Memorize: Illegal trials and crucifixion
Key Verses: 1, 11, 22, 26-27, 30, 34, 38
No concerns about coercive interrogation techniques back then. Flog the prisoner, then ask the questions. I guess most prisoners would blurt out whatever they could to get the flogging to stop, but not Jesus. He stays true to the end. He doesn’t give in to the easy way. Pilate knows Jesus is innocent, but bows to political pressure.
Pilate is a superstitious and suspicious man. When Jesus doesn’t cave in after the flogging and then talks about His power coming from God, this is almost too much for Pilate. How can anyone not cave? Everyone else has? What is different about Jesus? Could He be God as I have heard that He claims? He tries to set Jesus free, but gets backed into a corner.
Jesus receives the death penalty for being innocent! He is nailed to a cross, the capital punishment instrument of that day. The guards get their piece of the action by gambling for the leftover clothes. Jesus takes care of His mother by giving responsibility for her care to one of the disciples. He asks for a drink and dies. They check to confirm his death. He is taken down and put in a new stone tomb by two powerful religious leaders who became His followers.
Without Jesus’ death, His words are empty. Liars are not people to be trusted. If He lied about who He was, why should be believe what He says about anything else in life? How can we trust anything He said? But three days later, Jesus is alive again.
Despite the illegal trials and crucifixion, Jesus is triumphant.
REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase.
The Arnold Journey 