Jesus on Trial
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
AG: Trial proceedings:
in our judicial system, we have a series of high courts to which we can appeal.
Appeals can be over decisions on objections and motions all the way up to the appealing the final verdict. Only the highest court (Supreme Court) has no appeal.
Jesus didn’t have the option of appealing to a high er court. He was not a Roman citizen, like Paul, and could not appeal to Caesar.
TS: In John 18, we have examined the arrest of Jesus in the Garden, and Here we see Jesus endure three trials at the hands of His enemies. He appears before Annas, Caiphas, and Pilate. 2 phases occured: Jewish and Roman
In their zeal to condemn Jesus, they held illegal proceedings:
• held at night. Jewish trials are only held during the daytime
• held on the eve of the Passover (Jewish custom usually forbade criminal trials right around the passover festival)
• Jewish court had no power to carry out death sentence (Mt 27:1,2; Jn 18:31)
This is why they had to send Him to Pilate.
RS:
Jewish Phase
Jewish Phase
1. First trial, before Annas, former high priest (18:12–14, 19–23)
1. First trial, before Annas, former high priest (18:12–14, 19–23)
Annas- father in law of Caiaphas, the assigned high priest for the year
he had held the office of High Priest from 6-15 AD when Valerius Gratus, Pilate’s predecessor, removed him from office
He was still a respected leader of the Sanhedrin and we see that here in that they brought Jesus to Him first. Many of the Jews probably viewed him as the true high priest.
5 of his sons and currently his son in law held the office.
This was probably an informal phase, a gathering of charges and preparation as the Sanhedrin convened.
a. Jesus is bound (18:12–14).
Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.
And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
Though He went with them willingly, they bound Him
b. Jesus is bullied (18:19–21).
The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.
Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
They bombard Him with questions in an attempt to trip Him up
He had openly taught and used that as His defense
Jesus replies that his teachings are widely known because he has always spoken openly in the Temple and synagogues.
Jesus had publically proclaimed the gospel taught the truth.
He had also publically performed many miracles.
They core of the Jewish complaint is Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God
The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
In a formal Jewish hearing, to question the defendant may have been illegal because a case had to rest on the weight of the testimony of witnesses
If this was an informal interrogation before the High-Priest emeritus and not before the Sanhedrin, Annas may have thought that he was not bound by such rules.
Jesus, however, knew the law and demanded that witnesses be called (vv. 20, 21).
An official knew Jesus was rebuking Annas and retaliated (v. 22).
c. Jesus is buffeted (18:22–23):
And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
An official now strikes him in the face.
He was speaking to a former high priest, but this response reveals how they viewed Annas as the real high priest.
All Jesus had done was to ask for a fair trial under the Law of God.
They had already decided He had to die, and thus they were finding a charge to fit their intentions.
2. Second trial, before Caiaphas, current high priest (18:24)
2. Second trial, before Caiaphas, current high priest (18:24)
This was probably before the full Sanhedrin and corresponds with the other gospels.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
Annas recognized that he was not getting anywhere with Jesus and sent Him to Caiaphas because, if Jesus was to be brought before Pilate for execution, the legal accusation must be brought by the current reigning High-Priest (i.e., Caiaphas) in his capacity as chairman of the Sanhedrin (see also note on v. 13).
The Gospel of John does not record what transpired at this trial.
And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,
but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”
And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?”
But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands,
saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”
This was the formal charge brought by the Jews to Pilate.
He had claimed divine power, violating their law, but not Roman law as we will see.
AP: Hate can blind us
Their pride was injured.
Jesus didn’t come to them for approval at first, but instead had proclaimed the gospel to everyone.
He failed to live up to their expectations
Their bruised egos led to rejection and hatred.
We should be careful to not allow the same to happen to us
We often joke about stepping on toes.
BUT in all seriousness, if the word of God brings conviction, it is bring about repentance, not anger
A preacher had just finished a very strong sermon on the subject of sin. One of the officers of his church came to him and asked for a private word in the preacher’s study. Once there, the scolding began.
The officer said, “We don’t want you to talk so openly about peoples’ guilt and corruption. If our boys and girls hear you discussing such subjects, they will more easily become sinners. Please do not speak so plainly about sin.”
To that, the preacher answered, “Consider a bottle of strychnine. On the bottle the word ‘Poison’ is written in red letters. Do you understand what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label on the bottle. Suppose I paste on the label ‘Essence of Peppermint’? Don’t you see what might happen? Someone would use it, not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is with the matter of sin. The milder you make your label, the more dangerous you make your poison!”
Don’t let a bruised ego deceive you into rejecting the word of God.
Roman Phase
Roman Phase
This phase consisted of a preliminary session before Pilate, a hearing by Herod found in Luke 23:6-12, and a final appearance before Pilate.
Trial before Pilate, the Roman governor (18:28–40)
Trial before Pilate, the Roman governor (18:28–40)
a. Pilate and the Jews—first encounter (18:28–32)
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.
Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”
that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
(1) Pilate (18:28–29): “What is your charge against this man?”
(2) The Jews (18:30): “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!”
(3) Pilate (18:31a): “Then take him away and judge him by your own laws!”
Pilate didn’t think it was a criminal matter.
He wanted it bounced back to the Sanhedrin as religious matter
(4) The Jews (18:31b–32): “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone.”
They wanted execution, and wanted Rome to do it.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
When Rome took over Judea and began direct rule through a prefect in A.D. 6, capital jurisdiction (i.e., the right to execute) was taken away from the Jews and given to the Roman governor. Capital punishment was the most jealously guarded of all the attributes in Roman provincial administration.
Jesus said he would be lifted up (crucified) and that was the Roman method of execution
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
Jewish execution was throwing down a cliff or stoning
b. Pilate and Jesus (18:33–38a)
Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.”
The Kingdom of God is discussed
Pilate had probably been told Jesus was an insurrectionist
He claimed to be the King
Jesus’ answers make it clear He had incited no rebellion
If He had, Roman soldiers would have arrested Him and charged Him long before this.
V. 36 My Kingdom is not of this world
He even testified that thus The Disciples didn’t fight
His Kingdom was not a political or national kingdom
Jesus admitted to being a King, and then revealed His purpose:
To bear witness to truth.
The gospel!
Sin has a consequence- death
Jesus was about to pay for that through His death
Salvation comes to all who fully trust in Him
not just intellectual assent (believe He is real)
Full trust (Repent and throw yourself on His mercies)
Pilate responded with a philosophical answer that reveals a hardened heart
What is truth?
Pilate and the Jews—second encounter (18:38b–40)
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.”
“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Pilate essentially found Him not guilty, but there was not justice
He gave in to the pressures of the Sanhedrin and went along to Keep the peace
He appealed to the people:
Asked who they wanted released, and they cried out Barabbas
And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.
They chose a true insurrectionist and murderer over the innocent Jesus.
AP: How tragic peer pressure can be
Jesus should have been set free, but peer pressure,
We need to do what is right, regardless of the pressure put upon us
The world pushes us to compromise and go along to get along
We must stand and do what is right
That’s the character of godly integrity. It bases decisions on the principles from God’s Word, not on mere preference, intimidation, or peer pressure.
John F. MacArthur
Conc
Conc
If the Jews had repented instead of retaliated, this message would have been different
Don’t let a bruised ego lead you to reject the message of God
Don’t let peer pressure sway you into doing the wrong thing
The Outline Bible (Section Outline Eighteen (John 18))
