Incidents On The Way To The Cross

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Jesus & the Council (Chapter 22 verses 63-71)

(2). Jesus & Pilate (#1) (chapter 23 verses 1-7)

(3). Jesus & Herod (chapter 23 verses 8-12)

(4). Jesus & Pilate (#2) (chapter 23 verses 13-25)

SERMON BODY:

• We all know and have probably used the expression,

• "Ask a stupid question and you'll get a stupid answer."

• The phrase is often used when the answer is obvious, but unhelpful,

• Or when the question is clearly impossible to answer.

• Here are some gems, true remarks that were actually spoken in a court of law.

• They were taken from the book, "Disorder in the Court."

(1).

• Q: What is your date of birth?

• A: July fifteenth.

• Q: What year?

• A: Every year

(2).

• Q: What gear were you in at moment of the impact?

• A: A Gucci sweater and Reebok trainers.

(3).

• Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?

• A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which!

• Q: How long has he lived with you?

• A: Forty-five years.

(4).

• Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that morning?

• A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"

• Q: And why did that upset you?

• A: My name is Susan.

(5).

• Q: All your responses must be oral, OK?

• A: OK.

• Q: What school did you go to?

• A: Oral.

• TRANSITION: From the ridiculous to the significant!

• We are looking this morning at the trial & crucifixion of Jesus.

• You will have noted in your last study,

• That Jesus was arrested about midnight in the Garden of Gethsemane,

• In the next twelve hours he will be tried six times – you heard right – six times,

• Before being crucified the following noon.

• It’s worth noting that,

• None of the four gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John),

• Give to us all six trials of Jesus in chronological order.

• You will need to do a bit of detective work to get this information.

• So, let me bring them together know so that we have a full picture,

• Of the events about to take place.

Note:

• Jesus would have six trials and those trials divide into two groupings.

• Three are religious (Jewish) trials, and three are civil (Roman) trials.

• All these six trials were carried out on Good Friday,

• It would last eight long hours, from 2 AM to 10 AM,

(A). At the three Jewish religious trials – Jesus was condemned:

• The First Religious Trial (Jewish): before Annas,

• (John chapter 18 verses 12-14 & 19-24).

• There were two High Priests mentioned during the time of Jesus' ministry.

• Annas wielded the power of high priest during this period.

• Caiaphas merely held the title and served as chairman of the Sanhedrin.

• That is why the soldiers bound Jesus and brought him first before Annas & not Caiaphas.

• Decision by Annas: Guilty, the signal is given to execute Jesus.

• The Second Religious Trial (Jewish): before Caiaphas,

• (Matthew chapter 26 verses 57-68).

• Decision: Guilty, charge of blasphemy,

• Because Jesus proclaimed himself as the Messiah, as God the Son.

• The Third Religious Trial (Jewish): Sanhedrin,

• (Matthew chapter 27 verses 1-2, Luke chapter 22 verses 63-71).

• Decision: Guilty and the outcome will be he must die!

(B). Three Roman Civic trials where Jesus was declared innocent.

• The First Civil Trial (Roman): before the Governor of the province of Judaea, Pilate,

• (John chapter 18 verses 28-38).

• Decision: Not guilty.

• The Second Civil Trial (Roman): Herod,

• (Herod was appointed tetrarch of Galilee by the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar).

• Luke chapter 23 verses 6-12.

• Decision: Not guilty.

• Third Civil Trial (Roman): Pilate again.

• John chapter 18 verses 39-19:6.

• Decision: Not guilty, but he still granted the religious leaders request to kill Jesus.

• (Matthew chapter 27 verse 26).

NOW IN OUR PASSAGE THIS MORNING (VS 53-65):

• We are looking at the Third Jewish Religious Trial.

• Where Jesus is on trial before the Jewish religious leaders.

(1). Jesus & the Sanhedrin.

Question: Who were the Sanhedrin?

Answer: The Sanhedrin was the supreme council, or court, in ancient Israel.

• (a). The Sanhedrin was comprised of 70 men,

• Plus, the high priest, who served as its president, making it 71 men.

• (b). The membership was made up from the chief priests, scribes and elders,

• But there is no actual record on how they were chosen.

• (c). They were a court that had legislative, executive, judicial, civil, criminal,