The trials of Jesus.
The night before Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion, He was arrested and tried seven times (some note six based on how these trials are counted). They included:
1. The trial before Annas: John 18:12-14, 19-23 include the details of the first Jewish trial of Jesus. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest.
2. The trial before Caiaphas: All four Gospels record this trial (Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54, 63-65; John 18:24), with Matthew offering the most detailed account. We are told Caiaphas was high priest that year and had predicted one man should die on behalf of the people. In this second trial, the religious leaders gathered together, bringing many false witnesses against Jesus. Jesus spoke of Himself as the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, a clear reference to Himself as Messiah. The high priest tore his clothes, claiming Jesus had given evidence worthy of death on His own.
3. The trial before the Sanhedrin: All three Synoptic Gospels record this third Jewish trial (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71) that took place "as soon as it was day" (Luke 22:66). Jesus again referred to Himself as the Son of Man and was delivered to the Roman leader Pilate for trial.
4. The trial before Pilate: All four Gospels record this trial (Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-7; John 18:28-32, 33-38), with John giving an extended account. Pilate found nothing worthy of death to condemn, sending Jesus to King Herod.
5. The trial before Herod: Only Luke records this trial (Luke 23:6-12). Herod hoped to see a miracle, though Jesus answered none of the charges against Him. Herod and his men mocked Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate with a kingly robe.
6. The second trial before Pilate: All four Gospels record this trial (Matthew 27:15-23; Mark 15:6-14; Luke 23:13-22; John 18:39-19:6). In the end, Pilate claimed to have nothing to do with the punishment of Jesus, leaving the fate of Jesus to the crowd in the form of allowing them to choose freedom for Jesus or to release a known criminal named Barabbas.
7. The trial of the Jewish people: The Jews who had gathered for Passover shouted "Crucify! Crucify!" and chose freedom for Barabbas rather than Jesus. Jesus was then sentenced to Roman crucifixion.
In total, three Jewish trials took place followed by three Roman trials, concluding with an appeal to the Jewish people with the consent of a Roman leader. Both Jews and Gentiles were responsible for the call to put Jesus to death.
Jesus the New High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Part 1)
Matthew 26:57-26:65
This study is designed to strengthen our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word and how He interacts with His children. It is my hope that by studying the ancient customs and cultures of the Bible God’s Word will come alive for you, and you will be that much more confident in the truth found in its pages.
The Aaronic priesthood originally instituted by God in the wilderness had reached the end of its usefulness by the time that Christ was born into this world. The priesthood was corrupt and defiled and so God transferred the honor and glory of the priesthood onto Christ, His Son.
Now, how does the author of Hebrews go about persuading first-century Jews to follow Christ? Not by telling them that everything they previously believed and practiced was wrong. Because it wasn’t. He did it by telling them the truth; that the religion of the Old Testament was always intended to be temporary, and that it was now being replaced in God’s sovereign plan for his people by something better, something which is built on the foundation of the Law but which now supplants it. And he does this by making four points. First of all, he argues:
1. Not that the law of Moses was wrong in itself, but that it was ultimately weak and useless, unable to cleanse from sin, and therefore is now being changed.
Heb. 7:12, 18-19a, ESV “12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well . . . . 18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect)”
The Old Testament Law was appropriate for its era; it was what they needed prior to the coming of Christ, but it was fundamentally flawed. It was “weak and useless”, and is therefore now being changed. What was its weakness? It was powerless against sin. It couldn’t cleanse from sin. It couldn’t erase the guilt of sin. It couldn’t prevent people from continuing to sin. All it could do was document all the ways in which they did sin. In fact, Paul tells us in Romans chapter seven that the Old Testament Law, far from restraining sin, actually provoked people to sin more! And so it was ultimately useless.
Heb. 10:4, ESV “. . . it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
In other words, the animal sacrifices which were supposed to atone for sin, to pay for sin, actually did no such thing. They couldn’t. They were fine as far as they went — they reminded people that sin had to be paid for, and they demonstrated that the penalty for sin was death — but they didn’t actually succeed in paying that penalty; they didn’t actually erase the guilt of sin. The true payment for sin would come later, in the death of Christ.
2. Second, the author of Hebrews is arguing, not that the covenant God made with Abraham was false, but that it was now being superseded by a better covenant.
Heb. 7:21-22, ESV “but this one [that is, Christ, ESV] was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.”
What is a covenant? A covenant is the basic charter which describes the relationship between God and his people. And what the author of Hebrews is telling us is that in Christ, God is not merely making some minor adjustments to the covenant he established with the people of Israel. He isn’t just instituting a new order of priests, or altering some of his laws. He isn’t just eliminating animal sacrifice as a worship practice. He is fundamentally transforming the nature of his relationship to his people, by instituting a New Covenant which is far superior to the Old. And he is doing this through Christ, our high priest.
