Speaker 1
Hey podcast listeners, thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.
Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. Our mission is to pierce the darkness with the light of God's Word through the most effective media available, like this podcast.
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Now here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.
Speaker 2
Hi, this is Robert Jeffress and I'm glad to study God's Word with you every day. This Bible teaching program on today's edition of Pathway to Victory.
Speaker 3
For on that cross meant for Barabbas, someone innocent would die in his place, the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as he died for you and for me. God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Speaker 1
Welcome to this very special Good Friday of Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress. The Story of Jesus' Journey to the Cross is one of the most gripping accounts of all time. It's the story of a perfect, sinless man who died at the hands of those that he came to save.
Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress looks at the six trials of Jesus leading up to his crucifixion. Now here's our Bible teacher to introduce today's message.
Speaker 2
Dr. Jeffress thanks David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. Good Friday is anything but good for some people. For the Christian believer, however, it represents a historic day that was shrouded in darkness. It's the day we recognize Jesus' inhumane crucifixion on a cross. To ignore Good Friday is a major mistake because without the death of Jesus, there's nothing special about Easter morning. That's what makes Good Friday truly good for believers.
This is the essence of a beautiful photo album we've prepared for you. It's called the Power of the Cross, and time is running out for you to request your copy. This 90-page book includes a collection of my favorite pictures from Israel, and each one tells the story about seven days in the life of Jesus, beginning with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey through his resurrection from the grave on Easter morning. Ask for your copy of the Power of the Cross when you give a generous gift to support the growing ministry of Pathway to Victory.
Remember, we've been praying that God would stir in the hearts of at least 50 people this month to step forward and become a Pathway partner. Maybe today's the day you'll join this missionary team of monthly givers. You can do that right now by going to ptv.org.
Well, today we'll be looking at one of the most dramatic standoffs in history. Pilate found himself in an impossible predicament, standing before a hostile crowd. Would he satisfy the people, or would he remain true to his conscience? I titled today's message Jesus or Barabbas.
Speaker 3
We have a word in our English language we use to describe horrendous pain. It's the word excruciating. You're familiar with that word; that kidney stone was excruciating. It's pain, unbearable pain. But even though we use that word, most of us don't know the origin, the etymology of that word. Excruciating. Ex. The prefix means out of crux, Latin for cross. Literally, excruciating means out of the cross. The physical pain associated with crucifixion was so horrible that a word had to be invented to describe it. Out of the cross came horrendous pain. But out of the cross also came our salvation. And that's the truth we're going to see in our final message from the Gospel of Luke.
If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to Luke, chapter 22. Luke 22:54 says, after arresting Jesus, they carried him and brought him to the house of the high priest. And so the high priest's home here consisted of both the living quarters for Caiaphas, the current high priest, and his father-in-law, Annas. When they brought Jesus to the home of the high priest, Luke doesn't record this, but John 18 does. They first bring him to the father-in-law, Annas, the high priest emeritus, if you will. They thought they could get a quick conviction that Annas would come up with a way to charge Jesus. It didn't work out the way they thought it would. Jesus didn't give them the testimony they wanted. So even though that was the first trial, Jesus before Annas, it was inconsequential.
That moves us to the second trial of Jesus, Jesus before Caiaphas, the current high priest. Now, we don't have a record in Luke of what happened at that trial, but Mark tells us in Mark 14. So hold your place here and turn to Mark 14, beginning with verse 57. And some stood up and they began to give false testimony against Jesus, saying, we heard him say, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands. And not even in this respect was their testimony concealed. These false witnesses were tripping over one another in contradictions.
The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, do you make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against you? But Jesus kept silent and made no answer. Again, the high priest was questioning him and saying to him, are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? And Jesus said, I am. That's all Caiaphas needed to hear. Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, what further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. How does it seem to you? And they all condemned him to be deserving of death.
Now turn back over to Luke 22, where it picks up in verse 63. And the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him and beating him. Then they engaged in a sadistic version of blind man's bluff. They put a blindfold around him and started to strike him and say, prophesy, who is it that has hit you? They were saying many other things against him, blaspheming. They then took him from the house of Caiaphas for the third religious trial, and that is Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Look at verse 66.
When it was day, the council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away to the council chamber. He meets before the Sanhedrin, and they ask him the question, are you the Christos? The Christ? That's the Greek equivalent of Messiah. Are you the Messiah? Verse 67. And he said to them, if I tell you, you will not believe. And if I ask a question, you will not answer; why should I even bother to answer you? You don't want the truth. But then he relented and he went ahead and answered. Verse 69. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.
