Condemned and Crucified - What Shall I Do

with Jesus - Part 2

John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved (A co y o! this "essage on cassette ta e "ay be obtained by calling #-$%%-&&-'RA()*

Matthew 2+,#-. 2/. 20 1a e '( 22-/

Introduction Matthew 27:22 records that Pilate asked, "What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?" That is a question ever one !ust answer" I would like to #ose another question: Wh !ust ever #erson answer that question? What is it a$out Jesus Christ that la s such a clai! on ever heart? %" The Person o& Christ '" Jesus is (od a) *e is the #ossessor o& (od+s na!es Matthew ':2, sa s, "The shall call his na!e I!!anuel, which, $ein- inter#reted, is (od with us" In %cts ,:'. the a#ostle Peter calls Jesus the "*ol /ne"00an /ld Testa!ent na!e distinctl -iven to (od 1e"-", Ps" '2:'3, Isa" .4:'7)" $) *e is one with (od the 5ather John 4:'6 sa s to know Christ is to know the 5ather" John '7:2, sa s to hate *i! is to hate the 5ather" John '.:6 sa s to see *i! is to see the 5ather" John 7:2, sa s to honor *i! is to honor the 5ather" %nd Mark 6:,7 and Matthew '3:.3 sa to receive *i! is to receive the 5ather" c) *e is o!ni#resent Jesus said, "8o, I a! with ou alwa s" 1Matt" 24:23)" /!ni#resence is true onl o& (od" d) *e is eternal *e$rews ',:4 sa s, "Jesus Christ 9is: the sa!e esterda , and toda , and &orever"" e) *e is the Creator o& the world John ':, sa s, "%ll thin-s were !ade $ hi!; and without hi! was not an thin- !ade that was !ade"" &) *e is a$le to &or-ive sin <e#eatedl in *is !inistr , Jesus said, "Th sins are &or-iven thee" 1Mark 2:6)" That is another divine #rero-ative" -) *e is to $e worshi#ed as (od

Phili##ians 2:'3 sa s, "%t the na!e o& Jesus ever knee should $ow, o& thin-s in heaven, and thin-s in earth, and thin-s under the earth"" =cri#ture clearl indicates that Jesus Christ is &ull (od" =ince *e is (od, ever one is o$li-ated to res#ond to *i!" 2" Jesus is the #er&ect (od0!an Just $ecause Jesus is (od doesn+t !ean *e is an less !an" *ow do we know? *e was $orn" *e was circu!cised" *e -rew" *e had a hu!an na!e" *e had &lesh and $lood" *e was hun-r " *e we#t" *e thirsted" *e sle#t" *e was wear " *e su&&ered" *e was te!#ted" *e was wounded" *e died" %nd *e was $uried" %ll are indications o& *is hu!anness" >o one has ever e?isted like Jesus" *e has the ri-ht to !ake tre!endous de!ands on our lives $ecause o& who *e is" ," Jesus is the #ro!ised =avior Jesus ca!e into the world not onl to show us what (od is like, $ut also to $rin- us to (od" The #ro#hets outlined the details o& *is li&e with astoundin- accurac " a) *is $irth Micah 7:2 sa s it would occur in @ethlehe!" Aaniel 6:2.027 -ives the a##ro?i!ate date" Isaiah 7:'. tells us it would $e a vir-in $irth" (enesis 6:22 indicates *e would co!e &ro! the =e!itic line" (enesis 22:'4 sa s *e would co!e &ro! the line o& %$raha!" (enesis .6:'3 sa s *e would co!e &ro! the tri$e o& Judah" =econd =a!uel 7:', sa s *e would co!e throu-h the seed o& Aavid" $) *is li&e *osea '':' indicates *e would $e taken to B- #t" Aeuterono! '4:'7 sa s *e would $e a #ro#het like Moses" Psal! 22:'3 indicates *e would trust (od &ro! *is $irth onward" Isaiah 6:'02 sa s *e would $e-in *is !inistr in (alilee" Isaiah '':2 sa s *e would $e anointed $ (od+s =#irit" Isaiah 7,:. sa s *e would carr our -rie&s and sorrows" Cechariah 6:6 sa s *e would enter Jerusale! on a colt" Isaiah ,7:702 indicates *e would #er&or! !iracles" c) *is death Psal! 2:'0, indicates that kin-s would #lot *is death 1c&" %cts .:27024)" Psal! 22:' sa s *e would die &orsaken $ (od" Psal! 22:204 sa s *e would $e scorned and !ocked" Cechariah '':'2 sa s *e would $e $etra ed &or thirt #ieces o& silver" Cechariah '2:'3 sa s *e would $e s!itten and #ierced $ *is own #eo#le" Isaiah 72:'. sa s *e would $e $rutall treated" Isaiah 7,:7, '3 sa s *e would die &or the world+s iniquit " Psal! 22:'4 sa s *is -ar!ents would $e divided" Psal! .':6 sa s *e would $e $etra ed $ a &riend" Psal! ,.:23 indicates that not a $one o& *is would $e $roken" Isaiah 73:2 sa s *is $eard would $e #lucked out and that *e would $e s#it on" d) *is resurrection Psal! '2:'3 sa s *e would never see corru#tion" Psal! 22:22 indicates *e would conquer death" e) *is #resent work Psal! ''3:. indicates *e would &unction as a #riest" %!os 6:'' sa s *e would sit on Aavid+s throne" @" The Per&ection o& Christ '" *e is hol

*is holiness de!onstrates *is #er&ection" Jesus was &ree &ro! de&ile!ent" *e loved ri-hteousness, hated sin, was victorious over te!#tation, re$uked sinners, and will Dud-e un$elievers" 2" *e is lovinJesus+ love knows no li!its: *e loves the 5ather and *e loves lost, un-odl sinners" *e loves *is own00 the church" *e loves children" Jesus de!onstrated *is love $ $eco!in- #oor, -ivin- *is li&e, &or-ivinsin, seekin- the lost, healin- the sick, su##l in- the needs o& others, and stren-thenin- *is #eo#le" *e showed co!#assion on those who were lost, hun-r , sick, $lind, de!oniEed, -rieved, re#entant00even those who were deadF Jesus was also #ra er&ul, !eek, hu!$le, ri-hteous, -ood, &aith&ul, truth&ul, Dust, and sel&0den in-" In ever wa *e is the s#otless, #er&ect 8a!$ o& (od who ca!e to die &or the sins o& the world" It is this Jesus o& who! Pilate asks: what then shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ? Jesus Christ ca!e into the world to redee! the world &ro! sin, to $rin- salvation, to re!ove trans-ressions, to destro =atan, and to set u# an eternal kin-do! o& #eace and -lor &or those who love and $elieve in *i!" To do so it was essential that *e die &or sin" *e #aid the #enalt as our su$stitute and rose a-ain that we !i-ht live &orever" The destin o& ever hu!an $ein- hin-es on what he does with Jesus Christ" Review Jesus+ earthl !inistr ca!e to a cli!a? as *e entered into Jerusale! &or *is &inal Passover" % &ew da s later Judas $etra ed *i! into the hands o& the Jewish leaders" There were three #hases in the Jewish trial &ollowed $ three #hases in the <o!an trial" It is the <o!an trial we are lookin- at in Matthew 27:''022" I" T*B %CCG=%TI/> /5 T*B JBWI=* 8B%AB<= 1vv" ''0'2a; see ##" ??0??) II" T*B %TTITGAB /5 T*B 8/<A 1vv" '2$0'.; see ##" ??0??) III" T*B %>IM/=ITH /5 T*B C</WA 1vv" '70'4, 2302,, 27; see ##" ??0??) %" The Concession o& Pilate 1vv" '70'4; see ##" ??0??) @" The Ca!#ai-n o& the 8eaders 1v" 23; see ##" ??0??) C" The Choice o& the Crowd 1vv" 2'02,; see ##" ??0??) Pilate asked what he should do with Christ a&ter he discovered that the #eo#le wanted hi! to release @ara$$as and not Christ 1Matt" 27:22)" 8uke 2,:23022 adds so!e insi-ht into this scene: "Pilate, there&ore, willin- to release Jesus, s#oke a-ain to the!" @ut the cried, sa in-, Cruci& hi!F Cruci& hi!F %nd he said unto the! the third ti!e, Wh , what evil hath he done? I have &ound no cause o& death in hi!" I will, there&ore, chastise hi!, and let hi! -o"" =ince Pilate &ound no &ault in *i!, wh was he -ointo chastise *i!? It was an act o& condescension on Pilate+s #art" *e wanted to a##ease the $lood0thirst cries o& the #eo#le" @ut that wasn+t -oin- to $e enou-h" Ierses 2,02. sa , "The were ur-ent with loud voices, requirin- that he !i-ht $e cruci&ied" %nd the voices o& the! and o& the chie& #riests #revailed" %nd Pilate -ave sentence that it should $e as the required"" Incredi$le" /n &ive se#arate occasions Pilate and *erod co!