3. Third, he is arguing, not that their prior hopes were false, but that they now had available to them a better hope.
“on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.” Heb. 7:19, ESV
What was this better hope? That their temporary, ceremonial cleansing (really covering of sin) from sin would be replaced by a permanent, and actual cleansing from sin, accomplished once and for all. The better hope was that they would be able to draw near to God, instead of being kept at arm’s length. Do you have that hope?
4. Fourth, the author of Hebrews is arguing, not that the Old Testament priesthood was invalid, but that it was limited and ultimately powerless, due to the mortality and sinfulness of the priests themselves:
Heb. 7:23-24, 27, ESV “23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. . . . 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”
The Old Testament priests, the Levitical priests all died and had to be continually replaced. Not only that, but every one of them had sins of their own. And so a better priesthood was necessary, to be administered by a better priest, who is Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews stated that God started a new priesthood – the priesthood of the order of Melchizedek. A priesthood that would last forever, whose high priest could offer salvation to all people. A perfect priesthood based upon grace and not reliant upon the law. We will now look into the end of the Aaronic priesthood and the beginning of the Melchizedek priesthood.
The Melchizedek Priesthood
Genesis 14:18-14:20
Many Christians who are the least bit familiar with the Bible know about the priesthood of Aaron. At the time of the nation of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt and the setting up of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, God provided a way for His people to come to Him and be forgiven of sins through offerings prescribed in the Law. The priests, who were descendants of Moses’ brother Aaron and members of the tribe of Levi, were chosen to act as go-betweens for the people as they approached God on their behalf.
Let’s take a look in the book of Genesis and the 14th chapter where the name Melchizedek is first introduced. Reading from Genesis 14:18-20 (KJV), “ And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. [19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of Heaven and earth: [20] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
Genesis 14 is a chapter from the family history of the origins of Israel. It tells the story of how Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was swept up into the military doings of the ancient world and of how Abraham himself played a role in that history.
If you remember the story, Lot and Abraham parted company because their households and herds were getting too large to remain combined. Uncle Abraham gave Lot free reign to choose whichever part of the land he wished, and Lot chose the Valley of Siddum, known today as the Dead Sea. But it was not dead in that day. Rather, it was a lush, fertile valley, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. Lot settled in a city located in that valley called Sodom. Abraham turned and went in the opposite direction.
Then a day came when a messenger arrived at the tent of Abraham with terrible news. A coalition of kings from the east had invaded and taken Sodom and enslaved all of its inhabitants – including Lot and his family. Abraham immediately organized a rescue party. In a brazen display of courage and faith, he catches up with the raiders and attacks them by night, defeating them and recovering not only his nephew, but all the wealth and all the citizens of Sodom.
However, the most unusual part of this tale took place on the return journey. It was here that Abraham was met by a new figure; a mysterious priest-king known as Melchizedek. The Scriptures tell us that they met, that Melchizedek brought bread and wine and a blessing, and that Abraham rewarded him with a tenth of all. Melchizedek is not mentioned again in the rest of Genesis nor anywhere in any of the historical books of the Old Testament.
So, just who is this mysterious figure and what is so important about him that God included this short story about him in His Holy Word to us?
I. Introducing Melchizedek
Well, the best biblical explanation we can find is located in the New Testament in the 7th chapter of the book of Hebrews. This entire chapter covers the description of the Melchizedek priesthood and gives us the best view of just who this figure was and what he represented.
So let’s begin by reading the first three verses of chapter 7: “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him: [2] To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; [3] Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” (KJV)
We don’t know a lot about Melchizedek. He emerges from the pages of antiquity to have his brief encounter with Abraham, he pronounces a blessing, accepts Abraham’s gifts, and then once again disappears into the pages of history. We don’t know much about him, but there are a few things we do know:
A. His Name
First, we know his name, and in the Bible a name can hold great meaning. When we name our children, it is often only because we like the sound of it. But names in the ancient world were full of meaning, especially among the Jews. Names were given to tell something about the character of the person. This is why you occasionally see a person whose name is changed in Scripture. This was the case with Abraham. His name was originally Abram, which meant “father of high places.” But God changed it later to Abraham, which meant “father of a multitude.”
The name Melchizedek is actually a compound name. It is made up of two Hebrew words that have been joined together. “Melek” is the Hebrew word for “king.” “Zadok” means “righteousness.” So, as the author of Hebrews tells us in the second verse, Melchizedek is the king of righteousness.
B. His Domain
The second thing we know about him is his domain, or where he reigned. Both Genesis and Hebrews tell us that Melchizedek was the King of Salem.
Salem is believed to be one of the ancient names for the city of Jerusalem. Before the city became the capital of Israel, it belonged to a people known as the Jebusites. Their city was alternately known as “Jebus” and “Salem.” Its name today reflects a composite of those two names: Jebus+Salem = Jerusalem.
