JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED

Matthew 27:1-56
Key Verse: 27:46

    "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi,
     Eloi, lama sabachthani?'--which means, 'My God, my God, why
     have you forsaken me?'"


1.   Read verses 1-2. What was the decision of the religious leaders?
     Why did they send Jesus to Pilate? (Compare Jn 18:31) Read verses
     3-10. How and why did Judas try to undo what he had done? How was
     scripture fulfilled?

2.   Read verses 11-26. How did Jesus answer Pilate? How did he answer
     the charges brought against him? Why did Pilate want to release
     Jesus? (18,19) How and why did he compromise the truth and avoid
     responsibility?

3.   Read verses 27-31 What kind of men were the soldiers? (35) How did
     the soldiers' mockery fulfill scripture? (Isa 53:3)

4.   Read verses 32-44. What shows Jesus' physical weakness? His
     resolve? How did passers-by taunt and tempt him? What truth was
     hidden in the taunts of the religious leaders? What is the meaning
     of his suffering to us? (Isa 53:4-5,10; 1Pe 2:24)

5.   Read verses 45-56. What does it mean that the world became dark?
     What did Jesus cry out? What was his deepest agony? (Isa 59:2;
     53:6b,12b,c)

6.   What happened at the moment of Jesus' death? What was the
     testimony of the centurion? What is the meaning to us and to the
     world of Jesus' death? (Heb 9:7,25,26; 1Ti 2:5; Php 2:6-8; Heb
     5:8,9)