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Firm Foundations

Creation to Christ

Lesson 47 - Jesus Was Arrested by His Enemies

Questions for the LFC Firm Foundations Coordinator may be emailed to firmfoundations@lenoxchurch.org

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REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Why didn’t Jesus accept the offer of the people for Him to be their king? Because they just wanted Jesus to deliver them from their enemies and the control of the Romans. They didn’t want Jesus to save them from the power of Satan, sin, and death.

2. Why didn’t the priests and Jewish leaders arrest and kill Jesus immediately? They knew that Jesus was very popular, and they thought that, if they arrested Him, the people might turn on them and kill them.

3. Had Judas ever realized his sinfulness, repented, and trusted in Jesus? No, he did not really mean in his heart what he said with his lips.

4. For how much had the prophets said the Deliverer would be sold? Thirty pieces of silver.

5. For how much was Jesus sold? Thirty pieces of silver, just as the prophets had foretold.

6. How did Jesus know what Judas planned to do? Jesus is God. He knows everything.

7. Who did the prophets say would betray the Deliverer? A friend and close companion.

8. To what did Jesus liken the broken bread? His own body, which was soon to be broken by His enemies.

9. To what did Jesus liken the poured-out wine? His own blood, which His enemies would soon cause to flow out of His body.

10. For whom did Jesus say His blood would flow out? For sinners.

Every now and then we hear of someone being arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. Our hearts really go out to anyone in this position. Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do? How did you feel about it? But let’s turn the situation around. Has someone ever taken the blame for something you did? Has anyone ever taken punishment for what you’ve done wrong? Think about this as we look at this account of Jesus’ arrest.

Even though Jesus was God, He was also a man.

- It was very difficult for Him to face the terrible things He knew He had to suffer.

- He knew that in order to be our Savior, He would have to go through more terrible suffering than anyone had ever endured.

As we study further, we will see what it was that brought the most grief to Jesus.

They probably didn’t realize it, but Judas and all the men who came to arrest Jesus were being guided by Satan.

- Consider:

People today may not think of it either, but if they oppose or ignore God’s Word and refuse to trust Jesus as the Savior sent from God, they are also being led by Satan.

Jesus knew that everything which had been foretold about Him in the Old Testament would happen just as God had said.

The disciples all ran away and left Jesus, just as He had predicted they would.

- They were afraid, disappointed, and confused.

- They believed that Jesus was the Savior sent from God, but they couldn’t understand how He could be the Savior if He was going to be killed by His enemies.

- They didn’t understand how His death could deliver them from Satan, sin, and death.

Peter followed at a distance. He was afraid that he, too, might be arrested and killed.

Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin, the high court of the Jewish people.

- Jesus hadn’t done anything wrong.

- Therefore, they couldn’t find any lawful reason to condemn Him.

- They didn’t have any reason to hate Jesus except that they loved their own sinful ways and did not want to obey God’s words which Jesus had told them.

God’s prophets had said that false witnesses would tell lies about the Deliverer.

Psalm 27:12 records the prophecy that Jesus would be accused by false witnesses. “Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.” The record of the fulfillment is found in Mark 14:56-57. “For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying,”

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                       Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                                in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mark 14:10-11

Zec. 11:12,13 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15

Psalm 27:12 Accused by false witnesses Mark 15:56-57

God had caused David to write this prophecy nearly one thousand years earlier. Now, as Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin, the exact words David wrote were being fulfilled.

When they told lies about Him, Jesus was quiet and wouldn’t answer.

- Jesus was trusting in God, His Father, to do what He had planned for Him.

- He knew that everything that would happen to Him was according to His Father’s plan so that we could be delivered from the power of Satan, sin, and death. But when they asked Him if He really was the Christ (meaning the promised Deliverer) and the Son of God, Jesus answered very plainly that He was.

- Recall:

Do you remember the name God gave when Moses asked Him what he should tell the people when they asked who sent him? In Exodus 3:14 God said, “...I AM THAT I AM...say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me....”

- Consider:

In the account of Jesus’ arrest given in John 18, the men said they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth. John 18:6 says, “Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”

The Jewish leaders were well aware of God’s name, “I AM.” And they were also well aware that Jesus was telling them that He was God.

When Jesus came the first time to this world, He came to be the Savior. The next time Jesus comes to this world, it will be as the almighty Son of God and judge of all people.

- When He returns to this earth, everyone will see Him sitting alongside of His Father.

- Everyone will see that He is really God because He will show everyone that He is equal to God, His Father.

When the Jews wanted to show that they were very angry or distressed, it was their custom to rip their clothes. The high priest was very angry because, by His answer, Jesus had said that He was equal to God.

This is exactly what God’s prophets had said would happen to the Savior.

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                       Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                                in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mark 14:10-11

Zec. 11:12,13 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15

Psalm 27:12 Accused by false witnesses Mark 15:56-57

Isaiah 50:6 Smitten and spat upon Mark 14:65

Isaiah 50:6 is the record of the prophecy that Jesus would be smitten and spat upon. “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.” The record of the fulfillment of this prophecy is found in Mark 14:65. “Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.^”

Isaiah wrote this almost seven hundred years before Jesus suffered these things. And Jesus bore his sufferings willingly, just as Isaiah had predicted.

