Gospels (80) - Matthew 27:15-23, Mark 15:6-15, Luke 23:13-23 & John 18:39-19:16

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Gospels

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Rusty's Notes

LUKE 23:6-12  (Review)
JESUS FACES HEROD ANTIPAS
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
- Pilate placed into leadership by Sejanus.

• Sejanus lost the trust of Tiberius.
• Tiberius devised a plan to rid Sejanus of his evil ways.
• Sejanus was arrested, tried and executed all in the same day.

7 Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time, he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him. 9 So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in bright clothing, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been enemies.[1]

• Any time a person values their job more than they value their integrity, they will always compromise their decisions.
• Any time a leader lacks integrity then the people that support the leader will lack integrity and history has proven that nation will not stand.
• (Refer to Luke 23:13)

 
MATTHEW 27:15-26
JESUS OR BARABBAS
15 At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over.
19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.”
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus.

• Pilate’s wife confirmed that Jesus was innocent.

21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.

• Barabbas = Bar-abba = “son of the father”
• Some ancient manuscripts of Matthew have his full name, Jesus Barabbas – “Jesus, son of the father”
• Coincidence?
• (Refer to Luke 23:18)

22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.[2]
 
MARK 15:6-15
JESUS OR BARABBAS
6 At the festival Pilate used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. 7 There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion.

• Charge against Barabbas was sedition against Rome.
• Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.

8 The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. 9 Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over.

• (Refer to Matthew 27:19)

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?”
13 Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”
14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified. [3]
 
LUKE 23:13-25
JESUS OR BARABBAS
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of.

• No civil charges had been brought to Pilate
• They did refer to Jesus as “a king”

15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”

• (Refer to John 18:39)

18 Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

• Barabbas convicted of murder
• Jesus was innocent
• “Well, that’s not fair.”
• Jesus died unfairly for the unfair.
• Life here on earth is not fair.
• Our kids drop that line all the time.
•  (Refer to John 19:1)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices won out. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.[4]
 
JOHN 18:39 – 19:16
39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

• Jewish custom
•  - (Refer to Mark 15:6)

40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.
 
JESUS FLOGGED AND MOCKED
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.

• Scourged with whip (Pieces of bone & glass)
• There was an artistry to scourging.
• Eusebius – Ecclesiastical History, IV, 15)
  “For… those standing around were struck with amazement, at seeing them lacerated with scourges to their very blood and arteries, so that now the flesh concealed in the very inmost parts of the body and bowels themselves were exposed to view.” These blows would have also been directed toward the face, fulfilling Isaiah 52:14 – ‘So His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’”

2 The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and clothed him in a purple robe.

• Mocking him.

3 And they kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping his face.
4 Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I’m bringing him out to you to let you know I find no grounds for charging him.”

• 3rd time Pilate states that Jesus is innocent.

5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

• “Behold the man!”
• No slang name… no corrupt name.
• Pilate saw something in Jesus that he respected Him at his own sentencing.
• Pilate… who hated the Jews, respected Jesus.
• “Behold the Man.”

 
PILATE SENTENCES JESUS TO DEATH
6 When the chief priests and the temple servants saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate responded, “Take him and crucify him yourselves, since I find no grounds for charging him.”
7 “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

• Pilate freaked out at this point.
• His wife’s voice was in his head.

8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. 9 He went back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?”

• Inflection… demanding? curiosity? For real?
• Pilate is fascinated with Jesus’ life

But Jesus did not give him an answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?”

• Pilate had no idea this was the Trinity’s plan from eternity past.
• Pilate had no idea that Jesus preferred to go to the cross rather than be released.

11 “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

• Did God hand Jesus over to Pilate? No…
• Jesus is referring to Caiaphas (the Roman High Priest), indicting both the Jews and the Romans.

12 From that moment Pilate kept trying to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

• Remember what happened to Sejanus?

13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s seat in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Aramaic, Gabbatha). 14 It was the preparation day for the Passover (Friday), and it was about noon (6th hour – Roman time - 12/12).

• Day of preparation for the Chagigah sacrifice.
• Can’t possibly be Noon because then it would contradict Mark 15:25)
• Mark 15:25 - 25 Now it was nine in the morning (3rd hour – Jewish time – 6 to 6 – Sunrise/Sundown)  when they crucified him.[5]

Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”
15 They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”
“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

• Are you kidding me?
• The Jews are going to recognize Caesar as their sovereign leader?
• They have just blasphemed.
• The same crime they were convicting Jesus of.
• They just freed up Pilate…
• Roman officials recorded their response and sent it back to Caesar.
• Pilate just won.
• Pilate had washed his hands of Jesus.
• The Jewish leaders will be responsible for Jesus’ death.
• And Pilate looks good in the eyes of Roman leadership.

16 Then he handed him over to be crucified.[6]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 23:6–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 27:15–26). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 15:6–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 23:13–25). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 15:25). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 18:39–19:16). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.