn't see him see him and so now they continue to puzzle as and so now they continue to puzzle as they walk along their minds dwelling they walk along their minds dwelling longingly on what might have been what longingly on what might have been what could be could be but could it really then as they walk and as they continue in their in their thinking and their in their in their thinking and their discussion discussion the stranger says to them the stranger says to them o fools and slow of heart to believe all o fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ought not that the prophets have spoken ought not christ who have suffered these things christ who have suffered these things and to enter into his glory and to enter into his glory and beginning at moses and all the and beginning at moses and all the prophets even as they continued in their prophets even as they continued in their travel he expounded to them as they travel he expounded to them as they walked along by reference to various walked along by reference to various passages all that the scriptures had passages all that the scriptures had said concerning the messiah said concerning the messiah this confidence with which he spoke this confidence with which he spoke so much in contrast to their confusion so much in contrast to their confusion came from an understanding of the came from an understanding of the scriptures and he begins to scriptures and he begins to convey to them this understanding we convey to them this understanding we don't know of what he spoke but we can don't know of what he spoke but we can well imagine he might have spoken to well imagine he might have spoken to them of isaac the beloved son of the them of isaac the beloved son of the father the seed of promise who was father the seed of promise who was typically slain and raised up from the typically slain and raised up from the dead by a figure dead by a figure he might have spoken to them of joseph he might have spoken to them of joseph the beloved son sold into slavery cast the beloved son sold into slavery cast into a pit into a pit and then raised up and exalted later and then raised up and exalted later that he might help his brethren in their that he might help his brethren in their distress and their affliction distress and their affliction he might have spoken to them of what we he might have spoken to them of what we refer to as isaiah 53 the prophecy of refer to as isaiah 53 the prophecy of the suffering servant of god the suffering servant of god who would see the travail of his soul who would see the travail of his soul who would be saved out of death to live who would be saved out of death to live forever with those whom god had given forever with those whom god had given him him perhaps these and many other perhaps these and many other scripture passages prophecies were scripture passages prophecies were opened up to them as he walked along opened up to them as he walked along and they would recognize that always in and they would recognize that always in the scriptures there was the double the scriptures there was the double element of suffering and the glory that element of suffering and the glory that would follow would follow and slowly and slowly gradually as the light dawns in the east gradually as the light dawns in the east a new dimension would enter into their a new dimension would enter into their understanding understanding a sixth sense in the words of paul in a sixth sense in the words of paul in second corinthians 4 again god was second corinthians 4 again god was shining in their hearts to give the shining in their hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of light of the knowledge of the glory of god in the face of jesus christ even as god in the face of jesus christ even as he spoke to them he spoke to them and so verse 28 they drew near to the and so verse 28 they drew near to the village village whether they went whether they went and this stranger still as yet and this stranger still as yet unrecognized by them unrecognized by them made as though he would have gone made as though he would have gone further but they constrained him saying further but they constrained him saying abide with us he had opened their hearts abide with us he had opened their hearts so much to the understanding of the so much to the understanding of the scriptures he had given them hope where scriptures he had given them hope where previously there had been only confusion previously there had been only confusion please stay with us and continue this please stay with us and continue this talk talk continue this teaching continue this teaching abide with us for it is toward evening abide with us for it is toward evening and the day is far spent and he went in and the day is far spent and he went in to tarry with them and no doubt his talk to tarry with them and no doubt his talk continued and it came to pass as he sat at meat with them that with them that he took the bread and blessed it and he took the bread and blessed it and break and gave to them he assumed the break and gave to them he assumed the role of role of the host at the meal the host at the meal and perhaps it was that and perhaps it and perhaps it was that and perhaps it was also miraculously that their eyes was also miraculously that their eyes were no longer holden but immediately were no longer holden but immediately we're told we're told they knew who he was and at that point they knew who he was and at that point he vanished out of their sight and he vanished out of their sight and they're left behind in wonderment they're left behind in wonderment and they say one to another didn't our and they say one to another didn't our hearts burn within us while he opened to hearts burn within us while he opened to us the meaning of the scriptures brothers and sisters we put ourselves in the place of those two disciples the place of those two disciples we we also the brethren of christ also the brethren of christ have christ with us to expound the have christ with us to expound the scriptures we have the new testament