Kangaroo Court Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Over the last few weeks in our REWIND series we have been looking at the events of the final week of Jesus life that ending in His resurrection. Last week Jerry took us to the cross as we examined the crucifixion.

• How did we get Jesus to a crucifixion? Today we rewind a little bit more with our Bible DVR’s to examine part of the trial that Jesus was subjected to in the early morning hours of Friday.

• This all starts with the arrest (which Jerry will address next week) at about 1 am on Friday morning.

• Around 1:30 am we have what is the beginning of 6 trials, three by the Jews and basically 3 by the Romans. Today we are just going to focus on one of the trials and a small part of the last one; both of these trials were heard by the Roman Governor Pilate.

• I have titled this message, “Kangaroo Court the Trial of Jesus.”

• Have you all heard of a Kangaroo court? According to the Merriam-Webster: Dictionary (online) a Kangaroo Court is defined as follows: “a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted”

• My contention is that Jesus was really tried in a Kangaroo Court. I will show that this morning.

• The question at hand was is Jesus who He claimed to be? The religious leaders of the day would not even allow that to be a possibility.

• At SOME point in your life you will put Jesus on trial as you try to decide if He is who He claimed to be. People go through this exercise every day. People have to decide whether at accept Jesus and His claims or reject them.

• The bigger issue I want all of us to consider is this.

• What kind of court will you try Jesus in? Will your court be a legitimate one where witnesses are listened to, evidence is examined and the right verdict is concluded, or will your court be a kangaroo court where the outcome is determined before ANY of the evidence is examined.

• Many if not most people will end up trying Jesus in a Kangaroo Court.

• You will need your bibles opened to John 18:28-40.

• As we examine the trial of Jesus, we will see what kind of court He was subjected to.

• SLIDE #2

• John 18:28–32 (ESV) 28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

Jesus was tried before a kangaroo court because…

I. The charges were based on an agenda. (28-32)

• What got us to the point in a few words is this, the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and from about 1:30-3 am Friday, Jesus was in the court of Annas, former Jewish High Priest for 16 years - Jesus receives initial physical abuse.

• Then he was taken to the Current Jewish High Priest, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin Court - Jesus bloodied by abuse.

• From 3-5 a.m. He was imprisonment at Caiaphas’ palace. Then from about 5-6 a.m. Jesus was placed before all the Jewish elders, including the High Priest, scribes and whole Sanhedrin. They decide to ask the Roman government to kill Jesus.

• During the “trials” there were no real witnesses to any charges given, there was many false witnesses offered up.

• SLIDE #4

• Mark 14:56 (ESV) 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.

• By this time in Jesus ministry the religious leaders were determined to do ANYTHING it took to put an end to Jesus and His teaching.

• The leader’s agenda was to see that Jesus was killed. They had no interest in justice nor did they have any desire for truth.

• The Jews charged Jesus with blasphemy in Mark 14:60-64, but now they have come to the Roman Governor Pilate for him to try Jesus.

• It is interesting that when Pilate asks what the charge is against the accused, they retorted…