“The Men at the Cross with Christ”
Session # 2
The Religious Leaders of the Day!
Introduction:
The religious leaders at the cross remind me of many of our Christian leaders today, they know who Jesus, is but have never developed a personal relationship with him, or accepted him as Messiah.
I. The Chief Priest
A. He had his teaching and dogma.
B. He had read the books, but didn’t believe it’s entirely true.
C. He was appointed by the authorities, but had no vested interested in the people.
D. He was influenced by his father-in-law (Annas the former High Priest).
II. The Pharisees
A. They felt the teaching of the Law was more important than the relationship with the Savior.
1) They focused on the commandments given by Moses,
B. They believed in Oral Law and traditions.
1) They focused on the unwritten, or oral traditions that were passed down.
C. They believed the Resurrection of the dead.
D. They believed and prepared for a coming Messiah, but they just could not or would not except Jesus as the Messiah.
III. The Sadducees
A. They strictly held to the written Word.
1) They held to the scripture and scripture alone
B. They didn’t believe in the Afterlife.
C. They held to the Rituals associated with the temple.
IV. Comparison to us today
A. They all had a religious foundation, with a blind view of the truth.
B. They all held to the belief that they were right, and others were wrong.
C. They all missed an opportunity to get to know the Savior, because he did not meet their personal definition of what HE should be like.
