Dispensation Bible Study #19

Approaching Grace - Passion Week - The Crucifixion

Matt 27:27-31 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon 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! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 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.

Jesus’ beating was made worse by the humiliation that followed. Placing a scarlet robe on Jesus’ back, a crown of thorns upon His head, and a reed in His right hand, they then made fun of His royalty and spat upon Him. Then took the reed out of His hand and hit Jesus in the head further driving the thorns into His flesh. After striking Him and placing His normal clothes upon Him, the soldiers then led Jesus Christ away to be crucified. All of the abuse before His crucifixion fulfilled prophecy in Isaiah 53:4-6, 12.

Luke 23:26-27 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

The public procession of those that were crucified further added to the shame. The way that led to the place of crucifixion is called the “Via Dolorosa” or “the way of shame.” As Jesus was led down the pathway to His death, the injuries and stress became to much to overcome. Unable to make Jesus carry His cross, the soldiers grabbed a bystander by the name of Simon. That the Gospels record His name and location and parent’s names testify that the carrying of our Saviour’s cross was a life changing experience to Simon (Mark 15:21). Other women that were followers of Jesus followed along weeping.

John 19:17-18 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

The place of crucifixion was a little hill a quarter of a mile north of Jerusalem. The hill was named “Golgotha” or “place of the skull,” because of a crude rock formation at the base of the hill that from a distance resembled a human skull. Here Jesus was crucified with two common thieves, one on each side, with Him. This fulfilled the prophecy that stated that the Messiah would be crucified with sinners (Isaiah 53:12) Crucifixion was a horrible death used for the worst of criminals or slaves. A Roman citizen could never be crucified and by crucifying Jesus, they identified Him with the lowest form of humanity. Two beams of wood in the now familiar shape of a cross were used. The victim was stripped of His clothes and laid upon the cross. The victims arms were secured by cords to the wood and then long spikes were driven through the wrists and ankles. This fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be pierced through His hands and His feet (Psalms 22:16 Zechariah 12:10) The cross was then placed upright in the ground with the victim usually about ten feet or so in the air. Because no vital organs were punctured, death usually came slowly. Breathing came only by pushing down on the spikes in the legs and pulling up with the spikes in the wrists. Each breath caused excruciating pain. Weakened by the loss of blood, the victim would be in and out of consciousness. Victims usually died by either heart failure caused by the increase of heart rate to compensate for the blood loss and inadequate oxygen or asphyxiation when the person did not have strength to get enough air into His lungs.

Mark 15:23-26 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. 24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

To help the victims through the experience, usually a drug was administered which would dull the pain and realization of what was happening. Jesus however refused this drug mixed with wine and endured the cross with full possession of His faculties. Another indignation of being crucified was that the ones that crucified the victim received the victims clothing. The soldiers cast lots (very similar to our rolling dice) to see who got the garments in the very presence of the cross! This also fulfilled prophecy found in Psalms 22:18. Jesus was crucified around at the third hour after sunrise or about 9:00 A.M. Wednesday morning.

John 19:19-22 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Pilate placed a sign upon the cross that stated “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.” The sign was written in the three chief languages of the day and was read by many people as they prepared for their Passover meals. Some of the Pharisees wanted Pilate to amend the sign saying that Jesus had said that He was King of the Jews but Pilate refused to change it. How sad that Pilate did not realize that Jesus would become the King of the Gentiles also!

Luke 23:34a Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Jesus uttered 7 sayings while on the cross, but the first was to pray for forgiveness to those that had crucified Him! Imagine the soldiers surprise to not hear cursing and swearing and screaming that usually accompanied the crucifixion, but to hear forgiveness!

Matt 27:39-43 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

As Jesus hung on the cross, dying for the sins of humanity, the people passing by mocked Him and made fun of Him. The Chief priests also mocked Him begging Him to shew Himself to them! This all fulfilled prophecy found in Psalms 22:6-8 and Psalms 109:4.

Luke 23:36-37 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

The soldiers also joined in the mockery by coming to Him and asking if He was thirsty and then offering Him vinegar to drink. They also said “if you really are who you say you are then save yourself.” They missed the point, if Jesus saved Himself, then He could not save them! So He stayed on the cross.

Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

One of the thieves hanging on the cross began to also rail against Jesus and mock Him! But the other thief took up for Jesus and called Him Lord! Jesus responded with His second statement on the cross, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Remember that Jesus had to die to end the Dispensation of Law (Hebrews 9:16-17), so the thief on the cross was saved under Law. He was probably the last one saved in the Dispensation of Law. To be saved under the law, a sinner had to approach the High Priest and offer a sacrifice for his sin. Jesus was both the High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) and the sacrificial Lamb (John 1:29) at the same time! The thief did the correct thing by appealing to Jesus!

John 19:25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Jesus’ own mother was watching her son’s death! Several other women and John, “the disciple that Jesus loved,” were also there witnessing this gruesome sight. Jesus, upon seeing His mother uttered His third statement “Woman, behold thy son.” In other words look upon what is happening and think about it. Jesus then said to John “Behold thy mother.” In other words, “John, look at her situation and take care of her.” From this moment on John took care of Mary, Jesus’ mother. We really do not know what happened to Joseph. Jewish tradition teaches that he died after Jesus’ 12th birthday. In that case, Mary was not only seeing one of her children die, but also her eldest son who should have been in charge of taking care of the family. Jesus thus transferred her care to John.

Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

At the sixth hour after sunrise or about 12:00 noon, a strange darkness came over the whole land. In the time of day normally the brightest, it suddenly became dark! The darkness would last for 3 hours until around 3:00 P.M.

Matt 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Right about 3:00 P.M. Jesus uttered His fourth statement upon the cross. Jesus was enduring the wrath of God for all of the sin of mankind, and His flesh felt like that God had forsaken it! Jesus was tasting death for every man, and even though He had known no sin, He was feeling the effects of humanities sin. (Hebrews 2:9 4:15)

John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus’ fifth statement upon the cross was “I thirst.” One of the effects of crucifixion was the horrible thirst that tortured the victim. The soldiers then cruelly gave Jesus vinegar to drink. After He had tasted the vinegar, Jesus uttered His sixth statement “It is finished.”

Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Jesus’ last statement was “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” The spirit of God could not die so for “the Son” or the body of Christ to die, the spirit of God had to depart from it. When Jesus’ body died, the spirit of God departed from it.

Matt 27:50-51 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Several things happened immediately after Jesus death. First the veil in the temple that had separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holies was ripped in two from top to bottom. Remember that under law only the High Priest could enter into the presence of God behind the veil, and that only once a year on the day of Atonement! The dispensation of Law was over! No longer would man have to kill the blood of goats and sheep to roll their sins away, but Jesus Christ had become the spotless Lamb of God! No longer would common man have to get a priest to petition God but now could have access to the presence of God anytime! No longer would sin be the barrier that kept God and man from having an intimate relationship! It was no human feat to tear the thick, cloth veil in two. The direction of the tear also removed all doubt as to it’s source. At the same time the veil was rent, the earth began to quake and rocks began to crack and blow apart! God was allowing everyone to know that Law was over!

Matt 27:52-53 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

At this time, many graves were opened and many bodies of the saints arose and walked into Jerusalem! Why did all of this happen? Because Jesus was the first man to ever die not deserving the punishment. The wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23) but Jesus had never sinned, so the laws of nature were broken. The hold that death had over humanity was forever broken, and because of this the bodies of some that had been dead got up!

Paul put to the Corinth church this way:

1 Cor 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matt 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

The centurion was the commander of the group of soldiers that had crucified Jesus. When he saw what had happened at Jesus’ death, he and his soldiers declared: “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Luke 23:48-49 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

The people who before Jesus’ death were mocking Him, now began to realize that He really was the Son of God. The dramatic darkness, earthquakes, rocks shaking, graves opening, and the tearing of the veil all signaled that Jesus had indeed been their King.

