Matthew: Chapter 27
Chapter 27 records the trail, suffering, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus.
Judas
In the last chapter, we saw how Peter wept bitterly for disowning Jesus. This later leads him to repent and carry out the mission Jesus gave him. In contrast to Peter, we have Judas who betrayed Jesus. We see that Judas was filled with remorse when he hears the plan of the chief priests and the elders of the people to put Jesus to death.
He tries to change what he did, more or less. And he throws the money he got for betraying Jesus back to the conspirators, acknowledging that he "has sinned for betraying innocent blood". The priests didn't want to do anything with him and later Judas hangs himself. The money goes to fulfilling yet another prophecy uttered by Zechariah and Jeremiah (Zech. 11:12,13; Jer. 32:6-9).
Judas, one of the twelve, betraying Jesus is very surprising. Maybe he had a love for money. Maybe he didn't expect that Jesus would be condemned to death. Whatever his reasoning may be, he still sinned, and even acknowledged that he sinned. However, he didn't get back to Jesus. It doesn't seem like he even tried.
Pilate
Pontius Pilate, the governor, presided over the trial of Jesus. The silence of Jesus to various accusations brought by the chief priests and the elders impressed him. The only reply he got from Jesus was when he asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?" To which Jesus responded saying, "Yes, it is as you say". Pilate recognized that Jesus was on trail out of envy.
Seeing that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your responsibility!" With that he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers
The governors soldiers took Jesus, gathered the whole company of soldiers round him. They stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!". They spat on him and took the staff and stuck Jesus on the head again and again. After they had their fill, they took off the robe and put Jesus' own clothes on him and led him away to be crucified.
These soldiers no doubt followed the trail. However, they don't seem to share the same sentiments which Pilate showed. Maybe they were just following orders. Maybe they just didn't care and Jesus in their mind was just one another prisoner to be punished as they like.
Simon from Cyrene
A man from Cyrene, named Simon, was forced to carry the cross. This is all that Matthew records for us in his book. Jesus being exhausted from all the flogging from the soldiers could no longer carry the cross and another person was forced to carry the cross to the crucifixion spot. While we don't know much about this Simon, we do know that he helped Jesus, albeit, under pressure.
The Robbers
Matthew mentions two robbers being crucified along with Jesus, one to the left and the other to the right. They joined the passersby and the elders in mocking Jesus and heaped insults on him.
The Centurion
Jesus, on the cross, suffered for the sin of all mankind. There was darkness for three hours, after which Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani?" -which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
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| "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" |
One of those standing ran up to offer a sponge filled with wine vinegar, put on a stick, while the rest wanted to see what would happen. Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and gave up his spirit.
With that a lot of things happened simultaneously. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. Tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
When the Centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
Joseph from Arimathea
Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus. This Joseph approaches Pilate for Jesus' body, which Pilate ordered to be taken down and given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and places it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance of the tomb and went away.
As with Simon, not much is known about this Joseph apart from what Matthew mentions here. But we can see that, Joseph, being a disciple of Jesus, wasn't afraid to give Jesus a proper burial and put him in his own new tomb. Given the situation, Joseph was probably putting himself in danger doing this, but he didn't seem to mind.
The followers of Jesus
In the previous chapter, we saw that the disciples were scattered just as Jesus had predicted earlier. However, some like Peter tailed the soldiers to see what would happen. Likewise, the followers of Jesus were watching the crucifixion from a distance. This also included many women. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses and the mother of Zebedee's sons. Some of them even went to the tomb.
The crowd
Throughout the chapter we see a crowd around the chief priests and the elders of the people. This crowd was more or less swayed easily to rally against Jesus. They partook in the mockery and insulted Jesus all the way to the cross. They even went to the extent of cursing themselves.
All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" Matthew 27:25
Such strong statements. The crowd didn't really have anything against Jesus. But yet, them willing to go beyond themselves to condemn the savior sent for them is appalling.
Chief priests, Pharisees and the elders of the people
Behind everything, these groups operated out of envy of Jesus. They didn't care about the people or their well-being. They constantly threw out the sick and poor. Made the temple a den of robbers. And now they went further than what their fathers had done, by crucifying the Christ. These were people who knew the words which Jesus spoke very well. But didn't bother to listen and repent.
Jesus Christ
The final person I want to focus on from this chapter is Jesus himself. Jesus came to the world as a man. A human being. And the purpose being that he would die for the sins of all mankind. Thus, through his blood we have salvation.
Being a complete man, he suffered every bit in the hands of the soldiers and then on the cross. He knew his mission. He knew the will of the Father. And was sincere to the Father's will and humbled himself unto death. Beyond all the sufferings he faced, the few hours where he was separated from the Father was probably the most horrific for Jesus, as evident from his cry. Yet, he bore all this for us. Each and every one of us.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
We went through a lot of different people in this chapter, each behaving differently towards Jesus. From indifferent to considerate, from being brave and daring to scared and withdrawing, from hating and envious to loving and caring, and everything in between. Now, a question to ask ourselves is, how are we towards the LORD and Jesus Christ our savior? See you in the next one. Take care of yourself and each other!
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