As Matthew covers things, there’s been a plot against the Lord Jesus—this being a betrayal of the Lord Jesus. He’s eating a last meal with his disciples, and yet they’ve denied him, deserted him, and abandoned him. He has become overwhelmed with sorrow in the Garden of Gethsemane. He’s been arrested, seized in the presence of a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. There’s been some violence, followed by Jesus being brought to Caiaphas, the high priest, and the teachers of the law and elders assembly against the Lord Jesus, looking for false evidence against him. The false evidence is provided, and they pronounce that he is worthy of death. They strike his face, slap him, and mock him. It escalates to Pontius Pilate, who orders his crucifixion. The Lord Jesus is flogged, handed over to be crucified. Soldiers mock him further, strip him, stick a crown of thorns on his head, and lead him away to crucify him. And they do just that—they crucify him between two rebels, one on his right and one on his left. People continue to hurl insults at him, shaking their heads. Darkness comes over the land. The Lord Jesus cries out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, Lema Sabacthani!” And then, after again crying out in a loud voice, he gives up his spirit.
All sorts of extraordinary things happen after that, and yet the Lord Jesus remains dead. The women are the last to leave him, as we’re about to find out, the first to meet him, but, we must see that the Lord Jesus died and was buried if we are to understand everything that is to follow.
