Trials of Jesus part one

Lent 4: Trials of Jesus Part 1 Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Phillipians 2:5-11 Mark 14:53 - Mark 15:1 Have you ever been blamed for something you did not do? Maybe some sort of mix up at work that you were blamed for. Perhaps something was misplaced at home and it was assumed that you borrowed it. Maybe something deeper, resulting in hurt feelings and lost friendships, or family relationships. How did that make you feel, being falsely accused of something you didn't do? We've been diving into trials of life in the last few weeks. We reviewed those rules, those commandments to live our lives by. This week, we turn our attention to the trials Jesus himself faced. There were two trials in particular before that fateful Good Friday: a religious trial, and a civil trial. This week, we will focus on the religious trial. There were three stages to this trial: the preliminary hearing before Annas (John 18:12-14, 14-24); the midnight trial before Caiaphas and the council (Mark 14:53-65), and finally the morning consultation of the council. (Mark 15:1) The midnight trial occurred at the house of Caiphas the High Priest. He served for 18 years and presided over the Sanhedrin (the council). The chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law all came together as part of their plot to kill Jesus. False witnesses were brought forward to testify towards charges of blasphemy. Jesus testified that he was Christ, the Son of God. This angered Caiphas, led to the charge of blasphemy, a crime deserving of death. Jesus was abused by members of the Sanhedrin. Some spit on him. He was blindfolded, beaten and mocked. He was struck by those members. (prophesized in Isaiah 50:6) The injustice of this trial is easy to see. Those false accusations; the physical abuse; the midnight hour, holding such a trial during a Jewish festival time making a mockery of such a proceeding. In fact, the Sanhedrin had no authority to execute anyone. Jesus has no representation. How difficult it must have been for those followers of Jesus, members of the Sanhedrin such as Joseph and Nicodemus; for Peter and John the disciples present to hear. More importantly, how difficult it must have been for Jesus himself. Falsely accused of blasphemy. No doubt he was hurt, he was angry. No different than how how and I would feel. He knew it was coming. He could have called upon angels form above to intervene, yet he kept silent. If you and I were there, how would we have reacted? We would have probably been influenced by the religious leaders of the day. But knowing what happened next and why, let us never loose sight of the sacrifice Jesus made for you and I. We can learn an important lesson from being falsely accused ourselves. It's natural to feel hurt, to feel angry. Yet we know the truth. Keep focused on the bigger picture. Those who falsely accuse will stand in judgement one day. And such decisions have eternal consequences. * Steadfast God, you reach out to us in mercy even when we rebel against your holy call and prefer to walk in disobedience rather than in the way of your divine truth. soften our hearts with the warmth of your love, that we may know your Son alive within us, redeeming us and raising us up into your eternal presence. Amen.