The Book of Luke Crucified and Risen

Lesson #13 for June 27, 2015

Scriptures: [Genesis 3:1-6; Luke 22:39-46,53; 2 Corinthians 13:8; Matthew 12:30; 1 Corinthians 15:14][i].

1.    This lesson covers the two most important events in human history so far: 1) The death of Jesus Christ, and 2) The resurrection of Jesus Christ. In previous lessons, we have discussed the fact that from His childhood, Jesus knew that He had come to this earth to fulfill His Father’s will by living and dying as He did. (Luke 2:41-50; The Desire of Ages 78.1)

2.    The entire life of Jesus was focused step-by-step toward that incredible goal. Many passages in the Gospels use the word must especially in relationship to the sufferings and death of Jesus. (Luke 17:25; 22:37; 24:7; Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; 9:12; John 3:14)ii He did not allow anything to deter Him from that awful fate. When Peter tried to reprimand Him for talking about His future death, (Matthew 16:22-23iii) Jesus denounced Peter as Satan.

3.    Right in the Garden of Eden, the conditions were set up that would lead to Golgotha. God had said that sin leads to death. (Genesis 2:17iv) Satan said that was a lie. (Genesis 3:1-5[v]) In this story of two gardens, human beings joined Satan’s side by eating the forbidden fruit. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus made it possible for us to escape that terrible association with Satan by offering proof of the truth of His words spoken back in Eden. In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve to selfishly taste the forbidden fruit. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus lovingly sacrificed Himself to taste death for all of us. Gethsemane is the ultimate example of self-sacrificing love in obedience to God’s command. Satan and every one of his evil host were doing what they could to prevent Jesus from succeeding; but, they failed. When we face temptations in our day, could we use the same methods He used?

4.    Look at some of the key players in that final week in the life of Jesus. What do we know about Judas? After praying all night and communing with His Father and the Holy Spirit, Jesus chose His disciples. (Luke 6:12-16vi) Did Jesus choose Judas? Jesus did not choose Judas. In fact, when Judas tried to push his way into the inner circle of the disciples, Jesus tried to discourage him. (The Desire of Ages 293.2) The other disciples thought that Judas had a lot of potential. He might have been another Paul. But instead:

He had fostered the evil spirit of avarice until it had become the ruling motive of his life. The love of mammon overbalanced his love for Christ.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 716.3.

5.    When Jesus fed the 5000 men, not counting women and children, with five loaves and two fish, (Luke 9:10-17vii) Judas recognized almost immediately the political and military advantage of that power. He “set on foot the project to take Christ by force and make Him King.”-The Desire of Ages, p. 719.0. When Jesus demanded that the disciples get into a boat and cross the sea of Galilee, Judas’s high hopes were dashed, and his disappointment was bitter. Judas refused to take his eyes off the temporal dream that he had, and thus, lost his place in a future kingdom which will be beyond his wildest dreams. When Mary poured that expensive perfume on Jesus’s feet, (John 12:1-8viii) Judas was the first to denounce that “waste.” It was from that meal that he went out and sealed the agreement with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver-a workingman’s wages for one month. (Matthew 26:15) At that point, Satan entered Judas, and he became a lost soul. (Luke 22:3ix) How many of us have our eyes fixed on earthly treasure more than on a place in the kingdom of God?

6.    How has the cross of Jesus impacted you? His life is the great divide in human history, not only between B.C. and A.D. but also a divider between faith and unbelief, betrayal and acceptance, life and death. Everyone has to join one side or the other. No one can be a fence-sitter forever. Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me,” (Matthew 12:30, NKJV) Like it or not, we have to choose sides: Christ or Satan.

7.    How did the Sanhedrin relate to Jesus? They were 70 men. They were terribly afraid that the rising influence and power of Jesus would destroy their influence and power over the people. They chose to kill an innocent Man rather than risk the loss of their influence and power. Unfortunately for them, as a result, they lost it anyway!

8.    How did Pilate view Jesus? When Pilate was called by the Sanhedrin to judge Jesus, he recognized almost immediately that Jesus was innocent. (Luke 23:1-7,13-25; John 19:4, NKJV)[x] But, Pilate was a time-serving politician. He was afraid that if too much negative press got back to Rome, he would lose his job. Thus, he was afraid to oppose the will of the crowd and especially the Jewish leaders.

