Matthew 27:32-44 - Crucifixion

We now come to the crucifixion itself. It is quite amazing that all of the gospels focus so much of their time on the events of the last week. This is a measure of the fact that they saw it as the most important event in Jesus' life, indeed being absolutely central to it.

With the Romans the cross was a sign of their power. To the nations they dominated it was a sign of what they would do to anyone who resisted them. Jesus made it a symbol that signifies the giving of new life.

After the beatings Jesus may well have been unable to carry the cross, and Simon of Cyrene was enlisted to help. 

Jesus was offered wine mixed with gall, but refused to drink it. Maybe He was remembering His words about not drinking wine again until He came into His kingdom.

The soldiers cast lots for Jesus' clothes, and above His head they had placed a sign saying "Jesus, King of the Jews". They may have meant this mockingly, but in reality it was an indictment of those who had crucified Him.

Two criminals were crucified with Him. The crowds now mocked Him and insulted Him. The criminals also insulted Him, though elsewhere we read that one of them saw in the end who Jesus really was.

Matthew 27:27-31 - A Crown of Thorns

The Roman soldiers continued the humiliation of the Son of God. Jesus was stripped and then mockingly dressed in a scarlet robe. This was followed by a crown of thorns being put upon His head. This reads as though this was gently put upon His head, but the truth is that the thorns were long and it would be painfully placed upon His head.

Then they mockingly hailed Him as the king of the Jews. Then repeatedly they spat upon Him and beat Him. Then they took the robe off Him and replaced it with His own clothes. He was then led away to be crucified.

Remember that these are the same soldiers that Jesus would later forgive. All of us should be eternally grateful to Jesus for what He has done for us.

Matthew 27:11-26 - A murderer or a saviour?

The governor was Pontius Pilate. "Are you the king of the Jews?". The Jewish leaders would have tried to make out that Jesus was a revolutionary, or in danger of causing civil unrest. The governor would fear any unrest, for that would make him less than popular with his superiors. So, they hoped this would cause Pilate to have Jesus put to death.

The religious leaders brought all sorts of accusations against Jesus, but He remained silent in the midst of it all. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to remain silent, but it can also be the most powerful thing to do.

Pilate knew what the Jews were up to, but he was not willing to face them down directly, so he tried to find an indirect route out of the dilemma. So he gave the people a choice, they could free Jesus, or free Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a well-known trouble maker.

Pilate's wife had a dream about Jesus and warned her husband not to have anything to do with Him. 

The crowd demonstrate their fickleness in choosing Barabbas over Jesus. Just contrast this with their response a few days earlier when Jesus entered Jerusalem.

Then they compounded their sin by calling for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate knew there was no justice in this, but was unwilling to take a stand. So he infamously washed his hands of the matter. The people foolishly accept the blood of Jesus upon themselves, not realising what they are doing.

Matthew 27:1-10 - Hanging

Thing were going according to plan as far as the chief priests and religious leaders were concerned. So Jesus was bound and led away to Pilate, whom they hoped would have Him killed.

Judas saw what was happening and was filled with remorse. One wonders what he thought would happen when he betrayed Jesus. Maybe he thought it would be some easy money. Sin blinds us,our hearts and minds become clouded over, unable to see clearly. They twist and distort things so that we can justify what we do, but at some point an awakening happens and we realise the sordidness of what we have done. This is what happened to Judas.

Judas sought to make amends, or at least to assuage his conscience, by returning the silver to the priests. They were not interested. So Judas threw away the money and hanged himself.

The hypocrisy of the priests is shown by their sudden concern about what is proper and right. They put the money to a "good cause", while continuing to put their plan to have Jesus killed put into operation. We too can act in the same way sometimes. We can do some little thing right, to try and ease our conscience when we have done something wrong.

Matthew 26:69-75 - In denial

Now we see Peter's predicted denial coming to pass. Peter was in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him. She said she had seen him with Jesus. Peter denied it. It is particularly poignant that it was a servant girl to whom he denied Jesus. There was no immediate threat, he was not being accused by a soldier or some official. Of course, the whole situation was shot through with danger. Even so, his earlier words of commitment proved to be hollow. I think most of us know that there are times when we are no better. Jesus knew Peter better than Peter did, and He could accept the truth. Moreover, He knew that He was going to change Peter by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a few weeks later this same Peter would be standing up before thousands in Jerusalem declaring the Lordship of Jesus. We need the risen Christ, and we need the Holy Spirit if we are going to be and do what we are supposed to be and do.

Peter went out of the gateway and then denied Jesus again to another servant girl. After that several people said he was one of the disciples, Peter's Galilean accent giving him away. Yet again Peter denied it, this time all the more vehemently, throwing in a few curses and swearing for good measure.

Then the rooster crowed. At this point Peter realised what he had done, realised how right Jesus was about him, realised how weak and fickle he was. So he wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:57-68 - Before the Sanhedrin

Remember that all this was happening at night. There was a first a trial before the religious leaders, but they were under Roman authority. So in order to "get a result" they needed then to go to the Roman authorities for a second trial.

Jesus was taken before the high priest, Caiaphas, and Peter followed at a distance.

The priests wanted an excuse to have Jesus put to death. One wonders why they thought this would work, or was necessary. If Jesus was just a charlatan, then why worry about Him so much. If He was indeed the Son of God, then their actions were so clearly stupid and wrong.There are probably two factors at work: (i) they feared Him causing trouble with the Roman authorities, which could then threaten their nice accommodation with the Romans; (ii) the deceptiveness that sin always brings.

They tried their best to find evidence against Jesus, but failed, despite the "help" of many false witnesses (directly against the Law, by the way).

Then they got people who misquoted Jesus' words on the temple being destroyed. The priests demanded a reply from Jesus, but got none. The truth of the matter is that it was not really Jesus who was on trial, but all of mankind.

Then they bring the direct charge that He was claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus says that this is so, combining verses from Psalm 110:1, and Daniel 7:3.

This outraged the priests. However, this was possibly partly put on, for they would have been glad that they now had their justification for killing Him. For Jesus had equated Himself with God. So they they strike, mock and spit upon Jesus. This is no way for a court of law to act.

Matthew 26:47-56 - The Arrest

Now the arrest occurs. Judas came with a large crowd, armed with swords and clubs. Judas had arranged a signal, though one wonders why this was really necessary as Jesus would be well known, having hardly kept a low profile. Moreover, Jesus would have made Himself known anyway.

Jesus was in complete control of Himself, and invited Judas to do what he had come to do. Jesus was then arrested. One of the disciples, who elsewhere we learn was Peter, struck one of the soldier's ears off. Evidently  it was normal for the disciples to carry swords. 

Jesus rebuked Peter (not for the first time). Jesus was leading a different kingdom, and human swords will not help advance it. Jesus could have called upon countless numbers of angels if He so wished. But He had come to fulfil His scriptural purpose. 

Jesus then addresses the crowd, pointing out the ridiculousness of the situation. There was no need for the "kiss", no need for the swords. Jesus was not being taken against His will, but in accordance with Scripture. He was not leading a rebellion. He was completely open about what He was doing. 

Then in accordance with Jesus' earlier prediction, the disciples all fled.