Trial and Crucifixion

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Trial and Crucifixion

• www.kevinhinckley.com

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What happens when the High Priests begin engaging
in priestcrafts.
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The Passion of the Christ

• If we focus too much on
• The reasons behind the arrest,
• The illegalities of the trial,
• The unjustness of the scourging,
• The way of the cross toward Golgotha
• The horrors of the crucifixion,
• We will miss that this is also a story of
  individuals and their reaction to Him.
• Ultimately, like the Atonement itself, we must
  focus on the effect it has on each one of us.

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Question

• Was the crucifixion necessary?
• Could He have been stoned to death instead?
• Could the Savior have died as an old man and
  still brought forth the resurrection?

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Prophet Joseph Smith

• Jesus Christ descended in suffering below that
  which man can suffer or, in other words,
  suffered greater sufferings, and was exposed
  to more powerful contradictions than any man can
  be.
• But, notwithstanding all this, he kept the law of
  God, and remained without sin, showing thereby
  that it is in the power of man to keep the law
  and remain also without sin"
• ( Lectures on Faith,  52 emphasis added)

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Trial and Condemnation
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Elder McConkie

• he confronted Judas and the other incarnate
  devils, some from the very Sanhedrin itself
• and he was led away with a rope around his neck,
  as a common criminal,
• to be judged by the arch-criminals who as Jews
  sat in Aarons seat and who as Romans wielded
  Caesars power. (May, 1985 Ensign)

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Intertwined Trials

• Jesus
• Luke 22 50-53

• Peter
• John 18 15-18
• John 18 25-27

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Spencer W. Kimball Peter, My Brother

• Some time ago a newspaper in a distant town
  carried an Easter Sunday religious editorial
  by a minister who stated that Peter denied
  knowing Jesus because of self-confidence,
  indecision, evil companions, failure to pray,
  lack of humility, and fear of man.
• As I read this, I had some strange emotions.
  I was shocked, then I was chilled, then my
  blood changed its temperature and began to
  boil. I felt I was attacked viciously, for Peter
  was my brother, my colleague, my example, my
  prophet, and Gods anointed.
• I whispered to myself, That is not true. He
  is maligning my brother. Much of the criticism
  of Simon Peter is centered in his denial of his
  acquaintance with the Master. This has been
  labeled cowardice. Are we sure of his motive in
  that recorded denial?
• Being a leader, Peter was a special target of the
  adversary. Peter was under fire all the hosts
  of hell were against him. The die had been cast
  for the Saviors crucifixion. If Satan could
  destroy Simon now, what a victory he would score.
  Here was the greatest of all living men. Lucifer
  wanted to confuse him, frustrate him, limit his
  prestige, and totally destroy him. However, this
  was not to be, for he was chosen for and ordained
  to a high purpose in heaven, as was Abraham. Is
  it possible that there might have been some other
  reason for Peters triple denial? Could he have
  felt that circumstances justified expediency?
• Could it be that in these last hours Peter
  realized that he should stop protecting his Lord,
  that the crucifixion was inevitable, and that
  regardless of all his acts, the Lord was moving
  toward his destiny? I do not know. I only know
  that this apostle was brave and fearless. When
  the cock crowed it reminded him not only that he
  had denied the Lord but also that all the Lord
  had said would be fulfilled, even to the
  crucifixion. He went out and wept bitterly. Were
  his tears for personal repentance only, or were
  they mingled with sorrowful tears in realization
  of the fate of his Lord and Master and his own
  great loss?
• Peter was full of faith. He never faltered.

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Trial and Condemnation
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Pilate

• So many voices. The voice of compromise. The
  voice of expedience. The voice of politics. The
  voice of conscience. And the soft, firm voice of
  Christ The only power you have over me is the
  power given to you by God. Jesus voice is
  distinct. Unique. He doesnt cajole or plead.
• He just states the case. Pilate thought he could
  avoid making a choice. He washed his hands of
  Jesus. He climbed on the fence and sat down. But
  in not making a choice, Pilate made a choice.
• Rather than ask for Gods grace, he asked for a
  bowl. Rather than invite Jesus to stay, he sent
  him away. Rather than hear Christs voice, he
  heard the voice of the people
• (Max Lucado, And the Angels Were Silent Sisters,
  Oregon Multnomah Publishers, p. 170 emphasis
  added).

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Question

• In what ways is Jesus of Nazareth judged, by
  the world, today?

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Along the way

• Luke 2326
• DC 562
• "He that will not take up his cross and follow
  me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not
  be saved.
• Now read Jacob 18

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Joseph SmithLectures on Faith (65)

• The true disciple must "lay down his all, his
  character and reputation, his honor, and
  applause, his good name among men, his houses,
  his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and
  children, and even his own life also-
• counting all things but fifth and dross for the
  excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ"

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Other individuals
What make some so blind to the truth, and others
open to it?
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JST Matthew 4

• And when the tempter came to him, he said, If
  thou be the Son of God, command that these
  stones be made bread.
• Then Jesus was taken up into the holy city,
  and the Spirit setteth him on the pinnacle of
  the temple.
• Then the devil came unto him and said, If thou be
  the Son of God, cast thyself down
• While on the Cross
• And they that passed by reviled him, wagging
  their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the
  temple, and buildest it again in three days, save
  thyself. If thou be the Son of God come down from
  the cross.
• Likewise also the chief priests mocking with the
  Scribes and elders, said, He saved others,
  himself he cannot save. If he be the King of
  Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and
  we will believe him.

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Melvin J. Ballard

• Heavenly Father had the power to save, and he
  loved his Son, and he could have saved him. He
  might have rescued him from the insult of the
  crowds. He might have rescued him when the crown
  of thorns was placed upon his head. He might have
  rescued him when the Son, hanging between the two
  thieves, was mocked with, "Save thyself, and come
  down from the cross. He saved others himself he
  cannot save."
• He listened to all this. He saw that Son
  condemned he saw him drag the cross through the
  streets of Jerusalem and faint under its load. He
  saw that Son finally upon Calvary he saw his
  body stretched out upon the wooden cross he saw
  the cruel nails driven through hands and feet,
  and the blows that broke the skin, tore the
  flesh, and let out the life's blood of his Son.
  He looked upon that.
• In the case of our Father, the knife was not
  stayed, but it fell, and the life's blood of his
  Beloved Son went out. His Father looked on with
  great grief and agony over his Beloved Son, until
  there seems to have come a moment when even our
  Savior cried out in despair "My God, my God, why
  hast thou forsaken me?"
• In that hour I think I can see our dear Father
  behind the veil looking upon these dying
  struggles until even he could not endure it any
  longer and, so he bowed his head, and hid in
  some part of his universe, his great heart almost
  breaking for the love that he had for his Son.
• Oh, in that moment when he might have saved his
  Son. I thank him and praise him that he did not
  fail us,

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Question

• What is your reaction to the crucifixion?
• Has it changed overtime?