Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He arrived knowing that he would be killed here and that this would be God's will. We know this as Jesus is seen prior to his arrival trying to convince some disciples that he was the suffering servant. We see that he is trying to follow prophesies of the Messiah closely even up to his death as he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey on the Passover. In this he is showing he is a Messiah of peace (symbolised by the donkey) and follow the prophecies thus trying to prove his Messiah ship.
On this day he wandered the streets of Jerusalem and entered the gates of the Temple's courtyard. What he saw would have taken Jesus by surprise
as the courtyard of the temple was being used as a market. The priests were charging massive money sacrificial animals and were exchanging foreign money for Jewish currency at ridiculous rates. They would sell "blessed" and "holy" items in the market, which would have been very tempting to someone trying to get into the religious "good books".
Enraged though he was, Jesus left the temple without saying or doing anything.
The following day (known as the day of the cleansing of the temple), Jesus returned, once again he became enraged by what he saw. In fury Jesus set loose the animals and turned over some tables shouting, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a den of robbers".
As it was the Passover, there were thousands of people in Jerusalem, there to visit the temple. The priests were enraged and insulted by this outburst from Jesus and if it was any other day he would have been dragged to the back of the temple and stoned. However, if there was resistance and blood was shed inside the walls of the temple, it would mean a complete cleansing of the temple due to religious law. The priests did not need this hassle during Passover, however they were determined to have Jesus killed one way or another. So Jesus was allowed to leave.
The following day in the midst of the crowds around the temple, the priests had their chance to question Jesus and hopefully discredit him in front of the Jewish people. He was asked questions about authority, loyalty, life after death, and what is important. He gave a satisfactory answer to all questions, which probably upset the priests further. This day was called "the day of questions".
All of these days have involved a verbal battle between Jesus and the priests and have infuriated the priests, - so on the Wednesday the religious authorities bribed Judas Iscariot into betraying Jesus to them. This is a very interesting time as there are many different theories as to why this was done. One theory is that Judas didn't like Jesus and his teachings, so betrayed him. However, this can be dismissed as after Jesus was crucified, Judas returned the money and committed suicide. So, my theory is that Judas tried to corner Jesus so he would have no choice but to use his powers to save himself. Once again Jesus was tempted and once again he resisted temptation in the knowledge that it was all in God's will. By giving away Jesus' location, I think Judas was trying to spark Jesus up or perhaps Judas was one that wanted the Messiah to be that of a warrior King.
The plan set to arrest Jesus was set on Judas kissing the cheek of Jesus to let them know who and where he was. This was done out of the way of the temple and the crowds. Now Jesus had been arrested, he was to face six trials before his death.
Jesus' first trial was in front of Annas, the father-in-law and predecessor of the high priest Caiaphas. In this trial there was no charge made, however the authorities took it further. The second trial was held before Caiaphas, son-in-law of Annas. Caiaphas was a High Priest. This trial, however, was not fair at all. It was illegal for the trial to be held at night, which it was. It was illegal for the trial to be held at the house of a priest, and Jesus was convicted on his own testimony. This also was illegal. There were two ...
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Jesus' first trial was in front of Annas, the father-in-law and predecessor of the high priest Caiaphas. In this trial there was no charge made, however the authorities took it further. The second trial was held before Caiaphas, son-in-law of Annas. Caiaphas was a High Priest. This trial, however, was not fair at all. It was illegal for the trial to be held at night, which it was. It was illegal for the trial to be held at the house of a priest, and Jesus was convicted on his own testimony. This also was illegal. There were two witnesses at the trial and during the trial they became concerned for their lives. Though bribed, they started to realise how serious this trial had become, someone's life was in their hands! If Jesus had been killed and they had been proven to lie, their lives would have been taken too! So, eventually they agreed that Jesus had said "I am able to destroy the temple of God and build it in three days". If this were true then he would have been talking about his body, not the building. In any case, this wouldn't have been taken seriously but did get Caiaphas angry and asks Jesus to answer. Jesus is silent. So, realising he is getting nowhere, Caiaphas puts Jesus on a sacred oath, which he is, bound to answer. Caiaphas asks Jesus if he is the Messiah. Jesus answers, "I am, and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power". In these words, Jesus was accused of blasphemy as he admitted to be not the Messiah but next in importance to God. It was then agreed that he was to be charged. Even though the trial was completely illegal, he was treated like a convicted criminal. He was spat upon, humiliated and was struck by the servants more probably than by members of the Sanhedrin. Peter and possibly John who followed Jesus even to the courtyard. He stood by Jesus and with great determination resisted from hitting one of the servants of a high priest. This did not last long however and as he began to break down he was asked if he knew Jesus. To his horror he denied all knowledge of Jesus. Feeling uncomfortable, he moved away and not long after, he was asked again. Contradicting himself, he once again replied, "I don't know what you mean!" When then questioned by the crowd about his accent he once again denied knowing Jesus but just after a cock crowed. He then remembered when Jesus had told him "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times". This may well be a parable to teach that as much as Peter wanted to stand by Jesus, the Holy Spirit was much stronger than his will and desire to be with Jesus. After this he broke down and wept, but when Jesus looked at him in encouragement, he then realised that he was being taught to depend on not himself, but God.
