114 Beginner Bible Course: Gethsemane, the arrest, and the first trial by the religious leaders

EPISODE 114 -- a simple Bible overview of...GETHSEMANE, THE ARREST AND THE FIRST TRIAL OF JESUS BY THE RELIGIOUS LEADEERS

During the first year...

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00:00:04

Marriage, my wife suffered a series of very sore throats. I attended the appointment she made with her doctor after he examined her. He rolled his chair back to his computer, typed a couple of notes and then turned and said to her, Mrs. Nelson, those tonsils, they should have come out a long time ago, but I'm going to take those out for you and fix this problem. I could tell my bride was a bit concerned. So I kicked into reassure mode, honey. I had a friend Dean when I was a kid in elementary school. He had his tonsils out in the morning and he was eating potato chips that night at this, the doctor roll back Ms. Computer and turn toward us. He was not impressed with my prognosis.

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He said something like this, all Mrs. Nelson, you're not in elementary school. You're a full grown adult. And I'm going to take something like a melon ball scooper and scoop two large areas out of either side of your throat. It's going to hurt really bad, and it's going to hurt bad for a whole week. It might hurt the worst at the end of the first week, but hang in there it'll suddenly feel much better and you won't have any more sore throats. That doctor turned out to be a prophet about day six. We would have likely contacted an attorney. Had it not been for that wise doctor painting an accurate picture of her week of postop.

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The writer to the book of Hebrews gives the post-op on the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus for the joy set before him endured the cross. As we look at Jesus in the garden of <inaudible> his arrest, his trials and his crucifixion. You have to wonder if Jesus wouldn't have rather gone into it a little bit. Ignorant the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and the crucifixion itself were described in quite meticulous detail. In the old Testament, Jesus knew his old Testament and he knew these passages about what would be done to the Messiah King. David had written a Psalm Psalm 22, as we've stated before Jesus was from David's line.

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Jesus likely had all of David's poems and songs memorized as Jesus read or saying or meditated on some 22. He knew there was no way. This was describing David. He knew it was describing the one who had come from David, the King who had ruled forever. The Messiah. Listen to these words of David in Psalm 22, my God, my God. Why have you forsaken me all? Who look on me, deride me. They sneer. They shake their heads saying, let God rescue him. If he delights in him, I'm poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax.

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It's melting within me. My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery. My tongue clings to my jaws dogs have surrounded me. They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. Jesus knew that wasn't about David. It was about him. And then he knew that Isaiah 53 prophecy about the suffering servant of God, but he was pierced for our offenses. He was crushed for our wrongdoings. The punishment of us all was laid upon him. And by his wounds, we are healed.

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The Lord has caused the wrongdoings of us all to fall upon him. Isaiah continues. He was oppressed and afflicted yet. He opened not his mouth. He was like a lamb led to the slaughter, like a sheep that is silent before his shearers still, he does not open his mouth. And then it goes a layer deeper. But the Lord desired to crush him, causing him grief, rendering him a guilt offering afflicted wounded pierced crushed by God himself. You got to wonder if ignorance wouldn't have been bliss for Jesus. I think that insight about what Jesus knew was coming.

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We'll help you understand a few of the things the gospel writers tell us about Jesus in the coming hours of his prayer and disseminate his arrest in his trials before the religious and Roman authorities. Here's what the gospel writers tell us. After Jesus' last hour speaking with his disciples and they sang a hymn together, that was a part of the whole Passover celebration. Remember, this is the Eve of the Passover. They're on their way East toward the Mount of olives in the garden of <inaudible>. As they're walking, Jesus quotes, an old Testament, prophecy I'll strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. He's warning as men.

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It's about to get very ugly. When Simon Peter hears that sheep will be scattered. He protests never Lord. I will never abandoned. You. Remember Jesus has already warned him of this in the upper room. Jesus has warned him that he will actually deny Jesus by morning, but Peter will have none of it. But the gospel writer Mark tells us Jesus repeats his warning. He says to Peter, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me. Now. Remember, Peter was the one who led Mark to Christ and who gave him the story of Jesus. This feels like Peter telling Mark, you know what, Mark? I didn't just get one warning.

