Bible Stories for Adults
Jesus is Crucified
Matthew 27:11-61
Welcome and Announcements
Next Week - Absalom's Rebellion (2 Samuel 13-18)
Bible Words to Remember:
May I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been sacrificed to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
Opening Prayer
After Gethsemane (Matthew 26)
Where did Jesus go after his Last Supper to pray about his upcoming death?
Matthew 26:36
What happened to Jesus after he was arrested in Gethsemane?
Matthew 26:57-60
What happened in the courtyard while Jesus was being tried by the elders?
Matthew 26:69-75
Jesus' Last Day (Matthew 27)
Where did the church leaders take Jesus around 6:00 am (0 hour)?
Matthew 27:1-2
Did Jesus receive a speedy trial?
Mark 15:25
What significant event happened at 12:00 noon (6th hour)?
Matthew 27:45
Why did that happen?
Amos 8:9
What time did Jesus die?
Matthew 27:46, 50
What happened before the day officially ended at 6:00 pm (12th hour)?
Matthew 27:57-60
The Silence of the Lamb (Matthew 27:11-14)
What charge against Jesus had the elders selected?
Matthew 27:11
How did Jesus respond to the accusations before Pilate?
Matthew 27:12-14
Why didn't he defend himself?
Isaiah 53:7
Has your life been changed forever by the Silence of the Lamb?
Pilate's Verdict (Matthew 27:15-25)
Why did Pilate offer the choice of releasing Jesus or Barabbas?
Matthew 27:15-21
What punishment did the church elders want for Jesus?
Matthew 27:22
Did Pilate feel this was proper punishment?
Matthew 27:23
Did Pilate fulfill his duty to uphold justice?
Matthew 27:24-25
Jesus' Roman Crucifixion (Matthew 27:26-38)
Cicero: the most cruel and hideous of punishments
Only the worst crimes:
Murder, rebels against Rome, delinquent slaves
Roman citizens were never crucified
Very slow and extremely painful death
Prisoner first stripped and whipped at least 39 times with a flagrum
Thongs of flagrum held lead balls and broken sheep bones to cut flesh
Blood loss, pain & circulatory shock would result in near death
Intended to shorten the time on the cross
Matthew 27:26, 30
Jesus also had anguish of Gethsemane & sleepless night
Prisoner had to carry crossbeam (patibulum) to execution site
About 6 feet long and 125 lbs
Further exhausted prisoner & made show for spectators
Matthew 27:31-33
Golgotha - Hill shaped like a skull
At the execution site, prisoner's wrists were nailed to the patibulum
Median nerve damage was very painful
Patibulum lifted & fit on top of stipes (permanent upright beam)
Prisoner's feet nailed to stipes or to a foot rest (suppedaneum)
Sign (titulus) attached to top of cross giving name and crime
Prisoner's clothes were given to the presiding soldiers
Matthew 27:35-38
During crucifixion, nerve damage and muscle cramps caused great pain
Thirst would become unbearable as the body dehydrated
Prisoners given wine mixed with a mild sedative (myrrh)
Matthew 27:34
Jesus' Roman Crucifixion (Matthew 27:57-60)
Prisoner died by asphyxiation (not enough oxygen, too much carbon dioxide)
Difficult to exhale while hanging on cross
Legs of hardy prisoners were broken to speed death
Prisoner unable to push himself up to help him breathe
John 19:31-37
Dead bodies were often left to decompose on the cross as a warning
In Palestine, bodies were taken down and disposed of
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
Matthew 27:57-60
Psalm 22 (Matthew 27:39-49)
Recited by Jews when catastrophes threatened
What are the only words that Matthew records Jesus saying on the cross?
Matthew 27:46
How would the Jews that Matthew targeted with his gospel understand this?
Psalm 22:1
How did the spectators understand these words?
Matthew 27:47-49
How would the Messiah be treated according to Psalm 22?
Psalm 22:6-8
How are these verses fulfilled on the cross in Matthew's account?
Matthew 27:39-40
Matthew 27:41-43
Matthew 27:44
How does Matthew show this scorn & mockery preceding the crucifixion?
Matthew 26:65-68
Matthew 26:73-74
Matthew 27:27-30
What other prophesies in Psalm 22 were fulfilled with Jesus' crucifixion?
Psalm 22:14
Psalm 22:15
Psalm 22:16
Psalm 22:17-18
What are some other direct prophesies from Psalms of Jesus' crucifixion?
Psalm 69:21
Psalm 38:11
Matthew 27:55-56
Jesus Dies (Matthew 27:51-54)
What happened the moment Jesus died?
Matthew 27:51-53
What impact did these events have on spectators?
Matthew 27:54
What was the purpose of the temple curtain?
Hebrews 9:3, 7-8
What was significant about the tearing of the temple curtain?
Hebrews 10:19-20
How does Jesus fill the role of the high priest?
Hebrews 7:27
How does Jesus' crucifixion outside the city point to the eternal city?
Hebrews 13:11-14
What was significant about the earthquake?
Galatians 6:14
What was significant about the raising of the saints?
2 Timothy 1:10
Closing Prayer
Silence of The Lamb
A man had worked for a meat packing firm for many years. He had cut the throats of animals. He had heard the cattle bellow, the fowl squawk, the pigs squeal.
One day a farmer brought a lamb to be slaughtered. With business as usual, the man took his sharp knife and cut the lamb's throat. The lamb did not squawk, squall, or flounder like other livestock did. It did not bellow and then slump like the cattle.
The little lamb just silently stood before the man. With blood flowing from its throat, the lamb tottered toward its executioner, licked the blood from his hands, and began to totter from side to side. Then the lamb silently slumped and slipped into death.
The death of that lamb changed the life of the man forever. Within two weeks he quit the job never to return.
Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen
Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
For permission, or to provide your comments, insights and feedback, contact the author at:
kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com