Jesus' Trial
Notes
Transcript
Good Morning
What do a tick and the Eiffel Tower have in common?" "They're both Paris sites."
Be in prayer for the Ok State Convention Annual Meeting tomorrow and Tuesday. Pray for unity and that we can focus on God’s will for our state.
I want to thank all of our veterans for their service to our country. Please stand if you served our country.
Today we are going to be in Mark 14:53-65.
Last week we looked at the arrest of Jesus in the garden. We saw how He took three of them in farther and had them watch and pray while He went a little farther into the garden to pray to God. He came back about an hour later to find all three of them asleep. This was repeated 3 times.
We saw Judas bring a very large crowd into the garden to arrest Jesus. He had given them a sign as to how they would know who was Jesus, remember it was very dark and it would have been hard to recognize someone who you were not very familiar with. Judas told them that he would greet Jesus with a kiss and that was who they were supposed to arrest. We saw Jesus ask them who they were looking for and when they said Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus told them I am! He used God’s name that He told Moses at the burning bush. When He spoke His name, they all took a step back and fell to the ground. We serve a mighty God! There is power in His name. We got to see a glimpse into the future when He returns. When Jesus comes back in all His power and glory, every knee will bow and every tongue confess! It goes to show that at any point in this path to the cross, Jesus could have just spoken a word and it would have all ended! All He had to say was no, and it would have stopped, but like He prayed in the garden, not His will but the Father’s will be done. Jesus was obedient to death!
Next we saw Peter again try and do something that looked like a good thing and felt like a good thing, but was not what was not! Again Jesus rebukes Peter. Peter tries to defend Jesus and keep Him from being arrested. Even though Jesus has told them multiple times that He must be handed over to them and that He was going to die, Peter didn’t want that to happen, we can see Peter loves Jesus very much, but often he expressed that love in the wrong way and it got him rebuked a lot! Peter was also trying to prove something to Jesus. Jesus had told them that they were going to be scattered when He was arrested and they all denied it and said that they would die before they left Jesus. Peter was leading that and because of this Jesus tells Peter that before the rooster crows, he would deny Jesus three times. Peter was going to show Jesus that he was not afraid to stand up. Jesus tells him that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. We saw Jesus heal the ear that Peter cut off. I believe Jesus did this to keep Peter out of jail. He needed Peter and he would not be any good in jail.
And at the end we saw all the disciples flee just like Jesus told them they would!
Today we are going to take a look at Jesus’ trial, if you can call it that!
Mark’s account of Jesus’ trials, like that of all the gospels, makes it clear that Christ was tried in two general phases: first, before the religious authorities (the Jewish Sanhedrin), and second, before the secular political authorities (Rome, represented by governor Pontius Pilate). Each of these phases had 3 parts: preliminary interrogation, formal arraignment, and formal sentencing. Mark, like the other gospel writers, did not include a comprehensive account of all the details and stages. A complete picture requires the material from all 4 gospels being combined.
We are going to see the Sanhedrin break so many of their own rules to try Jesus. Today we are going to look at just the beginning of this mock trial. There are six trials that Jesus is going to go threw before He is crucified. There are three with the Sanhedrin and three with the Romans. We are going to talk about the first two with the Jews. I want you to notice and focus on the hatred that the Sanhedrin had and what the hatred made them do. Also notice the restraint that Jesus shows as He is going through all this. Remember He is the Messiah and they are treating Him this way. Today we are just going to focus on the first two phases of the Sanhedrin trial.
Please stand as we prepare our hearts and minds to hear God’s word.
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
Pray
The first trial that Jesus had is not mentioned in Mark.
We can see it in John 18:12-14
12 So the Roman cohort, the commander, and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13 and brought Him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
Annas, was so influential, that they took Jesus to see him first. This was not a normal procedure for a prisoner and someone who was about to be on trial. A little further in John, we can see Annas asking Jesus questions and Jesus’ response.