The next day at the early hours of the morning, Jesus was put on trial in front of the Sanhedrin. This was perhaps to legalise the proceedings of the previous evening.
It is not known for sure whether the Jews had the power to put to death a guilty man (They had killed before and would do so after). They could have stoned Jesus to death that day, however they didn't. This may be because they needed permission; Over the Passover, Pontius Pilate was in Jerusalem from the afar. He was a very powerful Roman. The Jews decided to ask him for permission to kill Jesus. This may have been through courtesy. It may also be because he would have crucified Jesus. It is a religious law that God must curse a 'hanged man'. Jesus therefore couldn't have been the Messiah if God cursed him. The Jews knew that if he were going to be put on trial by Pilate they would have to change the offence from blasphemy to treason, as they knew Pilate wouldn't be interested in a religious quarrel between the Jews.
Before this trial Judas who (in my opinion) has been waiting for Jesus to rebel, realises what has been done and tries to buy Jesus back for the 30 silver coins given to Judas by the religious authorities. They do not accept and so, devastated and lost, Judas commits suicide. The 30 coins were not put back into the temple but instead used to buy land; this land would be used to bury strangers and because of its story would be known as the field of blood.
Pontius Pilate was described as being "cruel, and his hard heart knew no compassion" and was called back to Rome because of his extreme cruelty! However, during the trial, Pilate changes. At the beginning of the trial, held in the Governors Palace (as Jews wouldn't enter a gentiles home before Passover as it would defile them), Pilate asked Jesus "Are you the King of the Jews?" If Jesus admitted so, then he would have been charged with Treason for threatening Caesar's leadership over the Jews. Jesus said in reply "you have said it so". Once again in the holy week, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah as the prophecy was "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter... so he opened not his mouth." And even though Pilate gave him the chance to defend himself, Jesus knew that all that would happen would be in God's will. It is now we see a change in Pilate; He tries to release Jesus. One reason may be because he saw how eager the priests were to have Jesus killed and got a gut feeling that he was innocent. Another reason for this (although we have no proof) is that Pilate got a message from his wife who had had a dream about Jesus and told him that he was innocent and by all means not to get Jesus' blood on his hands!
Another reason may be when the scribes (who wrote the Christian Bible) wrote this, they whitewashed the story and tried to give the impression Jesus was innocent as even Pilate the Judge (who is usually so harsh) believed this was so. They tried to put blame on Jews. The reason to lie like this (if it was a lie) is because Romans in the knowledge that Jesus was innocent of crime would be more likely to join the Christian faith.
However I believe the reason for his change in attitude was because of Jesus' personality, character and infinite amount of perfection inside him. Like other people (Mathew), I believe Jesus affected Pilate and that Pilate saw the goodness inside Jesus, and in turn, found the goodness in himself and so tried to release Jesus.
It is not certain, but it is said that on Passover, the Romans would release one Jewish prisoner. Pilate thought of this as a good escape for Jesus, however the Priests had gathered a mob together, and got the crowd to demand the release of a convicted murderer and the crucifixion of Jesus. The murderer was a man called Barrabas. He is thought to have killed four roman soldiers as a Jewish rebel. The reason for this demand may have been the result of bribery, Supporters of Barrabas as he was closer than Jesus to the warrior king the Jews wanted and expected, People following the Priests (convinced they must be right), and people disappointed that Jesus hadn't been the warrior King they expected of the Messiah and thought that a rebel like Barrabas could bring the Jews into a battle against the Romans.
In any case, Pilate took to the crowd a bowl of water and washed his hands. To the crowd he declared that he had washed his hands of this guilt and said "I am innocent of the man's blood; see to it yourselves". To this, the mob replied "His blood be on us and our children". I find this interesting as the Jews have had so much misfortune over the centuries and they said then, may the consequences of killing the Messiah, Son of God, be put to their children or future; and that is what has happened.
