*The recordings for this lesson were cut short due to severe weather.

1. Jewish Leaders
   1. Chief priests, elders and scribes (Matt. 27:2; Luke 23:10, 13; John 18:35)
   2. Bound and delivered Jesus to the Romans (John 18:30, 35; Matt. 27:2)
   3. Hypocrites—avoid ceremonial defilement but plotting to murder innocent (Jn. 18:28)
   4. Brought many accusations against Jesus (Mark 15:3; Matt. 27:13)
      1. Accused Him of constantly being an evildoer (John 18:29-30)
      2. Accused Him of misleading the people (Luke 23:2, 14)
      3. Accused Him of forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar (Luke 23:2)
      4. Accused Him of stirring up the people through His teachings (Luke 23:5)
      5. Accused Him of blasphemy, making Himself the Son of God (John 19:7)
      6. Accused Him vehemently before a governor and a king (Luke 23:10)
   5. Had no authority for capital punishment (John 18:31)
   6. Handed Jesus over to the enemy because of envy (Matt. 27:18)
   7. Stirred up the crowd against Jesus (Mark 15:11; Matt. 27:20)
   8. Played on Pilate’s pride and fear, accusing of not being Caesar’s friend (John 19:12)
   9. Strangely acknowledged Caesar as their king rather than Jesus (John 19:15)
   10. They were responsible for the death of Jesus – they wanted Jesus condemned
2. Pontius Pilate
   1. Roman governor of Judea, Samaria and Idumea—hated by the Jews (Luke 13:1)
   2. Asked three times what “evil” Jesus had done (Luke 23:22; Mark 15:14)
   3. Stated three times, “I find no fault in Him” (Luke 23:4, 14, 22; John 18:38; 19:4, 6)
   4. Concluded that Jesus had done “nothing deserving of death” (Luke 23:15, 22)
   5. Marveled continually and greatly when Jesus kept silent (Matt. 27:14)
   6. More afraid when he heard that Jesus showed Himself as the Son of God (John 19:8)
   7. Wanted to release Jesus and sought to do so (Luke 23:20; John 19:12)
   8. Resolved repeatedly, “I will chastise Him and release Him” (Luke 23:16, 22)
   9. Bargained to release Jesus rather than a vile criminal (Matt. 27:15-18)
   10. Wanted to please the crowd rather than do the right thing (Mark 15:15)
   11. Washed his hands, expressing innocence in sentencing an innocent man (Matt. 27:24)
   12. Sat in judgment over the Judge of all mankind (John 19:13; cf. 2 Cor. 5:10)
   13. He knew what was right, but he lacked the courage to do it
   14. He was responsible for the death of Jesus – knowingly condemned an innocent Man
3. Herod
   1. Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great—tetrarch of Galilee and Perea
   2. Beheaded John the Baptist for condemning his marriage (Mt. 14:1-12; Lk. 9:9)
   3. Kept wanting to see Jesus, hoping to see a miracle (Luke 9:9; 23:8)
   4. Questioned Jesus at length, but Jesus answered him nothing (Luke 23:9)
   5. Gathered soldiers from his army around Jesus (Luke 23:11)
   6. Treated Jesus with hateful ridicule and mocked Him (Luke 23:11)
   7. Dressed Jesus in a brightly shining robe to taunt Him (Luke 23:11)
   8. Concluded that Jesus had done “nothing deserving of death” (Luke 23:15, 11)
   9. Unwilling to release an innocent Man (Luke 23:11-12)
   10. Became friends with an enemy over rejection of an innocent Man (Luke 23:12)
   11. He was responsible for the death of Jesus – treated the innocent with contempt
4. The Multitudes
   1. Persuaded by Jewish leaders to choose a murderer over Jesus (Matt. 27:17, 20)
   2. Persuaded by Jewish leaders to call to “destroy Jesus” (Matt. 27:20)
   3. “All…cried out together” about Jesus, “Away with this man!” (Luke 23:18; John 18:40)
   4. Kept fiercely insisting that Jesus was disturbing the people (Luke 23:5)
   5. “All said” to Pilate about Jesus, “Let Him be crucified!” (Matt. 27:22; Mark 15:13)
   6. “Shouted all the more” at Pilate, “Let Him be crucified!” (Matt. 27:23; Mark 15:14)
   7. Repeatedly “kept on shouting, ‘Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21)
   8. Kept “insisting” and “demanding with loud voices that He be crucified” (Luke 23:23)
   9. The intensity and volume of their “voices” kept “prevailing” (Luke 23:23)
   10. “Starting a riot,” so that Pilate “was accomplishing nothing” (Matt. 27:24)
   11. Accepted the guilt of Jesus’ blood upon themselves and their children (Matt. 27:25)
   12. They were responsible for the death of Jesus – they demanded His crucifixion
5. Barabbas
   1. Prisoner with his fellow rebels, possibly to be executed on the morrow (Mark 15:7)
   2. Well-known robber, murderer and insurrectionist (Mk. 15:7; Lk. 23:19; Jn. 18:40)
   3. Started a violent revolt in the city involving murder (Luke 23:19, 25; Mark 15:7)
   4. Deemed by Jewish leaders to be the lesser of two evils (Mk. 15:11; Lk. 23:18)
   5. Jesus literally took his place, being nailed to a cross for him (Mt. 27:26; Mk. 15:15)
   6. He was responsible for the death of Jesus – as much as YOU and ME!
6. Jesus
   1. A just and innocent man, not worthy of death for any fault (Lk. 23:22; Mt. 27:19)
   2. Bound, interrogated, reviled, beaten, spit upon, yet did not retaliate (1 Pet. 2:23)
   3. Silently refused to defend against false accusations (Mt. 27:12, 14; Lk. 23:9; Jn. 19:9)
   4. Asked Pilate for the source of his information (John 18:34)
   5. Focused on bringing about His kingdom/church, according to His plan (Jn. 18:36)
   6. Confirmed Himself as the awaited Christ and King (John 18:37; Matt. 27:11)
   7. Affirmed He was born into this world to declare the truth (John 18:37-38)
   8. Confronted Pilate with reality that he had no power without God (John 19:11)
   9. Controlled the entire scene from beginning to end (John 10:17-18)
   10. Willingly endured all of this and took the place of everyone THERE (incl. Barabbas)
   11. Willingly endured all of this and took the place of everyone HERE (2 Cor. 5:21)
7. What Shall I Do with Jesus?
   1. Believe He is the Son of God – John 3:16
   2. Repent of your sins and turn toward Him – Luke 13:3
   3. Confess your faith in Him – Matthew 10:32
   4. Be baptized into Him – Mark 16:16
      1. God will forgive all of your sins – Acts 2:38
      2. God will add you to His church – Acts 2:47
      3. God will enroll you in heaven – Hebrews 12:23
   5. Walk faithfully with Him each day – 1 John 1:7