Jesus' Death I. Introduction A. Everything was coming together! 1. The prophets had foretold that the Messiah of God would come 2. Jesus of Nazareth was born at the right time to the right woman in the right circumstances 3. He did all the things the Messiah should do: fulfill the Law, teach the people, heal the sick, raise the dead, speak of the Kingdom B. He had entered Jerusalem in triumph (Luke 19:29-40) 1. Crowds hailed Him as the King, the son of David 2. He purged the Temple, confounded the religious authorities 3. Surely now He would take His rightful throne and begin overthrowing the Romans! C. And yet the Gospels reveal that instead, Jesus is betrayed, condemned, and executed as a common criminal at the Passover feast in 30 CE (Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 21-22, John 18-19) D. How was this even possible? E. Furthermore, why would Jesus know that He was going to be killed and presume that such was, in fact, God's plan all along (Luke 9:21-22, 43-45; Matthew 26:39)? F. Let us consider Jesus' death: how and why Jesus died II. How Jesus Died A. The night of the Passover, 30 CE (Matthew 26:17-35, Mark 14:12-31, Luke 22:7-38, John 13-17) 1. Jesus eats the Passover with His disciples 2. Institutes the Lord's Supper 3. Speaks with them, washes their feet 4. They head out to the Garden of Gethsemane B. Mental Anguish of Expectation: the Garden of Gethsemane 1. Jesus' suffering seems to truly begin while praying in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37) 2. Matthew 26:36-46 / Mark 14:32-42 / Luke 22:39-46 3. His soul is sorrowful to death 4. He petitions the Father, if at all possible, to avoid upcoming suffering 5. In the end, God's will be done 6. Praying leads to sweat like drops of blood (cf. Luke 22:44) 7. Believed by some to be hematidrosis, a condition in which a person begins sweating blood on account of great stress 8. Luke does not say that Jesus actually sweats blood, only that the sweat drops were like drops of blood 9. Regardless, demonstration of great anguish of soul 10. As God the Son, fully cognizant of what is about to take place 11. As the Son of Man, no doubt suffers greatly mentally on account of the expectation of what is about to occur! 12. Comforted by an angel, given strength (Luke 22:43) C. Betrayal, Trial, Scourging 1. Judas soon after arrives with the guards; Jesus betrayed; Peter strikes Malchus, servant of high priest, cuts off his ear; Jesus rebukes him, tells him to put the sword back; heals the servant; is taken away; disciples flee (Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-50, Luke 22:47-53, John 18:3-11) a. Continued mental anguish b. Now in captivity, led about; alone 2. Presented before Annas and Caiaphas, meeting of Jews; false witnesses come forth, testimony does not agree; Jesus confesses that He is the Son of God; charged with blasphemy (Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:53-65, Luke 22:63-65, John 18:12-14, 19-24) a. Mental and emotional suffering: false testimony, hardness of hearts of Jews, inability to get them to understand the truth b. Physical suffering: spat upon, stricken on the face and body, slapped on the face (Matthew 26:67-68, Mark 14:65, Luke 22:63-65, John 18:22) 3. Peter's denials (Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:55-62, John 18:16-18, 25-27) a. Predicted previously, yet still not any less miserable (Luke 22:31-34) b. Emotional pain of being denied by one of His closest disciples 4. By morning, decision to put Him to death, hand Him over to Pilate (Matthew 27:1-2, Mark 15:1, Luke 22:66-71) 5. Jesus stands before Pilate; does not answer; sends Him to Herod, provides no answer, sent back; Pilate offers to release Jesus as part of Passover custom; crowd, incited by Jewish authorities, instead ask for Barabbas the insurrectionist, demand Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 27:15-23, Mark 15:1-14, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40) a. Mental, emotional suffering: mockery and contempt from Herod and his soldiers (Luke 23:11) b. The crowd, previously hailing Him as the Messiah, now wants Him crucified (Luke 19:28-40) c. They do not understand that they have asked for a murderer to be saved and to kill the Author of life (Acts 3:15, 17)! 6. Pilate has Jesus scourged; gives into the will of people, delivers Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 27:24-26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) a. Scourging not usually done before a crucifixion b. Scourging the standard Roman practice of punishment to dissuade people from further disobedience: most released afterward c. Pilate likely trying to just punish Jesus and not have Him killed d. Scourging involves flogging: a short leather whip (flagrum/flagellum) with lead balls attached at its end e. Jewish custom made 39 strikes the maximum (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:24); Romans had no such compunction f. Whip strikes Jesus on His shoulders, back, and legs g. First just cuts open the skin h. As lashings continue, cut deeper into skin layers; blood comes forth i. Lead balls lead first to bruising; bruises opened in later blows j. Skin eventually hangs off body like ribbons; body a bloody, torn mess k. When centurion sees that prisoner is near death, scourging is finished 7. Jesus, by this point, is quite physically drained and near death; emotionally and mentally drained; suffering not just physical abuse but also mockery and torment D. Humiliation by the Soldiers 1. Matthew 27:27-31 / Mark 15:16-20 / John 19:2-3 2. Soldiers mock Jesus; strip His clothes; put a robe on Him 3. Twisted a crown