THE TRUE MEANING OF
EASTER
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
EVENTS DURING THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS OF THE MINISTRY AND LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST
PART 3 of 4 -- Trial and Condemnation of Christ
| Part 1 - Events Prior to the Last Supper | | Part 2 - Last Supper and Arrest | | Part 4 - Crucifixion and Resurrection |

CHRIST TAKEN TO THE HIGH PRIEST'S HOUSE
From the New Testament of the Bible
Matthew 26:69 - 74, Luke 22:61 - 62
John 18:12-13, 15 - 18, 19 - 23, 25 - 27
Peter Denies Christ

"Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year."

"And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in."

"Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, 'You also were with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied it before them all, saying, 'I do not know what you are saying.'

And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, 'This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.' But again he denied with an oath, 'I do not know the Man!'

And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, 'Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.' Then he began to curse and swear, saying, I do not know the Man!'" "Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, How He had said to him. 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' So Peter went out and wept bitterly.""

THE DENIAL OF ST. PETER
SIMON BENING
1525 - 1530
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)

"'Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.'"
Matthew 10:32 - 33

CHRIST APPEARS BEFORE ANNAS
From the New Testament of the Bible
John 18:19- 24
The First Corrupt High Priest



CHRIST BEFORE ANNAS
Simon Bening
1525 - 1530
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)
"The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

Jesus answered him, 'I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.'

And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, 'Do You answer the high priest like that?'

Jesus answered him, 'If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?'

Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest."

CHRIST BEFORE CAIAPHAS
From the New Testament of the Bible
Matthew 26:57, 67, Mark 14:55 - 65
The Second Corrupt High Priest and False Witnesses

"And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled."

"Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.

Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 'We heard Him say, ""I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.""'

But not even then did their testimony agree.

And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, 'Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You"' But He kept silent and answered nothing.

Again the high priest asked Him, saying, 'Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?'

Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?'

And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him ..."
"... and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, 'Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?'""

CHRIST BEFORE CAIAPHAS
Duccio di Buoninsegna
1308-1311
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)




MOCKING OF CHRIST
Giotto
1304-1306
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)

REMORSE AND DEATH OF JUDAS ISCARIOT
From the New Testament of the Bible
Matthew 27:1, 3 - 9, Acts 1:15 - 20
Remorse But No Repentance



THE REMORSE OF JUDAS
Edward Armitage
1866

(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)

"'Gather My godly ones to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.'"

Psalm 50:5 		"When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death."

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.'

And they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it!'

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.' And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

'And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.'"


Acts 1:15 - 20
By The Apostle Luke
Written Many Years After the Event

"And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 'Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.

(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, field of Blood.)

For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

'Let his dwelling place be desolate,
And let no one live in it';
and,
'Let another take his office.'"

CHRIST BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
From the New Testament of the Bible
Luke 22:66 - 71, 23:1
The Leaders Condemn Christ

"As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 'If You are the Christ, tell us.'

But He said to them, If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.',

Then they all said, 'Are You then the Son of God?'

So He said to them, 'You rightly say that I am.'

And they said, 'What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.'"

"Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate."

CHRIST BEFORE PILATE THE FIRST TIME
From the New Testament of the Bible
Luke 23:2 - 7
The Leaders Accuse Christ Before Pilate

"Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.

Pilate then went out to them and said, 'What accusation do you bring against this Man?'

They answered and said to him, 'If He were not an evildoer, we would ot have delivered Him up to you.'" "And they began to accuse Him, saying, 'We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.'"

"Then Pilate said to them, 'You take Him, and judge Him according to your law.'

Therefore the Jews said to him, 'It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,' that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death he would die.

Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus and said to Him, 'Are You King of the Jews?'

Jesus answered him, 'Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?'

Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?'

Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.'

Pilate therefore said to Him, 'Are You a king then?'

Jesus answered, 'You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.'

Pilate said to Him, 'What is truth?' And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, 'I find no fault in Him at all.'"

"But they were more fierce, saying, 'He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.'

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time."

PILATE'S FIRST INTERROGATION OF CHRIST
Duccio di Buoninsegna
1308 - 1311
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)




CHRIST ACCUSED BY THE PHARISEES
Duccio di Buoninsegna
1308 - 1311
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)


CHRIST APPEARS BEFORE HEROD
From the New Testament of the Bible
Luke 23:8 - 12
Herod Wishes Only To See A Miracle



CHRIST BEFORE HEROD
Duccio di Buoninsegna
1308 - 1311
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)

"Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.

Then he questioned Him with many words, but he answered him nothing.

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.

Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other."

CHRIST BEFORE PILATE THE SECOND TIME
From the New Testament of the Bible
Luke 23:13 - 22, John 18:39, 19:1 - 16
Pilate Is Politically Correct And Morally Guilty

"Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, 'You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him' (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast.)"

"But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?'"

Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!'

Then he said to them the third time, 'Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.'" "So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they struck Him with their hands.

Pilate them went out again, and said to them, 'Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.'

Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, 'Behold the Man!'

Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!"

Pilate said to them, 'You take Him and crucify him, for I find no fault in Him.'

The Jews answered him, 'We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.'

Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afreaid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, 'Where are You from?' But Jesus gave no answer.

Then Pilate said to Him, 'Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?'

Jesus answered, 'You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given to you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.'

From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, 'If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.'

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, 'Behold your King!'

But they cried out, 'Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!'

Pilate said to them, 'Shall I crucify your King?'

The chief priests answered, 'We have no king but Caesar!'

Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led him away."

CHRIST BEFORE PILATE
Duccio di Buoninsegna
1308 - 1311
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)




CHRIST BEFORE PILATE
Tintoretto
1566 - 1567
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)

End Of Part 3 - Please Go On To Part 4 By Making Selection Below
All Biblical Quoations From:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CLICK HERE TO
TO RETURN TO
THE HOME PAGE 		CLICK HERE
TO RETURN TO
PART 1
OF THE EASTER STORY
Events Prior To The Last Supper 		CLICK HERE
TO RETURN TO
PART 2
OF THE EASTER STORY
The Last Supper to the Arrest in the Garden 		CLICK HERE
TO GO TO
PART 4
OF THE EASTER STORY
Crucifixion and Resurrection

For more information on the teaching of Jesus, you may read the following:

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS
by John F. MacArthur, Jr.
Zondervan Publishing House
Grand Rapids, Michigan
1988, 1994

You can also order on-line at: http://www.gbibooks.com
FLOWER GRAPHIC CREDIT