The Serial Gospel
The Son of God on Trial
1 Cor 15:1-4 (ESV) Now I would remind you, brothers,
of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in
which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless
you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I
also received: that Christ died for our sins in
accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with
the Scriptures,
What
What
What
What
is the
is the
is the
is the
gospel
gospel
gospel
gospel
that
that
that
that
Paul preached?
the Corinthians received?
was saving the Corinthians?
the Corinthians held fast?
1 Cor 15:1-4 (ESV) Now I would remind you, brothers,
of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in
which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless
you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I
also received: that Christ died for our sins in
accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with
the Scriptures,
This is the gospel.
Overview of the gospel
- Judas betrayed Jesus.
- Jesus was seized by the chief priests and scribes.
- The chief priests and scribe declare Him guilty of
calling Himself the Son of God.
- He is handed over the Pilate and the civil authority
for calling Himself King.
- Pilate doesn’t find Him guilty, but he is afraid of the
Jews calling for Him to be crucified.
- Jesus is crucified on Golgotha.
- Jesus’ body is buried in a tomb to confirm His death.
- On the third day, the tomb is empty.
- Jesus appears “in the flesh” to over 500 people to
confirm His resurrection from the dead.
- Jesus ascends to heaven.
Acts 2:22-24 (ESV) “Men of Israel, hear these words:
Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with
mighty works and wonders and signs that God did
through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan
and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by
the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up,
loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible
for him to be held by it.
Last week, we looked at:
a) the mighty works and wonders and signs that God
did through him in their midst
b) those who knew who Jesus was
Which wonders did we look at?
The Prophet
John 6:12-14 (ESV) And when they had eaten their
fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover
fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they
gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with
fragments from the five barley loaves left by those
who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that
he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet
who is to come into the world!”
Last week, a question arose about who the Prophet is.
Moses told Israel …
Deut 18:15 (ESV) “The Lord your God will raise up for
you a prophet like me from among you, from your
brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
Many believe that Moses meant there would be a
continuous line of prophets like himself.
This was a belief at the time of Jesus.
This can be found in many Christian and Jewish
commentaries today.
So, based on this view, who would the Prophet be?
However …
Deut 18:15 (ESV) “The Lord your God will raise up for
you a prophet like me from among you, from your
brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
There was not a continuous line of prophets like
Moses. At the time of Jesus, it had been hundreds of
years since they had seen a prophet.
However …
Deut 18:15 (ESV) “The Lord your God will raise up for
you a prophet like me from among you, from your
brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
Coffman’s Commentary states that Jesus was the only
prophet like Moses.
-Both Moses and Christ forsook a palace to identify
with men in slavery in order to redeem them.
-Both Moses and Christ were preeminently the only
two great miracle-workers of human history.
-Both were transfigured.
John 1:19-21 (ESV) And this is the testimony of John,
when the Jews sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He
confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not
the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are
you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the
Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
The Jews asked John the Baptist if he was who?
Matt 16:13-16 (ESV) Now when Jesus came into the
district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And
they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say
Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God.”
The apostles said the people said Jesus was who?
Peter said he believed Jesus was who?
John 7:40-44 (ESV) When they heard these words,
some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”
41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is
the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the
Scripture said that the Christ comes from the
offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the
village where David was?” 43 So there was a division
among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted
to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The people said Jesus was who?
John 7:45-52 (ESV) The officers then came to the
chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why
did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No
one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees
answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed
in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law
is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him
before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51
“Does our law judge a man without first giving him a
hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied,
“Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no
prophet arises from Galilee.”
The debate continues with educated men. What task
do the Pharisees give to Nicodemus? Why?
John 5:46-47 (ESV) For if you believed Moses, you
would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do
not believe his writings, how will you believe my
words?”
Who did Jesus say wrote about Him?
Acts 3:22-23 (ESV) Moses said, ‘The Lord God will
raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.
You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And
it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that
prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
Acts 7:37 (ESV) This is the Moses who said to the
Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me
from your brothers.’
Deut 18:15 is quoted by both Peter (Acts 3) and
Stephen (Acts 7) as they preach Jesus.
Deut 18:15 (ESV) “The Lord your God will raise up for
you a prophet like me from among you, from your
brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
John 6:14 (ESV) When the people saw the sign that he
had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is
to come into the world!”
Despite the many opinions then and now concerning
who the Prophet was (and is), a proper understanding
is that Moses was referring to Jesus the Messiah.
The Plan
John 11:45-46 (ESV) Many of the Jews therefore,
who had come with Mary and had seen what he did,
believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the
Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
At the end of the account of the raising of Lazarus:
What did many of the Jews believe about Jesus?
Why do you think they went to tell the Pharisees?
John 11:47-48 (ESV) So the chief priests and the
Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we
to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let
him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and
the Romans will come and take away both our place and
our nation.”
How did the enemies of Jesus respond to the raising
of Lazarus?
Did they believe that Jesus had raised Lazarus from
the dead?
What was their fear?
John 11:49-53 (ESV) But one of them, Caiaphas, who
was high priest that year, said to them, “You know
nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is
better for you that one man should die for the people,
not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not
say this of his own accord, but being high priest that
year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the
nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to
gather into one the children of God who are scattered
abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put
him to death.
Who was Caiaphas?
What was his prophecy?
How did his prophecy affect the rest of the council?
Matt 26:1-5 (ESV) Then the chief priests and the
elders of the people gathered in the palace of the
high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted
together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill
him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there
be an uproar among the people.”
