Jesus Before Caiaphas

Jesus’ Arrest

Jesus is drug into trial

One of His own disciples has sold Him into the hands of Men that are calling for His blood

An army of executioners have ambushed Him at a vulnerable time and place

The Garden of Gethsemane -

Where He would seek solace from from the world

Take refuge into the Arms of the Father in Prayer

Time when He would contemplate the sins of mankind / and His work yet to be done

Captured - in order that He may be tried in from of the Jewish Leadership and the Courts

Understanding that

He had walked (intentionally) to this moment

Teaching His disciples that there was only one way to be righteous before God and reconciled unto Him

so that He would be handed over to wicked people, in order to die for sins of man - that creation may be cleansed

He would suffer in order His work will be done

Christ’s willfully allowed His capture, arrest, trials, mockery, and crucifixion

Matthew 26:53 ““Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

He submitted to the will of the Father

God’s will is to offer creation the reward for Christ’s obedience

Jesus will rise in 3 days

Conquering Death, Satan, and their stranglehold on us

1 Corinthians 15:55 ““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?””

Apprehended - Where are the Disciples?

Drug into the living room of Caiaphas - the High Priest

For Trial - Make no Mistake

This is not a proper trial - This is a farce (a mockery, joke, buffoonery)

The Verdict (Jesus’ Death Sentence) was already established and decided

Purpose: was to put Him to death

Read Text

Caiaphas

High Priest during this time - and a few years after Jesus (18 Years)

Son in Law of Annas - the former High Priest (Jesus brought to Annas First)

Member of the Ruling Class - The Sadducees

Opposed the Afterlife, Angels, Demons, anything Spiritual

Against everything that Jesus was teaching

Immediately after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead -

The Pharisees and the Sadducees started to plot to have Jesus Killed

Meeting in Caiaphas’ Palace

So, they had been assembled - or were reassembled

Amazing that they would take the time to squash Jesus like this and at this time

Passover, When they are the busiest (One time a year that they have to shine) it is now

Setting

Problem:

They plan to hold a trail:

to convict and sentence this Man to death

In Caiaphas’ house

In the middle of the night

According to the Law of the Mishnah

Mishnah is a collection of oral traditions that form the basis of Jewish law and ethics

Court must be held in the Daytime

in specific areas and courtrooms

to be no conviction on the same day

Not on the eve of a sabbath or Feast or Festival

Normalcy and Civility is to be expected -

The violation of this expectation highlights the barbaric nature of this trial

Peter

Following at a Distance

Commentary to how “followers of Jesus” can so distance themselves from Christ’s example

at the other end - in the crowd - with the officers

The Most Zealous can be the most dismissive

Hot and Cold for Christ

Either:

Walking on Water with the Lord or Sinking with wavering faith

Making profound confessions of faith or acting as a stumbling block for Satan

Being counted on by Jesus to Watch and Pray in the Garden or falling asleep

Drawing his sword to behead the opposition or falling behind in the crowd

Justifying his failures, hiding from his responsibility, Denying the Lord Jesus, siding with the wrong team

But he will be brought to knees, in bitter agony, and eventually restored

We can count on this, too

The Trial

The Council is trying to obtain false testimony

(Hasty Trail) - They are not finding anyone who wants to step up

Found evidence to the contrary

Deuteronomy 19:15 ““A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.”

Some false witnesses step forward (Probably paid to misrepresent Him)

Finally: Two come forward

Matthew 26:61 “and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’ ””

This Charge will stick:

Matthew 27:40 “and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.””

When Jesus was flipping tables

“By what authority do you do these things? and show us a sign!”

John 2:19–21 “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”

Misunderstood or Distorted by the opposition - b/c the Disciples understood Him

This is a Messianic Prophecy:

Zechariah 6:12–13 ““Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord. “Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.” ’”

He will build the Temple of the Lord - Whose this Destroying and Rebuilding?

Caiaphas: Answer this Charge! These men are testifying against You!

Silence: Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.”

Matthew 26:63 “But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.””

“As the Lord Lives” - Answer me, under oath, under God

The Christ - The Son of the Living God (Language)

Matthew 16:16 “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

Judas took this profession in order that the Lord will be charged with blasphemy

Jesus’ Answer:

I AM - Mark 14:62 “And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.””

Matthew 26:64 “Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.””

Blasphemy - Claiming to be the Messiah (or the Son of God) - Not Blasphemy

Identifying with Son of Man - Right Hand of Power is… by any other Man then Jesus

Daniel 7:13–14 ““I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”

Psalm 110

But they are not permitted to put anyone to death

Under Roman Rule - Take Him to the Roman Governor to be tried and condemned

Took Him

Spat in His face, beat Him, slapped Him, Mocked Him

Whose Trial?

They thought they were putting Jesus on trial

But this was a trial of Abraham’s sons

Matthew 26:64 “Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.””

You have said it yourself - You know what you are doing

I AM the ultimate Judge

I will pronounce judgement

You will see judgment coming in the clouds of heaven

before this generation passes away

This Judgment brings

Peace

Salvation

Communion

To the real and true seed of Abraham