Trial and Crucifixion

1. Trial and Crucifixion www.kevinhinckley.com

2. What happens when the High Priests begin engaging in priestcrafts….

3. 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.

4. 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?

5. 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,  5:2; emphasis added)

6. Trial and Condemnation

7. 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 Aaron’s seat and who as Romans wielded Caesar’s power. (May, 1985 Ensign)

8. Intertwined Trials Jesus Luke 22: 50-53 Peter John 18: 15-18 John 18 25-27

9. 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 God’s 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 Savior’s 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 Peter’s 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.

10. Trial and Condemnation

11. 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 doesn’t 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 God’s grace, he asked for a bowl. Rather than invite Jesus to stay, he sent him away. Rather than hear Christ’s voice, he heard the voice of the people” (Max Lucado, And the Angels Were Silent [Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah Publishers], p. 170; emphasis added).

12. Question In what ways is Jesus of Nazareth ‘judged’, by the world, today?

13. Along the way… Luke 23:26 D&C 56:2 "He that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved. Now read Jacob 1:8

14. Joseph SmithLectures on Faith (6:5) 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"

15. Other individuals What make some so blind to the truth, and others open to it?

16. 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.

17. 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,

18. Question What is your reaction to the crucifixion? Has it changed overtime?