Good Friday
Good Friday
Matthew 27:1-61
As morning came, the chief priests and elders met officially, following their unofficial and illegal meeting the night before. This morning's trial was the same as the night before…”They conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death. They bound Him, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate the Governor.” (Matt. 27:1-2)
Judas’ Remorse
Matthew 27:1-9
When he saw Jesus was going to be put to death, Judas regretted betraying Jesus and went to the elders, begging them to stop what they were doing. They did not care nor want the money back, so Judas threw back the thirty pieces of silver and left. In his unrepentant despair, Judas took his own life. Considering the money as unclean, the priests decided to use it to purchase the Potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. “And that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel; and they gave them for the Potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.’” (Matt. 27:9-10, Zechariah 11:12-13)
Jesus Before Pilate
Matthew 27:11-26
As they delivered Him to Pilate, the priests accused Jesus of claiming to be a king and defying Caesar (Luke 23:2). Standing beaten and bloody before Pilate, the governor asks with probable sarcasm, “‘Are you the king of the jews?’ and Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you say,” (Matt. 27:11).
The chief priests were shouting and accusing Him of many things, yet He remained silent. Pilate was puzzled and amazed that Jesus remained quiet to the various allegations being raised against Him.
At the feast of Passover, it was custom for the governor to release a prisoner of the people’s choosing. Pilate knew the elders had handed over Jesus because of envy and emotion, and he hoped to release Jesus. At the time, a notorious prisoner Barrabas was being held. So, Pilate asked the people, “‘Who is it that you would like me to release for you, Barrabas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?’” (Matt. 27:17). The elders swayed the crowd and they began to shout for Barrabas. Pilate asked what then shall he do with Jesus, and the crowd roared “Crucify Him!” (Matt. 27:22-23).
Jesus’ cross was for Barrabas. He probably heard the crowd yell, “Crucify Him!” and thought he was awaiting death as guards appeared at his cell. Barrabas knew the meaning of the cross before we did, but we do not know if he took it to heart.
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and declared Him as so. He washed his hands in front of the crowd as a meaningless act to absolve his guilt and proclaimed Jesus’ blood is on their hands, not his. “And all the people said, ‘His blood shall be on us and on our children!’ Then he released Barrabas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.” (Matt. 27: 25-26).
Knowing Jesus was innocent, Pilate chose to have him flogged, an act done before every Roman execution with the purpose of weakening the victim near to the point of death. Jesus was struck numerous times with iron balls, leather thongs, and sheep bones that tore into His flesh and muscles.
Jesus is Mocked
Matthew 27:27-32
“The soldiers of the governor took Jesus into Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.” (Matt. 27:27) Only a few soldiers would have been necessary, yet the whole cohort of soldiers arrived to beat and mock Jesus.
They stripped Jesus of His clothes, mocked Him, beat him, and humiliated Him. They put a scarlet robe over His bleeding, fleshed back, twisted together a crown of thorns, pressed it into His head, and put a reed in His right hand. They mocked Him by kneeling and sneering, “Hail, King of the jews!” (Matt. 27:29). Then the mockery turned to cruelty. They took the reed from Him and beat His head repeatedly with it. Before leading Him away, they took off the scarlett robe and put back on His garments. Jesus was brutally beaten and utterly exhausted. As He began carrying His cross, which weighed close to 100 lbs, soldiers found a man named Simon and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. Though Simon was a traveller and possibly unaware of who Jesus was other than an accused criminal, Mark 15:21 and Romans 16:13 share that Simon’s family became early leaders in the Christian church!
The Crucifixion
Matthew 27:38-41
Jesus arrived at Golgotha, the Place of a Skull, and he was offered “wine mixed with gall” but refused to drink it. This was a pain-numbing drink commonly offered before being hung on the cross, yet Jesus refused it. (Matt. 27:33-34)
The Romans crucified Him. On the cross above His head, they put a sign that read “THIS IS JESUS KING OF THE JEWS”. They sat to keep watch over Him and divided up his garments among themselves by casting lots. Beside Jesus were two criminals. The bystanders, chief priests, and crowds were all mocking him, saying if He is God that He should save himself. “He trusts in God; Let God God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”(Matt. 27:37,43)
At the sixth hour, complete darkness covered the earth until the ninth hour. And “Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘ELI, ELI LAMA SABACHTHANI?’ that is, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Matt. 27:46). The crowd speculated that Elijah may come save Him and someone ran to give Jesus a drink on a sponge.
Jesus’ Death
Matthew 27:50-54
As Jesus takes his last breath, God makes it known that Jesus was His Son.
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and rocks were split. The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;” (Matt. 27:50-52). The Roman soldiers keeping watch over Him instantly knew He was God.
Burial of Jesus
Matthew 27:59-61
As the evening came, a rich man named Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. He agreed, and Joseph wrapped Jesus’ body in linen cloth and laid Him in a new tomb that he had made. Joseph rolled a large stone to cover the tomb.
Written By: Catherine Cagnina