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I got two. And it wasn't just the rooster crowing. Once it crowed twice, we'll come back to this. They then get to the garden of <inaudible>. It apparently was one of Jesus' favorite Hangouts. We're told by the gospel writer, John Judas knew he'd go to <inaudible>. It's entirely possible that Judas in his arresting mob came to the upper room first and then made way toward the second place. Jesus would be hanging out his prayer garden at the entrance to the garden. Jesus leaves the disciples all but Peter, James and John. He takes this inner group in with him, Matthew and Mark. Tell us why Matthew tells us.

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Jesus said my soul is crushed to the point of death. Mark adds I'm filled with horror and deep distress. Jesus pleads with these three men to lift him up to intercede for what he has to do. I asked my students, if you were writing about Jesus, your hero is a gospel writer. Would you put something like this in the account, your hero, the one who had been called for this very night troubled to the point of despair at what? Lay ahead, Jesus leaves the three to pray and goes about a Stone's throw away. He falls face down on the ground and begins to plead with God. Matthew tells us his prayer was father. If it's possible, any other way possible, please do it.

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But nevertheless, I want your will. Mark reports. He cries out Abba. That's his birth language Aramaic. And it's the word for Papa. Peter was only a stone throw away. Peter could likely hear his prayer. The son of God, Jesus is calling out to Papa. The writer, Luke adds more detail as Jesus is pouring out. His prayers. An angel comes and ministers to Jesus. Jesus is in such a dire place that God sends. One of heaven's bellboys to shore him up. And that's probably a good thing because Jesus will return to find the three disciples, not praying for him, but snoring.

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Luke, the physician adds a little more detail. He tells us as Jesus poured out his heart to ABA, sweat dropped to the ground like drops of blood. Some people translate it that Dr. Luke is saying he sweat blood could Dr. Luke had been reporting. Jesus is in such agony that his capillaries are bursting on his skin. After a period of prayer, Jesus returns to check on the disciples. And as I've mentioned, they're sound asleep. It's been a long agonizing emotional night. It's late, likely after midnight, Jesus doesn't seem to be angry. Just disappointed. He says, Peter, are you asleep reading between the lines?

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You can almost hear him say you. The one who would lay down your life for me. Then Jesus gives instructions to these three minutes, no longer pray for me. It's pray for you that you won't fall into temptation. Two more times, Jesus goes off a Stone's throw away to pray. And two more times the disciples fall asleep. Each time Jesus pray something similar father, ABA, if there's any other way, nevertheless, your will be done. When Jesus returns to Peter, James and John, for the third time, he's probably seeing glowing torches coming up over the rise. He tells Peter James and John get up. My betrayer is here.

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Judas is leading quite a throng. Matthew Mark, and Luke describe it as a mob with religious leaders, temple guards and others. John tells us it included a Roman cohort, likely 300 to 600 men. They're carrying torches clubs and swords. It's after midnight, the gardener gets them and he is dark. And the only way this mob will know they got the right guy is if someone can go right up to the guy and ID him, Judas has this covered. He'll find Jesus, greet him and give him a kiss. Judas finds Jesus and greets him. Luke tells us, Jesus says to Judas, Judas, will you be Trey me with a kiss?

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Matthew adds Jesus saying friend, do what you came to do. Jesus asked the mob, who are you seeking? They say, Jesus. The Nazarene. When Jesus replies, I am he John reports. The mob falls backwards to the ground. Apparently by this time the other disciples join Peter James and John at Jesus' side. One or more of them asked Jesus, Lord, should we fight? We have two swords. But one of them means that he pulls out one of the swords and takes a swing at the nearest person. He swipes horizontally as if to cut off his head and the guy ducks and gets his right ear sliced off.

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We know it was the right ear. Cause Luke, the doctor tells us that John even gives us the guy's name. <inaudible> the servant of the high priest. And while the other gospel writers keep it on the down low John snitches on who it is. It's Peter Jesus says to Peter sheath, it don't you realize I could call 12 legions of angels. If I needed help. Right now, Allegion was a thousand. We know there are millions of angels. Heavens bellboys gods bellboys can have some serious fire power. It was an angel bringing death that wiped out the firstborn in Egypt and God sent an angel against the Assyrians one night and just South of 200,000 soldiers woke up dead.

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00:11:09

The disciples still don't get it. Jesus is hell bent to die on the cross as a substitute for our sins. Dr. Luke adds a little more detail, that milk guy holding his face and screaming in pain. Jesus reaches out and replaces his right ear. Jesus. Then challenges the mob with one final question. I've been teaching in the temple openly. Why didn't you arrest me then? Oh, I know you did it this way that you might fulfill the old Testament scriptures. That's Jesus' way of saying gentlemen, you're following God's script perfectly. And speaking of following God's pre-written script it's at this point, the disciples make a dash for it.