$ined to announce the innocence o& Jesus Christ" Then Pilate sentenced *i! to death" Ierse 27 sa s, "*e released unto the! hi! that, &or sedition and !urder, was cast into #rison, who! the had desired; $ut he delivered Jesus to their will"" A" The Curse o& the @lood 1v" 27; see ##" ??0??) II" T*B %PP<B*B>=I/> /5 T*B WI5B 1v" '6) Matthew 27:'6 shows what interru#ted Pilate and allowed the leaders to stir u# the crowd"

%" The =ettin- 1v" '6a) "When he 9Pilate: was seated on the Dud-!ent seat" Pilate was #residin- over the trial o& Jesus at the o&&icial seat o& authorit " =ince the Jewish leaders wouldn+t -o into the Jud-!ent *all, Pilate ca!e out on the #orch" %s he took his seat outside, that constituted a -enuine Dudicial act $ecause he was seated on the Dud-!ent seat" @" The Messa-e 1v" '6$0c) '" *er conviction o& Christ+s ri-hteousness 1v" '6$) "*is wi&e sent unto hi!, sa in-, *ave thou nothin- to do with that ri-hteous !an" a) The warninPilate !ust have had hi-h re-ard &or his wi&e+s o#inion $ecause he sto##ed the #roceedin-s to hear what she had to sa " What was her verdict on Jesus Christ? That *e was ri-hteous" >o dou$t the had discussed Jesus the ni-ht $e&ore when Pilate -ave #er!ission &or his soldiers to acco!#an the Jews when the went to ca#ture Jesus" Pilate certainl was not o$livious to what was -oin- on in the land o& Palestine" *e knew Jesus had virtuall $anished disease &ro! the land" *e knew what had ha##ened in the #ast week" *e heard a$out Jesus+ cleansin- o& the te!#le" *e knew Jesus had $een hailed as Messiah when *e &irst entered the cit " I+! sure word o& 8aEarus+s resurrection had even reached hi!" Pilate knew env !otivated the Jewish leaders to want Jesus dead 1v" '4)" Pilate+s wi&e was convinced that Jesus was a ri-hteous !an00 and that is the testi!on o& a #a-an" The nation o& Israel, with all the knew &ro! the #ro#hets, #ro!ises, and law o& (od, cursed their Messiah, took *is $lood on the!selves, and killed *i!" Het a #a-an who knew nothin- testi&ied that Jesus was ri-hteous" What a conde!nation o& the #eo#le o& IsraelF Their actions $etra ed a denial o& their own =cri#ture" $) The consequence Pilate+s wi&e didn+t want her hus$and to -et involved with Jesus $ecause *e was ri-hteous" =he was &ear&ul o& the consequences" =he was ri-ht $ecause later on Pilate was re!oved &ro! Palestine, sent to (aul, and there co!!itted suicide" Wh did he co!!it suicide? 5or the sa!e reason Judas did" >either could deal with the tre!endous -uilt o& havin- $etra ed the onl #er&ectl ri-hteous #erson who ever lived" %ccordin- to #s cholo-ists, the #ri!ar cause o& suicide is retri$ution: it is a sel&0in&licted #unish!ent" The ulti!ate cri!e $rou-ht on ulti!ate #unish!ent" 2" *er su&&erin- in a drea! 1v" '6c) "I have su&&ered !an thin-s this da in a drea! $ecause o& hi!"" *er drea! !a have $een a #rovidential act o& (od" I $elieve (od was involved $ecause onl *e could send the !essen-er at the ri-ht !o!ent to allow ti!e &or the Jewish leaders to stir u# the crowd" Jesus had to die" Bver thin- that ha##ened in this trial was $ the #redeter!ined #lan o& (od 1%cts 2:2,)" What Pilate+s wi&e knew a$out Jesus certainl could have $een directed $ the =#irit o& (od into a drea! that &illed her heart with &ear" =he su&&ered $ecause o& it" We don+t know what she thou-ht !i-ht ha##en to her hus$and in dealin- with Jesus, $ut her worst &ears were co!in- true $ecause he was tra##ed into !akinan unDust decision a$out Jesus" I" T*B %CJGIB=CB>CB /5 T*B (/IB<>/< 1vv" 2., 22) %" Pilate+s Inti!idation Continued 1v" 2.a)

