Studies in the Life of Christ - Mike Bickle
Studies in the Life of Christ - Mike Bickle
Session 25 Jesus’ Arrest, Trial, and Death (Lk. 22-23) Page 5
Session 25 Jesus’ Arrest, Trial, and Death (Lk. 22-23)
I. The final week: an overview
A. Friday and Saturday: Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before Passover, on Friday, the eve of the Sabbath (Jn. 12:1). A dinner was held in Jesus’ honor at Simon’s house on Saturday night after the Sabbath. At that dinner Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with costly perfume for His burial.
1Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany…2They made Him a supper…
3Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair…4Judas…said, 5“Why was this fragrant oil not sold…and given to the poor?”… 7But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.”
(Jn. 12:1-7)
B. Sunday: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, then He cleansed the temple (Mt. 21:1-17).
C. Monday: Jesus cursed the fig tree and taught in the temple (Mt. 21:18-20).
D. Tuesday: Jesus rebuked the Pharisees (Mt. 23) and gave the Olivet Discourse (Mt. 24).
E. Wednesday: The authorities plotted to kill Jesus (Lk. 22:1-6).
F. Thursday: Jesus ate the Last Supper with His disciples and washed their feet (Jn. 13). Then He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane where He was arrested. Later Peter denied Him (Lk. 22:39-62).
G. Friday: Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin early Friday morning and then before Pilate and Herod Antipas. Jesus was crucified, hanging on the cross from 9am to 3pm.
H. Sunday: Jesus rose from the dead. Yes, He is risen!!!
II. tHE Jewish authorities PLOTted TO ARREST JESUS (Lk. 22:1-6)—Wednesday
A. The Sanhedrin’s plot to kill Jesus (22:1-6; cf. Mt. 26:1-5; Mk. 14:1-2): Satan entered Judas, energizing him to make a deal to deliver Jesus to the Jewish authorities. Jesus’ presence in Jerusalem at Passover gave them the opportunity to put Jesus on trial before Pilate and Herod Antipas who were in Jerusalem for the Passover.
1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. 3Then Satan entered Judas…4So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them…6He promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them… (Lk. 22:1-6)
B. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was celebrated for seven days. Originally the Passover was a one-day feast occurring the day before the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Eventually they combined these two feasts. The Jews referred to the whole period as the feast of Unleavened Bread and/or the feast of Passover (Acts 12:3-4).
C. Preparation for Passover meal (22:7-13; cf. Mt. 26:17-19; Mk. 14:12-16): The Jews killed their Passover lamb on 14 Nisan (Thursday) and ate it after sundown (the start of their Friday).
7Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us…”13So they…prepared the Passover.
(Lk. 22:7-13)
D. Jesus ate the Passover meal in the upper room (22:14-18; cf. Mt. 26:20; Mk. 14:17). This happened on what we consider Thursday night. (Since it was after sundown, it was technically their Friday.)
15Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before
I suffer; 16for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Lk. 22:15-16)
E. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (22:19-20; cf. Mt. 26:26- 29; Mk 14:22-25). After this, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet there in the upper room (Jn. 13:1-20).
19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. (Lk. 22:19-20)
F. Jesus identified His betrayer (22:21-23; cf. Mt. 26:21-25; Mk. 14:18-21; Jn. 13:21-30). God’s sovereign plan for Jesus’ death did not alleviate Judas’ human responsibility for his sin (Acts 2:23).
21But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. 22And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. (Lk. 22:21-23)
G. The apostles disputed over who was the greatest after Jesus spoke of His betrayal (22:24-30). Jesus honored His immature disciples for “continuing with Him” in His trials without quitting (22:28). Jesus promised that they would fellowship with Him and rule under Him (Rev. 3:21). He promised this to them earlier (Mt. 19:28). This promise points to the restoration of the state of Israel (22:30).
24Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest…26he who is greatest among you, let him be…as he who serves…28“But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29And I bestow upon you a kingdom…30that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
(Lk. 22:24-30)
H. Jesus’ first prediction of Peter’s denial was given in the upper room (22:31-34; cf. Jn. 13:36-38). Satan sought to shake Peter in an intense way, which Jesus compared to sifting wheat to separate it from the chaff. Satan’s purpose was to cause Peter to fall and live in unfaithfulness to Jesus. After their meal, Jesus gave an important teaching and prayed in the upper room (Jn. 13:31-17:26).
31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” (Lk. 22:31-34)
III. JESUS was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:39-53)
A. Jesus and the apostles went to the Mount of Olives to pray in the garden of Gethsemane (22:39; cf. Mk. 14:26; Jn. 18:1).
39Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed… (Lk. 22:39)
B. Jesus’ agonizing prayers while in Gethsemane (22:40-46; cf. Mt. 26:30, 36-46; Mk. 14:32-42): Jesus called the disciples to see their need to pray to be strengthened in coming temptation.
40When He came to the place [Gethsemane], He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41And He…prayed, 42saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44…His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45When He…had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. (Lk. 22:40-45)
C. Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane (22:47-53; cf. Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Jn. 18:2-12). John identified Peter as the one who swung his sword at the servant’s head and cut off his ear (Jn. 18:10).
47And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and…Judas…48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”…50One of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus…touched his ear and healed him. (Lk. 22:47-51)
50But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came…took Him. (Mt. 26:50)
IV. JESUS was put on trial by Jewish and Roman authorities (Lk. 22:54-23:25)
A. Jesus was put on trial twice— by Israel’s religious leaders and by Rome’s political leaders.
- He was questioned by Israel’s leaders—by Annas (Jn. 18:13-24), then Caiaphas (22:54; cf. Mt. 26:57-66; Mk. 14:53-64), and then the Sanhedrin (22:66-71; cf. Mt. 27:1; Mk. 15:1).
- Jesus was questioned by Rome’s leaders—by Pilate (23:1-7; cf. Mt. 27:2, 11-14; Mk. 15:1-5; Jn. 18:28-38), then Herod Antipas (23:8-12), and Pilate a second time (23:13-25; cf. Mt. 27:15-26; Mk. 15:6-15; Jn. 18:39-19:16).
B. Peter denied Jesus in the courtyard (22:54-62; cf. Mt. 26:69-75; Mk. 14:66-72; Jn. 18:25-27). Mark identified another servant girl challenging Peter (Mk. 14:69). Luke highlighted a man who joined her in accusing Jesus.
54Having arrested Him, they…brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard…56A certain servant girl, seeing him [Peter]…said, “This man was also with Him.” 57But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58…another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59Then after about an hour…another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow was with Him…” 60Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately…the rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows,
you will deny Me three times.” 62So Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Lk. 22:54-62)
C. Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin very early on Friday morning (22:66-71; cf. Mt. 27:1; Mk. 15:1). This occurred after Annas and Caiaphas questioned Jesus very late into the night. The Sanhedrin was the council of Israel’s elders with national authority— it functioned like their supreme court.
66As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council… 70They all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.” 71And they said, “What further testimony do we need?”
(Lk. 22:66-71)
D. Jesus was sent to Pilate to be questioned (23:1-7; cf. Mt. 27:2, 11-14; Mk. 15:1-5; Jn. 18:28-38). The Sanhedrin pressed Pilate to find Jesus guilty of insurrection.
1Then the whole multitude of them [the Sanhedrin] arose and led Him to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow…forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that
He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd,
“I find no fault in this Man.” 5But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.” (Lk. 23:1-5)
E. Then Pilate sent Jesus to Herod in case he might have evidence of Jesus’ rebellion against Rome while in Galilee which was under Herod’s rule. Herod was much more knowledgeable about Jewish matters than Pilate.
6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time (Lk. 23:6-7)
F. Jesus stood trial before Herod Antipas (23:8-12).
8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him…he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and scribes…vehemently accused Him. 11Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. (Lk. 23:8-11)
G. Jesus stood again before Pilate (23:13-25; cf. Mt. 27:15-26; Mk. 15:6-15; Jn. 18:39-19:16).
13Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14said to them, “…I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15no, neither did Herod, for…nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. (Lk. 23:13-15)
H. Jesus experienced the rage of mob mentality and violence (23:17-25).
17…for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast. 18And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—19who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion…and for murder…21They shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”…23They were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified…24So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. 25And he…delivered Jesus to their will.
(Lk. 23:17-25)
V. THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (lk. 23:26-49)
A. Jesus’ journey to Golgotha (23:26-32; cf. Mt. 27:31-34; Mk. 15:20-23; Jn. 19:17): Cyrene was in North Africa. Criminals had to carry the large crossbeam to the place they were to be crucified.
26Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian…and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.” (Lk. 23:26)
B. Jesus prophesied about terrible suffering that was to come to Jerusalem (23:29-31). They would see their children suffer so much that it would be better to have been barren. Jesus is referring to Hosea 10:8, describing God’s judgment on Israel’s rebellion. Jesus predicted God’s judgment on Jerusalem. The people would call on the mountains to hide them from God’s judgment (Rev. 6:15-16). Suffering in Jerusalem in AD 70 and during the Great Tribulation (Zech. 14:1) are in view here.