That Jesus claimed to be God.

The danger in compromising Christ as Pilate did.

To teach that we make a mockery of His authority to be our King by not serving Him. Vs. 16-20

To teach the privilege of cross bearing.

That the scriptures will all be fulfilled.

To teach why Jesus could not save Himself.

To teach how we can today please our Saviour.

INTRODUCTION: In last week's lesson, we studied about Jesus being tried illegally, first before Annas and then before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. This was illegal because it was against the law for the Sanhedrin (the seventy member ruling body of Judaism) to convene and try anyone during the night. But they did and decided to ask Pilate to have Him killed. In our lesson today we study of their success and of our Lord's humiliation and death.

After sun up, the Sanhedrin met and formally condemned Jesus, bound Him and delivered Him to Pilate.

Vs. 2-5 -- The charge they brought against Jesus is not given in detail here but in Luke 23:2, three charges were specified:

Perverting the nation.

Forbidding to give tribute to Caesar.

Saying that He Himself was Christ a King; and in Verse 5, of stirring up the people.

Jesus' answer, "Thou sayest" meant "It is as thou sayest".

Vs. 6-15 -- Pilate didn't have to ask the people who to release but he was more concerned with pleasing the people than with pleasing God. He had been warned by his wife (Matthew 27:19) and he had admitted Jesus was the King of the Jews (Mark 15:9). He knew all this by the chief Priests was a plot (Vs. 10). But he chose the easy way and chose Barabbas. Are any of you choosing something instead of Christ? Eg. Companions, dancing, some church, some sin, selfishness?

In verse 15, the official decree was handed down to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus. They scourged Him with a lash that had bits of bones and lead that would cut deep. His back became a bloody mass of flesh.

Vs. 16-20 -- The purple was supposed to be a sign of Hebrew "royalty" The salutations "Hail, King, etc.", were done in a theatrical manner. The crown was a pretend hallmark of regal authority. The whole riotous scene was one of blasphemy. The crown bore no diadems but large piercing, painful thorns. The reed strokes and spit were mingled agony and shame.

Northward the doomed prisoner was led by His guards to a place of execution without the city wall. He carried the cross for some of the distance (John 19:17) and then Simon, a man from North Africa was compelled to bear His cross. What a privilege! What rewards! His name inscribed as the cross bearer for Jesus. What a distinction in life to have! God would have us all carry a cross of self-denial and serve Him even as Simon did.

Vs. 24 -- Crucifixion was a horrible way to die. The most savage tribes, in their cruelty, could not have heaped more agonizing torture on their worst enemy than was heaped upon our Lord. We would all do well to stop and meditate upon this whole scene and refresh our minds as to the terrible agony He bore for us. Isaiah 53:5,6. Let us remember He did not have to do this for He was God. Matthew 26:53.

Vs. 25 -- The third hour was 9:00 A.M. He was crucified at the same time that the Passover Lambs were being slain in Jerusalem. I Corinthians 5:7

Vs. 26 -- This superscription was in Latin, Hebrew and Greek. Luke 23:38.

Vs. 27&28 -- CF. Isaiah 53:9,12

Vs. 29-32 -- CF. Psalm 22:6-8,12,13,16. It was true, He could not save Himself, for if He had, He could not have saved you and me and He would not have fulfilled the Scriptures. Titus 1:2; Hebrews 9:22; John 18:14; 3:14-16.

Vs. 33&34 -- From 9:00 until 12:00 Jesus hung in the boiling sun. At noon, God the Father covered the sun, the moon and the stars so that none could look on His Son while He was taking our Hell for us. Now for the first time in Eternity past and for the last time in Eternity future, God the Father broke fellowship with God the Son and turned His back on Him as He (Jesus) became sin for us. I Corinthians 5:21. He became forsaken by the Father. People in Hell are forsaken of God and here Jesus took that forsakenness for us. Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; Psalms 22:1.

Vs. 35-37 -- Jesus died when He wanted to and not before. He died after crying out with a loud voice, "It is finished." Luke 23:46. When He bowed His head and gave up the ghost. He was composed. He never lost His sense nor His composure.

The veil in the temple divided the holy place from the "Most Holy Place". The latter was where God had said that He would commune with the people there (Exodus 25:10-22). The High Priest could only enter this place once each year and then only if he entered with a basin of blood -- Leviticus 16:1-16. The veil was torn down from the top, signifying God did it and it occurred at the precise moment Jesus died, thus ending the sacrifice of a goat (an innocent animal) on the Day of Atonement. Now God would meet man whenever man would accept His Son as his/her Saviour. Romans 5:10. CF. Hebrews, Chapters 9 & 10:10-14.

Vs. 39 -- The centurion (one who had put Him to death) acclaimed Him as God. Only one who was God could die in such a manner as Jesus did. No one else could die at the time they so desired, as Jesus did. And when all that took place -- the earthquake, the graves opening, the darkness, etc.; all this would only take place were the Son of God dying. Christianity was magnified when the centurion acclaimed Him as God.

Vs. 40&41 -- The woman who followed Jesus magnified Christianity for it was a dangerous thing at this point to be there in sympathy with Him. But these followers cared not for their own well-being. They were concerned about Him and His needs. They would certainly be a blessing to Him for Him to see them denying themselves, risking death and following Him. Even today this makes joyful the heart of Christ for Him to see us setting our selves aside and following Him, serving Him, showing the world that we are on His side. Are you making Him glad or sad?

CONCLUSION: As we have thought today on our Saviour's humiliation and death, surely our hearts have been stirred at His suffering for us. It should make us more willing to suffer for Him. Discuss some ways in which we can serve Him and sacrifice for Him.