We’ve all seen the TV specials each year around Easter depicting the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s easy to become so familiar with the story of His life, that we can easily fall into the trap of taking His death for granted. The truth is, however, that Jesus’ crucifixion was no simple matter.

In fact, even the trials leading to His death, were illegal. And as horrendous as these events were, people today still seem to cast it all aside as a big fairy tale. Let’s take a closer look at what happened.

Jesus spent His last hours before the crucifixion at various places in Jerusalem. He began the evening in the Upper Room — located in southwest Jerusalem. While there, He and His disciples shared what is known as the Last Supper. He announced that His body and blood would be given for them.

From the Upper Room, Jesus went outside the city walls and spent time in prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane. The apostle Luke (who wrote the book of Luke) was a physician. He was extremely interested in details and accuracy. He mentions in Luke 22:44 that Jesus began to sweat great drops of blood while He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Though skeptics dismiss this as impossible, medical literature explains this phenomenon. It’s a rare condition called hematidrosis — or bloody sweat — and is well documented among folks in medical circles. Under great emotional stress, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can break, mixing blood with sweat.

Jesus was then approached by Judas — one of His disciples — and an army of soldiers. Judas had told the soldiers that the man he kissed (a common greeting) would be Jesus. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, and the King of Kings was then arrested. His disciples fled, and He was led out of the garden. This arrest was illegal. According to the laws of His society, no arrests could be made at night.

He was led away for a trial before the Sanhedrin Court and Caiaphas, the High Priest. The time and date of this trial was illegal, because it took place at night and on the eve of the Sabbath. This time precluded any chance for the required adjournment to the next day in the event of a conviction. The Sanhedrin didn’t have the authority to instigate charges. This court was only supposed to investigate charges brought before it. Yet in Jesus’ trial, the Sanhedrin court itself formulated the charges.

It’s during this trial, His first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiaphas. The palace guards then blindfolded the Lord, mocking and taunting Him as they dared Him to identify His assailants as each passed by, spat on Him and struck Him in the face.

Know It!
Everything that happened to Jesus in His last days was unfair. He did absolutely nothing to deserve the hate, torture and humiliation He endured. But He did it for you. He did it willingly for you. You can show your gratitude to Him by the way you live your life.

Read It!
Matthew 26:17-29; Luke 22:39-55; John 18:1-29.

Pray It!
Oh, dear Jesus, I thank You so much for dying for me. I don’t deserve it; I’ll never deserve it. But I sure am grateful. Please help me show my gratitude by my actions and reactions every day. I love You, Jesus.

Check out yesterday’s devo, They Can’t Be Dangerous . . . Can They? .