What was their plan?
Jewish Trial (Part 1)
John 18:12-14 (ESV) So the band of soldiers and their
captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus
and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he
was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest
that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the
Jews that it would be expedient that one man should
die for the people.
Annas was appointed as high priest in 7 AD by
Quirinius, governor of Syria.
He was deposed in 14 AD for putting a sabbathbreaker to death.
Five of his sons and his son-in-law, Caiaphas, held the
same office. However, Annas lived to a great age and
was honored throughout his long life by the Jews as
the rightful high priest. (Coffman’s Commentary)
John 18:19-21 (ESV) The high priest then questioned
Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus
answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I
have always taught in synagogues and in the temple,
where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in
secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have
heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”
Annas is on a “fishing expedition”. He uses the court
as a way find out information beyond the fair scope of
the lawsuit.
What does Annas try to fish out?
John 18:19-21 (ESV) The high priest then questioned
Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus
answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I
have always taught in synagogues and in the temple,
where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in
secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have
heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”
Annas is on a “fishing expedition”. He uses the court
as a way find out information beyond the fair scope of
the lawsuit.
What does Annas try to fish out?
Who did Jesus tell him to ask?
John 18:22-23 (ESV) When he had said these things,
one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his
hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high
priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is
wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I
said is right, why do you strike me?”
How did the court officer respond to Jesus’ answer?
John 18:22-23 (ESV) When he had said these things,
one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his
hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high
priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is
wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I
said is right, why do you strike me?”
How did the court officer respond to Jesus’ answer?
What was Jesus’ defense?
Jewish Trial (Part 2)
Matt 26:57, 59-60 (ESV)Then those who had seized
Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the
scribes and the elders had gathered. 59 Now the
chief priests and the whole council were seeking false
testimony against Jesus that they might put him to
death, 60 but they found none,
Mark 14:53-55 (ESV) And they led Jesus to the high
priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and
the scribes came together. 55 Now the chief priests
and the whole council were seeking testimony against
Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.
After the trial before Annas, where was Jesus led?
Matt 26:57, 59-60 (ESV)Then those who had seized
Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the
scribes and the elders had gathered. 59 Now the
chief priests and the whole council were seeking false
testimony against Jesus that they might put him to
death, 60 but they found none,
Mark 14:53-55 (ESV) And they led Jesus to the high
priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and
the scribes came together. 55 Now the chief priests
and the whole council were seeking testimony against
Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.
What kind of testimony were the chief priests and
scribes looking for? Did they find it?
Matt 26:60-61 (ESV) though many false witnesses
came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said,
“This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of
God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”
Mark 14:56-59 (ESV) For many bore false witness
against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And
some stood up and bore false witness against him,
saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this
temple that is made with hands, and in three days I
will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even
about this their testimony did not agree.
In their search for false testimony what did they
get?
Matt 26:61 (ESV) “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy
the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”
Mark 14:58-59 (ESV) ‘I will destroy this temple that
is made with hands, and in three days I will build
another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even about this
their testimony did not agree.
John 2:18-19 (ESV) So the Jews said to him, “What
sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus
answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three
days I will raise it up.”
How good were these eyewitnesses?
What was their testimony good enough for the death
penalty?
Matt 26:62-63 (ESV) And the high priest stood up
and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it
that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus
remained silent.
Mark 14:60-61 (ESV) And the high priest stood up in
the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to
make? What is it that these men testify against you?”
61 But he remained silent and made no answer.
What was Jesus’ answer to the testimony?
Why?
Matt 26:63 (ESV) And the high priest said to him, “I
adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the
Christ, the Son of God.”
Mark 14:61 (ESV) Again the high priest asked him,
“Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
What did Caiaphas want Jesus to admit?
What do you think the crowd reacted to this
question?
Matt 26:64 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “You have said so.
But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the
clouds of heaven.”
Mark 14:62 (ESV) And Jesus said, “I am, and you will
see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power,
and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
What was Jesus’ answer?
How do you think the crowd reacted to His answer?
Matt 26:65-66 (ESV) Then the high priest tore his
robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What
further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his
blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They
answered, “He deserves death.”
Mark 14:63-64 (ESV) And the high priest tore his
garments and said, “What further witnesses do we
need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your
decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving
death.
What was the reaction of Caiaphas?
What was the judgment of the council?
Matt 26:67-68 (ESV) Then they spit in his face and
struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying,
“Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck
you?”
Mark 14:65 (ESV) And some began to spit on him and
to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him,
“Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
How did the guards start to treat Jesus?
How different is this than the way He was treated
when we looked at the miracles last week?
Jewish Trial (Part 3)
Matt 27:1-2 (ESV) When morning came, all the chief
priests and the elders of the people took counsel
against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound
him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate
the governor.
Mark 15:1 (ESV) And as soon as it was morning, the
chief priests held a consultation with the elders and
scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus
and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.
Why do you think the chief priests and elders
gathered together in the morning before sending
Jesus on to the Roman governor, Pilate?
John 18:29-31 (ESV) So Pilate went outside to them
and said, “What accusation do you bring against this
man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not
doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to
you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and
judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It
is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
Why do you think the chief priests and elders did not
state their real charge against Jesus?
Luke 23:2 (ESV) And they began to accuse him, saying,
“We found this man misleading our nation and
forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying
that he himself is Christ, a king.”
What charges do they make up against Jesus?
Next Week
The Serial Gospel
The King of Jews on Trial