scriptures we have the new testament gospels with his very words we have the gospels with his very words we have the new testament letters in which men who new testament letters in which men who were inspired by the power that jesus were inspired by the power that jesus gave them gave them expound the old testament history and expound the old testament history and prophecies prophecies the emmaus disciples are really then no the emmaus disciples are really then no more privileged than we more privileged than we when we go to a bible class when we when we go to a bible class when we gather together with friends for the gather together with friends for the readings readings we have christ with us to open the we have christ with us to open the scriptures the new testament opens up and amplifies and explains the opens up and amplifies and explains the old old to the extent in which our bible classes to the extent in which our bible classes lack the excitement lack the excitement of this class of this class it is to that extent that we are failing it is to that extent that we are failing to take advantage to take advantage of of that which we already have the wonderful that which we already have the wonderful benefits of god's word to be open to us benefits of god's word to be open to us our hearts should also our hearts should also burn within us burn within us every time we open our bibles and see every time we open our bibles and see the words of god there in verse 33 they rose up the same hour they couldn't they rose up the same hour they couldn't contain themselves they couldn't lie contain themselves they couldn't lie down to sleep with the knowledge that down to sleep with the knowledge that they had they must share it with others they had they must share it with others and they returned to jerusalem can we and they returned to jerusalem can we imagine how much more quickly and with imagine how much more quickly and with how much more excitement they made that how much more excitement they made that return journey to the city than they had return journey to the city than they had made the previous trip to emmaus made the previous trip to emmaus now their excitement knows no bounds and now their excitement knows no bounds and cannot be controlled and we remember cannot be controlled and we remember isaiah 52 how beautiful upon the isaiah 52 how beautiful upon the mountains or the feet of those who bring mountains or the feet of those who bring glad tidings who bring glad tidings of glad tidings who bring glad tidings of joy who publish peace who say unto joy who publish peace who say unto jerusalem and zion thy king reigneth and jerusalem and zion thy king reigneth and they race back to the city their feet they race back to the city their feet light as air bringing this very message light as air bringing this very message to the city to the disciples there that to the city to the disciples there that the god of heaven reigns and his son has the god of heaven reigns and his son has been raised from the dead been raised from the dead thy god reigneth back in jerusalem however the disciples were gathering in the upper room were gathering in the upper room there was more evidence coming in all there was more evidence coming in all the time that something extraordinary the time that something extraordinary had happened but they can't quite make had happened but they can't quite make sense of all the conflicting reports the sense of all the conflicting reports the two from emmaus returned to the room two from emmaus returned to the room bringing their story bringing their story as peter perhaps had told of the lord's as peter perhaps had told of the lord's appearance to him as well and that of appearance to him as well and that of course is written between the lines but course is written between the lines but at some point it did happen at some point it did happen but still the doubts remain but still the doubts remain and in their cold analysis the majority and in their cold analysis the majority are still unconvinced are still unconvinced mark 16 and verse 13 tells us neither mark 16 and verse 13 tells us neither believed they them though the evidence believed they them though the evidence kept mounting up kept mounting up those who had not seen directly with those who had not seen directly with their eyes who had felt with their their eyes who had felt with their senses the resurrection of jesus are senses the resurrection of jesus are still unconvinced it's apparent at this still unconvinced it's apparent at this time that thomas rather disgusted with time that thomas rather disgusted with the whole affair the whole affair leaves and goes off into the night leaves and goes off into the night and is not there for the later and is not there for the later appearance of jesus he was perhaps the appearance of jesus he was perhaps the most stubborn in his unbelief most stubborn in his unbelief but a general mood of skepticism but a general mood of skepticism prevails over the whole group prevails over the whole group still however the talk goes on without still however the talk goes on without ceasing there were now in the group ceasing there were now in the group several different parties who were several different parties who were thoroughly convinced of the resurrection thoroughly convinced of the resurrection of jesus and they will not be stopped of jesus and they will not be stopped from continuing to testify from continuing to testify and so in luke 24 verse 36 as they thus spoke to one another jesus himself stood in the midst of them and himself stood in the midst of them and saith unto them peace be unto you the saith unto them peace be unto you the high priest returning from the high priest returning from the successful sacrifice saying to the successful sacrifice saying to the nation and its representatives i have nation and its representatives i have brought back the peace of god as a brought back the peace of god as a result of the work that i have done result of the work that i have done peace be unto you peace be unto you but they were