Devotions

Darkness Came Over All the Land

by  • 

These are the final hours leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate is called to pass sentence because it was illegal for the Jews to execute anyone. Pilate gives the Jews a choice, Jesus who has done no wrong or Barabbas a notorious prisoner. The chief priests incite the crowd who shout “Let him (Jesus) be crucified!” Pilate washes his hands and the crowd, knowing what Pilate means, shouts “His blood be on us and on our children!”. Pilate writes a notice, “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews”. The soldiers take Jesus and crucify him. At the end, the sky is darkened, an earthquake happens, and Jesus says, “It is finished”, the veil of the temple is torn and the way is opened for us to the Holy of Holy’s. 

Whom Do You Want Me to Release

Matthew 27:13–26
Pilate understood the motivation of the Jewish leaders in Matthew 27:18 “they had handed him over because of envy” and gave them a choice between Jesus, who had done no wrong and in Matthew 27:16 “a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas”. Pilate may have thought surely the people would release Jesus, as his wife implored him in Matthew 27:19. But, in

Matthew 27:20 (LEB) But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and put Jesus to death.

The “common people” as referenced here, are often oppressed and can be incited to rebellion, even to their own hurt as we have seen in history. The chief priests incite them to choose “Barabbas is called “one of those among the rebels who had committed murder in the insurrection” (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19; cf. Acts 3:14), a “notorious prisoner” (Matt 27:16), and a “robber” (John 18:40) … As a bandit (lēstēs, the same term used of the two criminals between whom Jesus was crucified [Mark 15:27]), Barabbas may have belonged to one of the rural brigands. These brigands were popular with the common people because they preyed upon the wealthy establishment of Israel and created havoc for the Roman government.1

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

Mark 15:16-20a
Matthew 27:27-31

Hail, King of the Jews!

Mark 15:16–20

If You Are the Son of God, Come Down

Matthew 27:27–31

Jesus is Crucified

Mark 15:21-41
Matthew 27:13-56
Luke 23:33-49
John 19:17b-37

It Was the Third Hour When They Crucified Him

Mark 15:21–32

They Divided His Clothes Among Themselves

Matthew 27:32–44

Today You Will be With Me in Paradise

Luke 23:33–43 

Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews

John 19:17–27
Pilate, in John 19:19 “wrote a notice and placed it on the cross … “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.”” This was not in any recognition of who Jesus was, it was a way of degrading the Jews because their “King” was from this place that no one would aspire to. Pilate understood that “Nazareth did not possess a good reputation, as reflected in the question of Nathanael, himself a Galilean (John 1:46). The early church received similar scorn as the Nazarene sect (Acts 24:5). Such lack of respect was likely due to an unpolished dialect, a lack of culture, and quite possibly a measure of irreligion and moral laxity. Jesus was rejected by His townspeople near the beginning of His public ministry, being cast out of the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16–30; Matt. 13:54–58; Mark 6:1–6)”.2

The chief priest were offended in John 19:21 and asked Pilate to change the placard, but Pilate wanted to defame them.

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Matthew 27:45-56
Mark 15:33-41
Luke 23:44-49
John 19:28-37 

Darkness Came Over All the Land

Matthew 27:45–56
Jesus was crucified at the third hour, now in Matthew 27:45-51 “from the sixth hour, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour”. It was at the ninth hour that Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”. And it isn’t recorded by Matthew, but it is also here that he uttered his last words on the cross, “It is finished”.

Truly This Man was God’s Son!

Mark 15:33–41

The Curtain of the Temple Was Torn Apart

Luke 23:44–49

It is Completed

John 19:28–37

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Matthew 27:13-56
  • Mark 15:16-41
  • Luke 23:33-49
  • John 19:17-37

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels

This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You at the end of Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

References

  • 1. Wilkins, M. J. (1992). Barabbas (Person). In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 1, p. 607). New York: Doubleday.
  • 2. Batson, J. W. (2003). Nazareth, Nazarene. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (pp. 1177–1178). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.