But remember, names have meaning. And the meaning of the word Salem is “peace.” It is a derivative of the word many Jewish speaking people use as a greeting, “Shalom,” which also means “peace.” So Melchizedek is the King of Salem, ancient Jerusalem, or according to the meaning of his name, he is the King of peace.
C. His Genealogy
And a third thing we know about this mysterious figure is his genealogy. Hebrews 7:3 tells us that he is without father, without mother, without descent.
The kingship of Israel could only trace their roots back to David. The priesthood of Israel could only trace their roots back to Aaron and the tribe of Levi. But Melchizedek was both a king and a priest who resided in Jerusalem, the city of God, long before the time of either David or Aaron. And he has no genealogy.
He appears from obscurity out of the pages of history. We know nothing of his origins and we know nothing of his death. So does this mean that the man Abraham met was not born and did not die? And if so, then what does that tell us about him?
Well, this passage has been a source of controversy probably ever since it was written. But from looking at just these three things that the Bible tells us about Melchizedek, I personally believe that only Jesus Christ himself could fulfill this description. So, I have a tendency to believe that the man that met Abraham on the way home from war, was actually the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. After all there are other examples of the Son of God appearing to man in the Old Testament. For example, He made an appearance in the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow before the statue of King Nebuchadnezzar.
Jesus is the only one who can claim to have no genealogy in the fact that He existed before mankind was created, and He has no end, because He overcame death and the grave. In John 8:56-58 Jesus speaking to the Jews said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” [57] Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” [58] Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Only Jesus openly claimed to have been present before Abraham. Only He can be the one without beginning of days or end of life. Only He has the power to have an endless life.
D. The Tithe, the Blessing and the Communion
Finally, we know of three other things about Melchizedek that point to Him as being Christ. In the first passage that we read in Genesis it tells us that he went out of Salem and offered bread and wine to Abraham. Here, 2000 years before the man, Jesus walked on the earth, Melchizedek, the king of righteousness and the king of peace offers Abraham and his seed communion. This shows us that Jesus’ death on the cross was planned from the very beginning, before Israel even became a nation, before the Aaronic priesthood was established, and before David ever sat on the throne.
We also see that Melchizedek received a tithe from Abraham and then blessed him. Hebrews 7:4-7 says, “Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. [5] And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham. [6] But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. [7] And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.” (KJV)
The Aaronic priesthood received tithes from the children of Abraham because it was required of them in the law. But Melchizedek who is not of the priesthood of Aaron, received tithes from the father through whom all the nations of the world would be blessed, Abraham. It also tells us that the greater (Melchizedek) blessed the lesser (Abraham). So if God promised that in Abraham, all nations would be blessed, how could Melchizedek be greater than Abraham unless he was more than just a human priest? Who in Biblical history was greater than Abraham other than Jesus Christ himself?
So what does all this mean? What’s so important about knowing that Melchizedek was a priest of the most high God and gave communion to Abraham and received tithes from him?
The Melchizedek Priesthood
It’s important for us to know this because the Bible tells us that God created a new priesthood named after this man. And His purpose for creating this new priesthood was to replace the old Aaronic or Levitical one. The Old Testament Scriptures even promised a future and perfect priesthood in Psalm 110:4. “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou (Christ) art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
God said in essence, “I’m going to send someone to straighten out this mess you’ve created. I’m going to change the priesthood. I’ll get a faithful priest. One who is able to make intercession and redeem my people so we won’t have to do these animal sacrifices anymore. A priest where people will be able to have access to My throne, and they won’t have to go into Jerusalem and into a temple to speak to me. I’m going to change the Old Covenant priesthood into a New Covenant priesthood, and there’s going to be one loyal priest to me – the Son of the living God.”
B. Six Changes
And when this change or transfer from one priesthood to the other and one covenant to the other takes place there were going to be six changes that occur.
1. The Temple would be changed. – God would no longer dwell in a building made with human hands, but our bodies would become living temples of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
2. The sacrifices would change. – No longer would you offer the blood of animals on the altar for atonement from sin, but one man, Christ would suffer and be the sacrifice once and for all. Hebrews 7:27, “Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once. When he offered up himself.”
3. The offerings would change. – Instead of bringing animals we now bring tithes, praise, finances, worship, time, and service to God. 1 Cor. 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him…”
4. Access to God would change. – God’s dwelling place on earth for the longest time was the Holy of Holies inside the Temple, and only the High Priest had access to that room and then only once a year. God said, NO MORE. Now everyone will have free access to me without the need of a priest or the restriction of a certain day, because they who call upon Me shall be as priests. Revelation 1:6, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…”
5. Prayers would change. – In the Old Testament prayers were often said in the name of the covenant person. For example in Ex. 32:13 they started the prayer by saying remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thy servants. In the New Testament prayers would be said in the name of Jesus, the very Son of God. In John 15:16 Jesus said, “…that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
6. Priesthood would change. – From the Aaronic or Levitical to the Melchizedek priesthood.
end of part 1