terrified and affrighted but they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit and supposed that they had seen a spirit that word for spirit is phantasma it that word for spirit is phantasma it means a ghost it is not the word pneuma means a ghost it is not the word pneuma as is so often translated spirit as is so often translated spirit and he said unto them why are you and he said unto them why are you troubled why do thoughts arise in your troubled why do thoughts arise in your hearts hearts jesus shows them in verses 39 and 40 his jesus shows them in verses 39 and 40 his hands and his feet by many infallible hands and his feet by many infallible proofs is verse 41 and 42 the eating of proofs is verse 41 and 42 the eating of meat he demonstrates to them that he has meat he demonstrates to them that he has been raised from the dead and he sweeps been raised from the dead and he sweeps away for those people who are there in away for those people who are there in the upper room the last vestige of the upper room the last vestige of unbelief unbelief the disciples rejoice that once again the disciples rejoice that once again they're in the presence of their master they're in the presence of their master and he is a new and glorious master the and he is a new and glorious master the wrinkles the sorrow the pain that was wrinkles the sorrow the pain that was there before is now gone they look into there before is now gone they look into the glorious face of jesus the glorious face of jesus reborn made new and they rejoice to be reborn made new and they rejoice to be with him to be close to him to hear his with him to be close to him to hear his words words and now they say to one another and now they say to one another continuously surely the kingdom will continuously surely the kingdom will appear now appear now but no but no we listen to jesus and the words that he we listen to jesus and the words that he is giving them are words of counsel and is giving them are words of counsel and words of exhortation words of exhortation words words of command of command go ye forth and preach the gospel go ye forth and preach the gospel the father loved the son yet he sent him the father loved the son yet he sent him into the world to suffer and die for into the world to suffer and die for others others the son loves the brethren the son loves the brethren yet he sends them on the same message ye yet he sends them on the same message ye shall drink indeed of my cup he had told shall drink indeed of my cup he had told them take up your cross and follow me he them take up your cross and follow me he had said to them and now after this had said to them and now after this glorious experience of seeing the glorious experience of seeing the resurrected jesus they are prepared they resurrected jesus they are prepared they are jesus begins to prepare them to are jesus begins to prepare them to fulfill their work the commission that fulfill their work the commission that he will give them soon they will begin he will give them soon they will begin to learn the meaning of these very words to learn the meaning of these very words as they act out in their own lives the as they act out in their own lives the sufferings of christ sufferings of christ and the glory that should follow and the glory that should follow can we not share their enthusiasm how do can we not share their enthusiasm how do we expect the kingdom of god to appear we expect the kingdom of god to appear for us if we are not prepared to suffer for us if we are not prepared to suffer any discomfort on the part of christ if any discomfort on the part of christ if we are not prepared to preach the gospel we are not prepared to preach the gospel in whatever circumstance whenever we in whatever circumstance whenever we find opportunity certainly learning the find opportunity certainly learning the truth and learning and experiencing the truth and learning and experiencing the resurrection of christ is not learning resurrection of christ is not learning how to keep a secret jesus sends them how to keep a secret jesus sends them forth with a great work to do forth with a great work to do and now and now finally finally at the last there comes thomas at the last there comes thomas the last holdout of those intimately the last holdout of those intimately associated with jesus we turn to john associated with jesus we turn to john 20. verse 26 20. verse 26 one week after christ's appearance to one week after christ's appearance to the others once more apparently on the the others once more apparently on the first day of the week first day of the week the disciples are gathered together in the disciples are gathered together in the upper room and now thomas is back the upper room and now thomas is back with them perhaps he's overcome his with them perhaps he's overcome his doubts doubts perhaps he wants to believe but still perhaps he wants to believe but still there is that lingering feeling that he there is that lingering feeling that he cannot because he hasn't yet experienced cannot because he hasn't yet experienced what they have experienced what they have experienced and so in verse 26 the latter part of and so in verse 26 the latter part of the verse the verse thomas with them thomas with them then came jesus the doors being shut and then came jesus the doors being shut and once again stands in their midst and once again stands in their midst and says peace be unto you and then turning says peace be unto you and then turning directly to thomas doubting thomas reach directly to thomas doubting thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands hither thy finger and behold my hands reach hither thy hands thrust them into reach hither thy hands thrust them into my side be not faithless but believing my side be not faithless but believing and thomas who had said precisely except and thomas who had said precisely except i can touch him i will not believe now i can touch him i will not believe now believes without touching believes without touching and thomas says my lord and my god and thomas