"When Pilate saw that he could #revail 9-ain: nothin-, $ut that rather a tu!ult 9(k", thoru$os, Kriot+: was !ade" Pilate couldn+t a&&ord another riot" The last one $rou-ht a$out a direct re$uke &ro! Ti$erius Caesar" *e certainl recalled the #revious occasions when riots occurred $ecause o& his o$stinate re&usal to $end to the wishes o& the Jews 1see ##" ??0??)" *ere was a si!ilar situation" /ne thin- we can sa a$out Pilate is that he tried to -et Jesus o&& his hands" *e sent *i! to *erod" *e su--ested that *e $e released at the Passover" *e and *erod rendered &ive verdicts o& *is innocence" *e a##ealed to the #eo#le" *e tried to -ive *i! $ack to the Jews so that the would tr *i! the!selves 1v" 2.c)" *owever, the re&used $ecause the wanted Jesus+ e?ecution to a##ear le-al" >othin- Pilate tried worked $ecause Jesus had to $e cruci&ied to &ul&ill =cri#ture" @" Pilate+s Innocence Clai!ed 1v" 2.$0c) '" The tradition o& the /ld Testa!ent 1v" 2.$) "*e took water, and washed his hands $e&ore the !ultitude" Pilate+s actions &ollowed a Jewish tradition $ased on Aeuterono! 2':206" When so!eone was !urdered in ancient ti!es in the cities o& Israel, the elders o& the cit were res#onsi$le to &ind the -uilt #art " =o!eti!es that was not #ossi$le" =o the elders would co!e to a #u$lic #lace in the cit and wash their hands in &ront o& the #eo#le" That si-ni&ied that since the tried their $est, et were una$le to &ind the !urderer, the were &ree &ro! the -uilt o& the !urder" (od does not tolerate unrequited $lood" That is a $asic #rinci#le in =cri#ture, and is wh ca#ital #unish!ent was instituted in (enesis 6:2" When Cain killed %$el, (od said that %$el+s $lood cried to *i! &ro! the -round" 2" The testi!on o& Pilate 1v" 2.c) "I a! innocent o& the $lood o& this ri-hteous #erson" =ee e to it"" The #eo#le &ollowed that state!ent $ screa!in-, "*is $lood $e on us" 1v" 27)" The Jewish nation took the -uilt &or the $lood o& Christ" When Pilate said, "=ee e to it," he !i-ht have $een -ivin- the! the ri-ht to kill Jesus" Pilate tried to -et rid o& Jesus, $ut he couldn+t" %-ain he a&&ir!ed the innocence o& Christ" Ao ou think Pilate wished Jesus were -uilt ? /& course00that would solve all his #ro$le!s" I& he could have &ound one thin- that !ade Jesus -uilt , he could have e?ecuted *i! with a clear conscience" Pilate was like Judas" Ao ou think Judas wanted to &ind one &law in the li&e o& Christ that could Dusti& his $etra al o& *i!? Hes" Ao ou think %nnas and Caia#has wanted to &ind one thin- wron- with Jesus to Dusti& their hatred o& *i!? Certainl " The sa!e is true o& the &alse witnesses" *e was innocent while ever one around *i! was -uilt F C" Pilate+s Intention Circu!vented 1v" 22) "Then released he @ara$$as unto the!; and when he had scour-ed Jesus, he delivered hi! to $e cruci&ied"" It was Pilate+s intention to scour-e Jesus and then let *i! -o" *owever, thin-s didn+t work out that wa " Matthew didn+t -ive us the details o& what ha##ened i!!ediatel a&ter the scour-in-, $ut John did, $e-innin- with '6:'" '" The su&&erin- o& Christ a) The scour-in-