of thorns, impress it upon His head 4. Put a reed in His hand; provide mock worship 5. Spat upon Him, struck Him with the reed 6. Stripped off robe, put on clothes back on 7. Extreme pain: no medical care for previous scourging 8. Taking off, putting on clothes terribly painful with all the open wounds on His back 9. Pain of having thorns pressed into His scalp; further bleeding 10. On top of physical pain, mental and emotional suffering on account of the mockery of the soldiers E. According to John, final decision by Pilate to crucify Jesus (John 19:4-16) F. Heading to Golgotha 1. Matthew, Mark, Luke say Simon of Cyrene carries cross (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26) 2. John says Jesus carries own cross (John 19:17) 3. Likely a bit of both: Jesus began carrying it, could no longer, Simon finishes task 4. Not the full cross: generally prisoners carried the cross arm of the cross, the patibulum, weighing about 110 pounds 5. Still a lot for a beaten man! 6. Crowds lament; Jesus tells them to mourn for themselves and the upcoming disaster (Luke 23:27-31) 7. Jesus given wine mixed with gall/myrrh; tasted it; did not drink it (Matthew 27:33-34, Mark 15:22-23) a. Some believe that the mixture would help deaden pain, but why would soldiers who are torturing Him want to do that? b. More likely the mixture just tastes entirely disgusting, and represents another form of torture G. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:32-50, Mark 15:24-37, Luke 23:32-46, John 19:17-30) 1. Crucifixion seems to originate from Persians, brought into Near East and Classical worlds 2. Reserved for criminals of which Rome wanted to make examples 3. Unlikely the "Latin" cross popular in Western "Christendom;" more likely a tau or T cross 4. One of the most painful ways to die that man has ever imagined a. "excruciating" from Latin ex crucare, "from the cross" b. Death by asphyxiation, exposure, or hunger/dehydration c. The nails in wrists and ankles allow enough movement to continue to breathe but makes it extremely painful d. Rising up causes great leg pain; sinking down causes great pain in arms e. Many run out of strength, can no longer pull themselves up to breathe, asphyxiate (especially when legs are broken; John 18:31-32) f. "Stronger" victims would die of the other causes! 5. Jesus thus crucified, wrists and ankles nailed to the cross a. One nail in each wrist, both ankles with one nail (cf. John 20:25) b. Many think that Jesus was nailed on the cross by the palms, but such cannot bear the weight of the human body and would strip out between the fingers c. In ancient world, wrist as part of hand d. Unbelievable amount of pain 6. Crucified between two criminals a. Likely Barabbas' associates; Jesus is on the cross destined for Barabbas, after all! b. Initially they torment Him; one comes to repentance 7. Some clothes divided between soldiers; lot cast for the seamless tunic 8. Mary His mother, Mary Magdalene, John watch 9. Jesus says seven things: asks Father to forgive His executioners; tells thief that he will be with Jesus in Paradise; commissions John to care for Mary; quotes Psalm 22:1; says He thirsted; commends spirit to God; declares it is finished 10. Mocked by those passing by; also emotional pain of seeing pain of Mary, others, regarding His death 11. When He thirsts, given sour wine (=almost vinegar); last thing He tastes 12. Jesus endures at least 3 hours on the cross (cf. Matthew 27:45-46) H. Jesus' Death 1. Physicians have extrapolated His cause of death based on various details (Dr. C. Truman Davis, "A Physician's View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ," http://www.cbn.com/ SpiritualLife/OnlineDiscipleship/easter /A_Physician's_View_of_the_Crucifixion_of_Jesus_Christ.aspx, as with much of this lesson) 2. Heart failure! 3. Jesus had suffered greatly before He was crucified 4. Likely that tissue had lost too much fluid, compressing the heart 5. Pericardium around the heart fills with serum 6. Dehydration leads Jesus to declare that He thirsted (John 19:28) 7. At the end, heart, overly constricted, stressed, filled with fluid, fails 8. Postmortem evidence: blood and water come forth when Jesus' corpse is pierced by Roman spear (John 19:34-37), evidence of above I. After death, body taken down by Joseph of Arimathea, prepared, and buried 1. Matthew 27:57-66 / Mark 15:42-47 / Luke 23:50-56 / John 19:38-42 2. Body wrapped in cloths, prepared with much myrrh and aloes 3. Sealed in a rock-cut tomb III. Why Jesus Died A. Why did all of these terrible things have to happen? 1. Was He not the Word, God Incarnate (John 1:1, 14)? 2. It is said that He committed no sin, and deceit was not found in His mouth (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22) 3. If He is God, and if He did nothing wrong, how could He possibly have been killed? B. We are given a couple hints as to the reason within the Gospels themselves 1. John 1:29 2. Matthew 20:28 C. The Lamb 1. In order to understand the image of the lamb, one needs to understand animal sacrifices and the Law 2. Exodus 12:1-9, Leviticus 5:1-6 3. Lambs were often used (among other animals) as sacrifices to atone for sin 4. The sacrifice of the lamb was also a major feature of the Passover observance (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7) D. Why a Lamb? 1. But why would one sacrifice a lamb for sin? 2. Leviticus 17:11 (cf. Hebrews 9:22) 3. God established that the life of a creature is in the blood, and atonement can only be accomplished by the giving up of the animal life 4. The animal is considered as sinless: the animal "takes on" the sin of the one offering the sacrifice, allowing for the one offering to be cleansed of that sin 5. The lamb, therefore, dies so that the sinner can be cleansed and live E. Thus, Jesus the Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world! F. But why does Jesus have to be the Lamb of God? What is the "sin of the world" that needs to be taken away? G. The problem: all have sinned! 