John 19:31-37 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

Usually the crucified victims would last for days before death. The Jews asked that the bodies be removed before the Sabbath (the Passover Sabbath which was Thursday that year) because it was a holy day. To speed up the dying process of the crucifixion, the soldiers would often break the legs of the victim. This prevented the victim from being able to push down with his feet in order to breathe. The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves but when they came to Jesus, He was already dead, so they left His legs intact. This fulfilled scripture in Psalms 34:20 that the Messiah would not have a bone broken.

This also reinforces the fact that the thief on the cross was saved according to Moses’ Law. The sinner had to have a blood sacrifice offered for his sins while he was still alive, that is, under the Law you could not offer a sin sacrifice for someone who was already dead. Therefore for the thief to be saved under the Law, he had to come to the High Priest (he did that by calling out to Jesus while He was still alive) and a sin sacrifice had to be offered before the thief died. We know that Jesus died first because the Roman soldiers had to break only the thieves’ legs signaling that they were still alive.

John 19:34-37 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

One of the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus with his spear. Out of Jesus’ side flowed blood and water: evidence that Jesus had died of a broken heart! The fulfilled scripture that stated “They shall look on him whom they pierced” is Zechariah 12:10.

John 19:38-42 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

A rich man of the nearby town of Arimathaea, Joseph secretly went to Pilate and asked if he could bury the body of Jesus in a new tomb that he owned. The burial of those crucified was always a problem because usually they were the outcasts of society. Joseph, however, wanted to give Jesus a proper burial. The Pharisee that Jesus had met with at night at the beginning of His ministry (John 3), Nicodemus also came to help bury Jesus. Nicodemus was the Pharisee that had stood up for Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:50), and that history teaches stood up for Jesus before His trial. Obviously the conversation 3 and a half years earlier had affected Nicodemus! Jesus’ body was wound in linen clothes and covered with expensive spices. Myrrh one of the gifts given by the wise men at Jesus’ birth, also was given to Jesus at His death.

Matt 27:59-61 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Joseph placed Jesus’ body in a tomb that was formed by digging a cave out of rock. The last thing to do was to roll a large stone in front of the tomb. The ladies that would return on Sunday morning, were also present as the Messiah was laid to rest. This finality however was not enough for the Chief Priests, for they were bothered by something that Jesus had said:

Matt 27:62-66 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

The Pharisees remembered that Jesus had said that after three days He would rise again! Afraid that the disciples would come by night and steal Jesus’ body claiming that He had rose again, the Pharisees asked Pilate for a group of Roman soldiers to guard the tomb both night and day until three days had passed. Pilate not only placed guards by the tomb, but also sealed the stone. This meant that a wax seal was pressed across the sides of the large rock and the emblem of Pilate seal pressed into the wax. If the stone would be removed and the seal broken, then the soldiers would lose their lives.

Luke 23:54-56 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

As Wednesday draws to a close, millions of Jews are celebrating their Passover rituals, not realizing that the most important Passover has just taken place. The talk of Jerusalem is how that the one who claimed to be the Messiah is dead. Jesus’ disciples are scattered throughout the city, not really knowing what the future holds. Jesus’ body is in a tomb in close proximity to the hill where He was crucified and a group of soldiers guard His tomb so that no one can steal the body. The Pharisees, Chief Priests, and Saducees are rejoicing over finally getting rid of the “Jesus” problem, and Satan is celebrating what he mistakenly thinks is a “victory.” The next day, Thursday, was the Jewish Passover Sabbath and laws governed what activity and travel could take place on “the day of rest.” The disciples then stayed away from the tomb and anxiously awaited throughout the week of no leaven. Jesus died right before sunset on Wednesday, and was buried just as the setting sun marked the change from Wednesday to Thursday. Jesus had prophesied repeatedly about resurrecting after three days and three nights. This is probably one of the reasons that the ladies waited until Sunday, the first day of the week so that they could visit the tomb of their beloved Saviour. Much has happened in one week. Judas Iscariot is dead. Mary is now staying at John’s house. The events of the past few days are haunting the minds of Jesus’ disciples but a few remember the promise: “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up!” Was Jesus Christ really who He said He was? Only Sunday morning would answer that question.