We are going to spend three weeks focusing on the cross of Jesus Christ – to prepare our hearts for His resurrection. We are marching with Christ down the Via Dolorosa, or the way of suffering. We are entering the very heart of Christianity. It is Thursday, less than twelve hours from Jesus’ crucifixion. From the point of Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He experiences a night full of trials. What is the power of the Cross to you and I? “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Lyrics to How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
The power of the cross is God’s power is focused like a laser here to save us sinners. Traditionally, Jesus’ trials have been broken down between the religious phase of His trials and the civil phase. You really cannot truly understand the cross until you understand how Jesus got there and what took place on the day He was crucified.
1. Jesus is Arrested
Jesus hears the clanging of swords while He is still in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was just finishing an hour of prayer when Judas approaches. It’s around 10 or 11 p.m. when on the horizon Jesus sees a procession of orange flaming torches streaming toward Him.
There are three steps to Jesus’ arrest.
1.1 Step One - Judas Leads the Crowd
All three of these steps are “bang, bang” moments. Your head is on a swivel as the events are coming at you incredibly fast.
1.1.1 The Crowd
Inside the crowd were the chief priests (who you will meet in a moment), the temple officers, and the elders (Luke 22:52). John’s gospel also tells us that in the crowd were Romans soldiers (John 18:3, 12). So here the religious, military, and civil leaders all lined up in unity against Jesus.
1.1.2 Judas
The religious authorities needed an insider. “While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him” (Luke 22:47). Judas appears with an army of men breaking the silence and privacy of the night.
1.1.2.1 Judas Muted Potential Mob Violence
Judas provided a quiet way to take Jesus (John 18:2). Even though Jesus was lecturing daily in the Temple, they wanted to secure His arrest in a quiet way for fear of mob violence. How could they be sure they had the right guy when it was dark? Long before the day when there were wire-service photos and face-recognition software to pick up a criminal’s face off of security camera. Back on Wednesday, just 24 hours before Jesus’ betrayal, we witness the Sanhedrin and Judas collusion: “He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd” (Luke 22:5-6). Again, they needed an insider.
1.1.2.3 Judas Kisses Jesus
“And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him” (Mark 14:45). A kiss would have been a common way of greeting others in Jesus’ day. And while a kiss communicates warmth and affection, this is the kiss of death. But this was a kiss from hell itself. Judas’ kiss was in all likelihood a longer kiss than normal in order to give the authorities a opportunity who was to be arrested. This was an act of black treason. “…but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss’” (Luke 22:48)? Here’s one more plea from the Son of God, “Are you so dead and beyond feeling that you would use a kiss to betray me?”
1.2 Step Two - The Disciples Fight Back
“And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:49-51). Immediately the disciples ask Jesus if they should fight the onslaught of the crowd that comes for Jesus: “Lord, shall we strike with the sword” (Luke 22:49)? Before Jesus can reply, Peter takes out a dagger and in an attempt to defend Jesus, he whacks off the right ear of a slave name Malchus (John 18:10). The following was omitted in the interest of time: Peter had poor aim but he had great determination at this point. No sooner than did Malchus’ ear hit the ground, Jesus says, “No more of this!” (Luke 22:51a). His words freeze everyone in place. And Jesus heals the ear of one of the very men sent to arrest Him. He is acting in compassion even toward His enemies. Think of this: in the last moments Jesus’ hands were free, He stretched out those hands to heal one who came to arrest him.
Matthew fills in a few details that Luke omits: “For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:52b-53)? Twelve legions of angels would have been up to 72,000 angels. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).
1.3 Step Three - Jesus Rebukes the Crowd
No sooner had Jesus’ rebuked His disciples, than He turns to rebuke the crowd coming to arrest Him. “Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, ‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me’” (Luke 22:52-53a). Jesus calls them cowards and hypocrites for arresting Him at night and away from the crowds. Jesus continues, “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53b).
The cosmic battle is now on and it is the bleakest of times. This was hell’s hour. This was high noon in Satan’s longest day of the summer.
