"The Trial and Crucifixion of Christ" 

1. JESUS AND JUDAS -- 27:1-10

    Some have tried to make Judas a hero, saying the he deliberately sold Jesus to make sure the prophecies would be fulfilled. Jesus clearly stated that Judas was not hero, but a devil (John 6:70); and that, though the prophecies would be fulfilled, Judas would still be guilty of deliberate sin (Matt. 26:24). His love of money (and probable selfish desire to be a leader in the kingdom) kept him in the band of disciples; but his heart was never with Christ. He said, "I have sinned" because he had been "caught in the act," but he did not evidence sincere repentance. He had rejected the truth and believed a lie, and Satan had taken possession of him (John 13:3 and 27). Satan is a murderer. Judas took his own life. But notice that Judas confess that Christ was innocent (verse 4). He would not call him "Lord," but one day he will be forced to call him Lord (Phil. 2:9-11). Christ's death purchased the redemption of the world; Judas' death purchased a cemetery for strangers. The only real estate Satan has to offer speaks of ruin and of death.

2. JESUS AND PILATE -- 27:11-32

    To see the restlessness and indecision of this Roman governor, you must read all the Gospel accounts. Time after time he goes out to the crowd, then comes in to question Jesus, all the while seeking some way to avoid making a decision. But no man can avoid making a decision about Christ. Pilate was warned by his wife and his own conscience, yet he deliberately gave Christ over to be crucified. Yes, this was the plan of God (Acts 2:23), yet Pilate was not held guiltless. 
    Acts 3:13 puts much of the blame on the Jews themselves. God's eternal plan never denies man's deliberate choice. Pilate thought the crowd would call for Jesus, not Barabbas; but he was mistaken. Jesus is NEVER "The people's choice." Men will always ask for the sinner, not the Saviour. They rejected the Son of God for a murderer. It is possible that Barabbas was the leader of a band of robbers and that the two thieves crucified with Christ were in his company. NOTICE that Pilate, like Judas, testifies that Christ was innocent (verse 24). The request of the Jews in verse 25 was answered; Christ's blood has been upon them and their children and will be until the nation "look upon Him whom they pierced" and repents. 
    The ruin of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the scattering and persecuting of the Jews, and the future wrath of God on the land of Israel during the tribulation, are all answers to this request. It was customary for the convicted criminal to bear his own cross, as public evidence of his guilt. Jesus started out bearing His own cross (John 19:17), but along the way, the soldiers "drafted" Simon to bear it for Him.

3. JESUS AND THE SPECTATORS -- 27:33-54

    What a picture Calvary is of humanity today. While the Son of God suffers for man' sin, the soldiers gamble for His few earthly possessions; the Jews revile Him; the people sit and stare at Him; yet one Roman soldier confesses, "Truly this was the Son of God."
    The darkness (verse 45) was supernatural. It could not be an eclipse, because the Passover season was at the full moon. it was God's way of veiling the cross while His Son bore the sins of the world and tasted the very wrath of God for mankind.
The three events at His death are striking. The veil was torn, because His blood opened a new and living way to God (Heb. 10:19-25)
    The tombs opened because His death conquered death (Heb. 2:14-18).
The saints did not come out of the tombs until after His resurrection because Christ is the Firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). Just as Judas and Pilate confessed Christ's innocence, so the Roman soldier testified that He was the Son of God.

4. JESUS AND HIS FRIENDS -- 27:55-66

    Once He had finished His work of redemption, Christ was not again touched by enemy hands. While Christ was being made sin for us. God permitted men to do their worst; but when the work was finished, God permitted only Christ's friends to handle Him. Joseph and Nicodemus were certainly believers, otherwise they would not have defiled themselves on the Passover by burying the body of Jesus. They no longer needed a Passover lamb; they had found the Lamb of God. Nicodemus had come to Jesus by night early in his ministry, and had defended Him before the Council. From Daniel's prophecy they would understand when He would die, and from other Scriptures why and how He would die. They were prepared with tomb and spices (John 19: 38-42) and were near at hand when Jesus died. Thus did God in His providence care for the body of His Son, and thus was Isaiah 53:9 fulfilled.
    The Jewish leaders remembered what the disciples forget: That Christ promised to come out of the tomb after three days. How unfortunate it is when Satan and his children know the Bible better than Christians do. The Jews called Christ "that deceiver, " little realizing that one day the nation of Israel will accept the Arch-Deceiver, the Anti-Christ, and make a covenant with him. "Make it as sure as you can, " was all Pilate could say; but no earthly seal could hinder Christ from coming out of the tomb as He promised.