Ben Wilson

Okay, so Jesus has struck a blow at the heart of Jewish worship, saying that it's illegitimate, that these people have made it a place for money changers and a den of thieves. And so from this point on, the Pharisees and Sadducees are now going into overdrive, thinking about how they can get rid of Jesus.

Now, they can't do it themselves, both because Jesus is still popular with the people and because they don't have the legal authority to execute someone outright. They are under Roman rule. They can only turn people over to the authorities. So they start looking for pretexts upon which they can recommend charges to the Romans. And so they start trying to set traps for him.

Now, they can't do it themselves, both because Jesus is still popular with the people and because they don't have the legal authority to execute someone outright. They are under Roman rule. They can only turn people over to the authorities. So they start looking for pretexts upon which they can recommend charges to the Romans. And so they start trying to set traps for him.

And at first, Jesus cleverly avoids these. In the most famous example, the chief priests ask Jesus whether it is lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not. And this is quite the conundrum, because if he says no, he can be turned over to the Romans because he's urging people not to pay their taxes. So this is the pretext they're looking for. But if he says yes, he's undermining his radical message.

And at first, Jesus cleverly avoids these. In the most famous example, the chief priests ask Jesus whether it is lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not. And this is quite the conundrum, because if he says no, he can be turned over to the Romans because he's urging people not to pay their taxes. So this is the pretext they're looking for. But if he says yes, he's undermining his radical message.

He's exposing himself as a toady of the Roman regime. And that would make him very unpopular with the people. And so they're trying to put him in this bind. Should we pay taxes to Rome or not? So he answers very cleverly. He asks them to pull out a coin. And then he asks them, whose is the image and the superscription on the coin? And of course, it's Caesar on these Roman coins.

He's exposing himself as a toady of the Roman regime. And that would make him very unpopular with the people. And so they're trying to put him in this bind. Should we pay taxes to Rome or not? So he answers very cleverly. He asks them to pull out a coin. And then he asks them, whose is the image and the superscription on the coin? And of course, it's Caesar on these Roman coins.

And so they say Caesar's. And he says to them, render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's. It's a very clever answer in that it doesn't give them a pretext to turn him over to the authorities, but neither does it fully say, pay all your taxes, that's all hunky dory.

And so they say Caesar's. And he says to them, render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's. It's a very clever answer in that it doesn't give them a pretext to turn him over to the authorities, but neither does it fully say, pay all your taxes, that's all hunky dory.

So these type of responses are able to keep him out of prison for a little bit, but obviously not for long. The chief priests and the scribes and the elders and the high priests, basically anyone who can be described as a religious authority in any way, shape or form, People who are normally rivals and hate each other begin getting together and conspiring to remove Jesus.

So these type of responses are able to keep him out of prison for a little bit, but obviously not for long. The chief priests and the scribes and the elders and the high priests, basically anyone who can be described as a religious authority in any way, shape or form, People who are normally rivals and hate each other begin getting together and conspiring to remove Jesus.

With such powerful enemies, it's only a matter of time. One of the last things Jesus does appropriately is have a feast with his closest followers. This is the Passover, the greatest celebration of the Jewish calendar. So Jesus has a Passover feast with his apostles. He predicts that one of them will betray him, and they all ask, is it I?

With such powerful enemies, it's only a matter of time. One of the last things Jesus does appropriately is have a feast with his closest followers. This is the Passover, the greatest celebration of the Jewish calendar. So Jesus has a Passover feast with his apostles. He predicts that one of them will betray him, and they all ask, is it I?

And Jesus indicates that it is Judas, who is one of his apostles, who had already been conspiring with authorities to turn Jesus in. So Judas leaves the feast, and then Jesus administers a special meal, what we now call the Last Supper. He blesses the bread and wine and tells his apostles to eat it in remembrance of his body and his blood, which will soon be sacrificed.

And Jesus indicates that it is Judas, who is one of his apostles, who had already been conspiring with authorities to turn Jesus in. So Judas leaves the feast, and then Jesus administers a special meal, what we now call the Last Supper. He blesses the bread and wine and tells his apostles to eat it in remembrance of his body and his blood, which will soon be sacrificed.

Christians all over the world reenact this Last Supper in a ceremony that is called the Eucharist or Holy Communion or the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. So after this supper, this Last Supper, it's now nighttime and Jesus leaves the building where they're having this meal and goes to an orchard of olive trees to pray.

Christians all over the world reenact this Last Supper in a ceremony that is called the Eucharist or Holy Communion or the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. So after this supper, this Last Supper, it's now nighttime and Jesus leaves the building where they're having this meal and goes to an orchard of olive trees to pray.

He takes with him Peter, James, and John, three of his closest apostles, and tells them, quote, "'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death. Tarry ye here and watch with me.'" He is in agony, apparently over the sacrifice that he will soon be asked to make. He falls on his face and prays, Oh my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

He takes with him Peter, James, and John, three of his closest apostles, and tells them, quote, "'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death. Tarry ye here and watch with me.'" He is in agony, apparently over the sacrifice that he will soon be asked to make. He falls on his face and prays, Oh my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. Okay. In other words, you know, God, I really don't want to go through with this, but if that's what you want, I'll do it. Peter, James, and John fall asleep as he prays, and he has to wake them multiple times. He asks them one of the most stinging questions of all time. He says, could you not watch with me one hour?