(Week #44) The Lamb King (Matt. 26:59-66; 27:11-26; 28:1-6)

I. Jesus’ Jewish Trial (Matt. 26:59-66)
A. The Jews falsely charge and convict Jesus of blasphemy.
- “Son of Man was a commonly acknowledged title of the Messiah, the one Jesus most often used of Himself, and Power was a figurative designation of God. Because the ungodly members of the Sanhedrin had refused to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they had sealed their doom to face Him at the end time as their Judge and Executioner. The accused would then become the accuser, and the judges would become the judged.”

II. Jesus’ Roman Trial (Matt. 27:11-26)
A. These events take place at Jesus’ third Roman trial.
B. Pilate passively condemns Jesus using the Jewish crowd.
a. Pilate was Roman governor over Jesus’ Trial.
1. He was the supreme authority in Judea A.D. 26-36, appointed by Tiberius .
2. Warned by his wife that Jesus was righteous (Matt. 27:19)
3. Gave into the Jews because of his fear of Caesar. (John 19:12)
4. Allows the crowd to decide who will be executed Jesus or Barabbas. (Matt. 27:15-26)
5. The Jewish leaders incite the mob crowd to choose Barabbas (Matt. 27:20)

III. Jesus’ Universal Triumph (28:1-6)
A. Jesus’ proved himself to be Savior, Lord, and God by His victory over death.
- “The central event of that climax, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is also the central event of God’s redemptive history. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, and everything that we are and have and hope to be is predicated on its reality. There would be no Christianity if there were no resurrection.”
B. Who believed in the Resurrection?
a. Abraham believed in a resurrection (Heb. 11:19)
b. David believed in a resurrection (Ps. 49:15)
c. Daniel believed in a resurrection (Dan. 12:2)
d. Isaiah believed in a resurrection (Is. 26:19)
e. Job believed in a resurrection (Job 14:14)
f. Bildad believed in a resurrection (Job 19:25)
g. Paul believed in a resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-22)
h. Peter believed in a resurrection (1 Peter 1:3)
i. John believed in a resurrection (Rev. 1:17-18)
j. Jesus believed in a resurrection (John 11:25-26)

IV. Principles for the Christian
A. God’s purposes can be trusted. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection demonstrate that God’s purposes will be accomplished, even through the sinful actions of men.
a. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was always God’s plan. (Rev. 13:8; Heb. 13:20-21)

B. God’s plan provides objective and subjective security for Christians. The resurrection proves God’s wrath has been satisfied. Our sin debt has been paid for in full.
a. Our Objective Confidence in the Gospel (Rom. 4:25, 2 Cor. 5:21)
b. Our Subjective Confidence in the Gospel (Gal. 2:20; 1 Thes. 1:2-7)

C. God’s provision is an invitation for all. Anyone and everyone is a candidate for the Gospel. But rejection of the Gospel will bring certain judgment. (John 5:25-29; Acts 17:30-31)



John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew, vol. 4, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 208.
Ibid., 304.