02.13. The Death of Jesus
LESSON XIII.--The Death of Jesus.
CONDEMNED BY THE SANHEDRIN. On what charge was Jesus pronounced worthy of death? Matthew 26:65-66. Was this charge proved by witnesses? Matthew 26:59-60. On what evidence did they pronounce him guilty? Matthew 26:63-64. If he was a mere man was he guilty of blasphemy? What made it wrong in the council to pronounce him guilty? What was the law of Moses in reference to blasphemy? Leviticus 24:16.
Repeat the first verse of the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew.. What need of this council after they had already condemned him to death? Ans.--The power of sentencing men to death was at that time in the hands of the Governor, Pontius Pilate, and the Sanhedrin had to obtain his consent before Jesus could be executed. They took counsel as to the best method of influencing Pilate.
ARRAIGNED BEFORE PILATE. When the council was ended what did the chief priests and elders do? Matthew 27:2. Why did they bind him? When they reached the hall of Pilate what was their course? John 18:28. When Pilate came out what conversation occurred? John 18:29-31. What was fulfilled as a consequence of the fact that the Jews could not put him to death? John 18:32. Why this consequence? Ans.--Because, if the Jews had killed him he would have been stoned instead of being crucified, the latter mode of punishment being peculiar to the Romans.
What was the first accusation brought against Jesus? Luke 23:2. What passed between Pilate and Jesus in regard to this accusation? John 18:33-38. What occurred when Pilate came back again to the people? Luke 23:4-7. What occurred in the presence of Herod? Luke 23:8-11. Why did not Jesus answer Herod’s questions? Luke 23:9. Ans.--Most likely to show a suitable contempt for the man who had slain John the Baptist, and was now asking questions through enmity and idle curiosity. What occurred between Pilate and Herod that day? Luke 23:12.
What did Pilate then propose to the Jews? Luke 23:14-17.
Why of necessity release a prisoner? Luke 23:17. Comp. John 18:39. Why would it gratify the people for him to release a prisoner? Ans.--Because the Romans always had some political prisoners, with whom the Jews were in sympathy.
What answer did the people give? Luke 23:18. Who was Barabbas, and why did they ask for his release? Luke 23:19; Matthew 27:20.
What did Pilate do next? Matthew 27:22-25.
What did the soldiers of Pilate then do? Matthew 27:27-30. Why did the Roman soldiers thus treat him? Ans.--It was customary to scourge a criminal before crucifying him, and the other mistreatment was intended as a mockery of his claim to be a king.
What other incident occurred while the trial before Pilate was going on? Matthew 27:19. When Jesus had been scourged, what did Pilate next do? John 19:2-5. What conversation did he then have with the Jews? John 19:6-7. What did Pilate do next? John 19:8-11. Why did Jesus not answer him? Ans.--He saw that Pilate was alarmed, and he was not willing to increase his alarm lest he should release him.
What was the last argument of the Jews and its effect? John 19:12-13. What, then, was the final motive which induced Pilate to put Jesus to death?