by Gary L. Evans
47 — Did Judas kiss Jesus?
Yes (Matthew 26:48-50)
Mat 26:46-50 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
Dr. Bullinger states: “kissed Him = ostentatiously embraced Him.”
No. Judas could not get close enough to Jesus to kiss him (John 18:3-12)
Joh 18:3-5 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
John mentions that Judas was with the Temple guards since he had brought them to where Jesus and the other Disciples were that night.
Joh 18:6-9 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
Note that John stated that this Prophesy was what Jesus had spoken. And this is what He had spoken.
Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
The Scripture to be fulfilled in this context regarding “the son of perdition” was in the Psalms. And in this context, it refers to Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the hypocrites who planned to kill Him.
Psa 109:6-15 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
Although not explicitly stated in The Scripture, in my opinion, Judas was no doubt murdered by those hypocrites to shut him up, because Judas repented of what he had done by throwing the 30 pieces of silver back to those children of the Devil after he realized what they planned to do to Jesus. And he knew who those men were who were bearing false witness against Jesus to stir up the mob of people to insist on crucifying Him. Note the punishment for bearing false witness in this case was death. So those scribes and pharisees had no choice after Judas’ repentance for betraying Jesus but to kill Judas to save their own lives. Again, my friends, that’s just my own opinion.
Joh 18:10-12 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Just because John does not mention that Judas had embraced Jesus to identify Him to the guards does not mean that Judas did not do that. We know that he did do that according to Matthew’s account. So Matthew provides detail that John omits and John provides detail that Matthew omits. Their accounts complement each other.
48 — What did Jesus say about Peter’s denial?
“The cock will not crow till you have denied me three times” (John 13:38).
Joh 13:36-38 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
Peter contradicted what Jesus had said, that His Disciples could not follow Him where he was going now. Then Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crows, he would deny Jesus three times. This humiliation of Peter was to teach him an important lesson.
Joh 18:15-18 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
Peter denied knowing Jesus the first time. (Was that Peter speaking or someone else?)
Joh 18:25-27 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Peter denied knowing Jesus the second and third time. (Was that Peter speaking or someone else?) And then the rooster crowed.
“Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times” (Mark 14:30).
Mark 14:27-30 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
Jesus quoted from Zechariah:
Zec 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
The events to unfold that night were according to Prophesy.
Mark 14:29-30 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter contradicted what Jesus had said. Then Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed twice that Peter would deny knowing Jesus three times.
Mark 14:66-68 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
Peter denied knowing Jesus the first time, and the rooster crowed the first time. (Was that Peter speaking or someone else?)
Mark 14:69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again.
Peter denied knowing Jesus the second time. (Was that Peter speaking or someone else?)
Mark 14:70-71 And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
Peter denied knowing Jesus the third time. (Was that Peter speaking or someone else?)
Mark 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
After three denials by Peter, the rooster crowed the second time. Peter was so ashamed of himself that he cried. (So who was speaking through Peter?)
When the cock crowed once, the three denials were not yet complete (see Mark 14:72). Therefore prediction in John failed.
According to Mark, Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed twice. And that happened exactly as Jesus said it would.
It is obvious from Peter’s shame at having denied Jesus publicly, that it was not according to Peter’s will that he did that. So who spoke those words through Peter’s mouth? This is very important, my friends.
Joh 13:25-27 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Judas was obviously predestined to take part in the Negative Side of Election. Because Satan entered into him in fulfillment of written Prophesy:
Psa 109:6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
So it was literally Satan who entered Judas in fulfillment of written Prophesy to compel him to perform his task of betraying Jesus. And it was the fulfillment of The Lord’s spoken Prophesy that allowed Satan to speak through Peter to say those words of denial of Jesus.
Satan is the “god” of this world, and he literally owns all people of this world as his indentured slaves to use as he so chooses. But The Blood of Christ is The Redemption Price for our Souls, literally the Purchase Price for our Souls enslaved to Satan. Then we are freed from Satan, but in turn become the Purchased Servants of God Most High. And that, my friends, is very good.
But note that these events with Peter occurred BEFORE Jesus had been crucified, resurrected, and had ascended into Heaven in order to send to Peter and all other of His Disciples The Holy Spirit as the partial fulfillment of The Promise of The New Covenant. This is a most important lesson. Because all who are without The Holy Spirit dwelling in them have not yet been redeemed from sin and death. Satan is death.
John remembered The Lord’s prophesy slightly differently than Mark remembered it. But both Mark and John remembered that His prophesy was fulfilled. And just because each Gospel writer remembered different aspects of these events does not show any contradiction, just different accounts from each witness. The important point to learn from this event is that we must NEVER CONTRADICT The Word of God. That’s what antichrists do.
Recall how each Gospel writer remembered The Lord’s statements about what the Disciples were necessarily going to do that night, and Peter’s contradictory claims of what he would do instead.
Joh 13:36-37 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
Mark 14:27-29 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
This is an extremely important precept. Obviously Peter loved Jesus, but we must never contradict what Jesus has said. Never contradict The Word of God, my friends.
49 — Did Jesus bear his own cross?
As you read each of these accounts, note how each writer emphasizes different aspects of the events described. Aspects one writer includes may be omitted by the others. But in no way is this fact evidence of any “contradiction” or that some accounts are not true. Each writer provides additional detail that complements the accounts of the others, so that merging them together in our minds we can perceive the bigger picture of what specific things were reported to have happened and why they happened.
Yes (John 19:17)
Joh 19:16-27 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
John states that they made Jesus carry the cross, but he omits that later they got Simon the Cyrene to carry it for Him to Golgatha. The other Gospel writers omit that Jesus had to carry the cross at first, but include the detail about Simon the Cyrene carrying the cross in their accounts.
No (Matthew 27:31-32
Mat 27:31-37 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
I am including the accounts of the other two Gospel writers so that you can compare them also:
Luk 23:26-34 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Mark 15:20-28 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
If we consider that what John presented is true, then we know that Jesus at least initially was required to carry His own cross. And if we accept the other Gospel accounts as also true, we learn that Simon the Cyrene ALSO had to carry the cross for Jesus. So Jesus carried it for a while, then Simon carried it the rest of the way. Jesus had been so horribly beaten and had already lost so much blood, it is only reasonable to expect that He just no longer had the strength to carry that heavy cross. So Simon was surely brought in to help out of necessity.
50 — Did Jesus die before the curtain of the temple was torn?
Yes (Matthew 27:50-51; Mark 15:37-38)
Mat 27:50-54 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Jesus gave up His Spirit. And the veil of the Temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the outer areas of the Temple, where only the High Priest was permitted to enter, was torn in two.
Mark 15:36-39 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
Jesus gave up His Spirit. And the veil of the Temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the outer areas of the Temple, where only the High Priest was permitted to enter, was torn in two.
No. After the curtain was torn, then Jesus crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last (Luke 23:45-46)
Luk 23:44-47 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
The veil of the Temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the outer areas of the Temple, where only the High Priest was permitted to enter, was torn in two as Jesus breathed His last breath and gave up His Spirit.
Each of these accounts may be worded slightly different and include varying details, but they describe the same event. There is absolutely no contradiction here to indicate that anyone is lying or that there is any falsehood in these accounts. The important point is:
Upon the sacrifice of The Only Begotten Son of God and the shedding of His Blood for our sins, the way to seeking the very presence of God Most High was opened up to all people who would believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and enter The New Covenant.