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The shepherds sheep scatter Mark adds a curious detail. The other gospel writers skip. He says a certain young man in the crowd was grabbed by the Roman soldiers. He left the linen night shirt in their hands and ran naked into the darkness. Many people speculate that young streaker was Mark we'll discover. As we get into the book of acts. Mark was a teenager at this time, his mother had a large house, somewhere in the middle of Jerusalem. It's not that big, a stretch to think a young man who is tucked in for the night. Here's a mob of people going past his house with torches and clubs pops out of bed and follows them up to the garden of <inaudible>.

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If that's the case, the gospel writer, Mark was an eye witness of some of these events before hauling Jesus out of <inaudible>. John tells us they shackled him. John also tells us Jesus, first stop was anise. The father of Caiaphas, the high priest, knowing the mob had been sent with Judas. Some of them had gathered at Anna's house. They're pacing, back and forth anticipating this long overdue kangaroo court. Apparently Anna's house had a large courtyard. John tells us to the disciples who had fled into the night, follow the mob. One of them know an official who's guarding the courtyard and he gets in that disciple has to be John.

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He goes to the gatekeeper vouches for Peter and sneaks. Peter in the high priest is there and he starts questioning Jesus concerning his disciples and his teaching. Jesus replies. I've taught openly in the temple court call in witnesses. They know what I said at this point. One of the officers standing there struck Jesus across the face. Have you ever been slapped across the face? Seeing this is going nowhere. They adjourn and move Jesus in his shackles to Caiaphas house for the real trial at Caiaphas house more are assembled trying to make this look legitimate. They immediately call in their preassembled witnesses.

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The witnesses can agree to anything. It's going to be a mistrial. They finally find two witnesses who will come in and agree. He told us destroy, this temple made with hands and in three days I'll raise it up without hands. But even here, some of their testimony was questionable. All during this time, Jesus stands there completely silent. Then Caiaphas interrupts and he does something completely illegal. He puts the accused under oath. I adjure you in God's name. Are you the Messiah? The son of the blessed one. Jesus didn't have to have his Miranda rights read to know he could have remained silent, but the fuse was lit.

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00:14:47

It's now probably about 4:00 AM on Passover day. Jesus answers the interrogation for the record. Let me read you Mark's court transcript. Jesus replied. I am. And you shall see the son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven. And when Jesus recited those words in the gods script, those words concerning God's Messiah from Daniel seven 13, this play moved to act to Caiaphas tears, his clothes, people in the room, scream, blasphemy, Caiaphas renders the verdict. Jesus gets the death penalty.

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What happens to Jesus in the following hour is really hard to even read this room of religious men, surround Jesus. They spit on him and either slap him or pummel him with their fists. Mark adds, they then blindfold him and continue the pummeling. It's a slap and a prophecy. You Messiah who hits you that time? Luke ads, they blasphemed him with terrible words and Mark ads when they were finished and leading him away to his next trial before pilot, the guards kept slapping and hitting him as he went along the way. Meanwhile, as this is going on, the spotlight turns to Peter in the courtyard.

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00:16:13

When you read Matthew Mark, Luke and John you'll see six different people or groups approach Peter. Some recognize him as having been with Jesus. Some suspect he's a Jesus apprentice because of his Galilean accent. Others maybe just think he's out of place, but when you put the four gospel accounts together, Peter, either denies knowing Jesus or curses him outright six times on the third, a rooster crows and on the sixth one crows again, Luke adds one final vivid detail likely in the midst of this beat down in mocking from religious leaders, Peter in the nearby courtyard denies Jesus.

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When he does Jesus turns and looks at him, they're close enough to make intimate eye contact. They're close enough where Jesus may have heard all six denials, the gospel writers make it clear. What happened to Peter. He got out of that courtyard and he broke down in bitter tears. The crowing rooster alerts us. It's now sunrise in Jerusalem on the day of the Passover. Jesus is being whisked away and shackles toward pilot's palace. Over the next three hours, he'll be tried by Roman officials and by 9:00 AM, he'll be nailed on one of their crosses. We'll take a look at those Roman trials and the crucifixion of Jesus in our next wordpicture.