THE RECORDS CONCERNING our Lord's last week are given by all four Evangelists. It is necessary for one to know all the facts as presented by them in order to have a clear picture of the events of this period, the accounts of which the Lord has preserved to us.

"47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him. 49 And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51 And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. 52 Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 55 In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me! I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not. 56 But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled" (Matt. 26:47-56).

After Jesus came back from His praying to the Apostles and found them asleep for the third time, He said to them, "Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me" (26:46). It is quite likely that Jesus by His divine nature realized the presence of Judas and the soldiers with him, or it is altogether possible that He heard them coming. With Judas and the officers there was a great multitude, having swords and staves, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

Judas had already given a sign to the officers, saying that the one whom he kissed was the Lord Jesus; they were therefore to take Him. According to prearrangement Judas came up and very enthusiastically kissed Jesus. The Greek indicates the perfection of the idea, that is, he did it much and enthusiastically though in hypocrisy. To this greeting Jesus answered, "Friend, do that for which thou art come." Then the officers laid hands on Him.

At this juncture one of the servants of the Lord struck off the ear of the slave of the high priest. John in his Gospel says that it was Peter who did this. The Synoptic Gospels mention the fact but withhold the name. Some consider that the reason for withholding the name in the earlier accounts was that Peter was still alive while they wrote. To mention Peter would possibly have endangered his life and caused trouble for him. But after Peter died John, who of the four wrote last, mentions the fact that it was Peter. Jesus rebuked Peter for this act, stating that "all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword," and adding, "Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?" The Lord did not need any protection from the Apostle Peter, or anyone else. He could have called upon God, who would have sent angels enough to destroy the whole nation and all in it, but Jesus did not use this divine power in His own defense. The Lord realized that that which was happening was in fulfillment of the Scriptures and in the plan of God.

Finally He spoke to the multitudes and asked them why they had come out against Him with swords and staves, whereas He had sat daily in the Temple teaching the people. Nevertheless they had not laid their hands upon Him. Again the statement occurs that all of these things transpired in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.

When our Lord was arrested, He was bound and led away to trial before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. This account is found in John 18:12-14; 19-23. Had it not been for the record of John, we would not have known that Christ appeared first before Annas.

"57 And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; 60 and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterwards came two, 61 and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 62 And the high priest stood up, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy: 66 what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death. 67 Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?" (vss. 57:68).

Our Lord was led from the hall of Annas to the court of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were gathered together. As they led Him from one place to the other, Peter was following him afar off. When Jesus was brought before the court, the chief priests and the whole council sought false witnesses against Him. But they were unable to find those who would agree. Finally two came forward and testified saying "This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days." When they gave this testimony, the high priest arose and said to Jesus, "Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee?" But Jesus remained silent. This fact puzzled Caiaphas, who then put Jesus upon oath saying, "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether Thou art the Christ, the Son of God? It is clear from the statement of Caiaphas that he, and the Jews, generally, believed that the Messiah would be a man, and that He would be the Son of God in a special and unique sense. In reply the Lord said, "thou has said: nevertheless I say unto you Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of Heaven." The sentence, "Thou has said" is equivalent to an affirmation. This was one of the regular methods in Greek used in saying yes. Notwithstanding the fact that Jesus was the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel, He knew what the Sanhedrin would do with him-that they would execute Him. He was therefore about to die, but would rise from the dead, and would ascend to the right hand of the throne of God in fulfillment of the prediction of Psalm 110. Moreover, He knew that Caiaphas and his colleagues, who were trying Him, would likewise die. They, of course, upon death would go to Hades. From their place in the underworld they would look up to the very heaven of heavens and see Jesus seated at the right hand of God Almighty. The word in the original translated "henceforth" means from now on. Thus in this connection Jesus said that they would die and from that time they could look upon and could see Him in the far distance at the right hand of the throne of God. This doctrine does not conform to the modern theory of soul-sleeping. Those who are lost are conscious of things upon the earth, at least in a limited way; and those who are saved and who are in glory can know certain things that are transpiring upon the earth.

Our Lord said that the Sanhedrin and others who go to the underworld will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven. We know when He will thus appear--at the end of the Tribulation. Doubtless many thousands of times Caiaphas and those who condemned Jesus have looked into the heavens and have seen Him in glory. Furthermore, when He returns, they will see Him as He descends from heaven to the earth, accompanied by myriads of angels.

When Jesus made these statements, the high priest rent his garments and pronounced that He had "spoken blasphemy," and that therefore they did not need any further evidence. In reply to him the fellow members of the Sanhedrin said that He was worthy of death; and they began to spit in His face and to strike Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?"

"Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and saith unto them that were there, This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again He denied with an oath, I know not the man. 73 And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, Of a truth thou also art one of them: for thy speech maketh thee known. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shall deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly" (vss 69-75).

