2 Year Gospel Study - week 74 (Friday, 05-30-25)

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 16 Scripture: John 18:28-32, Mark 15:2-5, John 18:33-38, Luke 23:4-16, Matthew 27:15-26 John 19:1-16

Pastor explores Jesus’ trial using all 4 gospels and proposing a possible timeline that tells the story with new insight. Also, throughout today’s teaching he shares interesting and important historical information and relationship information between the players in this day’s events that brings greater insight and understanding to this story of Jesus’ trial.

We tend to look at the story of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion as a story we are familiar with -- the old, old story of Jesus and His love…. But today Pastor will bring a freshness that will make it new as we look at the unique things each of the Gospels' authors has to say about the events that led up to Jesus’ crucifixion. Pastor will use all four gospels, combining them together in a dramatic picture of the day’s event.

We pick up the story of Jesus’ trial with Him leaving Caiaphas the High Priest’s home and going before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. It is the continuation of the story of the day we call Good Friday.

Pastor shares pictures from a past trip to Jerusalem that show the possible place of Jesus’ public trial.

Once everyone is in the courtyard, Pilate makes this a legal Roman trial by asking “what charges are you bringing against this man?” But the high priests and their associates didn’t want a full Roman trial - they simply wanted the Roman Governor to give them permission to execute Jesus. (At this time in Roman history permission was necessary for the Sanhedrin to be allowed to execute an individual) Pilate didn’t give them that permission, instead now they have a legal trial.

Many charges were being brought against Jesus - all sorts of charges and Pilate takes Jesus out of the public courtyard and into the Palace for a private conversation to figure out what Jesus has done.

Following the private conversation - Pilate tells the crowd He finds no basis for a charge against Jesus and because Jesus was Galilean, He was under Herod’s jurisdiction. As it happens, Herod was in Jerusalem for the Passover so Pilate sends Jesus across town to see Herod Antipas.

Herod had been longing to meet Jesus and asks Him many questions, but Jesus does not answer against any of the accusations and charges. Herod’s soldiers ridicule and mock Jesus - dressing Him in a purple robe and send Him back to Pilate.

Back in the courtyard of Pilate’s place, Pilate brings Jesus before the high priests and people stating that both he and Herod find Jesus guilty of nothing, but the crowd rebels. Pilate says he will beat and torture Jesus and let Him go. And again the crowd disagrees greatly with this decision and Pilate then asks the crowd if he should release Jesus or Barabbas (a criminal). It’s at this point that Pilate receives a letter from his wife about Jesus because of a dream she had and the note says that Pilate should have nothing to do with the innocent man, Jesus.

The chief priests and elders persuade the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas and yell for Jesus to be crucified. This crowd shouting “Crucify Him” was not the crowd who had welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with hosannas earlier in the week when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. This crowd in Pilate’s courtyard were most likely temple employees. The temple at that time employed about 20,000+ people and so the high priests had probably gathered this crowd in their favor.

Pilate at this point says again that he finds no basis for a charge against Jesus, gives in to the crowd, washes his hands, claims innocence, releases Barabbas, and has Jesus flogged.

Pastor shares in depth what a flogging from Roman soldiers was like during this time in history. It was an incredible cruel torture, horribly brutal and painful.

Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified. In his soul, Pilate knows injustice has been committed, yet Jesus goes silently and quietly, just as it says in Isaiah 53.

Jesus doesn’t try to disprove the charges against Him of blasphemy - remaining silent - as the charges are true. He IS the Son of the Living God. More than that, the accusation is a statement of Truth! Jesus is the Son of the Living God and we see the Messiah being turned over into the hands of wicked men and being crucified not just for others - BUT for each one of us.

Here’s the question: WHO REALLY PUT JESUS ON THE CROSS?

It wasn’t the High Priests, Roman soldiers, Pontius Pilate, or even all people ULTIMATELY THE ANSWER IS ME. I did. It’s my sin that put Him there. This story is personal. It is a beastly, brutal and tragic story but it is also the old, old story of Jesus and His love…

Pastor closes with a heartfelt prayer acknowledging all the Savior endured. And then ends with a teaser about next week’s class that may well be absolutely shocking - something that’s often overlooked yet so dramatic it will cause us to gulp!

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Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father’s plan. As we study Jesus’ final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.