Over two thousand years ago, according to the most recent scholarly research, a small town carpenter was tried, condemned and executed for the crime of enticing the people of Israel to rebel against the Roman government.  The sentence was death by crucifixion. The impact of this episode is still being felt around the world. 

But First, Some Background

This carpenter was born within a few years of 1 BC. In fact the Gregorian Calendar - the calendar used by the world today, is based on his initial appearance. He appeared as a human infant of very common background. Yet from his humble beginnings he grew to be revered as a great teacher, prophet and indeed, God Himself.  Thousands of original manuscripts have been uncovered that testify to the ancient beliefs that he was born of a virgin birth, and that he performed miraculous feats, which included healing the terminally ill, or the disfigured, restoring sight to the blind, speech to the dumb, and sanity to the insane. People were not only healed, but multiple accounts give credence to the stories that he raised the dead. There are countless intact manuscripts with eyewitness accounts to the story that He walked on water, controlled nature, fed thousands of hungry people with just a few loaves of bread and a few fish, and spoke of the revolutionary concept that He, Himself was the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies so long foretold to Israel.

His Chance for Fame and Power

This carpenter, who has been referred to by many - both now and then, as Christ Jesus, (aka: The Son of God, The Son of Man, Mighty God, Counselor, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Emmanuel, which means "God With Us", and Lord & Savior) was several times urged to take over first century Judea as a conquering King, but several eyewitness accounts record his refusal. Instead he argued that His Kingdom was a heavenly kingdom, NOT of this earth. On his final trip into Jerusalem the city had erupted in adoration of Christ. They were sure He was The One who would free their land from the Roman oppressors. In fact, the crowds surrounding him as he rode into Jerusalem the Sunday before his trials were announcing Him as The Liberator of the Jews. Needless to say, this didn't sit well with those in power.

The Plot

In spite of His popularity with the people of Israel; very likely, because of it, the Israeli leaders of His day considered Him a threat to their safety, their power and the privileges they enjoyed because of that power. Caiaphas, the high priest of the governing Israeli party expressed the sentiments thus: "' ...it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish' and so, it is written, from that day on they planned together to kill Him."  

The Betrayal

Many of the details of the Christ's life and mission had been recorded in the ancient Jewish Scriptures, and the Rabbis of ages past had discussed and written about those future events in minute detail. Interestingly, one of the most striking predictions, was that the people of Israel themselves would reject the Christ when He DID appear. Another of the Old Testament writers, Zechariah, had written details of the betrayal, including the price of the betrayal, and details about how that payment would be disposed of. It was known that a "close companion" of the Christ would indeed be the one to do that job. As it turned out, it was one of His twelve closest followers who turned Him over to the Roman authorities. Judas plotted with the Jewish leaders to identify Christ with a kiss, and in return would receive 30 pieces of silver. In the end Judas hanged himself, but not before declaring ""I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." Mat 27:4

The Trials  

The ruling Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead. He was not only claiming to be God Himself, but he was calling those leaders out as the worst of sinners. According to several eyewitnesses, the so-called spiritual leaders of Israel were the only group to whom Jesus ever showed His anger. It seems that using the name of God for the wrong purposes was more worthy of His anger than even the Roman oppression. The religious leaders were quick to denounce Him. However they did not have the authority, under Roman rule, to condemn Him to death.  So these leaders sent Him first to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect, who had no interest in pronouncing the punishment of death on someone he believed to be innocent, so he sent Jesus to Herod, the Tetrarch of Israel, saying Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction.  Herod was anxious to meet this "Messiah" he had heard so much about, and hoped to see some miracles. When Jesus refused to perform, Herod and his men mocked and ridiculed Jesus and then sent Him back to Pilate. Pilate brought the chief priest, the leaders and the people together, saying he could find no reason to charge Jesus with anything punishable by death, and that he would give Jesus a beating and release Him.

Now the fickle crowd turned on Jesus and demanded He be crucified.  It had become clear to the people that Jesus did not intend to conquer Rome on their behalf, and it is believed that this disappointment was what drove the mobs to demand Christ's crucifixion. After at least three attempts to convince the crowds that Jesus had done nothing to deserve death, Pilate gave in to the crowd's sentiment, and gave Him over to their will.

The Punishment

Crucifixion was the punishment, but before the crucifixion Jesus was flogged. Flogging is a beating in which the victim is tied face forward to a pole and then struck repeatedly with a whip called a Flagrum. A flagrum has multiple leather strands with small pieces of bone and metal attached to them. These pieces of debris tear strips of flesh off the back of the victim, exposing a bloody mix of muscle and bone.

Some victims of flogging die from the loss of blood. Jesus did not. But His torment did not end there. He was mocked repeatedly, given a crown of thorns and a scarlet robe to mock His claim to be a King, and then forced to carry part of His own cross up to the top of a hill called Golgotha (place of the skull) where He was brutally executed.

Crucifixion, was used for a short while before the Romans, but they perfected it, as a most excruciating and humiliating form of capital punishment. But long before Rome rose to power, Old Testament writers had written this about the plight of the Messiah: "Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me."  Psalm 22:16, 17. Psalm was written centuries before Crucifixion was ever used.

Read more about crucifixion. 

His Death

Jesus died about 6 hours after he was nailed to the cross. Several written records have recorded his last few words while hanging on the cross.  Even as He died, His love of the people was evident when He said: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." Luk 23:34

Finally around 3 PM that day, Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" Mat 27:46

And then "He said 'It is finished!' And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."  Jhn 19:30

Darkness and Earthquakes

Several eyewitness accounts state that darkness fell on Jerusalem at noon that day and continued for 3 hours. At the moment of Christ's death, there was a violent earthquake. Besides the 4 gospel writers, history offers two prominent records of the eclipse and darkness that occurred at the time of Christ's crucifixion. The writers, Julius Africanus and Origen, 2nd and 3rd century church leaders both refer to writings of non-Christians, who took the events as fact, though they did not credit them to supernatural powers, and instead tried to explain them away as unusual natural events.

Matthew, one of Christ's disciples had this to say: "Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Mat 27:54

The Resurrection

The Resurrection is what distinguishes Christianity from every other religion on the planet. None of the other major religions claim a risen leader. One who has defied death. What's more, we are promised a resurrection of the body as well.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."   Jhn 3:16

Notice that there is NO requirement other than believing in the One who died for mankind, but he didn't simply die. He died and then ROSE from the dead! He is the only religious leader with an empty grave. He is not just a leader out of antiquity who we can remember fondly. He is with His people now, and has said to them: "...lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." Mat 28:20

The Aftermath

History tells us, that Christ's short life of 33 years has had a profound impact on 2000 years of human history - an impact like no human before or since. While we at Trinity Bible Fellowship consider the Holy Scriptures to be the final authority, it must be noted that many of the facts known about Christ today, are substantiated by other supporting documentation and have wide support amongst scholars both Christian and Secular. For more information about the evidence for the life, death, and the resurrection of Christ, click here.