% <o!an scour-e had a short wooden handle that held a series o& leather thon-s threaded with $its o& lead, $rass, and $ones shar#ened to a raEor+s ed-e" The !an was taken $ the wrists and tied to a #ost, his $od taut" Two !en, one on each side, would whi# hi! across the &lanks and $ack, e?#osin- arteries, veins, and entrails" That o&ten $rou-ht a$out death" =cour-in- was o&ten done $e&ore cruci&i?ion to s#eed u# the victi!+s death on the cross" It was torture $e ond descri#tion" The Jews -ave &ort lashes, save one" We don+t know how !an the <o!ans ad!inistered" We do know that Jesus couldn+t carr *is own cross all the wa to the #lace o& e?ecution $ecause *e was so weak" I& there ever was a !an o& stren-th, it was Jesus, $ecause a !an without sin would $e a !an o& stren-th" *owever, *e had $een $eaten so $adl that even *e couldn+t carr the cross" $) The satire John '6:2 sa s that a&ter the scour-in-, "the soldiers #laited a crown o& thorns, and #ut it on his head"" The !ade a crown to !ock *i! and crushed it onto *is $row" Then the #ut a #ur#le ro$e on *i!" In verse , the said, "*ail, Lin- o& the JewsF" The (reek te?t indicates that the continuall hailed *i! and struck *i!" The soldiers #ut kin-l -ar$ on Jesus $ecause the were #la in- a -a!e" I& ou were to visit the -rounds o& 5ort %ntonius in Jerusale!, ou would &ind that the -a$$atha00the #ave!ent00is still there" /n it ou can see !arkin-s o& -a!es the <o!an soldiers #la ed" The soldiers #icked on #risoners or !entall retarded children as a wa to #ass the ti!e" The would dress the! in certain wa s, and then !ock the!" That+s what the did to Jesus" Matthew added that the s#it on *i! and s!ashed *is head with a reed 1Matt" 27:,3)" 2" The sarcas! o& Pilate a) *is cowardice %&ter the -a!e was throu-h, Pilate went $e&ore the !o$ and said, "@ehold, I $rin- hi! &orth to ou, that e !a know that I &ind no &ault in hi!" 1John '6:.)" Wh did he $rin- Jesus $e&ore the #eo#le a&ter havin- *i! scour-ed? @ecause *e was tr in- to quench their thirst &or $lood" *e was e?#osin- a #athetic !an00a !an whose &ace had $een $eaten $lack and $lue, whose head had $een crushed, and whose $ack and sides had $een ri##ed raw so that *is internal or-ans were visi$le" It is this #icture o& Jesus that Isaiah 7,:2 was re&errin- to: "There is no $eaut that we should desire hi!"" $) *is cruelt Then Pilate said, "@ehold the !an" 1v" 7)" *e wanted Jesus to look so $ad that the #eo#le would want to let *i! -o" *e was ho#in- the would sa , "We can+t take an !ore" This inhu!ane treat!ent is !ore than we can standF" @ut the crowd had tasted $lood00and the wanted !ore" c) *is challen-e Ierse 2 sa s, "When the chie& #riests, there&ore, and the o&&icers saw hi!, the cried out, sa in-, Cruci& hi!, cruci& hi!F Pilate saith unto the!, Take e hi!, and cruci& hi!; &or I &ind no &ault in hi!"" The leaders hounded Pilate to cruci& Christ $ecause the wouldn+t kill *i! the!selves" *owever, Jesus couldn+t have $een killed $ the Jews $ecause *e said *e would $e li&ted u# 1John '2:,20 ,,)" I& *e had $een killed $ Jews, *e would have $een stoned" ," The scorn o& the Jews John '6:7 sa s, "The Jews answered hi!, We have a law, and $ our law he ou-ht to die, $ecause he !ade hi!sel& the =on o& (od"" Christ+s so0called $las#he! 1Mark '.:2'02.) was what reall $othered the Jewish leaders" ." The sha!e o& Pilate

