Matthew 27 - Sent to the Cross

Then released he [Pilate] Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put itupon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Matthew 27: 26-31

It is very upsetting for many of us in the body of Christ to think about the pain, suffering, torture and humiliation our Savior went through for us. Just one viewing of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, is enough to last a lifetime. The first time I saw that movie was in the theater, and it was difficult to process. I think I was in shock afterward. The second time, I wept like a baby. But as I cried, I sensed the heavenly Father telling me to stop my theatrics. Why? BECAUSE HE IS NO LONGER HANGING THERE! Yes, He suffered and died and descended into the depths of the grave, BUT He was raised up AND glorified at the right hand of God. And the good news is, We are there with Him! Everything Jesus has, we have IN HIM.

Keep that truth in the forefront of your thoughts, regardless of what you may be taught in your denominational churches and bible studies. We are joint heirs with Him. Our minds may not be able to comprehend all that took place on the day of the crucifixtion, but BY FAITH, we believe that in the spiritual realm, a legal event happened whereby spiritual laws were satisfied. Sin was put away and condemned, the curse satisfied, the Law fulfilled, and Death's sting removed. We now have authority and power over sin, we are no longer under the curse of the Law, God's laws are written on our hearts, His love has been shed abroad in our hearts, and Death can no longer separate us from our heavenly Father. 

Selah! Think about all of that and receive it, if you may! How can we walk out this truth in our lives and advance the kingdom on earth, in this physical realm in which we live now? Let's all believe in God's Word, that's how, despite the pressure and temptation to do otherwise! Have faith and believe!

Links:
https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/unheeded-or-misinterpreted-signs-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-70ad/

http://bible.christiansunite.com/jos/warindex.shtml

http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/haggadah.html

Matthew 27 - Standing Before Pilate

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Matthew 27:1-2. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Matthew 27:11-14.

We see from these scriptures that Pontius Pilate knew Jesus was innocent of all the charges brought against Him by that wicked generation of Jews. He knew they were jealous of Him, because Jesus was a man of authenticity; He loved people and went about doing good everywhere He went. He wasn't caught up in religion or pretense, and yet He was able to amass a large following who hailed Him as a king. Pilate did not view Jesus as an insurrectionist who could be a danger to Rome--on the contrary, I feel certain that Jesus impressed a man like Pilate.

Pilate tried fairly hard to free himself from the tough decision of condemning Jesus. We know from history that Pilate was a ruthless man who had probably condemned many innocent men to death, but this Jesus of Nazareth was different. Perhaps Pilate's soul sensed the spirit of God that was in and on Jesus. Ancient Rome was a culture that revered the supernatural and the world of gods and goddess, unlike today's culture that mocks it. If it turned out that Jesus was a son of the gods, then Pilate did not want His blood on his hands. That is why he figuratively washed his hands of Jesus' death.

Before that, Pilate attempted to release Jesus for the Passover week, which was the custom of that day--one prisoner would be set free to appease the Jews. He offered a choice between Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and bad dude, or Jesus, an innocent man. I'm sure Pilate viewed this as an easy decision, but the crowd thought otherwise; they cried out for Jesus' crucifixion like ravenous dogs. Pilate's wife had a dream, warning him that Jesus was a holy man, but the threats from that murderous generation won over. Pilate caved under pressure and went against his better judgment. 

The bottom line is this: regardless of the decisions made by Pilate or the Jewish leaders, Jesus was going to the cross. One way or another, He would be beaten, mocked, spit upon, nailed to a tree, and left there to die; it was His destiny and He was going to be obedient to that plan. He was and is the lamb slain before the foundation of the world! Praise God for all He did for us!

Links:
https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/unheeded-or-misinterpreted-signs-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-70ad/

http://bible.christiansunite.com/jos/warindex.shtml

http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/haggadah.html

Matthew 26 - Betrayed by Israel

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Matthew 26: 63-66

Once Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, the humiliation from His own people, Israel, began. First, He was taken before the high priest, Caiaphas, and the leaders of Israel for a mock trial, where false witnesses were brought forward to try Him as a blasphemer. When the witnesses were put to the test, they were easily discredited, for Jesus was innocent. In an effort to goad Jesus into incriminating Himself, Caiaphas adjured Him by the living God to answer the question, Are you the Son of God?

Jesus answered by referencing Daniels' prophecy of the Son of Man coming in the clouds before the Ancient of Days to receive an everlasting kingdom, inferring that He was this Son of Man whom the prophet had spoken of long ago. But then He spun this prophecy around and stated that the Jewish rulers of His day would see that Son of Man coming in the clouds, with all power, honor, and glory, to judge that wicked, adulterous generation for their unbelief. Jesus clearly indicated here, once more, that all prophecy would be fulfilled in the lifetime of that generation, which we know occurred in 70 AD at the fall of Jerusalem.

When the high priest heard Jesus' words, he rent his robes and declared Him a blasphemer, which is exactly what had been planned all along. Contrary to what many of us have been told, the Jewish leaders could have stoned Jesus under the Law, but they were too cowardly, so they took Him to Pilate to be executed by Rome as an insurrectionist. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but there was nothing to be done; he feared what the people thought, and so he succumbed to the evil plan, even after being warned by his wife.

The bottom line is this: the crucifixion had been established before the foundation of the world. Jesus would go to the cross, no matter what, and settle man's sin issue there, once and for all. And that is exactly what He did! Praise God for that!

Links:
https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/unheeded-or-misinterpreted-signs-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-70ad/

http://bible.christiansunite.com/jos/warindex.shtml

http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/haggadah.html