THE FINAL HOURS BEFORE CALVARY

Mt. 27 : 1-8

In the final hours before Calvary there were many things that would happen that changed the destiny of many people.

The religious leaders got what they wanted. The chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. How do you think the religious leaders of today would react in the same situation? They bound Him and gave Him over to Pilate.

Judas finally realized the seriousness of what he did. When he saw Jesus was condemned he repented himself and brought back the money and tried to give it back. There is a danger of going too far into sin. Many have, as Judas did and have sought repentance and found none. Hebrews 12:17 tells us of Esau seeking repentance with tears.  He was rejected and found no place of repentance.

Pilate was one who came face to face with Jesus. Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "It is as you say," said Jesus.

Pilate had to take a stand somewhere and so do you and I. Mark 15:11 tells us that Pilate asked a question we must all some day ask, What then will I do with this one called Jesus? We will do as the people of that day, or we will call Him Lord. The people of that day said give us Barbados and take Jesus and crucify Him. I want you to notice they got what they asked for. They were given a thief and they took Jesus to crucify Him.

There were several things that happened to our blessed Lord after this: They took Him to the common hall and gathered around Him a band of soldiers. They stripped Him of his clothing and put on Him a scarlet robe. They platted a crown of thorns and put it on his head and a reed in his right hand and bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying, "Hail, king of the Jews." They spit upon him and smote him on the head.

After they mocked him, they took the robe off from him and put on him his own clothes and led him away to crucify him. On the way to the place of execution, they found a man of  Cyrene, Simon by name, and compelled him to carry the cross.

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall, when he had tasted it he would not drink of it. They crucified him, parted his garments casting lots for them, sitting down watching him there.

There were two other men crucified that day, these two men had made some wrong decisions in their lives as many others have. The one on the left side of Jesus said, "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross and save yourself and us," while the other said, "

We are being punished for our crimes but this one has done nothing wrong." Then he did what every man should do. He said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus replied to him, "Today you will be with me in paradise."

Are you and I going to let the mob continue to crucify Jesus or are we going to stand up and let the world know we are on his side and Jesus is truly the King of our lives?