Summary of Week 4
Here is a summary of what took place the Friday before Easter Sunday:
1. Judas, one of the 12 disciples, earlier arranged a deal to betray Jesus (Lk 22:4) On Good Friday Judas followed through.
Luke 22:47-48 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
2. Jesus was arrested.
Luke 22: 52-54 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on M But this is your hour—when darkness reigns." Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.
3. After His arrest, Jesus was examined by the Jewish ruling council. No evidence was presented of any wrong doing.
Mark 14:55-59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
4. Jesus was condemned for blasphemy, for affirming His true identity.
Mark 14:61b-64 Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death.
5. After the “trial” Jesus was spit on, blindfolded, and beaten.
Mark 14:65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.
6 Another disciple, Peter, denied even knowing who Jesus was.
Luke 22:60-62 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
7. Jesus was turned over the Roman authorities. Pilate examined Him and cleared Him.
Luke 23:4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
8. Pilate turned Jesus over to Herod. Herod did not find any basis for the charge against Jesus. Before Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, Jesus was mocked and ridiculed.
Luke 23:11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.
9. Again, Pilate found Jesus innocent, but agreed to punish Him.
Luke 23: 13-16 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against Him. Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; as you can see, He has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish Him and then release Him."
10. The Jewish leaders stirred up the crowd to demand Jesus’ crucifixion.
Mark 15: 11-14- But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. "Crucify him!" they shouted. "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"
11. Pilate gave in to the crowd’s demand.
Mark 15:15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
12. Jesus was mocked as He hung on the cross.
Mark 15:31-32 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but He can't save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.
13. After suffering on the cross for six hours, Jesus died.
Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit." When He had said this, He breathed His last.
Looking over the events of Good Friday begs the question: What was so good about Friday? Clearly an innocent man was out to death. And that innocent man was Jesus, who only sought the good of His people. So what was so good about Good Friday?
Some hints of the good of that Friday can be seen even as the day unfolded.
1. The exchange - In exchange for Jesus, a condemned man was released. Barabbas was spared the consequences for his offenses. He was set free, the charges against him were dropped because Jesus took Barabbas’ place on the cross.
Luke 23: 25 - He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
2. The promise – One criminal on the cross realized who Jesus was, and turned to Him in faith and received the promise of eternal life. Jesus offers this to all who ask in faith.
Luke 23: 39- 43 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise."
3. New access to God is opened- When Jesus died on the cross, something happened at the temple. Inside the Holy of Holies, the large curtain that separated the holy place of God from mankind was torn, from the top down to the bottom, exposing the Holy place of God
Mt 27:51a- At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mk 15:38, Lk 23:45)
4. Spiritual eyes opened- All the centurion really knew of Jesus was what he saw that day watching the crucifixion. But that was enough. His eyes were opened and he realized the truth about Jesus.
Mt 27:54-55 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Mk15:39, Lk 23:47)
But there’s more... The death of Christ is not the end of the story. Read Mark 16 to read about His resurrection and ascension to heaven.