International Bible Teaching Ministries
Events at Jesus’s Trial, Crucifixion, and Resurection
Question 1: Jesus said that he had not come to change the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17). The Law of Moses teaches that there is one God (Exodus 20:3). If Jesus was introducing the concept of Trinity, why did he not say that he was changing the Law of Moses or introducing a different concept?
ANSWER: Jesus, in the New Testament, did not introduce the concept of the Trinity. That concept was introduced to man, as shown in our response to the above question, in the account of the creation (Genesis 1), long before the Law of Moses was introduced! The concept of the Trinity, therefore, is not limited to a particular time period. It is an eternal concept!
Question 2: Jesus prophesied that men of His generation would not pass away without witnessing his Second Coming and the falling of stars (Mark 9:1, 13:30). Why was this prophecy unfulfilled? Why was it that Jesus did not return within the lifetime of His generation?
ANSWER: The coming of the kingdom/church (Matthew 16:18-19) of God in Mark 9:1 has to do with the coming and establishment of the church on the day of Pentecost. There is not the slightest hint in this passage of His Second Coming! Mark 13, as well, does not refer to His Second Coming. The reference is solely to His symbolic coming in the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in 70AD. The “falling stars” represent the falling of those in high governmental offices as the Jewish economy collapsed with the destruction of the city. The same figurative language was employed by Isaiah of the Old Testament in describing the fall of Babylon (Isaiah 13:10). Those living at that time (and now), being familiar with the Old Testament, would have understood what Jesus was saying!
Question 3: Jesus was the Messiah, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. He frequently made reference to himself as the suffering servant foretold in the Book of Isaiah (Matthew 8:17 & Isaiah 53:4; Luke 2:30 & Isaiah 52:10; Luke 22:37 & Isaiah 53:12). The Messiah of the Old Testament was, however, promised by God that he would not be killed (Psalms 34:19; Isaiah 53:10). How was it, therefore, that the Jews had succeeded in killing the Messiah, if Jesus died on the cross?
ANSWER: Psalms 34:19 is simply saying that God guards and protects the righteous. Neither this passage or Isaiah 53:10 teaches that Christ would not be killed. Isaiah is teaching that the seed of Christ would be realized in His followers/Christians, that true Christianity would prevail to the end, and that the pleasure of the Lord (the will of God) would prosper in its effectiveness. Verse eight of this very chapter prophesies that He would be “cut off out of the land of the living.” Surely one could not claim that the writer refutes the clear message of Verse eight, two verses later, in Verse ten!
Question 4: Why did Pontius Pilate just simply ignore his wife’s plea to have nothing to do with Jesus on account of her bad dream (Matthew 27:19)? If the very mission of Jesus was to suffer death, why should God Almighty show a dream to Pilate’s wife which would cause her to try and persuade her husband to release Jesus? Would not that appear to counter God’s own plan?
ANSWER: You’re reading more into the text than is there. Nothing even hints at the idea that God “showed her a dream.” Without doubt, the events preceding and surrounding the trial and crucifixion of Christ were on her mind and she was troubled being convinced of the evidence that Christ should not be put to death. Accordingly, she so warned her husband, perhaps in fear of the possible results of putting an innocent one to death!
Question 5: If Pilate really wanted Jesus to die on the cross, why would he fix the crucifixion on a Friday evening knowing that the Jews would have to take him down before Sabbath and that such a little time on the cross was insufficient for him to die?
ANSWER: Again, you are either reading things into the Scriptures or you are listening to someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about! The crucifixion did not take place on Friday evening. Christ was already on the cross at the sixth hour (12 o’clock noon) when darkness fell over all the earth until the ninth hour (3:00 P.M.) shortly after which, He died! Pilate knew that even if Christ would have survived until the Sabbath (which was very unlikely in view of the terrible whippings and brutality that He withstood – you need to do some research on this!), the soldiers would have broken His legs to assure death before the body was removed from the cross (John 19:31-34).
Question 6: Why did Jesus die before the other two who were crucified with him even though the legs of the other two were broken to hasten death (John 19:32)?
