The Week Before Resurrection Sunday

                                                                     

The night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus’ disciples followed Him to the garden of Gethsemane. ‘Gethsemane’ means, “an oil press.” There Jesus prayed with intensity, committing His flesh to be the sacrifice that would satisfy the death requirement for our sins.

From there, after accepting the cup of suffering, Jesus was betrayed and taken by the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders to the high priest’s house where He was mocked and smitten. (Luke 22:54, 63-65).

Then they led him to Pilate, who sent Jesus to Herod. After Herod also mocked Him, he sent Jesus back to Pilate (Luke 23:11). Pilate said he found no fault in Jesus of the things He was accused. (Luke 23:14).

“I will therefore chastise him, and release him.” - Luke 23:16

The Romans had no legal limit as to how many lashes they could administer. Only the Jews were limited by God’s commandment to 40 stripes. (Deuteronomy 25:3).

Pilate turned Jesus over to receive the Roman whipping that was called the “half way death.” This whipping shredded the back during which there was so much blood loss, the victim was left half way dead. (Isaiah 50:6, Isaiah 53:5). (It was said a basin was placed below the victim to catch the blood.)

It is said it was not usually done that a person would suffer both the whipping of the half way death as well as crucifixion. Pilate, intending to release Jesus, had Him scourged, thinking this would surely satisfy the Jews. (John 19:1-16).

“But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.” - Luke 23:21

Because Jesus would become cursed for us, it was necessary that He also be crucified, hanging on a tree. (The cross was fashioned from a tree).

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” - Galatians 3:13 (Deuteronomy 21:23, 1Peter 2:24).

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” - Luke 23:33

“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” - John 19:29

Jesus was crucified at the time of Passover. In Egypt during the time of Moses, when the Israelites were enslaved, the Passover lamb was sacrificed and its blood applied to the house to save them from the final plague. (Exodus 12:12-13).

The Bible calls Jesus our Passover Lamb (1Corinthians 5:7). We too are saved when we apply His blood to ‘our house’ when we are baptized in the name of Jesus.

Not a bone was to be broken of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:46). While the legs of thieves on the other crosses had their legs broken, because Jesus was already dead, His bones were not broken (John 19:36).

It appears that the Passover lamb was slain the same hour that Jesus died on the cross.

The Passover supper was eaten with bitter herbs (some dip them in vinegar) along with the lamb to remind them of their bitter bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:8).

Jesus ended our bitter bondage to sin and death when He died on the cross. (Hebrews 2:14-15).

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” - John 19:30

The bondage to sin and death is finished for us when we apply Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to our own life. When we repent of our sin, are baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of our sins and receive the gift of His Holy Ghost, we are set free from sin and death.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39