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple area, where all the Jews congregate; and I said nothing in secret. 21 Why are you asking Me? Ask those who have heard what I spoke to them. Look: these people know what I said.” 22 But when He said this, one of the officers, who was standing nearby, struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
We can see that Annas was leading his own interrogation of Jesus. They brought Jesus to Annas’ house and He was questioned, no charges had been brought yet and no reason given His arrest. We can see the side stepping of the law already! Jesus defends Himself by telling Annas that He has openly taught in the synagogues and temple areas, if they have questions about what He was teaching they should ask those who listened to His teaching. He did this because Jesus knew the law, He knew that He could only be tried if there were at least two men who brought testimony about Him. There was no one who was doing so yet. It was just Annas and the guards. We can see the hatred in the fact that the guard struck Jesus for the way He answered. Again Jesus asked what He did wrong. They didn’t answer, because He did nothing wrong. At that, Annas sent Him to his son-in-law Caiaphas.
We are now at our text in Mark. Jesus is at Caiaphas’ house!! Again not a legal location to hold a trial! It is late at night and look at who all is at Caiaphas’ house. ALL the chief priests, elders, and scribes. It is well after midnight and all these people just happen to be a Caiaphas’ house. No, remember they were in the garden at least 3 hours plus the time to get to the garden. Judas had left before the Passover meal so there is another couple of hours. Judas had gone to the Sanhedrin and told them he was ready to lead them to Jesus. While Judas was leading the mob to the garden, they were busy getting everyone to Caiaphas’ house to hold the trial. They did it at night in hopes that all of Christ’s followers would be a sleep and not be there to defend Him. They were successful!
We see that Peter is the only disciple that was anywhere near Caiaphas’ house. He was following at a distance. He did not want to get arrested, but he was curious as to what would come of this arrest and what they were going to do to Jesus. He was hiding with the guards and servants at the fire trying to stay warm. Peter is going to deny Jesus, but lets give him credit for at least following Jesus this far! He is the only disciple we are told that is at Caiaphas’ house. I want us to notice what happens when we don’t commit to follow Jesus as closely as we possibly can. Peter was following Jesus, but at a distance! From that distance, Peter is going to deny Jesus three times. While Peter was right next to Jesus in the garden, he was ready to defend Him to death if needed. If Peter would have been following Jesus closely, they would have know without a doubt that Peter was with Jesus. Now this was part of God’s plan, God did not want anything to happen to Peter yet, Peter is needed in the advance of the Gospel. If he was locked up or even killed, that wouldn’t work for God’s plan. We must as believers, following Jesus as closely as possible. When we follow at a distance, we will never be on fire, we will not be bold in our faith. We will at most be lukewarm. We know what the Bible tells us about those who are lukewarm! Revelation 3:15-16
15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
We must be on fire for our King. We must follow as closely as we can, we must not worry about what that will bring. We know that God will watch out for us and that He is our provider. When we straggle behind, we begin to cool off. That is when bad things and bad decisions are made. Stay as close to Christ as you can, that is where we are at our best!
We can see next that the Sanhedrin were looking for people to give testimony against Jesus. They were working frantically to locate anyone willing to turn on Jesus and to train them against Jesus. There was some serious witness tampering going on! They were working overtime to try and find people, they found some, but we can see that none of their testimonies were matching. They were giving false testimonies!! Now this was a serious crime even back then like it is today. Back then, when someone was caught giving false witness about someone, they were given the verdict of the person that they were lying about. So in this case, all those who were giving false witness, they should have been stoned. Again, the Sanhedrin only cared about getting Jesus at any cost. They were breaking so many laws. They couldn’t get two people to give the same story about Jesus! Deuteronomy 19:15-20
15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you.
They were not even trying to hide the fact that they didn’t care and all they wanted was Jesus to die. They had so much hate for Him. The witness were so bad that they had to give up on that path and the high priest began to ask Jesus questions personally to try and get Jesus to admit to something.
Through all this circuslike activity, Jesus remained silent. He never defended Himself, there was no need to. The lies were so obvious, He did not need to speak and defense.
Finally, Caiaphas puts Jesus under oath before he asks his final question to Jesus! Matthew 26:63-64
63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
This was the highest oath anyone could have been put under at the time.