ANSWER: Apparently, Pilate, being convinced of Jesus’ innocence believed that a scourging would satisfy the Jews and ordered such (John 19:1). But, of course, it did not satisfy them. The scourge was a whip with leather thongs, to the ends of which, were attached sharp spikes or pieces of bone designed to rip open the flesh. Usually the skin was opened with the first lash with following strokes designed to shred and tear and bring one close to death. Possibly, this was one of the reasons why Christ was unable to bear His own cross. Very often, those subjected to such beatings would not survive, due to shock and loss of blood. But, even after this particular scourging, Christ was further mishandled and beaten, a crown of thorns placed on His head, made to bear His cross to the extent He could; be spiked to that cross, which was then dropped, undoubtedly with excruciating pain, into a hole in the ground. The fact that He survived as long as He did is a marvel!
Question 7: It is reported that dead saints came out of their graves and made themselves known to many (Matthew 27:52). When the Jews saw this, why did they not immediately profess faith in Jesus? Where did these saints go? Who did they see? Why is there no account of this story elsewhere other than in Matthew’s Gospel?
ANSWER: The Bible does not tell us the names of these or who they were, other than the fact that they were saved people or “saints.” Upon their resurrection they went into the city of Jerusalem and appeared before many. Though the purpose of their appearance is not given, it seems reasonable to suggest that it was done to convince people (of that time and today) of the power and divinity of Christ. Whether the people to whom they appeared were believers or non-believers, we are not told. Your question assumes that none of the Jews professed faith in Christ as a result of this resurrection. We don’t know the total affect there may have been since we have not been told. Nor have we been told where they went, but it is reasonable to believe that they eventually died. Certainly, there is no reason to expect that their resurrection would have caused all of the Jews to accept Christ (Luke 16:31). The various accounts of the Gospel of Christ were not intended to be identical, otherwise there would be need for only one account.
Question 8: If the above story of saints rising from the dead is not based on an actual historical event, what other statements are there in the Gospels which are not based on actual historical facts?
ANSWER: Secular history and archeology have proven beyond doubt the accuracy of the Bible, which is used as a source book in these disciplines. There is no account in history or archeology that disproves any biblical assertion. In fact, the Bible is itself an historical account of the events of that time!
Question 9: Jesus said that the killing of prophets ended with the killing of Zacharias (Matthew 23:35-36). How was it, therefore, that the Jews had succeeded in killing another prophet?
ANSWER: As is your manner, you are reading something into the passage that is not there! Jesus is discussing those who had been killed by the fathers of those to whom He was speaking. In Verse thirty-four, He foretells of those, whom they would put to death, following in the footsteps of their fathers. In fact, in Verse thirty-two, “Fill up then the measure of your fathers,” He is in reality saying, ‘Make it complete when you do to me what your fathers did to the prophets of old.’
Question 10: Crucifixion was meant to be an accursed death (Deuteronomy 21:23). If Jesus was crucified did that mean he also suffered an accursed death?
ANSWER: Yes (Galatians 3:13-14)! He was “made a curse for us,” for whatever was offered as atonement for sin was considered as bearing the punishment due the sin. The one who suffered for the transgressions was considered as bearing the curse in the body. Christ bore our sins to the cross and was, thus, made a curse in our stead.
Question 11: Why was it that a Roman soldier was so readily prepared to allow Joseph (a subjected citizen) to take down Jesus’ body from the cross without checking and without Joseph having any apparent lawful authority?
ANSWER: The legal authority to do so was granted at Pilate’s command (Matthew 27:58).
Question 12: Why is there no direct account by Joseph of Arimathea or Nicodemus that Jesus was dead when the account would have settled the matter beyond dispute?
ANSWER: There is no dispute, except in the mind of the skeptic and those unbelievers who refuse to accept the clear biblical accounts of the crucifixion. The Roman soldiers, whose duty it was, ascertained that Christ was dead. Pilate, on this basis, released the body for burial (Mark 15:43-45)!
Question 13: Why did Pilate agree to release the ‘body’ to Joseph of Arimathea (a known Jew and follower of Jesus) if he was not sympathetic to Jesus?
