[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 27
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF (vs. 1-10)
The chief priests and the elders bound Jesus and handed Him over to Pilate, the governor. Judas realized that he had betrayed innocent blood, so he went to the chief priests and returned the 30 pieces silver coins. But the chief priests and the elders refused to receive it. So, Judas threw the money into the temple and went away. This fulfilled the prophesy in Zechariah 11:13 which says “And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’ – the handsome price at which they priced me! So, I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter”. The chief priests picked up the money and bought a potter field called the Field of Blood as a burial place for foreigners. Jeremiah also prophesized about the Potter’s House in chapter 18. Here, Matthew wrote: “They took the 30 silver coins, the price put on Him by the people of Israel and they used them to buy the potter’s field as the Lord commanded me” (vs. 9-10)
JESUS BEFORE PILATE (vs. 11-26)
When Jesus stood before Pilate, the governor asked: “Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus replied: “Yes, it is as you say” (v. 11). It was the governor’s customs at the Feast to release a prisoner by the crowd. A notorious prisoner called Barabbas was presented to them. Pilate asked the crowd whom to release. The chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to release Barabbas and had Jesus executed. Pilate saw no crime in Jesus, so he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd and said: “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility”. All the people answered: “Let His blood be on us and on our children” (vs. 25). So, Pilate released Barabbas and had Jesus flogged and handed Him to be crucified.
THE SOLIERS MOCK JESUS (VS. 27-31)
These are what people did to Jesus:
- The soldiers stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
- They twisted a crown of thorns and set it on His head.
- They put a staff in His right hand and mocked Him – saying “Hail King of the Jews”
- They spit on Him.
- They took the staff and struck Him on the head
- They took of the robe and put his own clothes and led Him away to be crucified.
THE CRUCIFIXION (vs. 32-44)
While on their way, they forced a man from Cyrene named Simon to carry the cross. They reached a place called Golgotha (which means the ‘Place of the Skull’). They crucified Him and cast lots to divide His cloths. The charge : “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” was placed above his head. Two robbers, one at the right and one on the left were crucified with him. People passed by hurled insults at Him saying: “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” The chief priest, teachers of Law and the elders also mocked Him saying: “He saved others but He can’t save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue Him now if He wants Him, for He said: “I am the Son of God” (vs. 36-43)
THE DEATH OF JESUS (vs. 57-65)
About the 9th hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (v. 46). Then he gave up His spirit. At that moment, the curtain of the temple torn into two. The earth shook and rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life and appeared to many people. The centurion and those guarding Jesus were terrified and exclaimed: “Surely, He was the Son of God” (v. 54). Among the women there were Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Joses (Greek , a variant of Joseph) and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
THE BURIAL OF JESUS (vs. 57-65)
A rich man named Joseph was a disciple of Jesus. He came to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and placed it in his own new tomb, and rolled a big stone in front of the entrance.
THE GUARD AT THE TOMB (vs. 62-65)
The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and asked him to secure the tomb so that Jesus’ disciples could not steal His body and deceived people that He had raised from the dead. Hence, he had the tomb secured by putting seal on the stone and posting the guard.
LESSONS:
- Judas betrayed innocent blood because of the 30 silver coins and that led him to commit suicide. – The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10)
- Jesus did not reply when accused. – There is a time to speak and a time to be silent (Eccl. 3:7)
- Jesus was greatly abused. But he never retaliated because He committed Himself to His Father. – Are you willing to commit yourself to the Lord?
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