9.    When Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, Herod was excited about seeing Jesus. He promised Jesus that if He would just work a miracle before him, he would happily set Jesus free. But, it was Jesus’s difficult task never to use His divine power for His own benefit because He was to live and die as a Human Being with no advantage over us in any way.

10.    Two thieves were crucified with Jesus, one on each side. (Luke 23:39-43xi) Although both, at first, spoke against Jesus, one of them had been watching Him and changed His tune. One of the thieves wanted Jesus to release Himself and them. The other one recognized that the two of them were getting what they deserved. He had become acquainted with Jesus earlier; however, because of what the Pharisees and Scribes were saying about Jesus, he had decided that Jesus could not be the Messiah. After watching Jesus through His trial and crucifixion, he realized that Jesus was the Messiah; and he pleaded for mercy. (DA 749.3)

11.    What happened early Sunday morning after the crucifixion? The friends of Jesus were hiding in the upper room, terrified for their lives. But, early in the morning, some of the women went to the tomb with the single purpose of carrying out the final steps in the typical burial ritual. T ry to imagine their surprise when they found the tomb empty. They must have been shocked to see heavenly messengers telling them, “He is not here, but is risen.” (Luke 24:6, KJV)

12.    Why is the resurrection such an important aspect of Christianity? (See Acts 1:22; 2:14-36; 3:14-15; 4:1-2,10,12,33; 5:30-32.)xii If Jesus had failed to come forth from the grave, we would know that He was not truly divine, and we would not have the answers about God that we need. If He had not risen from the grave, He could not forgive our sins or heal us, and thus, there would be no salvation for human beings.

13.    Try to imagine the scene when the women returned to the disciples and told them that the tomb was empty and that Jesus was risen! The disciples, culturally prejudiced against women as they were and totally depressed and discouraged because of the events of Friday and hiding from the authorities, could absolutely not believe the women.

14.    Back in heaven before our world was created, Lucifer had claimed that he should be treated as an equal with Jesus Christ. God reminded him that he was a creature and not a Creator. Lucifer refused to accept that fact. By rising from the dead in His own power on resurrection Sunday, Jesus proved beyond any doubt that He was divine; Satan knew that his claims had been refuted.

15.    Read Luke 24:13-49xiii. What important events occurred on resurrection Sunday? Instead of returning directly to heaven to engage in the long-expected celebration over His victory, Jesus spent His time walking the dusty trails from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Hiding His identity, He spoke to those two disciples about the events of that weekend. As they walked along, He showed them from the Old Testament how the death and resurrection that had taken place were, in fact, fulfillments of Old T estament prophecies. Jesus did not just reveal who He was and demand that they accept His statements; He provided solid evidence to support that claim.

He [Jesus] maintained his disguise till he had interpreted the Scriptures, and had led them to an intelligent faith in his life, his character, his mission to earth, and his death and resurrection. He wished the truth to take firm root in their minds, not because it was supported by his personal testimony, but because the typical law, and the prophets of the Old Testament, agreeing with the facts of his life and death, presented unquestionable evidence of that truth. When the object of his labors with the two disciples was gained, he revealed himself to them that their joy might be full, and then vanished from their sight.—Ellen G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3 p. 214.2; The Signs of the Times, October 6, 1909 par. 8; SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1125.12; SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7a, p. 245; 6Red 32.3. [Content in brackets and bold type are added.]

16.    Is it possible that Jesus did not really die? There are some who claim that if, in fact, Jesus was alive on Sunday, it was because He did not really die. Such a claim, of course, is preposterous! Having been beaten, brutalized, crucified, and eventually pierced with a spear, there is no way He could have staggered out of a rock tomb, snuck past the Roman guards, and then walked the seven miles to Emmaus as if nothing had happened! When the two lesser-known disciples returned to Jerusalem to report their exciting news, they found that Jesus had appeared to others also. (Luke 24:46-48xiv) Imagine the Son of God using Scripture to prove His case. Wasn’t His personal presence enough?

17.    How good are we at proving our Christianity from the Bible? How much time do we spend studying it? What kind of impact has it had on our lives?

18.    It is hard for us as egocentric human beings to accept the fact that the security of the universe was even more important to God than the salvation of human beings.

It was in order that the heavenly universe might see the conditions of the covenant of redemption that Christ bore the penalty in behalf of the human race. The throne of Justice must be eternally and forever made secure, even tho the race be wiped out, and another creation populate the earth.

By the sacrifice Christ was about to make, all doubts would be forever settled, and the human race would be saved if they would return to their allegiance.

Christ alone could restore honor to God’s government. The cross of Calvary would be looked upon by the unfallen worlds, by the heavenly universe, by Satanic agencies, by the fallen race, and every mouth would be stopped....

Who is able to describe the last scenes of Christ’s life on earth, His trial in the judgment hall, His crucifixion? Who witnessed these scenes?-The heavenly universe, God the Father, Satan and his angels.—Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, July 12, 1899 par 2. Compare LHU 257.2 where the key words are omitted! [Bold type is added.] (Compare Romans 3:1-4xv.)

19.    Do you have any questions about the death and resurrection of Jesus? Are there any doubts in your mind when you consider that incredible story? If so, you have lots of company. But, there is a considerable amount of compelling evidence to suggest that the story is absolutely true. For example, Jesus said to His disciples: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14, NKJV) Considering the status of the people who were followers of Jesus, at that point such a prophecy must have seemed impossible. But, today, we know it is true.

20.    Christ died for sinless angels too.

That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.—Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889 par. 4; SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1132.8,9; SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7a, p. 476.3; Our High Calling, 45.4; The Home Missionary May 1, 1897. [Bold type is added.]

21.    Did the angels really need the “message of the cross”? (Ephesians 1:7-10; 3:7-10; Colossians 1:19-20)xvi What did the angels learn from the cross?

For centuries God looked with patience and forbearance upon the cruel treatment given to his ambassadors, at his holy law prostrate, despised, trampled underfoot. He swept away the inhabitants of the Noachian world with a flood. But when the earth was again peopled, men drew away from God, and renewed their hostility to him, manifesting bold defiance. Those whom God rescued from Egyptian bondage followed in the footsteps of those who had preceded them. Cause was followed by effect; the earth was being corrupted.

A crisis had arrived in the government of God.... All heaven was prepared at the word of God to move to the help of his elect. One word from him, and the bolts of heaven would have fallen upon the earth, filling it with fire and flame. God had but to speak, and there would have been thunderings and lightnings and earthquakes and destruction.

The heavenly intelligences were prepared for a fearful manifestation of Almighty power. Every move was watched with intense anxiety. The exercise of justice was expected. The angels looked for God to punish the inhabitants of the earth....

The heavenly universe was amazed at God’s patience and love. To save fallen humanity the Son of God took humanity upon himself.—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, July 17, 1900 par 4-7. Compare DA 37.2.

For centuries God bore with the inhabitants of the old world. But at last guilt reached its limit.... He came out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth, and by a flood cleansed the earth of its iniquity.

Notwithstanding this terrible lesson, men had no sooner begun to multiply once more, than rebellion and vice became widespread. Satan seemed to have taken control of the world. The time came that a change must be made, or the image of God would be wholly obliterated from the hearts of the beings He had created. All heaven watched the movements of God with intense interest. Would He once more manifest His wrath? Would He destroy the world by fire? The angels thought that the time had come to strike the blow of justice, when, lo, to their wondering vision was unveiled the plan of salvation.—Ellen G. White, MS 22, January 10, 1890 from Ellen White’s diary; The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials 569.2-570.0.

Before Christ’s first advent, the sin of refusing to conform to God’s law had become widespread. Apparently Satan’s power was growing; his warfare against heaven was becoming more and more determined. A crisis had been reached. With intense interest God’s movements were watched by the heavenly angels. Would He come forth from His place to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity? Would He send fire or flood to destroy them? All heaven waited the bidding of their Commander to pour out the vials of wrath upon a rebellious world. One word from Him, one sign, and the world would have been destroyed. The worlds unfallen would have said, “Amen. Thou art righteous, O God, because Thou hast exterminated rebellion.”—Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, August 27, 1902 par. 4; Reflecting Christ, 58.4. Compare The Youth’s Instructor, July 29, 1897; That I May Know Him, 19.3. [Bold type is added.]

22.    How much time do you spend thinking about the significance of the final events in the life of Jesus on this earth? Has it changed you? A number of other major religions in our world celebrate their leaders by visiting their graves. Thankfully, as Christians, all we have is an empty tomb! What does that tell us? How did the cross-which was an instrument of shame designed by the Roman government to thwart any attempts at treason-become a symbol of salvation? How do you think you would have fared if you had been one of the group of close followers of Jesus during that weekend? T ry to imagine yourself standing at the foot of the cross. How would it impact you to know that the physical pain that Jesus was going through was hardly felt because of His fear of being separated from His Father-even for a short time-as a result of sin? Can you grasp the fact that the victory that Jesus won can also be your victory? What would it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus in the 21st century?

The most sublime truth in the world is that Jesus, holy and sinless, came to this world, suffered and died for our sins, and rose again on the third day victorious over Satan, sin, and death. And the next most sublime truth is this: He offers this victory over sin and a place in His kingdom for all who accept Him in faith. Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, p. 171.

23.    The Gospel of Luke was written to one of Luke’s friends named Theophilus. How do you think he responded to this book when he first received it? Did he think the story was too preposterous to believe? Did the orderliness of Luke’s account (Luke 1:3) help him to realize that the account was factual? What can we do to make the story believable and convincing to our fellow human beings?

24.    Many Christians have questions about the creation story. But, they look forward to the day when all the righteous will be re-created and given heavenly bodies to dwell with Jesus forever. However, if you do not believe that God created man in the beginning, it is foolish to believe that He will re-create all the resurrected righteous at the second coming!

25.    In summary, let us look at three key moments that took place that weekend. In the Garden of Gethsemane after struggling to the point where He was sweating drops of blood, Jesus finally said: “Father, if it is your will.” (Luke 22:42, NKJV) Christ’s greatest fear both in Gethsemane and on Calvary was that His separation from the Father might be eternal. (DA 686.5; 750.2)

26.    When we voluntarily choose to sin and separate ourselves from God, do we feel a terrible loss and a great terror because of that separation? (Isaiah 59:2; Acts 17:25,28)

27.    Separation from the Father Who is the only Source of life, brings death. It is sin that separates us from God. By taking upon Himself the separation that results from sin, Jesus died. Jesus death was a demonstration to us of the truth that sin leads to death-the truth that He had warned us about in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:17)

28.    What was the “bitter cup” that Jesus had to drink? When Jesus prayed that the cup might pass from Him, it was a legitimate prayer. Prayer may be reasonable, it may be legitimate; but, it must also be submissive. Our prayers are always answered-sometimes with a “Yes,” sometimes with a “No,” and sometimes with a “Wait.” Remember that in all things God works for good with those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

29.    The moment of victory came when Jesus cried out on the cross, “It is finished.” Jesus had relied upon the evidence heretofore given Him of His Father’s love and acceptance. (DA 756.3)    By demonstrating the truthfulness of His words and showing the awful consequences of what it means to be separated from the Source of life, God opens to us the privilege of accepting His offer of returning to Him and becoming His friends. (2 Corinthians 5:19xvii) On the cross, Jesus knew that it was a fight to the death. He needed to crush Satan and his claims or else be destroyed Himself.

30.    Those who experience the new life in Christ discover that that life does not begin with birth; it begins with death. Only when self dies, can we rise in newness of life. That is why baptism is the best symbol of the new birth. What was accomplished by the cross? The Gospel writers did not talk about it very much. (See John 12:31-32xviii.) But, especially Paul in the rest of the New Testament spoke about it at some length. (Romans 3:23-26; 5:8-10; 8:32; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 15:3; Galatians 1:3-4; 2:20; Ephesians 1:7; 5:2; Hebrews 9:2-26; 10:1-4,17,18)xix

31.    Can we know with certainty that the events that we have studied in this lesson were/are real? What is the relationship between the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our future hope of salvation? Can you name some of the passages from the Old Testament that Jesus might have used to convince the two men on the road to Emmaus? Why are the contents of that conversation not preserved for us in the Gospels? Did the sermons recorded in Acts mimic the evidence that Jesus provided?

32.    Speaking to the shell-shocked disciples and others in the upper room, what evidence did Jesus provide that He was real? Read [Luke 24:36-49. Compare 1 John 1]xx. They saw Him, they heard Him, they were able to touch Him, and they observed Him eating. That was all the evidence necessary to support His claim of a bodily resurrection. Why is that important?

33.    Between Thursday night in the upper room and Sunday night in that same room, there were betrayal, denial, and plotting. Satan tried to control Judas and Peter. He succeeded with Judas who ended up committing suicide. But, when Jesus looked straight at Peter and the cock crowed for the second time, (Luke 22:61xxi) Peter suddenly realized what he had done and rushed out not knowing where he was going and ended up casting himself on the ground at the very spot where Jesus had prayed; and Peter wished that he could die. (DA 713.3)    It made Peter a new man. Are we ready to have that experience ourselves?

i-Genesis 3:3 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the LORD God had made. The snake asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”

2 “We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden,” the woman answered, 3 “except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.”

4 The snake replied, “That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God[a] and know what is good and what is bad.”[b]

6 The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it.

Luke 22:39 Jesus left the city and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him. 40 When he arrived at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

41 Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed. 42 “Father,” he said, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[a]

45 Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

53 I was with you in the Temple every day, and you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour to act, when the power of darkness rules.”

2 Corinthians 13:53 I was with you in the Temple every day, and you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour to act, when the power of darkness rules.”

Matthew 12:30 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.

1 Corinthians 15:14 and if Christ has not been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe.

ii-Luke 17:25 But first he must suffer much and be rejected by the people of this day.

22:37 For I tell you that the scripture which says, ‘He shared the fate of criminals,’ must come true about me, because what was written about me is coming true.”

24:7 ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.’”

Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to say plainly to his disciples, “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. I will be put to death, but three days later I will be raised to life.”

Mark 8:31 Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. He will be put to death, but three days later he will rise to life.”

9:12 His answer was, “Elijah is indeed coming first in order to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man will suffer much and be rejected?

John 3:14 As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up,

iii-Matthew 16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “God forbid it, Lord!” he said. “That must never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned around and said to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my way, because these thoughts of yours don't come from God, but from human nature.”

iv-Genesis 2:17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad.[a] You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.”

v-Genesis 3:3 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the LORD God had made. The snake asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”

2 “We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden,” the woman answered, 3 “except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.”

4 The snake replied, “That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God[a] and know what is good and what is bad.

vi-Luke 6:12 At that time Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God. 13 When day came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon (who was called the Patriot), 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became the traitor.

vii-Luke 9:10 The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him, and they went off by themselves to a town named Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds heard about it, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed it.

12 When the sun was beginning to set, the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the people away so that they can go to the villages and farms around here and find food and lodging, because this is a lonely place.”

13 But Jesus said to them, “You yourselves give them something to eat.”

They answered, “All we have are five loaves and two fish. Do you want us to go and buy food for this whole crowd?” 14 (There were about five thousand men there.)

Jesus said to his disciples, “Make the people sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

15 After the disciples had done so, 16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over.

viii-John 12:12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. 2 They prepared a dinner for him there, which Martha helped serve; Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at the table with Jesus. 3 Then Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. 4 One of Jesus' disciples, Judas Iscariot—the one who was going to betray him—said, 5 “Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins[a] and the money given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would help himself from it.

7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.”

ix-Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples.

x-Luke 23:23 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the[a] nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”

3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”

4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.”

5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”

Jesus Faces Herod

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee,[b] he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

13 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him;[a] and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” 17 (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).[b]

18 And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.

20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”

23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.[c] 24 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. 25 And he released to them[d] the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

John 19:4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

xi-Luke 23:39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. 41 Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” 42 And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!”

43 Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.”

xii-Acts 1:21-22 “So then, someone must join us as a witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He must be one of the men who were in our group during the whole time that the Lord Jesus traveled about with us, beginning from the time John preached his message of baptism[a] until the day Jesus was taken up from us to heaven.”

2:14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me and let me tell you what this means. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose; it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 Instead, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:

17 ‘This is what I will do in the last days, God says:

I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.

Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message;

your young men will see visions,

and your old men will have dreams.

18 Yes, even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will proclaim my message.

19 I will perform miracles in the sky above

and wonders on the earth below.

There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke;

20     the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will turn red as blood,

before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.

21 And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.’

22 “Listen to these words, fellow Israelites! Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through him. You yourselves know this, for it happened here among you. 23 In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him. 24 But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner. 25 For David said about him,

‘I saw the Lord before me at all times;

he is near me, and I will not be troubled.

26 And so I am filled with gladness,

and my words are full of joy.

And I, mortal though I am,

will rest assured in hope,

27 because you will not abandon me in the world of the dead;

you will not allow your faithful servant to rot in the grave.

28 You have shown me the paths that lead to life,

and your presence will fill me with joy.’

29 “My friends, I must speak to you plainly about our famous ancestor King David. He died and was buried, and his grave is here with us to this very day. 30 He was a prophet, and he knew what God had promised him: God had made a vow that he would make one of David's descendants a king, just as David was. 31 David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah when he said,

‘He was not abandoned in the world of the dead;

his body did not rot in the grave.’

32 God has raised this very Jesus from death, and we are all witnesses to this fact. 33 He has been raised to the right side of God, his Father, and has received from him the Holy Spirit, as he had promised. What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us. 34 For it was not David who went up into heaven; rather he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit here at my right side

35 until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet.’

36 “All the people of Israel, then, are to know for sure that this Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one that God has made Lord and Messiah!”

3:14 He was holy and good, but you rejected him, and instead you asked Pilate to do you the favor of turning loose a murderer. 15 You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised him from death—and we are witnesses to this.

4:4 Peter and John were still speaking to the people when some priests,[a] the officer in charge of the Temple guards, and some Sadducees arrived. 2 They were annoyed because the two apostles were teaching the people that Jesus had risen from death, which proved that the dead will rise to life.

10 then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—whom you crucified and whom God raised from death.

12 Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.”

33 With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all.

5:30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from death, after you had killed him by nailing him to a cross. 31 God raised him to his right side as Leader and Savior, to give the people of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven. 32 We are witnesses to these things—we and the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to those who obey him.”

xiii-Luke 24:13 On that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself drew near and walked along with them; 16 they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him. 17 Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?”

They stood still, with sad faces. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet and was considered by God and by all the people to be powerful in everything he said and did. 20 Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and he was crucified. 21 And we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to set Israel free! Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened. 22 Some of the women of our group surprised us; they went at dawn to the tomb, 23 but could not find his body. They came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. 24 Some of our group went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him.”

25 Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! 26 Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?” 27 And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther; 29 but they held him back, saying, “Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others 34 and saying, “The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!”

35 The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36 While the two were telling them this, suddenly the Lord himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”[a]

37 They were terrified, thinking that they were seeing a ghost. 38 But he said to them, “Why are you alarmed? Why are these doubts coming up in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, and see that it is I myself. Feel me, and you will know, for a ghost doesn't have flesh and bones, as you can see I have.”

40 He said this and showed them his hands and his feet.[b] 41 They still could not believe, they were so full of joy and wonder; so he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of cooked fish, 43 which he took and ate in their presence.

44 Then he said to them, “These are the very things I told you about while I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the writings of the prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.”

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later, 47 and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised. But you must wait in the city until the power from above comes down upon you.”

xiv-Luke 24:46 and said to them, “This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later, 47 and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

xv-Romans 3:3 Do the Jews then have any advantage over the Gentiles? Or is there any value in being circumcised? 2 Much, indeed, in every way! In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews. 3 But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful? 4 Certainly not! God must be true, even though all human beings are liars. As the scripture says,

“You must be shown to be right when you speak;

you must win your case when you are being tried.”

xvi-Ephesians 1:7 For by the blood of Christ[a] we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, 8 which he gave to us in such large measure!

In all his wisdom and insight 9 God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 10 This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

3:7 I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power. 8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, 9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

Colossians 1:19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 20 Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood[a] on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

xvii-2 Corinthians 5:19 Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ.[a] God did not keep an account of their sins, and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.

xviii-John 12:31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown. 32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.”

xix-Romans 3:23 everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. 24 But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. 25-26 God offered him, so that by his blood[a] he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus.

5:8 But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! 9 By his blood[a] we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger! 10 We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!

8:32 Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son—will he not also freely give us all things?

1 Corinthians 5:7 You must remove the old yeast of sin so that you will be entirely pure. Then you will be like a new batch of dough without any yeast, as indeed I know you actually are. For our Passover Festival is ready, now that Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

15:3 I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures;

Galatians 1:3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

4 In order to set us free from this present evil age, Christ gave himself for our sins, in obedience to the will of our God and Father.

2:20 so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.

Ephesians 1:7 For by the blood of Christ[a] we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God,

5:2 Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

Hebrews 9:2 A tent was put up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place. In it were the lampstand and the table with the bread offered to God. 3 Behind the second curtain was the tent called the Most Holy Place. 4 In it were the gold altar for the burning of incense and the Covenant Box all covered with gold and containing the gold jar with the manna in it, Aaron's stick that had sprouted leaves, and the two stone tablets with the commandments written on them. 5 Above the Box were the winged creatures representing God's presence, with their wings spread over the place where sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in detail.

6 This is how those things have been arranged. The priests go into the outer tent every day to perform their duties, 7 but only the high priest goes into the inner tent, and he does so only once a year. He takes with him blood which he offers to God on behalf of himself and for the sins which the people have committed without knowing they were sinning. 8 The Holy Spirit clearly teaches from all these arrangements that the way into the Most Holy Place has not yet been opened as long as the outer tent still stands. 9 This is a symbol which points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshiper's heart perfect, 10 since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order.

11 But Christ has already come as the High Priest of the good things that are already here.[a] The tent in which he serves is greater and more perfect; it is not a tent made by human hands, that is, it is not a part of this created world. 12 When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. 14 Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.

15 For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in effect.

16 In the case of a will it is necessary to prove that the person who made it has died, 17 for a will means nothing while the person who made it is alive; it goes into effect only after his death. 18 That is why even the first covenant[b] went into effect only with the use of blood. 19 First, Moses proclaimed to the people all the commandments as set forth in the Law. Then he took the blood of bulls and goats, mixed it with water, and sprinkled it on the book of the Law and all the people, using a sprig of hyssop and some red wool. 20 He said, “This is the blood which seals the covenant that God has commanded you to obey.” 21 In the same way Moses also sprinkled the blood on the Sacred Tent and over all the things used in worship. 22 Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.

23 Those things, which are copies of the heavenly originals, had to be purified in that way. But the heavenly things themselves require much better sacrifices. 24 For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God. 25 The Jewish high priest goes into the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of an animal. But Christ did not go in to offer himself many times, 26 for then he would have had to suffer many times ever since the creation of the world. Instead, now when all ages of time are nearing the end, he has appeared once and for all, to remove sin through the sacrifice of himself.

10:10 The Jewish Law is not a full and faithful model of the real things; it is only a faint outline of the good things to come. The same sacrifices are offered forever, year after year. How can the Law, then, by means of these sacrifices make perfect the people who come to God? 2 If the people worshiping God had really been purified from their sins, they would not feel guilty of sin any more, and all sacrifices would stop. 3 As it is, however, the sacrifices serve year after year to remind people of their sins. 4 For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.

17 And then he says, “I will not remember their sins and evil deeds any longer.”

18 So when these have been forgiven, an offering to take away sins is no longer needed.

xx-Luke 24:36 While the two were telling them this, suddenly the Lord himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”[a]

37 They were terrified, thinking that they were seeing a ghost. 38 But he said to them, “Why are you alarmed? Why are these doubts coming up in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, and see that it is I myself. Feel me, and you will know, for a ghost doesn't have flesh and bones, as you can see I have.”

40 He said this and showed them his hands and his feet.[b] 41 They still could not believe, they were so full of joy and wonder; so he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of cooked fish, 43 which he took and ate in their presence.

44 Then he said to them, “These are the very things I told you about while I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the writings of the prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.”

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later, 47 and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised. But you must wait in the city until the power from above comes down upon you.”

1 John 1:1 We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it. 2 When this life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life which was with the Father and was made known to us. 3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We write this in order that our[a] joy may be complete.

God Is Light

5 Now the message that we have heard from his Son and announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him. 6 If, then, we say that we have fellowship with him, yet at the same time live in the darkness, we are lying both in our words and in our actions. 7 But if we live in the light—just as he is in the light—then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. 9 But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make a liar out of God, and his word is not in us.

xxi-Luke 22:61 The Lord turned around and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered that the Lord had said to him, “Before the rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me.”

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