Study Desk

The high priest then tore his robe and said, "This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said.

Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him

While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man. I have had nightmares because of him."

Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of them and said, "I won't have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it!"

Everyone answered, "We and our own families will take the blame for his death!"

Pilate set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.

They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship him. They made fun of him and shouted, "Hey, you king of the Jews!"

When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross.

The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes.

Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.

Then Joseph put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock and had never been used. He rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away.

So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one."

The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

He isn't here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying.

Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you."

The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.

Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him.

They said to the soldiers, "Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep.

John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.