a) *is ulti!ate &ear Pilate heard so!ethin- he didn+t want to hear when the Jews said Jesus clai!ed to $e the =on o& (od" Ierse 4 sa s, "When Pilate, there&ore, heard that sa in-, he was the !ore a&raid"" Pilate knew Jesus could heal the sick and raise the dead" *e knew *e had unique and stran-e #owers" /ver the #eriod o& an hour Pilate had seen Christ dis#la re!arka$le #ersonal characteristics, es#eciall the cal!ness with which *e !aintained *is silence" *owever, Christ+s clai! to $e the =on o& (od &ri-htened hi! !ore than an thin-" Pilate+s #a-an !ind had $een conditioned to the e?istence o& !an -ods" =u#erstitious &ear !ade hi! wonder i& he was reall dealin- with the son o& a -od" $) *is ulti!ate &ate 1') The source o& Pilate+s Dud-!ent 1a) The sus#icion o& Pilate Pilate $rou-ht Jesus $ack into the Jud-!ent *all and said to *i!, "5ro! where art thou?" 1v" 6)" Two o& the three incidents that -ot Pilate into trou$le with the Jews had to do with &alse -ods" The &irst was the i!a-e o& Caesar a$ove the ea-les on the standards that his soldiers carried" The second was the en-ravino& Caesar on the shields o& the soldiers" Pilate didn+t want to -et involved with the Jews one !ore ti!e over the issue o& &alse -ods" =atan initiated a dia$olical #lan throu-h the Jewish leaders, which &orced Pilate into a #ro$le! si!ilar to the ones he had &aced $e&ore" *e had alread $een re#ri!anded $ <o!e &or inter&erin- in the Jewish reli-ion" =o Pilate wanted to know i& the Jewish leaders were tr in- to have the son o& a &alse -od #ut to death" 1$) The silence o& Christ John '6:6 sa s, "Jesus -ave hi! no answer"" *e knew Pilate+s heart" Pilate had alread reDected the truth" Whether Jesus was the =on o& (od was not a !atter &or <o!e to decide" Pilate and *erod had co!$ined to render a verdict o& innocent &ive ti!es alread , so there was nothin- &or Christ to sa " 12) The source o& Pilate+s authorit John '6:'30'' sa s, "Then saith Pilate unto hi!, =#eakest thou not unto !e? Lnowest thou not that I have #ower to cruci& thee, and have #ower to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no #ower at all a-ainst !e, e?ce#t it were -iven thee &ro! a$ove; there&ore, he that delivered !e unto thee hath the -reater sin"" The #eo#le who delivered Christ to Pilate were the -reater sinners" Pilate sinned throu-h weakness00he was Dust a #awn in the -a!e00the Jewish leaders sinned throu-h will&ul hatred" There are de-rees to reDectin- Christ, and the severer the reDection, the severer the #unish!ent in hell" c) *is ulti!ate &ailure Ierse '2 sa s, "5ro! then on Pilate sou-ht to release hi!"" Pilate wanted Jesus out o& his hands $ecause he was a&raid o& one !ore incident with the Jews involvin- a &alse -od" Ierse '2 continues, "@ut the Jews cried out, sa in-, I& thou let this !an -o, thou art not Caesar+s &riend; whosoever !aketh hi!sel& a kins#eaketh a-ainst Caesar"" The $rou-ht u# a #olitical issue" The told Pilate he wouldn+t $e servinCaesar+s $est interests $ showin- co!#licit with an insurrectionist" Pilate knew i& that re#ort -ot $ack to Caesar, he was throu-h" 7" The sentencin- o& the LinJohn '6:',0'7 sa s, "When Pilate, there&ore, heard that sa in-, he $rou-ht Jesus &orth, and sat down in the Dud-!ent seat in a #lace that is called The Pave!ent, $ut in the *e$rew, (a$$atha" %nd it was the #re#aration o& the #assover, and a$out the si?th hour 92:33 %"M":; and he saith unto the Jews, @ehold, our Lin-F @ut the cried out, %wa with hi!, awa with hi!, cruci& hi!F Pilate saith unto the!, =hall