Now, that was blasphemy that a mere man says, I will be seated at the right hand of a transcendent God. That's all they needed to hear. They said, what further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from his own mouth. The Jews convicted him of blasphemy. But remember, the Romans, who had the power to carry out a capital sentence, couldn't care less about blasphemy. No, they didn't care about that. And so these Jewish leaders, knowing that, had to trump up some charges that would get Rome's attention.
That's what you see happening when they bring Jesus to Pilate. The civil trials begin in Luke 23. Having convicted him of blasphemy, they now bring him before Pilate. Look at verse one. Then the whole body of them arose and brought Jesus before Pilate. Notice the charge they trumped up against Jesus. They began to accuse Jesus, saying, we found this man misleading our nation. And doing what? Forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar. Now, was that true? The opposite was true. They had tried to trick Jesus, saying, is it rightful to pay taxes to Caesar? Jesus holds up the coin and says, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God. So that was an outright lie.
Then they say, not only that, he's saying that he himself is a king. Look at verse three. So Pilate asked Jesus, saying, are you the king of the Jews? And he answered him and said, it is as you say. Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault. I find no guilt in this man. There's no threat here. Let him go. Let's be done with this. Verse 5. But they kept on insisting, saying, he stirs up the people teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee, even as far as this place.
But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. When he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also in Jerusalem at this time. And so they take Jesus before Herod Antipas. Look in verses 11 and 12. And Herod, with his soldiers, after treating him with contempt and mocking him, dressed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him back to Pilate. This was a joke to Herod. He said, let's have a little fun with Jesus. We'll put a robe around him, put a scepter in his hand, put a crown on his head, and send him back to my rival Pilate and say, thanks, but no thanks. You handle this.
He sends him back to Pilate, and that begins the final trial of Jesus. Look at verse 13. And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said to them, you brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion. And behold, having examined him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent him back to us. And behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I, therefore, will punish him and release him. We'll give him a flogging and that'll be the end of it.
Not according to the people. They would have none of that. Look at verse 17. Now Pilate was obliged to release to them at least one prisoner at the feast every year. At Passover, the Romans showed their respect for the Jewish people by releasing one of their prisoners. Pilate thought, surely this could take care of the Jesus matter. He said, remember the custom. I get to release one prisoner. Surely you want me to release Jesus, don't you? Look at verse 18. But they cried out all together, saying, away with this man and release for us Barabbas. He was one who had been thrown into prison for a certain insurrection made in the city and for murder.
Here is a man who is actually guilty of trying to topple the Roman Empire. But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again. But they kept on calling out, saying, crucify, crucify him. He said to them the third time, why? What evil has this man done? I found in him no guilt demanding death. I will therefore punish him and release him. Pilate was beginning to sense something's wrong here. I mean, after all, if Jesus was really guilty of leading an insurrection against Rome, shouldn't the Jewish people be coronating him instead of wanting to crucify him? That's what they wanted, a political leader who would lead a rebellion. Why are they so angry against Jesus?
They were insistent. Finally, Pilate had had enough. Verse 24. And Pilate pronounced the sentence that their demand should be granted. He released the man that they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder. But he delivered Jesus to their will. Barabbas was the one intended to die that day, the one who was truly guilty. But they released him and sentenced Jesus to the cross.
That leads to the crucifixion of Jesus. Beginning in verse 33, we find the description of the crucifixion of Jesus. Just read along with me, beginning with verse 33. And when they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they cast lots, dividing up his garments among themselves. And the people stood by looking on, and even the rulers were sneering at him, saying, he saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one.
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming up to him, offering him sour wine and saying, if you are the King of the Jews, save yourself. Now there was also an inscription above him: This is the King of the Jews. One of the criminals who was hanged there was hurling abuse at him, saying, are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us? But the other answered, rebuking him, and said, do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong.
He was saying, Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, truly, I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise. It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, the sun being obscured and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last.
We've read these words, many of us, for years. Somehow we may have become numb to them, not realizing what really happened at the crucifixion. Someone has written a medical description of what happened to Jesus physically during his scourging and during his crucifixion. Preparations for the scourging are carried out. The prisoner is stripped of his clothing and his hands tied to a post above his head. The Roman legionnaire steps forward with his whip in his hand. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, back, and legs. At first, the heavy thongs cut through the skin. Only then, as the blows continue, do they cut deeper into the tissues. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is stopped.
The heavy beam of the cross is then tied across his shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves in the execution detail, begins its slow journey. The weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. Jesus stumbles and falls. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. At Golgotha, the beam is placed on the ground and Jesus is quickly thrown backward. With his shoulders against the wood, the legionnaire feels for the depression in the front of his wrist. He then drives a heavy, square wrought iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action. The beam is then lifted in place at the top of the post, and the title reads, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, is nailed in place.
Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down across the rough timber. With one last surge of strength, he once again presses his torn feet against the nail, straightens his legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters his seventh and last cry: Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. That's the death Jesus died. And as horrendous, as excruciating as that physical pain was, it was nothing compared to the spiritual pain he experienced, bearing the sins of the world, bearing your sins and my sins.
As I said earlier, the one man who could appreciate the idea of Jesus dying in his place more than any other person in history was a prisoner named Barabbas. In his book, *The Darkness and the Dawn*, Chuck Swindoll explains what that morning must have been like for Barabbas, the insurrectionist who had been sentenced to die on a cross. Most likely, Barabbas was being held in Antonio's fortress, where many of us have been, about a half a mile away from the praetorium where Pilate and Jesus were. Because of the distance, it was impossible for Barabbas to hear the conversation between Pilate and Jesus. But Barabbas could very well hear the yelling of the crowd.
Barabbas could not hear Pilate ask the question to the crowd, whom should I release today, Jesus or Barabbas? But what Barabbas did hear was the cry of the crowd: Barabbas. Barabbas. Barabbas. Barabbas. As Barabbas sat in that cold cell and heard his name being shouted, hope began to build up in his heart. Maybe my fellow Jews are gonna join me in the insurrection. Maybe they're forming a mob. Maybe they're going to come and release me. But Barabbas couldn't hear the next question Pilate asked. He asked the crowd, then, what shall I do with Jesus? But Barabbas could hear the reply of the crowd: Crucify him. Crucify him. Crucify him.
Now, think about it. Barabbas is alone in that cell a half mile away, and all he can hear the crowd shouting is, Barabbas. Barabbas. Barabbas. Crucify him. Crucify him. Crucify him. Barabbas soon realized this wasn't a rescue party. This was a lynching mob. His heart began to beat faster as he heard the steps of those Roman soldiers against the stone pavement coming closer and closer and closer until that burly Roman centurion confronted Barabbas, threw open the prison door, and said, Barabbas, get your stuff together. Barabbas gulped. But then he heard words he never expected to hear: Get out of here. You're free today. For on that cross meant for Barabbas, someone else, someone innocent, would die in his place. The Lord Jesus Christ, just as he died for you and for me.
The Bible says God made him, Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. How can we ever thank God enough for what he has done for us? As we close this service today, I thought, how? How do we close the service like this? I think the only way to rightfully close the service like this is to express our gratitude, our thankfulness for what Jesus did for us on that horrible, excruciating, wondrous cross, out of which comes our salvation.
Speaker 2
That's the perfect response to the sacrifice Jesus paid on our behalf to give him thanks. And it's exciting to realize that listeners around the world are expressing their thanks to Jesus at this very moment, perhaps for the first time. I know this is true because every day at Pathway to Victory we hear from grateful listeners who tell us their stories.
People like Janice from Delaware who wrote, "Pastor Jeffress, my sister passed away in December at the age of 51. She was my very best friend. When she died, I was mad. Very mad. So mad in fact that I walked away from God. And then I discovered Pathway to Victory. I've been guided back to knowing and loving God again. It has changed my heart for the Lord."
Janice, your comments encourage me and they would be an inspiration to our Pathway partners and anybody who supports Pathway to Victory. It's your generous giving that makes these sacred moments of life change possible. Remember that today when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory.
I'm going to say thanks by sending you my coffee table book called the Power of the Cross. And then as you prepare your gift, let me encourage you to become one of our Pathway partners as well. You've heard me say that we're praying God would lead at least 50 more people to join our Pathway partners as a monthly giver. You'll actually serve as one of our missionary partners who carries the message of the Gospel far and wide.
Thanks so much for your generosity, David.
Speaker 1
Thanks, Dr. Jeffress. You know it's easy to sign up to be a Pathway Partner when you go online to ptv.org. When you give your first monthly gift or a generous one-time gift, you'll receive, with our thanks, a copy of the Power of the Cross. It's a beautifully illustrated coffee table style book that you can display in your home for years to come.
And when you respond today, we'll also include a helpful brochure called Three Days that Changed the World. If you'd like to request your copy of these resources, call 866-999-2965 or go to ptv.org now. When your gift is $75 or more, we'll also send you a CD and DVD teaching set titled Live from Israel: 8 Powerful Messages by Dr. Jeffress from the Holy Land. Join Dr. Jeffress as he describes the biblical events that took place at each featured location.
One more time, call 866-999-2965 or visit ptv.org. You could also send your donation by mail. Write to P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222. That's P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222.
I'm David J. Mullins, wishing you a very happy Easter. Then join us Monday when our series, the Power of the Cross, continues right here on Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.
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