The Three Facts of the Gospel: Part 1

Allen Webster

Topic(s): Bible Study, Gospel

Gospel is an old Saxon word meaning God’s spell, which refers to its great power over man (Romans 1:16). The word gospel is found in ninety-eight verses in the Bible (it is used one hundred four times in those verses). It is not found in the Old Testament, but it is found in every book of the New Testament except John, Titus, 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3 John, and Jude.

The gospel is the “good news” (euangelizomai) of how to be saved. The history of Christ’s coming into the world to save sinners is, without doubt, the best news that ever came from heaven to earth. No less than an angel said, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). The gospel contains facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and promises to be enjoyed.

There are three facts of the gospel that are of primary importance: Christ’s (1) death, (2) burial, and (3) resurrection. Let’s examine these three facts.

Fact 1: Christ Died for Man’s Sin.

While the gospel is good news, it has at the heart a tragedy: the death of Christ for our sins. God was able to use this horrible event in the most welcome news we ever received. Paul wrote,

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

The death of Jesus unfolded in a series of events:

• Jesus was betrayed and arrested (Matthew 26:47–56; John 18:1–14). He was bound by His enemies (John 18:12) and forsaken by His disciples (Matthew 26:56).
• Jesus was tried by the Jews (Matthew 26:57–75). He was first taken to Annas, the deposed high priest and the power behind the scenes (John 18:13), and then to Caiphas, the official high priest (John 18:24). During this trial, Jesus was taunted, spit upon, and buffeted (Matthew 26:67–68). He was slapped (margin: hit with rods) and struck (perhaps in mouth) (John 18:22). Even the servants joined in (Mark 14:65). He was kept up all night (Matthew 27:1) and had no food or drink after the last supper. During this time, Jesus was denied by Peter (Matthew 26:69–75; Luke 22:61). Eventually, although innocent, He was wrongfully convicted of blasphemy, which was punishable by death in the Jewish system.
• Jesus was tried by the Romans (Matthew 27:1–25). He was bound and taken from the Jewish Sanhedrin to Pilate’s headquarters (Matthew 27:1–2). The Jews changed the charge from blasphemy to revolt because the Romans would not execute a criminal for blasphemy, but they would for revolt (Luke 23:2). Pilate tried to pass the buck by sending Jesus to King Herod (Luke 23:6–12), who only mocked Him and sent Him back to Pilate. At this point, Judas tried to stop the proceedings he had set in motion, but it was now beyond his power (Matthew 27:3–10). Convinced that Jesus was innocent, Pilate tried to stop the crucifixion by offering to free either Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious criminal he did not think the people would choose. They chose Barabbas and insisted that Jesus be crucified (Matthew 27:16; Mark 15:7; Luke 23:18). Pilate’s wife tried to stop the crucifixion (Matthew 27:19). Pilate tried for the third time, saying,

Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed (Luke 23:22–23).

            Pilate then washed his hands of it and signed off on the greatest
            travesty of justice ever perpetrated (Matthew 27:24).

• Jesus was then scourged (Matthew 27:26; John 19:1). This required that He be stripped of His clothing, although it was cold (John 18:18). He was mercilessly beaten with a whip, and then reclothed (Matthew 27:28).
• The Roman soldiers at the Praetorium then stripped Him again, clothed Him in a purple robe, put a crown of thorns on His head, hit Him on head with a reed, spit upon Him, and smote Him with their hands.
• Pilate then presented Him to the people, saying, “Behold the man” (John 19:5).
• Jesus was then led to the place of execution (Matthew 27:32–34; Luke 23:26–32). They took the purple robe off, put His own clothes on Him (Matthew 27:31), and paraded Him down the city streets to Golgotha. At some point, Simon was summoned to bear the cross after Jesus (Luke 23:26). Arriving on site, He refused to drink vinegar and gall (Matthew 27:34; wine and myrrh, Mark 15:23), which was usually given to deaden some of the terrific pain.
• Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:35–56). This started at the third hour, which was 9:00 A.M. (Mark 15:25). It got completely dark at the sixth hour—12:00 (Mark 15:33). Jesus died at the ninth hour—3:00 P.M. (Mark 15:34). During this time, Jesus prayed for the soldiers (Luke 23:34) who had caused Him such pain and were watching Him die (Matthew 27:36). We sing about the “lonely hill of Golgotha,” but it was occupied by many people when Jesus was crucified. The people watching Him (Luke 23:35), reviled Him (Matthew 27:39–40; “railed,” Mark 15:29) and mocked Him (Matthew 27:41–44; cf. Mark 15:32). While on the cross Jesus suffered physically (thirst, John 19:28) and emotionally (forsaken by Father, Mathew 27:46). Then Jesus died (Matthew 27:50).