The Passion Week – Remembering The Resurrection
Jesus is alive! There are four defining moments during the Passion week that have transformed countless lives because of the greatest event in human history.
I. First, the hostility of the deception of the mock trial!
Have you ever studied the “Mock Trial” of Jesus Christ? Here is the condensed version of the mock trial:
(1) Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver! (Matthew 26:14-16)—The religious crowd of their day, the chief priests, hated Jesus and were determined to get rid of Him. Why? In my own words… He would not fit in their box!
(2) After Jesus is arrested in the garden, He appears before Annas!—Jesus is questioned on two main points, His disciples and doctrine (John 18:12-14, 19-23).
(3) Next, Jesus stands before Caiaphas & the Sanhedrin!—This acting high priest cooperated with this illegal procedure along with the 71 members of the Sanhedrin who were under Roman law and did not have the power to execute Jesus (Matthew 26:57, 59-68; 27:1).
(4) From there, Jesus goes to Pilate, the Roman Governor of the Judea province!—“And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor” (Matthew 27:2; John 18:28-38).
(5) Jesus is sent to king Herod!—Although Herod was glad to meet Him, he allowed his soldiers to abuse Him (Luke 23:6-12).
(6) Back to Pilate!—“…Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?…Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified” (Matthew 27:15-26). Even though Pilate found “no fault” in Jesus (we cannot either), he caved in as a coward to the calloused crowd.
(7) To the Cross!—“And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 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! ….and led him away to crucify him” (Matthew 27:31-34-37).
Conclusion: It is all in God’s plan! Jesus came to earth to die for our sins. He predicted that He would be delivered into sinful man’s hands and die, but rise again. “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again” (Luke 24:6-7).
II. Second, the agony of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ!
As Jesus Christ was suffering, bleeding, and literally dying on a cruel Roman cross for a crime He did not commit, but because of our sins, He uttered these words. Please take time to ponder, process, and appropriate the meaning of these last words of Jesus while nailed to the cross:
(1) Words of meditation!—“Father, forgive them…” Imagine. Forgive them instead of kill them.
(2) Words of salvation!—“Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Notice Jesus said the word “today,” not “in a million years.”
(3) Words of delegation!—“Woman, behold thy Son” (John 19:26). Though suffering in agony and pain at life’s most difficult time, did you notice our Lord Jesus showed compassion and concern for His mother and disciple?
(4) Words of substitution!—“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). While having the sins of the whole world placed on Him (there was no sin in Him), Jesus Christ—though He was God, experienced what hell would be like for all of us. This is hard to comprehend.
(5) Words of asphyxiation!—“I thirst” (John 19:28). The physical torture of being nailed to a cross makes it impossible to breathe without excruciating pain. The lungs of the victim fill up with fluid, and exert pressure on the heart and body. It appears ultimately, Jesus died of a ruptured heart. Evidence of this was seen by those standing by, including John, when a spear was thrust into Jesus’ side. “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34).
(6) Words of submission!—“It is finished” (John 19:30). All that man had lost in the garden by falling into transgression of sin was won back by Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
(7) Words of completion!—“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit” (Luke 23:46). The Spirit leaves the body at death. This is why Paul said these words, “…absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Conclusion: Praise the Lord for Jesus going all the way! He did not shy away or turn back from His mission. Instead, Jesus chose to be abused for our sakes! He did not grow bitter, but rather He bowed His head and became obedient unto death. In so doing, He defeated death. Through His pain and suffering, He is able to set us free! Now, we can be “free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and one day—the presence of sin”! Oh what a Savior!
III. Third, The Victory of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
“Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5). Here the two angelic eyewitnesses of the resurrection explain that Jesus has risen from the dead! This spells hope and eternal life! This adds credibility and authority to the person of Jesus Christ. Just ask Thomas, Mary Magdalene, the two on the road to Emmaus, Paul, and this Pastor.
Transformed lives are a result of the resurrected Lord Jesus!
IV. Fourth, The Glory of the Revelation of Jesus’ Return!
This validates the promises that the resurrected Lord Jesus will come again. When He does, there will be another resurrection of all those who have died believing and receiving by faith—Jesus Christ. But until that day, be blessed and be a blessing.
For more teaching on this subject watch “The Passion Week of Jesus Christ (Mock Trial to Resurrection)” on our YouTube Channel. Visit https://www.youtube.com/untilthatday for this video along with much more Bible teaching, including over 80 videos on Bible prophecy. Every day, more and more people are becoming aware of the significance of Bible prophecy.
God’s Word is being fulfilled all around us. Learn to talk intelligently and spiritually with your loved ones about the things unfolding in our world today.