At this pause in the story of this last week of the life of Jesus, perhaps there is a need to review just what the object of the four gospels might be. God through Christ provides many statements of witness why the facts found in the gospels are true, and quoting from John 8:18 “I am one that bear witness of myself and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.”
A goodly number of important statements are verified by at least two writers of the Holy Scriptures; such is true of the four gospels, for God would make sure that such statements are true and understood.
Consider the gospel by Matthew which seems to be directed at the Jews, for it concerns the messianic royalty of Jesus. There is no sure way of establishing the date when Matthew wrote his gospel except that it was before 70 AD. This holds true of all four gospels. Likely Matthew was written between AD 61 and AD 66, from the most reliable accounts.
John Mark wrote his version about the same time and there is one most notable fact to consider: if Matthew wrote first, Mark copied from him, and if Mark wrote first Matthew copied from him, or else there was a source that both used.
When Jesus told Peter it was a “must”, then Peter reversed his stand and said “Lord not my feet only but also my hands and my head.” John 13:9.
This was a reaction in human nature, as is shown many times in the dealing with human beings, even in modern times. People often show great enthusiasm about matters they do not really understand. Jesus knew that in future times the apostles would look back and remember many things and see why Jesus did as he did.
Consider the account in Luke where we find that Judas completed his covenant with the chief priests: “And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him (Jesus) unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.” Luke 22:4-5.
Back to John 13 verse 11, Jesus knew he was being betrayed by Judas and after washing the apostles feet, Jesus leaves the apostles to ponder the act he has performed; to consider Jesus’ words in verse 16: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord: neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”
It was in the plan of God that each detail be brought about to prove that God’s word was truth. Following then the order as set out in the Holy Scriptures from the very beginning and, especially the words Jesus had foretold, we find the priest and prominent Jews lingering about the blood stained crosses with thoughts of glee, seeing as how everything had worked out so well for them.
These self-righteous Jews never for one minute considered that they had fulfilled the very things that God’s prophets had foretold of them many centuries before.
For instance the words of David—”Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink (a bitter wine )” Psa. 69: 19-21.
The question comes to mind: just how great was the understanding David possessed, when he composed the 22nd Psalm? Had God revealed to David His Son Jesus as David’s greater son? God personally selected David as king over Israel and certainly cared for him as well: “And God was with David, whithersoever he went, and cut off his enemies . . . and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.” 2 Sam. 7:9.
David recognized that God was truly in favor of him. “Then went King David in and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, 0 Lord God ? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hiteherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, 0 Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, 0 Lord God?” 2 Sam. 7:18-19.
In the 22nd chapter of 2nd Samuel David spoke to God the words of a song describing Christ — two verses are: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.” 2nd Sam. 22:7-8.
God revealed much to David and in Psa. 22:7-8: “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. Turning now to the record of Matthew to see how the Jews cried against God’s anointed even as God foreknew they would: “The chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, he saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” Matt. 27: 41-43.
The soldiers, too, fulfilled their part as God foretold: “For dogs (Gentiles) have compassed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” Psa. 22:16-18.
The two thieves that were crucified with Jesus also fulfilled their part. “And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left; And the scripture was fulfilled (Isa. 53:12), which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” Mark 15: 27-28.
“One of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” Luke 23:39. It is clear that this person did not know much about what he asked for — “he was without understanding (read Prov. 21:16). The second thief (perhaps the one at Jesus right hand) knew something of the truth of what Jesus had set forth in his doctrine, for he rebuked the first thief and continued “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Luke 23:39-42.
This shows that this malefactor had knowledge that Jesus would be a king over a kingdom. Jesus answered him with a perfect answer that is not always understood correctly: Verily, I say unto thee today, “Thou shalt be with me in paradise.” Jesus knew that this thief would have to await the day that Jesus would return: “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have ever lasting life: and He will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40.
There is no other way of salvation offered to mankind, but by the Name of Jesus. Why should Providence decree that there were the two thieves? Perhaps they represented the sheep and the goats that Jesus spoke of when he was talking to his disciples on the mount of Olives—”And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25:33-34.
To keep the record complete it is necessary at this point to insert a word regarding Judas, one of the twelve selected by Jesus. Mat. 10:4. Jesus knew from the beginning what type of man Judas was: one that was always looking out for himself in every way. It can’t be said that Judas became an ally to the High Priest for any other reason than the hope Judas had for gain for himself. Whether it was gain of money or to force the hand of Jesus to speed the establishment of political power is speculative.
The only positive conclusion to consider is the fact that in God’s plan it was necessary that there be a betrayer to bring about the time and place of Christ’s capture. God did not make Judus do what he did. The whole responsibility was of Judas’ own making: “The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” Prov. 61:4.
From the record in Matthew it would seem that Judas left the mob as soon as he saw Jesus led away and he realized that Jesus was not going to call for divine intervention. “Then Judas, which had betrayed Jesus, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, & brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” Matt. 27:3-5.
Now the chief priests and elders found themselves confronted with a problem, what to do with the blood money ? They were willing to pollute their temple system by murdering the “King of the Jews” but could not bring themselves to defile their ceremonial purity or that of the sacred treasury, by taking back the coins. “Therefore they took counsel, and bought with them the potters field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore the field was called, the field of blood, unto this day.” Matt. 27:7-8. Luke records in Acts 1:19: “And it was known unto all the dwellers of Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. So again one finds that God has provided two witnesses verifying the purchase of “The field of blood.” This then brings to a conclusion the prophesy by the hand of Zachariah: “And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the Lord. And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” Zech. 11:10-13.
Jesus had taken of the passover lamb in the evening of the 14th day of the month —the first day of the passover week. According to the arrangement of the Jewish day “the evening and morning” made up the day. In other words, from sundown to sundown consisted of one day.
At midnight Jesus was captured representing the time the angel of death passed through Egypt: “And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.” Ex. 12:29.
Understanding then that Jesus was a type, a sacrificial lamb to deliver from death we return to the scene at the cross. There is no time set when Jesus was nailed to the cross but one can rest assured that at that moment “the sun was darkened and a terrific storm raged: God’s anger being displayed in the fierce wind and flying black clouds covering the earth as a witness that the Jews had killed their deliverer. Was not this Jesus who had foretold his death and yet death could not hold him: “Destroy this temple (body) and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19.
There is no way to limit the power of God and all things work to the end of God’s plan.
When the storm increased the people soon departed and there was room for the women that followed Jesus in Galilee to approach the cross. These were the faithful that had followed Jesus and administered to him. No telling who had notified them of events—perhaps John.
The gospels all record events about the crucifixion and it takes a lot of effort to fill out an accurate and complete narrative. One note needs inserting here as to John’s record. John 19:14 should read the third hour not the sixth.
Some sincere persons have written of the great storm that came upon this fourteenth day of Abib (some render it Nisan) as a natural eclipse of the sun. This would be an impossibility: the first of the month was the new moon and could have produced an eclipse. The fourteenth of the month would be the time of a full moon and therefore no possibility of an eclipse of the sun.
There is no doubt that God had designated this particular passover day as the day His Son should be offered for the “sins of the world,” for Jesus leaves us this word “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” John 13:1.
God has designated another day, due now at anytime — the day when God will return the Lord Jesus as King of Kings. “That day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven but my Father only.” Matt. 24:36.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One