When Jesus and His disciples were observing the passover, the Lord identified the one who would be His betrayer, namely Judas. Moreover, our Lord, during the institution of the memorial supper foretold that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock would crow thrice. When Jesus was being tried before Caiaphas and the minority of the Sanhedrin, a maiden came up to Peter who was standing in the courtyard warming himself by the fire together with others. When she declared that he, Peter, was one of Christ's disciples, he denied with an oath saying, "I know not the man." After a little while, certain ones who stood by came to him and said that he was one of Christ's disciples for "thy speech maketh thee known." Then Peter began to pronounce anathemas and to swear saying, "I know not the man." Immediately the cock crew. Then "Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." Then he went out and burst into bitter tears.

According to the Jewish law as set forth in the Talmud, no person accused of murder could be tried and sentenced at a night session of the court. The council was dismissed therefore to reconvene early in the morning in order to have a semblance of legality in pronouncing sentence upon Jesus. We do not know whether there was simply a quorum present or not, or whether the entire Sanhedrin was in session. Anyway according to Matthew 27:1,2 there was a morning session of the court. Mark likewise speaks of this in 15:1. The fullest account, however, is found in Luke 22:66-71.

"3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price; 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me" (27:3-10).

If Matthew is giving the chronological order of events, we would judge that, early in the morning--possibly the Sanhedrin was meeting to vote finally against Jesus, Judas felt condemned, had remorse for his deed, came to the priests and brought back the thirty pieces of silver. We are not necessarily to conclude that he did this very early in the morning. Matthew is the only one who gives us an account of his remorse and of his returning the silver with the statement that he had sinned against innocent blood.

The priests were indifferent toward Judas. They were not concerned about him or his spiritual condition. He had played into their hands, and they had obtained their desire against Jesus. They therefore dismissed his case and said for him to see to his own affairs.

Judas threw the money down in the sanctuary, departed, went out, and hanged himself. In Acts, chapter 1, we see that when he did kill himself, he fell headlong and his vital organs burst forth through the walls of his abdomen. It is quite likely that, when Judas hanged himself, he remained in that posture until the body had begun to decay. By the fall of the body the walls of the abdomen were broken, and his vitals gushed forth. The two accounts are in perfect harmony. Someone may have cut the rope by which he was hanging, or it may have broken. We can only conjecture.

The high priest refused to return the thirty pieces of silver to the treasury of the Lord, but with it they purchased a plot of ground for a burial place for strangers. This piece of land became known as the potter's field.

"Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marveled greatly" (vss. 11-14).

When Jesus was brought before Pilate, the governor asked Him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" To this query Jesus replied in the affirmative. Jesus was charged with making Himself the King of the Jews, which would have been in rebellion against Roman authority. The Jews knew this and informed Pilate, who therefore went to Jesus and asked him directly, "Art thou the King of the Jews." They brought Him therefore as a political prisoner--as if they were so very loyal to the Romans. It seems from the record that the chief priests and the elders appeared at the judgment seat of Pilate against Jesus; for, when He heard them accusing Him, he answered nothing. Pilate marveled at His silence and asked Him if He were not answering to the many things that were being brought against Him. Even to Pilate Christ gave no reply, not even a word. This attitude caused the governor to marvel the more.

From Luke's account we see that the Jews, in bringing their accusation against Jesus, spoke of His stirring up the people throughout all Judaea beginning from Galilee. As soon as Pilate heard mention of Galilee, he asked if Jesus were of that province. Immediately he sought to get Jesus off his hands by sending Him to Herod, the ruler of Galilee, who was at that time in Jerusalem. Herod had been wanting to see Jesus for a long time and was exceedingly glad when he had the opportunity to talk with Him. But Jesus would not answer him a word, although Herod asked him about many things. While He was before Herod, the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing Him. After Herod tried Jesus, he was more perplexed than ever; and not finding anything whereof he could accuse Him, he sent Him back to Pilate.

"Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up. 19 And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified. 23 And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it. And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified. (vss. 15-26).

The governor had a custom of releasing to the Jews a prisoner whom he held at that season of the year. On this occasion there was a prisoner by the name of Barabbas, who had engaged in insurrection and in murder, during a popular uprising against the Romans. Pilate, in an effort to get rid of Jesus, thought of his custom of releasing a prisoner to them. He therefore asked them the question, "Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" (According to verse 18 Pilate knew that it was through envy that the chief priests and the elders had delivered Christ up to trial.) While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, passing on the case of Christ, His wife sent a message to him, warning him not to have anything to do with "that righteous man"; for, said she, "I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." Nevertheless, the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitude and they shouted that Barabbas should be delivered to them, and that Jesus should be killed. Again the governor asked the crowd which of the two they wished to be released. And again they cried out that it should be Barabbas. At this point Pilate asked them, "What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ?" With one voice they shouted, "Let him be crucified." In protest against this action Pilate asked: "Why, what evil hath he done?" But they cried out the more saying, "Let him be crucified."

When Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing with the multitude, he took water, washed his hands before the multitude, and said that he was innocent of the blood of that righteous man. He therefore warned the Jews to see to it themselves. Then the multitude shouted out: "His blood be upon us, and on our children." Then Pilate released "unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified."