The Everlasting Covenant

18.0 Calvary
by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, January 21, 2010

Topics:

The Prologue
Gethsemane
Officials of the Court
Jesus Christ on Trial
Forsaken?
What Was Finished?

In the events of the Last Supper, Gethsemane, the Trial, Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we reach the pinnacle of the everlasting covenant. Here are found the deep truths underlying the legal foundations of Israel and the church. On these events the Christian Church is founded. The greatest minds are challenged to understand their meaning.

The Prologue

Some are tempted to believe that the trial and crucifixion of Jesus represented the failure of His ministry. Some have accused the Jews of being “Christ killers,” ignoring the fact that the early Christian church was a Jewish church. Jesus Himself gives His answer:

    “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17,18).
How do we know that Jesus willingly made the sacrifice on Calvary? And that this was the climax of His mission, His victory over Satan, and the proven success of the purpose of God?

Jesus is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8; John 1:29,36). In council between Father and Son the Plan of Salvation was made. Knowing that men would choose to do wrong, they covenanted to support their Creation, and to win it back again. Their method was in the loving character of God. They would show that God’s government is founded on mercy and justice. Intelligent beings would not be forced to obey, but would be persuaded by truth and love.

To plan an event for the future becomes urgently different when you are face to face with the event. This came to a crisis in Gethsemane:

Gethsemane

From another writer the experience of Gethsemane is described:

     “Jesus ... fell prostrate, overcome by the horror of a great darkness. The humanity of the Son of God trembled in that trying hour. ... The awful moment had come – which was to decide the destiny of the world... Christ might even now refuse to drink the cup apportioned to guilty man.... The words fall tremblingly from the pale lips of Jesus, "O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done."

      “Three times He uttered that prayer. Three times humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. .. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. .. and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. ... And He will not turn from His mission. ... "If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done."

     “Having made the decision, He fell dying to the ground from which He had partially risen.

     “But God suffered with His Son. Angels ... saw their Lord enclosed by legions of satanic forces, His nature weighed down with a shuddering, mysterious dread. There was silence in heaven. No harp was touched. ... the angelic host watched the Father separating His beams of light, love, and glory from His beloved Son,... how offensive in His sight is sin.

     “... The powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ's thrice-repeated prayer....In this awful crisis,... the mighty angel who stands in God's presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ's hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father's love. He came to give power to the divine-human suppliant....

     “Christ's agony did not cease, but His depression and discouragement left Him. ...The storm did not abate, but He who was its object was strengthened to meet its fury. He came forth calm and serene. A heavenly peace rested upon His bloodstained face. He had borne that which no human being could ever bear; for He had tasted the sufferings of death for every man.” White, EG: The Desire of Ages, p. 690-694

Officials of the Court

Jesus came to pay the penalty of the broken law that men might live. In doing so, He would establish the government of God on love, mercy, justice and free will. Freedom and happiness would be restored forever.

There are clues in the trial itself showing Jesus’ purpose. When the mob accosted Jesus at Gethsemane, “As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground” (John 18:6). Jesus could have walked away, but he didn’t.

When it appeared that Jesus would not defend Himself, “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear” (John 18:10). Jesus immediately stopped Peter, and healed Malchus’ ear. Jesus knew that His hour had come, and He was determined to meet it with no unforseen delays.

There was a midnight hearing before the court of Annas. Annas tried to establish a charge of sedition, and questioned Jesus directly. Aghast at this illegality (a prisoner was not to be convicted on his own testimony), Jesus spoke: “I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said” (John 18:20-21).

Jesus had continually been followed by spies. Why not ask them? He denied saying anything in secret. This silenced Annas, embarrassed the court, and almost stopped the proceedings. But Jesus knew His hour had come. Many times in His ministry He had met these men, and repeatedly exposed their ignorance, hypocrisy, and criminal intent. But now He must not delay what has to be done. He remembered Isaiah 53:7, “as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” From that point on He was careful to not defend Himself.

Next, Jesus was examined by Caiaphas in the presence of the Sanhedrin (Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were not invited). Not everyone in the Sanhedrin were against Jesus (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15-19; Proverbs 18:13; John 7:51). Those who did not oppose Him would need to be persuaded, and Caiaphas was having a hard time doing so. Failing with contradictory witnesses, he questioned Jesus Himself. “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.”

This question was given with an oath. Jesus knew that His answer would condemn Him to death, but He also knew that His answer would be heard by millions throughout the ages to come. Many would come to believe on Him. “Jesus saith unto him, thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:63, 64).

Caiaphas suddenly saw himself confronted with his own judgment with Jesus as the judge. He paled in terror at the thought. Then, malignant hatred taking possession, he rent his robe and declared, “What further need have we of witnesses?” A speedy verdict of blasphemy, worthy of death was given.

Judas, Annas, Caiaphas and Pilate were pitiful in their flawed characters. Yet Jesus did not pass them by. A character is built by exercising faith in the little day to day temptations of life. It is built as we consent to the work of grace in our lives. Character is then shown under stress for all to see.

Jesus Christ on Trial

During this time, Peter and John managed to gain entrance to the court. John made no attempt to hide his identity. Peter trying to mingle with the crowd was asked three times if he were a disciple. Finally with cursing and swearing he said, “I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew” (Matthew 26:74). “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. . . . And Peter went out and wept bitterly” (John 22:61, 62).

All during this tragic affair, there was One and only One who was calm and at peace. Only One who knew where He was going. Only One who was in control. Jesus came to give His life a ransom for many. He held his peace, did not defend Himself, but allowed the Father to direct in affairs. There was one thing He could do, and this He did. He gave evidence to all participants that He was the Son of God, and appealed to their souls.

Before the mob in Gethsemane, he declared Himself the “I am” and the mob fell back from the glory of God. He healed Malchus’ ear. Before Annas, He showed a greater knowledge of the illegality of the proceedings, yet He did not accuse him. Before Caiaphas, He startled him with a mental picture of the coming judgment. Caiaphas could yet accept Him and be saved. He did not. For Peter, in his misery, all He did was to look at him with the deep love that existed between them. Peter’s heart was broken, and forever after he willingly and enthusiastically confessed that Jesus is Lord!

Before Pilate, He explained the nature of His kingdom. Pilate believed, and tried to save Him. But he lacked courage and was unwilling to sacrifice position for truth. Simon of Cyrene carried His cross. It was the chance of a lifetime for him and his life was forever changed. Jesus recognized belief in the appeal of the crucified thief and gave him forgiveness and hope. Even the rough centurion confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).

How about those who engineered His crucifixion? Wasn’t Jesus’ death prophesied? Wasn’t His death necessary in the plan of salvation “from the foundation of the world”? The Bible tells us that God Himself will see to the outworking of His covenant, and His plans are best. Human devising was not necessary. Those humans who engineered the crucifixion were not needed. “The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24). See also Luke 17:1; 22:22.

Pilate, quickly noted that Jesus was no ordinary prisoner and took His case seriously. But he was at a disadvantage. Worldly people just cannot understand the issues of the church and it is not fair to embarrass them by bringing to them our problems. However, Pilate not only assessed Jesus correctly but he also knew the Jews. He quickly came to the conclusion that Jesus was innocent, and not worthy of punishment of any kind, much less death. Pilate tried repeatedly to save Jesus.

What would have happened if Pilate took immediate strong action and used his soldiers to defend Jesus. The Jews knew Pilate, his weak character, his history, his weakness, and his fears. Using mob action and threatening his relationship with Caesar they were able to secure what they wanted—crucifixion.

    “Pilate longed to deliver Jesus. But he saw that he could not do this, and yet retain his own position and honor. Rather than lose his worldly power, he chose to sacrifice an innocent life” (White EG: The Desire of Ages, 738).
Pilate had a wonderful opportunity to confess Jesus; but he did not have the character needed.

Forsaken?

The crucifixion took place about the third hour (9:00 am). At the sixth hour, darkness fell over the land. At the ninth hour (3:00 pm), Jesus “cried with a loud voice, . . . My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46)?

Did God really forsake Him? Does God forsake His people ever? Would God forsake a faithful believer at the time of death? No! No! No! Why then did Jesus say, “why hast thou forsaken me?” Remember the struggle Jesus faced in Gethsemane. At that time He took the sins of the whole world on His shoulders. He knew that sin is offensive to God. Sin separates a person from God. Would the sins of the world, taken vicariously by Jesus serve to separate Him from the Father?

The rank unfairness and the inhuman abuse He suffered during the trial accentuated His burden. The crucifixion itself with the surging, angry, abusive crowds made it worse. There were only glimmers of hope, the thief on the cross, His mother Mary and disciple John, a few others. These gave Him a shred of courage. But He went to the cross as a human being, and He could not see through His approaching death. He could not know but that His burial would be permanent.

He had only His faith and this memory: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” was said at His baptism and at the Transfiguration. He remembered the hours of prayer and fellowship with the Father. The throngs of people, not the ones who were now abusive but those who so much needed Him and appreciated Him. These bolstered His faith. He hung on by faith, desperate faith. It is the faith OF Jesus, that hangs onto God when it seems that all hope is gone.

In saying, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” during His dying agony, Jesus felt “an horror of great darkness (Genesis 15:12)(17) and tasted the second death. The death of a person without hope. But He hung on by faith:

There is no reference in the Bible that Jesus died the second death. But the weight of the sins of all humanity were on Him; He knew that sin was offensive to the Father; He felt the “horror of great darkness” where there is no life, no God, nothing. He tasted the second death.

What was finished?

    “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).
45 “And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
    46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
    47 “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:45-47).
God is Creator and source and sustainer of all life. “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). God is not in His creation, but he works through His creation on a continual basis. Without His sustaining power, life would cease. Thus God could say: “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17).

But God had a plan. A plan that required the life of His only begotten Son. God created all intelligent beings in the Image of God. He gave to men and angels personality because God is personal. Free will and creativity allows for men to make decisions that will actually direct the future! It allows men to do and to make new things, and new beauty. Men were moral beings and can discern between good and bad. They are social with lives centered around families and community. And they are intelligent. Knowledge was not by instinct, but was learned.

God delighted in the gifts He gave man. He loved His new Creation. And He would support His creation. In order to do this He could not exercise force or be arbitrary without losing what He deemed valuable. He had to show mercy, justice, and act with love and persuasion.

To refuse God, to rebel against Him is to cut off the source of life. This dire result of sin was held in check only by the promise of a Redeemer who Himself paid the price. Only the Lawgiver can pay the price of breaking the law. This plan was made from before the foundation of the world. Jesus offered Himself, the Father offered His only begotten Son, the Holy Spirit sustained Him on this earth.

Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, became a man. He lived in every way as a man. He lived a sinless life under severe provocation. And this life He gave freely to pay for our sins. This was climaxed by a trial and crucifixion which, I believe, was much worse than what even Jesus expected. But He did not flinch. He followed the will of the Father even unto death.

The Everlasting Covenant - 18.0 Calvary

The Everlasting Covenant