The Man who only hours earlier was teaching at the temple (Lk. 21:37-38Lk. 21:37-38
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37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.
38 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.
WP-Bible plugin), who was anointed by close friends at Bethany (Mk. 14:3Mk. 14:3
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3 While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard— very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over his head.
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24 Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.
WP-Bible plugin). Meanwhile, everyone seemed to be piling on:
- “Those who passed by hurled insults at Him.” (Mk. 15:29-30Mk. 15:29-30
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29 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!”
WP-Bible plugin) - “The Chief Priests and teachers of the law mocked Him.” (Mk. 15:31Mk. 15:31
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31 Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t save himself.
WP-Bible plugin) - “Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.” (Mk. 15:32Mk. 15:32
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32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him. TR omits “him”” Those who were crucified with him insulted him.
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Even the sign placed over His head was intended as an insult: “The King of the Jews.” (Mk. 15.26)
No one wanted to be associated with Jesus. I wonder where His supporters were? Those He discipled for three years, those He healed, and those who believed His teaching.
Among the Disciples:
- Ten were in hiding (Jn. 20:19Jn. 20:19
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19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
WP-Bible plugin) - Judas had killed himself (Mt. 27:3-5Mt. 27:3-5
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3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” 5 He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.
WP-Bible plugin) - Only John remained with Jesus at the foot of the cross (Jn. 19:26Jn. 19:26
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26 Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
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Among His friends:
- Only Mary Magdelene, Mary the mother of James & Joses, and Salome (Mk. 15:40Mk. 15:40
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40 There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
WP-Bible plugin) - Joseph of Arimathea, who followed Jesus “secretly” (Jn. 19:38Jn. 19:38
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38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body.
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Among His family:
- Only His mother (Jn. 19:26Jn. 19:26
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26 Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
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None of those He healed are recorded as having defended or stood up to Jesus’ accusers.
It’s relatively easy to stand by Jesus today – we know the outcome: Jesus rose to conquer sin and save us. Likewise, it was easy to pile on when Jesus was put to death by the government – a government which could have ordered the same punishment for His followers.
But what good does it do to pile on – to join in with popular opinion against someone who has been unjustly condemned? Even your scared silence is better than seeking the approval of the wicked. Those ten disciples who went into hiding were restored by Jesus later. And Joseph of Arimathea stepped up boldly after Jesus’ death to honor His body (Mk. 15:43Mk. 15:43
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43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.
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