Caiaphas perhaps thought that if he put Jesus under this oath He would talk. He was probably at his breaking point and the fact that Jesus was just standing there not saying a word was driving him mad and making him lose it. Perhaps Jesus thought that if He remained silent while under this oath, it would be a denial of His divine origin.
After Caiaphas put Jesus under oath, he asks the question, “ are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
Jesus finally breaks His silence and in His answer, we can see His restraint. He answers,” I am”. Just like in the garden, He was revealing His true name, but this time He uses His restraint and nothing happens, He is not wanting to stop the kangaroo court. It is God’s will for this to happen. He holds back His power and authority and just answers the question. He tells them that they will see the Son of Man(His most used title for Himself) seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. He reveals His second coming to them and they lose it.
Caiaphas tears his garments, this was not to every be done! The high priest garments were sacred, holy garments that were not to be torn! We can see this in Leviticus 10:6
6 And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, “Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled.
and in Exodus 28:2
2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
Aaron was the high priest and the high priest’s garments were blessed and considered to be holy clothes that only he could wear. They were never to be torn on purpose. Again we can see their hatred cause them to break their beloved laws.
With Jesus’ answer, Caiaphas says, we do not need any witness, you heard the blasphemy! What is your decision? They ALL condemned Him to death!! This is where we can see the hatred take consume them fully and show just how evil they were. Remember these were men who were looked up to. They were all educated men and they knew the Old Testament better than anyone else. They were supposed to men of dignity and grace. See how their hatred caused them to act toward Jesus!
They began to spit on the Messiah. The one whom they have been waiting for for thousands of years!! They covered His head and began to hit Him and say, tell us who hit you! Prophesy!! They were not acting like the men who held the positions that they held should have acted. Imagine if our Congress men and women acted like this? What would we do if our leaders in the SBC acted like this? This is the power that hate has over us!! Hate turned these people who were supposed to be dignified and righteous and made them act like children who had never been taught right from wrong. They were acting worse than the Romans!! The people they hated
I am going to list some of the laws that they broke in this kangaroo court. Remember, these men loved the law. The law was one of their idols. They thought that through keeping of the law, they were made righteous and holy.
No trial for a capital crime could be done at night. It had to be during the day and adjourn by nightfall if incomplete.
Jewish prohibited anyone from being accused on His own testimony.
They had to have at least two witness’ with agreeing testimony.
All capital crime trials had to take place at the temple.
The accused was supposed to know what His was being tried for.
The accused was supposed to have a defense time.
The ones who gave false witness, should have had the same punishment as Jesus.
The high priest was not to tear his garments.
This case would have been laughed out of the court room today!! This wasn’t just any court, this is the equivalent of our Supreme Court. This was the highest of courts in the land. They broke so many laws it was sad. This trial was just a formality, they had already convicted Jesus in their hearts. Early on in Mark we can see them plotting to kill Jesus. Mark 3:6. Hatred is so powerful!
We can see just what it did to these men.
When we let hatred into our hearts and let it get a hold on us, we are no different than these men. We will do unlawful things as well to get our own revenge or justice against those whom we hate!
We have to guard our hearts against hate.
Hate for people has no place in the life of a believer. We should only hate sin!
Jesus tells us that we are to love above all else.
We are to love God and to love our neighbors!
If we have hatred in our hearts, there will be no room for love. Light and darkness can not be at the same time! Light will always overcome darkness, if we chose the light! We must chose love!
It is not easy. We make it hard to love us sometimes!
We also do things that should make God not love us, but His love is different! His is a perfect love. He loves regardless of what we do. He loves us so much, that while we were still sinners, He sent His only Son to die for us! He chose us long before we ever chose Him.
We should be loving with the love that Jesus showed us. The love that washes the feet of the person who is going to betray you. The love that even though someone is going to deny you three times in one night, you are going to forgive them and restore them three times to make things right.
God loves us even when we are unlovable!
We must show that same love to others!
Love is what changes people!
Love brought life to a lifeless people!
Love changed the world forever!
Love brought hope when there was none!
Liberty, lets go and love!
Let’s pray.