The reason why Pilate, who at one time was so eager to release Jesus, gave permission for Jesus' crucifixion and delivered Jesus to the Jews was because Pilate feared a riot from the already excited crowd. Or he may have wanted to keep the peace with the Jewish leaders, but it is known that Pilate had failed to stop a riot in Jerusalem twice before and so wouldn't have been Caesar's favourite person. So it is probable that the crowd threaten to report him for treason, for not ridding an enemy of Rome. I think this was most probably the reason. Ironically, in the end a convicted guerrilla fighter was set free and a man only suspected of treason was killed without a second thought from the Jewish people.
As customary with the Romans, Jesus was bound to a pole and beaten with leather whips fitted with sharp pieces of bone or metal. This took away lumps of flesh from Jesus' body. After this the Roman soldiers mock him. They ridicule him being King of the Jews and placed on his head a crown of 1-inch thorns along with a soldier's scarlet cloak. They imitate the cloak and wreath of leaves worn by Caesar and the salute "Hail, King of the Jews" is taken from when they salute Caesar. All these things are to mock Jesus' Kingship of the Jews.
Like all other prisoners, Jesus was made to carry the heavy cross through the streets of Jerusalem. This was meant to act as a deterrent to other would-be criminals. He was taken the longest route through Jerusalem to the place of crucifixion, Golgotha (meaning skull, due to the amount of deaths there).
However, Jesus did not carry his cross all the way, it is said that Simon of Cyrene carried Jesus' cross for him. This was probably due to the stressful few weeks Jesus had had: teaching disciples, all his trials and coming to terms with his conviction and torture. He would not have had the strength to carry his cross.
Women on the streets would offer condemned men drugged wine that contained myrrh. This would help ease the pain of their crucifixion. However, Jesus refused. This could be because he wanted to endure all his suffering to complete the prophecies of the Old Testament, or because he had vowed at the Last Supper to drink no more wine until he was in the Kingdom of God.
He was eventually put on the cross on the third hour (9.00 a.m.) and remained there until the ninth hour (3.00 p.m.)
The Roman soldiers gambled for his clothes as prophesised: "For my rainment they cast lots". (Lots - dice).
Jesus is put on the cross next to two robbers, one on his left, one on his right. Up until his death the bystanders, two robbers next to him and religious leaders (or more likely their servants as they probably wouldn't have gone to see a crucifixion so close to Passover) mocked Jesus.
They mocked how he said he would raze the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. Of course he was talking about his body/temple. Therefore he must have had knowledge of his resurrection still to come "and rebuilt". This, he must have received during his baptism. They asked if he was the Messiah and if he could save others, then why could he not save himself? And doubted his Messiah ship as if he was the Son of God, why would God let him suffer and not save him?
These are similar to the temptations of the devil when he tempted Jesus to use his power for selfish purposes; like they tempt him to save himself and they questioned God, like the devil told Jesus to test his trust in God.
Throughout his hours on the cross he said seven things. Firstly, he asks God to forgive the Jews for what they are doing.
"Father forgive them; they do not know what they are doing"
When the robbers mock Jesus, he says
"I tell you this; today you shall be with me in paradise"
Later, showing concern for others, even though he was being crucified, he tells a disciple
"Mother, there is your Son...There is your Mother."
After more hours of being on the cross he is dehydrated and hungry. He says
"I thirst".
In despair, he shouts
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ("Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?")
He is probably thinking about Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial and all his disciples abandoning him. He probably thinks of how his life was a waste.
Close to death, Jesus says to himself and the crowds
"It is accomplished".
He realises he is about to die and thinks of the prophecy of the Old Testament, he has now fulfilled it.
He speaks a prayer to God:
"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit". He is showing no resistance to his fate.
Over the 6th hour (12 o'clock) the sky is said to have gone dark. This may have been due to an eclipse or sand storm etc., but it is more likely to be symbolic writing to express the great crime that is being committed and dark used as a symbol for evil (against light - good).
Just before his death he is heard to have said Eli - or Elijah. His name can be called out in times of need. He will assist the righteous ones. The soldiers, once more mocking him, offer him some rough wine (drunk by soldiers) and said, "let's see if Elijah will save him".
Moments later, Jesus let out a wail and died.
It is said that at that time an earthquake tore the curtain, separating the holy place from the holy of holly's down. This probably did not happen, but is just symbolism showing the removal of the barrier between man and God.
Also at Jesus' crucifixion a centurion, who would usually not be affected by death, was moved by Jesus' death and said, "Surely, he was the Son of God".
This is interesting, as immediately after Jesus' death, he affected a gentile and his life and death would continue to affect people for thousands of years to come.
RHYS HOWELL-MORGAN