First off, we must remember that the Jewish day begins at 6:00 pm. They count the evening first, and the morning second; just like God did in Genesis 1.
We are now at the time of Wednesday morning. It will be Wednesday for the Jews until 6:00pm.
Matthew 27:1-2- When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Jesus had been condemned by the Jews, but now He was going to stand before the Gentiles.
Judas Iscariot was only interested in making money. He didn't know that they were going to condemn Jesus to death! Once the evil deed of traitor was done, it looks like Satan left Judas Iscariot to go after Peter as the Lord had warned.
Now, Judas Iscariot was a man that was watching his friend be condemned to death and he was sorry for what he had done!
Matthew 27:3-10- Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Christ led to him casting away the silver that he gained from his treachery and he went out and killed himself. The priests took the money and unknowingly fulfilled another prophecy in the Scriptures by buying a field which was dubbed the field of blood!
Acts 1:18-20- Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Jesus would now be bounced back and forth between the two Gentile rulers.
John 18:28-32- Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
Luke 23:2-7- And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
Pilate didn't want to be bothered with thing. So, when he heard that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Him to the Gentile who ruled over that section of Israel- Herod.
Luke 23:8-12- And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
Herod was happy to have a chance to see Jesus, for he had heard of the things Jesus could do and he wanted to see a miracle. But, Jesus knew that Herod was only taking the time because of his desires, and so Jesus remained silent.
Perhaps this angered Herod. However it happened, Herod decided to let his soldiers beat Jesus. They put a royal robe on Him, and then they beat Him.
When Jesus had given them enough sport, they sent Him back to Pilate.
Notice that Pilate and Herod became friends that day. Having friends is always nice, but not when you have to cast Jesus aside to keep or make the friendship!
John 18:33-38b- Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews,
Luke 23:13-16- And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Matthew 27:15-18- Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Pilate knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong! Even Herod couldn't condemn Him. So, Pilate was going to see if they would be content with him releasing Jesus as the prisoner that he normally set free during their feast. They had a terrible prisoner named Barabbas- he was a thief and a man who caused trouble for all nations; he was also a murderer.
Pilate thought they would rather have Jesus walking among them than Barabbas!
Matthew 27:19- When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Matthew 27:21-25- The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Pilate was amazed that these jealous Jews would rather a thief and murderer than Jesus! He knew Jesus was innocent. But, they wanted Him killed in the very manner the worst criminals were.
Pilate washed his hands. He thought that this would signify to them that he wanted nothing to do with this man's death- perhaps this would help alleviate his wife's fears.
But, the Jews sealed their fate once when they said "His blood be on us and our children". Not only did they bring a curse upon themselves, but on all their descendants!
Matthew 27:27-30- Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
John 19:4-11- Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
No wonder Pilate's wife was a mess! When Pilate heard that Jesus had claimed to be the son of God, he feared greatly. He believed in gods. He didn't want one to be angry with him.
But the Jews wouldn't relent!
John 19:12-16- And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
The Jews sealed their doom the second time. They were told by Moses to never have anyone who wasn't a Jew chosen as their king. But, they just claimed that a Gentile Roman was their reigning ruler.
And the Gentile's would turn out to be the worst rulers they could ever have chosen.
It was now around 12:00pm (or noon) on Wednesday.