I cruci& our kin-? The chie& #riests answered, We have no kin- $ut Caesar"" It was one thin- &or the Jewish nation to clai! res#onsi$ilit &or Christ+s $lood, $ut to sa the had no kin- $ut Caesar was their &inal conde!nation" Is it an wonder that (od destro ed Jerusale!, the center o& their reli-ion? Is it an wonder that &or centuries the have $een under the Dud-!ent o& (od, e?ce#t &or the re!nant who are called $ *is -race throu-h &aith in Christ? It+s &ri-htenin-F The reDected their true Lin- and acce#ted an earthl kin- &or the sake o& convenience" (onclusion Jesus Christ is innocent, #er&ect, and hol " The /ld Testa!ent said that the la!$ o&&ered &or sin !ust $e without s#ot or $le!ish 1B?" '2:7)" %ll that Christ endured throu-h the !ock trials #roved *e was suita$le to serve as the #er&ect 8a!$ o& (od to die &or the sins o& the world" The world o& reli-ious and irreli-ious !en, ins#ired $ the devil hi!sel&, could not &ind one s#ot or $le!ish on this 8a!$" Thus Jesus was the #er&ect sacri&ice" %lthou-h *is visa-e was !arred $ the #h sical a$use *e su&&ered, *e shines &orth as the $eauti&ul 8a!$ o& (od" *ow could the Jewish leaders and Pilate a-ree to sentence Christ to death? %cts 2:2, sa s *e was "delivered $ the deter!inant counsel and &oreknowled-e o& (od"" Isaiah 7,:2 sa s, "The 8ord hath laid on hi! the iniquit o& us all"" (od called Jesus to $e the =avior" Jesus wasn+t on trial, $ut ever one else was" Hou+re on trial, too" What ou do with Jesus Christ deter!ines our eternal destin " What are our o#tions? Hou can hate *i! like the Jewish leaders did" Hou can reDect hi! like the &ickle crowd did" Hou can !ock *i! like *erod did" Hou can have nothin- to do with *i! like Pilate+s wi&e did" /r ou can -et rid o& *i! like Pilate did" Whatever ou choose will $e a choice &or eternit " Wh not reDect all those choices and choose to &ollow in the ste#s o& Christ and receive the $lessin-s o& (od &oreverF 3ocusing on the 3acts '" What are so!e indicators that Jesus is (od 1see ##" '02)" 2" (ive so!e e?a!#les &ro! Christ+s li&e that indicate *e was hu!an 1see #" 2)" ," Wh did Jesus co!e into the world 1see #" 2)? ." What verdict did Pilate+s wi&e render concernin- Jesus 1Matt" 27:'6; see #" 7)? 7" Wh was Pilate+s wi&e a&raid 1see #" 7)? 2" What /ld Testa!ent teachin- !i-ht Pilate have $een tr in- to &ollow when he washed his hands in &ront o& the !ultitude in Matthew 27:2. 1see #" 2)? 7" Wh did (od esta$lish ca#ital #unish!ent in (enesis 6:2 1see #" 2)? 4" B?#lain the #rocess o& scour-in- 1see #" 7)" 6" What ha##ened to Jesus a&ter *e was scour-ed 1John '6:20,; see #" 4)? '3" Wh did Pilate dis#la Jesus $e&ore the crowd a&ter he had had *i! scour-ed? What e&&ect did that have 1see #" 4)? ''" Wh did Pilate $eco!e !ore a&raid in John '6:4 1see #" 6)? Pondering the Princi les

'" <eview the introductor section a$out Christ 1see ##" '0,)" <ecord the &ive attri$utes o& Christ that have !eant the !ost to ou in our Christian li&e" Meditate on one each da durin- our quiet ti!e ne?t week" Gse that ti!e to -row ever closer to our =avior" Make it a ti!e o& o&&erin- s#ecial reverence and worshi# to *i!" 2" The trials o& Jesus Christ #roved *is innocence and e?#osed the -uilt o& *is accusers and e?ecutors" Where do ou stand? %re ou ali-ned with the s#otless 8a!$ o& (od, or are ou still -uilt as a result o& our reDection o& *i!? I& ou haven+t acce#ted the death o& Christ on our $ehal&, ou still can !ake that choice" @ut re!e!$er, $ not !akin- a choice ou have !ade a choice 1Matt" '2:,3)" Hou have chosen to reDect *i!" Please consider the o##ortunit ou have at this !o!ent" Aon+t let it #ass $ without con&rontin- our sin and -ivin- it to the /ne who can take it awa "