“Of all the questions regularly asked about Jesus, the question ‘Why did Jesus die?’ must be among the most frequent. It is certainly the most fascinating.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian & Theologian “Of all the questions regularly asked about Jesus, the question ‘Why did Jesus die?’ must be among the most frequent. It is certainly the most fascinating.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian & Theologian

“The crucifixion of Jesus Christ followed a trial that was more sensational than even the most spellbinding legal dramas of our time. This kind of event today would be front page news from start to finish. People all over the world would talk about the witnesses, the evidence, and the defendant’s strangely calm demeanor in the face of incredible charges.” ~ David A. Skeel, Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania “The crucifixion of Jesus Christ followed a trial that was more sensational than even the most spellbinding legal dramas of our time. This kind of event today would be front page news from start to finish. People all over the world would talk about the witnesses, the evidence, and the defendant’s strangely calm demeanor in the face of incredible charges.” ~ David A. Skeel, Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania

“Christianity makes much of the credibility of its theology because it is rooted in history.” ~ John Gilmore, Professor, Spurgeon’s School of Theology, London “Christianity makes much of the credibility of its theology because it is rooted in history.” ~ John Gilmore, Professor, Spurgeon’s School of Theology, London

“Christus suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate.” ~ Tacitus, Roman Historian (109 C.E.) “Christus suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate.” ~ Tacitus, Roman Historian (109 C.E.)

“Jesus was condemned to death, not by the irreligious and uncivilized, but by the highest representatives of Jewish religion and Roman law.” ~ Vinoth Ramachandra, Philosopher

“Jesus is the person I would most like to have defended. I would have relished the opportunity to defend someone who was completely innocent of all charges and a victim of religious persecution. However, because of his mission here, he would have undoubtedly declined.” ~ Johnnie Cochrane, Defence Lawyer (Time Magazine, June 29, 1998) “Jesus is the person I would most like to have defended. I would have relished the opportunity to defend someone who was completely innocent of all charges and a victim of religious persecution. However, because of his mission here, he would have undoubtedly declined.” ~ Johnnie Cochrane, Defence Lawyer (Time Magazine, June 29, 1998)

“Jesus spent his whole ministry redefining what the kingdom meant. He refused to give up the symbolic language of the kingdom, but filled it with such new content that he powerfully subverted Jewish expectations and gave Pilate pause to think.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian & Theologian “Jesus spent his whole ministry redefining what the kingdom meant. He refused to give up the symbolic language of the kingdom, but filled it with such new content that he powerfully subverted Jewish expectations and gave Pilate pause to think.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian & Theologian

“In early Judaism there was no expectation of a crucified messiah; in fact, one who was crucified was assumed not to be the Anointed One of God. Indeed, if someone wanted to scotch the rumour that Jesus was the Messiah (as the religious leaders did), there was no better way to do so than to have him crucified.” ~ Ben Witherington III, Historian & Theologian

“No more relevant lesson emerges from Christ’s trials than that religion is more a cloak to hide from the true God than an ambitious undertaking to find God. It is a substitution for God rather than a reliance on God.” ~ John Gilmore, Professor, Spurgeon’s School of Theology, London “No more relevant lesson emerges from Christ’s trials than that religion is more a cloak to hide from the true God than an ambitious undertaking to find God. It is a substitution for God rather than a reliance on God.” ~ John Gilmore, Professor, Spurgeon’s School of Theology, London

“Instead of washing his hands and claiming that he was innocent and that the Jews were guilty, Pontius Pilate should have confessed that all humans are guilty and that Christ alone is innocent. He seems to have missed the point.” ~ James Montgomery Boyce, Bible Scholar “Instead of washing his hands and claiming that he was innocent and that the Jews were guilty, Pontius Pilate should have confessed that all humans are guilty and that Christ alone is innocent. He seems to have missed the point.” ~ James Montgomery Boyce, Bible Scholar

“In the gospels we learn that Jesus is capable of generating intense dislike among the religious people. Indeed, that is the usual result of asking self-consciously religious people to change their minds. The Gospel portrait implies that Jesus would be found guilty by the self-conscious religious majority of any age and background.” ~ Raymond Brown, Catholic Scholar “In the gospels we learn that Jesus is capable of generating intense dislike among the religious people. Indeed, that is the usual result of asking self-consciously religious people to change their minds. The Gospel portrait implies that Jesus would be found guilty by the self-conscious religious majority of any age and background.” ~ Raymond Brown, Catholic Scholar

