Essay
The
Sufferings of Christ
A
Godly “Example” of Christian
Ministry (John 13:15)
(KJV/ NASV) Italics and highlighted
for emphasis....Copied from the Special
Arrangement New Testament”(KJV), Midwestern Publishing Co., Inc.
Paducah
,
Ky.
Inserts of the NASV by Hoyte E. Nelson
But I say unto you, (Jesus speaking to the disciples), I
will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink
it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29, KJV).
Gethsemane
“And
he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father,
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as
thou wilt”
(Matthew 26:39, KJV).
I. Jesus, before Caiaphas, and high
priests and elders at
Jerusalem
:
In that same hour [that
Jesus prayed in the
garden
of
Gethsemane
] Jesus said to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords
and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye
laid no hold on me. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the
elders were assembled” (Matthew 26:55,57, KJV).
“At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you
come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you
would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and
you did not seize Me...
Those
who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the
scribes and the elders were gathered together” (Matthew 26:55,57 NASV)
“Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false
witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many
false witnesses came, yet found they none. At
the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the
temple
of
God
, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him,
answerest thou nothing? what is it which
these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest
answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us
whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, “Thou hast
said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting
on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high
priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need
have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
What think ye? They answered and said, He
is guilty of death. Then did they spit in
his face, and buffeted him, and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” (Matthew
26:59-68, KJV).
“ Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their
fists; and others slapped Him,
and said, “Prophesy to us, You
Christ; who is the one who hit You?” (Matthew 26:67,68, NASV).
II. Jesus, before Pilate:
“When the morning was come,
all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put
him to death: “And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he
answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things
they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that
the governor marveled greatly. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with
Jesus which is called Christ? They all
say unto him, Let him be crucified. Then
the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto
him the whole band of soldiers.
And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had
platted a crown of thorns, they put it
upon his head and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him,
and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And
they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after
that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own
raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him”
(Matthew 27:1,12-14,22,27-31, KJV).
“Then the soldiers of the
governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman
cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And
after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a
reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying,
“Hail, King of the Jews!” They
spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they
had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe
off Him and put His own garments back
on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him (Matthew 27:27-28, NASV)
Mark gives this account: “And
they smote him on the head with a reed,
and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him” (Mark 15:19).
John gives us this account, “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and
scourged him (John 19:1-3, KJV).
The NASV says, “ Pilate then took Jesus and scourged
Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His
head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and
to give Him slaps in the face” (John 19:1-3, NASV).
[Luke gives this account of Jesus
standing before Herod (Luke
23:6-11, KJV)]. “When Pilate heard
it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He
belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Hero ho himself also was in
Jerusalem
at that time. Now
Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long
time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign
performed by Him.And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him
nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him
vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and
mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate” (Luke
23:6-11
III.
Jesus led away to
Calvary
:
Matthew’s
Account: “And as they came out [of
the Judgment hall called the Praetorium], they found a man of
Cyrene
, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross” (Matthew 27:32 KJV).
Mark’s Account: “And they
compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the
father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross” (Mark 15:21, KJV)
Luke’s Account: “And as they
led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the
country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it
after Jesus” (Luke 23:26< KJV).
John’s Account: “ Then
delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and
led him away. And he (Simon the
Cyrene
, according the synoptic gospels), bearing his cross went forth into a place
called the place of a skull, which is
called in the Hebrew Golgotha” (John 19:16,17,KJV). {Parenthesis mine}
IV. The Crucifixion of Jesus
“But one of the soldiers with
a spear pierced his side, and
forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34, KJV).
Isaiah
Prophesied, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet
we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was
upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the LORD hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6, KJV).
Mark’s Account of the
crucifixion: “And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments,
casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour,
and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written
over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on
his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled,
which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by
railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the
temple, and buildest it in three days,
Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests
mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he
cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descends now from the cross that we
may see and believe. And they that were
crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was
darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus
cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it,
said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar,
and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see
whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and
gave up the ghost” (Mark 15:24-37, KJV).
“It was finished:”
Redemption is assured. Sin has lost it stain; Satan has been defeated, and
Salvation is now assured for all who believe!
V. The Resurrection of Christ (John 20, etc.)
“He was raised for our
justification,” (Romans 4:25),” “...and is now seated on David Throne as
King of kings, and Lord of lords” (See Acts 2:29-32).
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