1. Why were the Israelites supposed to offer all of those animals? Because they had sin against them! 2. The problem of sin goes back to the Garden of Eden: Adam and Eve sinned, on that day they died a spiritual death, no recourse found (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-18) 3. Ever since, all people have committed sin at various times in their lives (Romans 3:9-23) H. The Problem of Sin 1. What's so bad about sin? 2. Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) 3. Sin is an affront to God's majesty, justice; He turns away from those who do evil (Habakkuk 1:13, Psalm 34:16, 1 Peter 3:12) 4. Those who have committed sin obtain the penalty of death, condemnation, eternal torment (Romans 6:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) I. Sin, therefore, leads to our spiritual ruin and condemnation! J. What can we do about our sin? 1. Unfortunately, absolutely nothing! 2. Any and all good works do not "erase" or "outweigh" the evil: this decision not based on "fairness" and "equality" (Romans 3:20)! 3. We have sinned, deserve death and condemnation, and can do nothing about it! K. What about animal sacrifices? 1. Yes, God did command them... 2. ...but the Hebrew author declares that they cannot really take away sin (Hebrews 10:4)! 3. No one can stand before God and expect to be justified by themselves or cleansed by the blood of animals! L. Thus, God would be just to condemn everyone for sin, and man would have no recourse! M. Yet God not only is a God of justice, but also love and mercy (Deuteronomy 32:4, Isaiah 30:8, 1 John 4:9, Nehemiah 9:17, 31)! N. Thus God sent His Son Jesus to be the Lamb who would take away the sin of the world, to give His life to be a ransom for many! 1. John 3:16, Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:3-8 2. Jesus' blood could atone since He was perfect and sinless, like a lamb (Isaiah 53, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 9:11-15) 3. Yet, unlike a lamb, Jesus was a conscious and willing sacrifice! O. Jesus' sacrifice done once for all 1. Hebrews 9:24-26 2. No more need for sacrificing of animals: Jesus' blood suffices to cover our sins 3. Sin, then, able to be entirely put away (cf. Romans 6:1-12) 4. Furthermore, it was for all people: there is not one person on earth whose sins cannot be forgiven by the blood of Christ (cf. 1 Timothy 1:12-16) P. Jesus' death inaugurates the new covenant 1. Hebrews 9:15-23 2. Through His death, Jesus begins a new covenant in His blood between God and man, with Himself as Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) 3. The old covenant could then be done away with (Colossians 2:14-17, Hebrews 7-8) Q. Jesus' death kills hostility between men 1. Ephesians 2:11-18 2. Jews were to find salvation in Jesus (cf. Romans 7:1-4) 3. Yet God also brings in the Gentiles (cf. Acts 10, 15) 4. Great hostility between these people 5. How could that hostility be ended? Through the blood of Christ, shed to reconcile both groups together 6. Indeed, salvation through Christ the equalizer of all people, regardless of race, class, culture (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11) R. Indeed, the salvation of all men and reconciliation of man in Jesus Christ the eternal plan of God (Ephesians 3:10-11)! IV. Conclusion A. Jesus of Nazareth died in perhaps the cruelest, most painful ways that man has ever invented B. Through His betrayal, abuse, scourging, and crucifixion, He experienced intense physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual pain and suffering C. He suffered all these things so that all of us could be redeemed from our sin, to become sin on our behalf! D. Let the death of Christ not be in vain for us! E. Let us be His obedient servants, and live! F. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified (Matthew 27:26). Jesus of Nazareth had entered Jerusalem in triumph. Within the week He had been delivered over to suffer and die by both the Jewish and Roman authorities. Jesus was violently beaten, nailed to a cross, and left to die. Let us never forget how terribly Jesus suffered! 2: And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit (Matthew 27:50). After six hours on the cross Jesus could bear the suffering no more; He yielded up His spirit and died. The exact cause of death is not revealed; perhaps it involved heart failure. Jesus suffered unto death and yet had done nothing wrong. We do well to be humbled by His example! 3: On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, “Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Why did Jesus have to die such a terrible death? John the Baptist spoke of Jesus as the Lamb of God, representing a pure, unblemished sacrifice for sin. Jesus could represent the ultimate sacrifice because He was human and yet never sinned. May we ever be thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice for us! 4: But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Technically Jesus did not have to live and die for us. God was not forced to send Him or to see Him suffer so. He could have just let us die in our sins and suffer the penalty. Instead, moved by His great love, He sent His Son to suffer so we could be reconciled to Him. Let us put our trust in God in Christ and love as He loved us!