One of the two criminals crucified with Jesus confessed his fault and pleaded with Jesus to be remembered when He returns in His kingdom. Jesus promised to him, -Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.-

While hanging on the cross, Jesus endured the scorn of the religious leaders and the Roman soldiers. In the past God had immediately judged such unrighteous behavior toward Him, but here Jesus asks for forgiveness for these unbelieving people. Jesus intercedes for sinners even while saving them.

Crucified between two criminals, our Lord Jesus bore our sins in His body. He died in the place of sinners so our guilt could be forgiven and we could be part of His kingdom. Only when we recognize ourselves as transgressors do we look to Jesus to save us.

While Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus bear His cross, Jesus repeated His warning to the Jewish nation by telling them of their impending doom at the hands of the Romans. He spoke of their dangerous situation and encouraged them to weep for themselves. Even at the last Jesus warned people of the wrath to come.

In this final trial Pilate repeatedly pronounces Jesus innocent. But the Jewish leaders overrule his sense of justice and convince him to deliver Jesus over to crucifixion. While all of these acts were evil, through His innocent death Jesus made the way for our real sins to be forgiven by God.

Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas for judgment, -When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.- But Jesus did not answer him or any of the accusations made against Him. Even though He was innocent, Jesus was on His way to the cross.

The Jewish Sanhedrin presented Jesus to the Roman governor, accusing Him of serious political crimes. Pilate only inquired of Him, -Are You the King of the Jews-- Based on Jesus' response, Pilate proclaimed for the first of three times, -I find no guilt in this man.-

To accomplish God's plan, Jesus stood trial before the religious leaders of His day and was condemned to death. But God's plan was to enthrone Jesus at His right hand as king and judge of all. So, Jesus made a way for His opponents to be forgiven of their sins and enter His kingdom based on their repentance and faith in Him.

When Peter was with Jesus, all was well. But when Peter relied on his own strength, all was lost. Peter had to learn to trust the Lord, to wait on His word, to put no trust in himself. Peter's three-fold denial of Christ was corrected by Peter running back to Him in repentance and faith.

At His betrayal and arrest the Lord Jesus said of His opponents, -While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me- but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.- Jesus was betrayed by Judas into the hands of His own people who rejected Him and He was abandoned by His own apostles. But He faithfully followed God's plan of redemption for us sinners.