The Road to the Cross

The Road to the

Cross Luke 19.37-48

The Road to the Cross 10 stages in the last twenty four hours leading to the crucifixion of Christ.

1. The Sanhedrin Council Plot his Death

Luke 20:1-2 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?" These comprise the Sanhedrin, made up of 72 leaders presided over by the High Priest.It was the highest court permitted by Rome.Matt 26:4 … they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.

2. He is taken to Annas, the previous High Priest

John 18:12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

This was a courtesy call, as Annas was still very influential, and he conducted a preliminary investigation in John 18.19-24.

3. Brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin Council

They concoct two charges:1. Matt 26:61 “This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'" A charge of TERRORISM.2. Matt 26:63-66 The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. A charge of BLASPHEMY.

v.66 What do you think? "He is worthy of death," they answered.

3. Brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin Council

Matt 27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.

Meanwhile in Matt 26:67 They spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"

4. Brought before PilateLuke 23.1-2 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king."

A significant change in the charges:i] v.2aHe is subverting our nationii] v.2b He opposes payment of taxes to Caesariii] v.2c He claims to be a kingiv] v.5 He stirs up people all over Judea.

A Rabble-rouser.

4. Brought before PilatePilate is no fool! Luke 23:4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man"

He saw right through their motivation. Matt 27.18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to them

5. Brought before HerodLuke 23:5-7 …they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Herod looks only for entertainment, asks to see a few miracles, dressed him in royal robe, then sent him back to Pilate

6. Before Pilate for second time.

Luke 23:13-16 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.

6. Before Pilate for second time.

Pilate saw an opportunity to set Jesus free. Matt 27.15 Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. He offered them two choices:• The worst: BARABBAS• The best: JESUSPilates wife had a dream, and told him to have nothing to do with ‘this just man’.

7. Handed to the Soldiers to crucify

Matt 27:27-31 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again...

7. Handed to the Soldiers to crucify• They stripped him naked• They twisted together a crown of thorns and put

it on his head• They knelt in front of him and mocked him• They spat on him• They took his staff and struck him on the head

again and againMatt 27.31Then they led him away to crucify him.

8. They Crucified HimMark 15.26 ‘it was the third hour’ - 9 amLuke 23:44 he died at ‘the ninth hour’ - 3 pm

At that hour, the soldiers broke the legs of the other two prisoners, to speed up their death:John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

9. He was Buried by Joseph of Arimathea

Only 4 people attended his funeral:Buried by:• Joseph of Arimathea: Luke 23.53• Nicodemus: John 19.39Watched by:• Mary Magdalene: Mark 15.47• Mary the Mother of Joseph: Mark 15.47

Women came to the tomb, the stone is rolled away, two men stand there: "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Luke 24:5-6

10. On Sunday Morning, the Tomb was empty!

JESUS IS

ALIVE