says my lord and my god there's no confusion in that passage it there's no confusion in that passage it seems to me seems to me thomas sees that the resurrected jesus thomas sees that the resurrected jesus is god made manifest in the flesh the is god made manifest in the flesh the name of god and the authority of god is name of god and the authority of god is upon him upon him jesus saith unto him thomas because thou jesus saith unto him thomas because thou seen me thou hast believed blessed are seen me thou hast believed blessed are they that have not seen and yet have they that have not seen and yet have believed believed the doubters like thomas the doubters like thomas help us to strengthen our faith these fishermen were not starry-eyed visionaries willing to believe anything visionaries willing to believe anything that came down the pike they had to have that came down the pike they had to have evidence they had to see and understand evidence they had to see and understand they were down to earth matter of fact they were down to earth matter of fact men they would not be swept away in a men they would not be swept away in a mass hysteria in believing that a ghost mass hysteria in believing that a ghost that had appeared was the resurrected that had appeared was the resurrected jesus they would never put their lives jesus they would never put their lives on the line for a hoax on the line for a hoax they must believe and we see in they must believe and we see in thomas this reflected especially thomas this reflected especially the doubts of thomas serve to confirm the doubts of thomas serve to confirm more strongly to our minds the truth the more strongly to our minds the truth the absolute unshakeable literal truth of absolute unshakeable literal truth of the resurrection and there can be no the resurrection and there can be no doubt doubt these men were not prepared to believe these men were not prepared to believe until every bit of evidence was until every bit of evidence was presented to them and then finally presented to them and then finally reluctantly they did believe and we know reluctantly they did believe and we know that they had some grounds for that that they had some grounds for that belief belief luke 24 and verse 45 as jesus continued with them during this 40-day period he opened their 40-day period he opened their understanding that they might understand understanding that they might understand the scriptures and he said unto them the scriptures and he said unto them thus it is written and thus it behooved thus it is written and thus it behooved christ to suffer and to rise from the christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sins would be preached and remission of sins would be preached in his name in his name during this last 40 day period there was during this last 40 day period there was a systematic instruction of the eleven a systematic instruction of the eleven and perhaps others that they would be and perhaps others that they would be prepared these unlearned and ignorant prepared these unlearned and ignorant men as they had been called to be the men as they had been called to be the world's finest bible scholars and world's finest bible scholars and preachers to go forth with a message preachers to go forth with a message that would confound the greatest that would confound the greatest scholars in the jewish world as they scholars in the jewish world as they showed them from the scriptures and by showed them from the scriptures and by the evidence of their senses that christ the evidence of their senses that christ had been raised from the had been raised from the dead and so we stand with them in a dead and so we stand with them in a manner of speaking manner of speaking and we recognize therefore and we recognize therefore that a man needs more than the printed that a man needs more than the printed page of the bible in a good memory to page of the bible in a good memory to make him wise to salvation make him wise to salvation he needs a mind he needs a mind opened to give earnest heed to the opened to give earnest heed to the heavenly message he needs eyes opened to heavenly message he needs eyes opened to behold wondrous things out of god's law behold wondrous things out of god's law he needs to have christ dwelling within he needs to have christ dwelling within him in the scripturally understood sense him in the scripturally understood sense and when this takes place and when this takes place he steps by faith into a new world he steps by faith into a new world a world in which there is no longer a world in which there is no longer doubt there is no longer fear there is doubt there is no longer fear there is no longer distress no longer distress a world in which no shadow of gloom can a world in which no shadow of gloom can isolate him from the love of god which isolate him from the love of god which is in christ jesus is in christ jesus this then must be our faith in the this then must be our faith in the resurrected christ resurrected christ the resurrection of our savior is more the resurrection of our savior is more than a fact to believe in than a fact to believe in it is a reality it is a reality to live by to live by and we conclude then with the words of and we conclude then with the words of paul paul as he says as he says i am crucified with christ i am crucified with christ brothers and sisters we have come to brothers and sisters we have come to that point that point where we could feel ourselves crucified where we could feel ourselves crucified with christ with christ nevertheless paul says i live nevertheless paul says i live as christ lives i live also yet not i as christ lives i live also yet not i not the same person that died i don't not the same person that died i don't live paul says but christ lives in me live paul says but christ lives in me and the life which i now live in the and the life which i now live in the flesh flesh i live by the faith of the son of god i live by the faith of the son of god who loved me who loved me and gave himself and gave himself for me