ANSWER: Pilate, as Governor, had done what he believed to be his duty. Christ was dead! It was over! The release of the body, upon ascertaining death, to another government official does not indicate sympathy to the Gospel of Christ. However, it may be that he would be inclined to surrender the body of Christ more readily because of his (and his wife’s) conviction that “I find in Him no fault at all.” The matter, however, is speculative.
Question 14: Crucifixion was a slow death. It usually lasted several days. Death followed from exhaustion, inability to respire properly as a result of being in an upright position or attacks by wild animals. Why did Jesus, who was a fit and healthy man, used to walking the countryside for long distances, die so quickly in only a matter of a few hours?
ANSWER: See the answer to Question 6.
Question 15: If Jesus really was expected to die in such a short time, why did Pilate express surprise at Jesus’ death (Mark 15:42-44)?
ANSWER: The Greek word for “marvel” is “thaumazo” which means admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder. The sense in context is that Pilate wondered “if” Jesus was really dead, so he cautiously assured that He was, through discussion with the Centurion overseeing the crucifixion.
Question 16: Why would the Jews bribe the soldiers to say that Jesus’ disciples had stolen the corpse whilst they (the soldiers) were asleep? If the soldiers had truly related this story, they might have been asked how they knew that the disciples had stolen the corpse, if they were asleep?
ANSWER: The reason that they did so is stated in Matthew 27:62-66. They were really in a dilemma that necessitated a meeting of the Sanhedrin in order to cover up the truth! They did not want the people to believe the prophecies and truth about the resurrection of Christ because “the last error (they admitted here they had wrongfully crucified Him) shall be worse than the first.” You are exactly right in your last question. The soldiers couldn’t really know that the body had been stolen if they had been asleep, but neither could they admit that the body wasn’t stolen. To do so would be an indication that (1) they had failed in their responsibilities to put Him to death (in which case they would have been killed by law), or (2) that He was truly put to death, but had resurrected, as was prophesied. Either of these admissions would have been detrimental to their (and the Jewish) cause and future. Having been given a large sum of money (Matthew 28:12) and with assurances of the highest of governmental protection (Matthew 28:14-15), they had little choice. Had they disagreed, the fault and consequences of Christ not being dead would have fallen upon them.
Question 17: Why was the stone moved from the tomb (Matthew 28:2) if it was a supernatural rising?
ANSWER: The stone was rolled away, not to let Jesus out of the tomb, but to let others see He had risen. To assume that it was necessary to move the stone for Jesus to leave the tomb is refuted by the events recorded in John 20:19.
Question 18: Why were the women who visited the tomb terrified, if Jesus was dead (Mark 16:8)? Of what did they have to be terrified, if the Jews had succeeded in killing Jesus?
ANSWER: They weren’t terrified because Jesus was dead! They were terrified (Mark 16:5-6) because they saw the stone rolled away, the body gone, and an angel telling them, “He is risen!” Imagine yourself going to the cemetery to visit the grave of a loved one, seeing the grave opened, the body gone, and an angel sitting in the grave. I don’t know about you, but I would be a candidate for a heart attack!
Question 19: How was Jesus put to death? On a cross, or a straight wooden stake?
ANSWER: Both scripture and tradition point to the cross as our Savior’s instrument of death. Although the stake was used by some nations, the Romans employed the cross as the means of capital punishment.
The stake was used in two different ways: (1) the victim was tied by his hand and feet to a stake with his hands being extended over his head and (2) the victim was also impaled on a sharpened stake which passed through the length of the body coming out at the mouth. It is clear that Jesus was certainly not impaled on a stake, as some cults would have us believe. Since Jesus spoke from the cross, He could not have been impaled, as was the practice noted above!
The cross of Christ consisted of a perpendicular post with one end imbedded in the ground extending about nine feet upward with a cross member somewhat below the top of the post. Upon the portion of the post that rose above the cross member was a small tablet upon which was recorded the name and crime of the victim. It was upon this tablet that on the cross of Jesus, above His head, was written, “The king of the Jews,” in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (Matthew 27:37; John 19:19).
The claim of the Jehovah’s Witnesses cult that Jesus was impaled on a stake rather than being nailed to a cross is without credible support or reason, as is the totality of their false doctrine!