20160509 Monday, May 9 2016
Luke 23: The Trial Of The Centuries

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath He done? I have found no cause of death in Him: I will therefore chastise Him, and let Him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed ... And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will"

From the Encyclopedia Britannica, in an article by Michael Ray, Encyclopedia Britannica Editor (Order in the Court: 10 Trials of the Century):

"The spectacle of the driven prosecutor, the impassioned defense attorney, and the accused, whose fate hangs in the balance, has received ample treatment in literature, on stage, and on the silver screen. More than once such events have been excitedly referred to as "the trial of the century!" But which one really steals the scene?"

The article then goes on to list ten of the famous and infamous legal spectacles that some regard as a "trial of the century." The list includes the trial of the Greek philosopher Socrates in 399 BC; the trial of the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei by the Church of Rome's Inquisition in 1633 for his correctly teaching that the Earth orbits the Sun; the Salem witch trials in New England in 1692; the trial of Lizzie Borden in 1893 for the axe murders of her parents (from which a macabre rhyme originated: "Lizzie Borden took an axe; And gave her mother forty whacks; And when she saw what she had done; She gave her father forty-one"); the trial of O.J. Simpson for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

There was another famous "trial of the century" - the trial of the Messiah - which was actually the trial of all centuries. It did however have something in common with some of the others, one way or another - a murderer was set free, or an innocent person was convicted. In the Messiah's case, it was both (see Why Did They Want A Murderer Released Instead Of Jesus?).

"23:1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?

And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

23:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

23:5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 23:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

23:13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 23:14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 23:15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 23:16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 23:17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

23:18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

23:20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 23:21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

23:22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23:23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 23:24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 23:25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will." (Luke 23:1-25 KJV)

The Crucifixion of the LORD God (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) happened at the same time that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered. The Passover prophecy was fulfilled for those of the first harvest, while the symbolism of the Passover prophecy continued for those of the later harvest (see The Harvests Of Salvation).

"23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 23:27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 23:29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

23:32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 23:33 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. 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

23:36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 23:37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:26-43 KJV)

The Messiah died in mid-afternoon, after being on the Cross for about 6 hours (see the Fact Finder question below).

"23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

23:48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things." (Luke 23:44-49 KJV)

The Body was placed in the Tomb by Joseph and Nicodemus (see Joseph and Nicodemus: Making A Stand).

"23:50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment." (Luke 23:50-56 KJV)

Fact Finder: Exactly when did the Messiah die? What time, and what day?
See What Time Did Jesus Die? and The Two Sabbaths Of Passover Week