Matthew Chapter 27

 Matthew Chapter 27

That morning the chief priest and elders called a counsel about Jesus and sentenced him to death.  They bound him and brought him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.  When Judas, the betrayer, saw that JC was sentenced to death, was repented and brought the silver to priests and elders.  I have sinned he told them, I have betrayed innocent blood.  They answered, what’s it to us?  He cast down the silver into the temple and hanged himself.  Oh Judas.  Poor Judas. 

The chief priests took the silver pieces with some distain.  It wasn’t lawful for them to be put in the treasury because it was blood money.  Well, it says the price of blood.  But hey guys, you paid him that blood money, I think you might want to own up to it.  It’s your fault there is blood money to deal with. They took counsel and bought a potters field to bury strangers in.  And they called it the field of blood.  That fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremy “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me”

JC stood in front of the governor who asked him if he was the King of the Jews?  JC was all if you say so.  When the chief priests and elder accused him he said nothing. Pilate asks him if he hears how many things they have witnessed against him?  But JC didn’t answer a single word.  The governor marveled at his silence.

  

Now at the feast the governor was prepared to let one of the prisoners go free, peoples choice.  They had a notable prisoner called Barabbas.    Pilate asked if they wanted Barabbas released or J the C.  Pilate know that the priests were out to get JC because they were jealous of him.  When he sat down for the judgment, his wife sent a message saying don’t get involved with this guy, he gives me the heebie jeebies.   The chief priests and elder had been playing the crowd, so the crowd was ready to save Barabbas and destroy JC.  Fickle crowd, about a minute ago they were swarming JC and begging them to heal their sick.

Pilate asked them what he should do with Christ?  The shouted crucify him!   Pilate asked why?  What evil has JC done?  The crowd was blood thirsty, they shouted that he should be crucified!  Pilate saw that he wouldn’t be able to convince this crowd so so he took some water and literally washed his hands of the mess saying I am innocent of the blood of this one person.  This is you.  And the people now in a bloodthirsty frenzy answered his blood is on us and our children.

So Pilate released Barabbas and scourged JC, which seriously Pilate you could have skipped the whipping if you wanted you hands to be clean, then he delivered JC to be crucified. 

The soldiers took JC to the common hall and a whole band of soldiers to strip him and put him in a scarlet robe.  The put a crown of thorns on his head, and put a reed his hand like a scepter and they bowed on a knee before him mocking him and saying “Hail, King of the Jews!”  They spit on him and hit him on the head with the reed.  And when they were done mocking him, they took his regal robe and gave him is old clothes, and led him to be crucified.

When they came out they found Simon of Cyrene, they compelled him to bear the cross.   When they came to Golgotha, the place of a skull… no idea what means…  The gave JC a drink of vinegar mixed with gall.  Eeeew!  JC didn’t take to that drink, and wouldn’t drink any more.  Yuck.  And as the prophecy foretold they took his garments and cast lots. And they crucified him.

The crowd sat down to watch, someone had written “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”  over his head.  They also crucified two thieves, one on each side of him.  As they passed by those who hated JC shook their heads and mocked him saying, you who destroyed the temple and built it in three day save yourself!  If you are the son of God, come down from the cross.  The chief priest, scribes and elders joined in.  He trusted in God, let god deliver him now if he wants him.  He said he was the Son of God.  The thieves who were being crucified “cast the same in his teeth” so I think that means they mocked him too.

From the six  hour until the ninth hour darkness covered the land.  In the nineth hour Jesuc cried out in a loud voice “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Some of the people who stood there took that to mean he called for Elias.  And right a way one of them put some vinegar on a sponge and gave him a drink. 

Is that really the right thing to do?  I mean is that guy trying to be a jerk with more vinegar?  Maybe some wine or water or something?  Or did they drink that back then?  Did JC think thankful thoughts to that guy.  I don’t know.

The rest were really snarky and asked if Elias was going to come to save him.  Jesus gave one more loud cry and then gave up the ghost. 

Right then the veil of the temple tore in half, and there was an earthquake, and the graves opened and many of the saints bodies who slept, arose and left their graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many.  Okay so did that happen right after he dies or three days later, when he was resurrected?  Unless he was resurrected right then.  Either way that is super spooky.

The centurion and his folk immediately realized that JC was the Son of God. Many women were there, albeit a bit further away including, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses (and Jesus, I guess JC isn’t the only one who doesn’t want to give Mary any credit here, that’s JC’s mom), and Mrs.  Zebedee (James and John’s mom).   A rich man of Arimathaea name Joseph came, he was one of JC’s disciples.  He went and begged Pilate for the body and Pilate agreed to give it to him.  Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linen, and laid it in his own tomb, which he had carved out of the rock.  H rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and left.   Mary (JC’s mom) and Mary Magdalene (who we’ve heard nothing about until this point) sat outside of the tomb. 

The day after the day of preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate telling how JC, the deceiver, said he would rise after three days.  They didn’t want the disciples, coming and stealing the body to further their cause.  So Pilate told them to seal and guard the tomb.