The Romans who ruled Israel would not allow the Jews to kill anyone unless they gave permission. Caesar, the Roman emperor, had appointed Pilate to be the governor of Samaria and Judaea. So the Jewish leaders took Jesus to Pilate, hoping that, on the basis of the false charges they had prepared, Pilate would sentence Jesus to death.

Jesus was a descendant of King David and should have been King over the Jews.

The prophet Isaiah had said that the Saviour would be silent when He was falsely accused. Everything God says is always fulfilled in every detail.

Isaiah 53:7 records the prophecy that Jesus would remain silent when accused. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” Mark 15:3-5 records the fulfillment of this prophecy. “And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.”

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                       Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                                in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mark 14:10-11

Zec. 11:12,13 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15

Psalm 27:12 Accused by false witnesses Mark 15:56-57

Isaiah 50:6 Smitten and spat upon Mark 14:65

Isaiah 53:7 Silent when accused Mark 15:3-5

It was a custom at the Passover that Pilate, the governor, would release one prisoner for whom the Jews asked.

- Pilate knew that Jesus hadn’t done anything wrong.

- He knew that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus only because they were jealous of His popularity.

- Pilate hoped that the Jews would choose to let Jesus go free rather than Barabbas who was a murderer.

Crucifixion was used by the Romans for the very worst of criminals. Today it might be compared to the gas chamber or the electric chair. But crucifixion was even worse because the person who was crucified usually did not die immediately; He endured hours and sometimes days of intense physical agony before dying.

One by one, the Old Testament prophecies about the Deliverer were being fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

- God had said through His prophet Isaiah that the Jews would hate the Deliverer even though there was no reason for them to do so.

- He said that they would reject Him.

- Everything that God said through His prophets about the coming Deliverer was fulfilled through what happened to Jesus.

Isaiah 53:3 records the prophecy that Jesus would be rejected by the Jews. “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Mark 15:9-14 records the fulfillment of this prophecy. “But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!” So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.”

Psalm 69:4 records the prophecy that Jesus would be hated without cause. “Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully; though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it.” Mark 15:10 records the fulfillment of that prophecy. “For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.”

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                       Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                               in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mark 14:10-11

Zec. 11:12,13 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15

Psalm 27:12 Accused by false witnesses Mark 15:56-57

Isaiah 50:6 Smitten and spat upon Mark 14:65

Isaiah 53:7 Silent when accused Mark 15:3-5

Isaiah 53:3 Rejected by Jews Mark 15:9-14

Psalm 69:4 Hated without a cause Mark 15:10

Records from this period tell us about scourging.

- The whip consisted of many lashes of leather.

- Pieces of sharp metal and bone were tied onto the lashes so they would cut the back of the prisoner when he was beaten.

- So he couldn’t escape, the prisoner was tied down with arms extended.

- Repeated blows of the lash laid open the skin, cutting flesh, muscle, and nerves, often putting the victim into severe shock.

- Some prisoners died from the scourging itself.

After the terrible scourging, the soldiers mocked Jesus.

- They dressed Him in a purple robe. (This was the color which kings wore during that time.)

- They made a crown of twigs which had large, sharp thorns and put the crown on Jesus’ head.

- Note:

When Adam and Eve sinned, God cursed the earth and said that thorns would grow. Jesus came to suffer and die to deliver us from God’s curse. God allowed Jesus’ enemies to place these thorns on Jesus’ head as a sign that He was going to die for the sins of the world.

We feel deep sadness and even indignation when we think of someone suffering for something that they didn’t even do. But what about Jesus? He was suffering for you and for me—for the things we’ve done. He was suffering verbal abuse, disgrace, and physical harm; but

He wasn’t even complaining.

He did it for me—for my sins.

He did it for you—for your sins.

Think about it.

QUESTIONS:

1. Jesus was God. Why then was it hard for Him to face the terrible suffering that was before Him?

2. Who was leading Judas and the Jewish leaders to arrest and kill Jesus?

3. Who are being guided by Satan even now?

4. Had Jesus done anything wrong? Did He deserve to die?

5. What did the prophets say about the witnesses who would speak against Jesus?

6. What did Jesus say when they lied about Him?

7. What did Jesus answer when He was asked if He was the Sent One of God and the Son of God?

8. Why did the high priest and the Jewish leaders say that Jesus must be killed?

9. What things did they do to Jesus which were written beforehand by the prophets?

10. What other things did they do to Jesus before they crucified Him?

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

11. Of what does the crown of thorns remind us?

Suggested Daily Bible Readings:

Day 231: Daniel, Chapters 11 and 12

Day 232: Esther, Chapters 1 and 2

Day 233: Esther, Chapters 3 and 4

Day 234: Esther, Chapters 5 and 6

Day 235: Esther, Chapters 7 and 8