Paper 186 Overview: Just Before the Crucifixion

Jesus was arrested and taken for trials before being put to death on the cross. As Jesus was led away to be crucified, John took a message to Jesus' mother Mary and brought her to see her son. Jesus' family gathered in Bethany, and when they heard about his arrest, Mary and John went to see Jesus while Ruth and Jude followed them.

The Master calmly faced his trials and death, knowing his work on earth was done. During the trials, Jesus only spoke when it would help someone understand truth, and he showed amazing dignity even when being mocked and hit. He remained composed throughout his trials and showed love for all people, even those who were putting him to death.

As Jesus and his accusers left to see Herod, Jesus told John to find his mother and bring her to see him before he died. John went to Bethany, where Jesus' family was staying at the home of Martha and Mary. After John told them what had happened to Jesus, Mary went with John to see her son before he was put to death.

Jesus' sister Ruth would not stay behind and went with her mother. Her brother Jude went with Ruth. The rest of Jesus' family stayed in Bethany with James in charge. David Zebedee's messengers brought them news about what was happening to Jesus throughout the day.

Judas went to the Jewish leaders after Jesus was handed over to the Roman soldiers. He expected to be rewarded and praised for betraying Jesus, but instead, they sent a servant to give him thirty pieces of silver, which was the price of a slave. Judas was shocked and tried to return the money, saying he had betrayed an innocent man.

Judas threw the silver onto the temple floor and left feeling terrible about what he had done. He walked alone through the city and outside the walls to the valley of Hinnom. There, Judas tied one end of his belt to a tree and the other around his neck, and jumped off a cliff to kill himself, but the knot came loose and he fell to his death on the rocks below.

Jesus knew his work on earth was finished when he was arrested. He understood what kind of death he would face and didn't worry about the details of his trials. During his trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus only answered one question - whether he was the Son of God, which he always answered truthfully.

Jesus refused to speak to the curious and wicked Herod. He only spoke to Pilate when he thought it might help Pilate or someone else understand truth better. Jesus knew it was his Father's will that he go through these events like any other human would. Even as he faced death, Jesus remained calm and dignified, and did not try to defend himself against false charges.

After Jesus was given to the Roman soldiers, temple guards went to Gethsemane to arrest his followers, but they had already scattered. David had moved some tents up a ravine where Jesus often went to pray, and planned to hide there while running his messenger service. The temple guards burned the camp but found no one there, so they went back to the temple.

As soon as David heard that Jesus was going to be crucified, he sent runners to spread the news to Bethsaida, Philadelphia, and other cities. David kept sending updates every half hour to the apostles, Greeks, and Jesus' family. After Jesus was buried, David told his messengers to meet at Nicodemus's home on Sunday morning because he believed Jesus would rise on the third day, just as Jesus had said.

After Pilate washed his hands and gave Jesus to the soldiers, they took him back to the courtyard. They removed the robe Herod had put on him and dressed him in his own clothes. The soldiers made fun of Jesus but did not hurt him more. Jesus was now alone since his friends were hiding and his enemies had left.

Pilate turned Jesus over to the soldiers a little after eight o'clock, and they left for the crucifixion site before nine. During this time, Jesus never spoke a word. The soldiers were impressed by how calm and dignified Jesus was. The captain decided to also crucify two thieves who had been sentenced to die, and they were brought to the courtyard where one of them saw Jesus for the first time.

Jesus died on the day when Jews prepared for Passover, around the same time they sacrificed Passover lambs in the temple. But this was just a coincidence and had nothing to do with Jewish sacrifices. Jesus' death was planned and carried out by humans, not by God. God did not require or demand that his Son die on the cross.

Jesus had already completed what he needed to do on earth when he was baptized. Everything he did after that, including his death, was his own choice to help and uplift people. The good news about God's love is not dependent on Jesus' death, though his death did help people understand it better. God loved humans just as much before Jesus lived on earth as he did afterward.