“At the end of the trial, when Jesus is handed over to be crucified, Pilate and the Jewish religious leaders think that the moment of judgment on Jesus has finally arrived, that his ‘kingship’ has come to an end. Yet it is not the moment of Jesus’ judgment, but theirs. Nor is it the end of Jesus’ kingship, but the prelude to his exaltation.” ~ Gail R. O’Day, New Testament Scholar “At the end of the trial, when Jesus is handed over to be crucified, Pilate and the Jewish religious leaders think that the moment of judgment on Jesus has finally arrived, that his ‘kingship’ has come to an end. Yet it is not the moment of Jesus’ judgment, but theirs. Nor is it the end of Jesus’ kingship, but the prelude to his exaltation.” ~ Gail R. O’Day, New Testament Scholar

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. ~ Mark 15:1 (TNIV) Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. ~ Mark 15:1 (TNIV)

Paradox & Plot Twists Jesus lives his life challenging religious authority. He dies as someone who rebelled against civil authority. Somebody’s got a lot of explaining to do. Paradox & Plot Twists Jesus lives his life challenging religious authority. He dies as someone who rebelled against civil authority. Somebody’s got a lot of explaining to do.

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. ~ Mark 15:1 (TNIV) Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. ~ Mark 15:1 (TNIV)

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed. ~ Matthew 27:12-14 (NASB) And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed. ~ Matthew 27:12-14 (NASB)

They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." ~ Luke 23:2 (NRSV) They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." ~ Luke 23:2 (NRSV)

If truth is conceptual, it is accessed through reasoning. If truth is personal, it is accessed through relationship. Relationship takes: i) Time, ii) Attention, iii) Honesty If truth is conceptual, it is accessed through reasoning. If truth is personal, it is accessed through relationship. Relationship takes: i) Time, ii) Attention, iii) Honesty

Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone, because I had a terrible nightmare about him last night." ~ Matthew 27:19 (NLT) Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone, because I had a terrible nightmare about him last night." ~ Matthew 27:19 (NLT)

“Barabbas” = Bar-Abbas = Son of Abba = Son of the Father “Barabbas” = Bar-Abbas = Son of Abba = Son of the Father

At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" ~ Matthew 27:16-17 (NRSV) At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" ~ Matthew 27:16-17 (NRSV)

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. ~ Matthew 27:20 (NRSV) Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. ~ Matthew 27:20 (NRSV)

Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is yours!" ~ Matthew 27:24 (NLT) Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is yours!" ~ Matthew 27:24 (NLT)

Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. ~ Mark 15:15 (NASB) Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. ~ Mark 15:15 (NASB)

But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will. ~ Luke 23:23-25 (NASB) But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will. ~ Luke 23:23-25 (NASB)

How Not To Govern Judea Arrive in Jerusalem with Roman standards (at night). Fund Jerusalem’s aqueduct… with money from the Temple treasury! Erect golden Roman shields in Herod’s Jerusalem palace. How Not To Govern Judea Arrive in Jerusalem with Roman standards (at night). Fund Jerusalem’s aqueduct… with money from the Temple treasury! Erect golden Roman shields in Herod’s Jerusalem palace.

“Tiberius is not desirous that any of our laws or customs shall be destroyed. And if you yourself say that he is, show us either some command from him, or some letter, or something of the kind, that we, who have been sent to you as ambassadors, may cease to trouble you, and may address our supplications to your master.” ~ Philo, Jewish Historian (50 C.E.) “Tiberius is not desirous that any of our laws or customs shall be destroyed. And if you yourself say that he is, show us either some command from him, or some letter, or something of the kind, that we, who have been sent to you as ambassadors, may cease to trouble you, and may address our supplications to your master.” ~ Philo, Jewish Historian (50 C.E.)

“He feared that if they actually sent an embassy they would also expose the rest of his conduct as governor by stating in full the briberies, the insults, the robberies, the outrages and wanton injustices, the executions without trial constantly repeated, the ceaseless and supremely grievous cruelty. So with all his vindictiveness and furious temper, he was in a difficult position.” ~ Philo, Legatio ad Gaium “He feared that if they actually sent an embassy they would also expose the rest of his conduct as governor by stating in full the briberies, the insults, the robberies, the outrages and wanton injustices, the executions without trial constantly repeated, the ceaseless and supremely grievous cruelty. So with all his vindictiveness and furious temper, he was in a difficult position.” ~ Philo, Legatio ad Gaium

All the people answered, "His blood is on us and on our children!" ~ Matthew 27:25 (TNIV) All the people answered, "His blood is on us and on our children!" ~ Matthew 27:25 (TNIV)