SUMMARY

1. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and then cleansed the traders from the Temple, the Jewish rulers planned to have him killed.  They were jealous of Jesus and saw him as a very serious political threat.  Judas the Apostle agreed for 30 pieces of silver to betray him in a quiet place.  On Maundy Thursday, by means of the Last Supper Jesus gave to his death its meaning by offering himself beforehand to God for our salvation and at the same time he gave the Apostles the pattern for the Eucharist.

2. After Jesus had been arrested in Gethsemane the Jewish rulers sentenced him to death for blasphemy.  This was to satisfy the Jews.

3. They got Pilate, the Roman governor, to sentence him to death for treason. This was to satisfy the Romans who alone had the power to put anyone to death.

References

1. Evans, C.A. (2008) ‘The shout of death’ In Evans, C.A. and Wright, T. (ed Miller, T.A.) Jesus. The final days, London: SPCK.

2. Reed, J.L. (2007) The HarperCollins visual guide to the New Testament.  What archaeology reveals about the first Christians, New York: HarperCollins.

3. Josephus (1st century AD) Josephus on Pontius Pilate and the Aqueduct Riots, cited on: http://www.bible-history.com/quotes/flavius_josephus_4.html  (Accessed 16 November 2010) (Internet).

4. Keller, W. (1980) The Bible as history revised, London: Hodder and Stoughton.

5. Rowdon, H. (2009) ‘Pilate’ In Alexander, P. and A. (eds) The Lion handbook to the Bible, Oxford: Lion Hudson plc.

6. Keller, W. (1980) op cit.

7. Gibson, S. (2009) The archaeological evidence.  The last days of Jesus, Oxford: Lion Hudson plc.

8. Reed, J.L. (2007) op cit.

9. Marshall, I.H. (2009) ‘The Gospels and Jesus Christ’ In Alexander, P. and A. (eds) op cit.

10. Gibson, S. (2009) op cit.

11. Cited in Evans, C.A. (2008) op cit

12. Evans, C.A. (2008) op cit