2. Jesus is Tried
Again, the cross is power that fuels and focuses Christianity and our lives as believers.
Lyrics to How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.
There are two phases to Jesus’ trial and six separate, identifiable trials all of which took place over a nine hour time span
The two aspects of the trial were necessary for Jewish people did not have the authority to execute anyone.
Quick Overview
Jesus is taken before Annas, who was the former high priest, probably around 2 a.m. He was then take to Caiaphas, the acting high priest and the head of the Sanhedrin, around 3 a.m. Lastly, Jesus appeared before the entire Sanhedrin before the sun arose.
2.1 Jesus at Annas’ House
Think of Annas as high priest emeritus if you will. He was a wealthy, behind-the-scenes power and he had been pushed out of office by the Romans. “First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year” (John 18:13). Annas’ questions Jesus along two lines: His disciples and His teaching (John 18:13).
Jesus doesn’t cooperate with Annas stating that everything He said was a matter of public record. It’s here in Annas’ home that Jesus is struck by the hand of a short-fused temple officers: “Is that how you answer the high priest” (John 1822b)? This was the first blow Jesus experienced in what was soon a parade of physical abuse to come. While Jesus is in Annas’ home, messengers were sent out to awaken the members of the Sanhedrin, alerting them to a middle of the night trial.
Illegal Procedure
Jesus was never given a court-appointed advocate which was illegal by Jewish rule of law. And Jesus never had any defense witnesses which was also a violation of the court rules of the time. According to the Sanhedrin’s own rules, a legal trial could not have been held before sunrise. The trial had to be held between morning sacrifice at the temple and evening sacrifice at the temple. The high priest wanted to arrange Jesus’ trial so that Pilate would issue his verdict at the dawn of daylight before Jesus’ supporters formed a large crowd. Caiaphas was afraid of trying Jesus in public in broad daylight. A public notice of a legal trial was also to be posted in the temple or sent to the Romans. “There is ample historical evidence that many legal restrictions could be breached if the court decided that ‘the hour demands it’. If the authorities feared mob violence, they would have strong incentive to increase the pace of the proceedings.”
2.2 Jesus at Caiaphas’ House & Part of the Sanhedrin
The second part of the religious trial of Jesus takes place: “Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered” (Matthew 26:57). It’s probably around 3 a.m. now and more and more of the religious leadership are assembling. Caiaphas’ residence is probably a large home overlooking the temple complex. When Matthew tells us “the scribes and the elders had gathered.” (Matthew 26:57b), he’s probably telling us a quorum has gathered.
Two More Illegal Procedures
In fact, it was illegal by Jewish legal standards of the day for the trial to be anywhere except their own meeting hall, known as the “Hall of Judgment.” Imagine leaving here to eat at Oliver Garden and the city is putting on a trial in the middle of the restaurant and you’ll get a picture of how unusual this whole ordeal really was. A judge could not serve as the prosecutor as Caiaphas did. You either try the case or judge the case, but you cannot do both.
They would have sat in concentric semicircles as Jesus appeared before them. Their eyes would be red with rage.
False Witnesses
It is important to note that no indictment could be handed down unless at least two witnesses agreed on a charge. In the haste of this thrown-together illegal trial, it proves difficult to find two witnesses who agree with one another. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward (Matthew 26:59-60). If you have ever testified in a case, then you know that witnesses are not to speak to one another. The witnesses were to be sequestered.. All of this is done to ensure that no one seeks to influence their testimony. Even with all the illegal aspects of the trial, Caiaphas could not secure the guilty verdict he needed.
Caiaphas went for the jugular and fixed his gaze on Jesus: “If you are the Christ, tell us” (Luke 22:67a). Caiaphas is using a strategy and placing Jesus under oath. This too was illegal for even today, we have the option of “taking the fifth.”
Jesus’ Response
The high priest and the Sanhedrin sought not a religious indictment but a political allegation. A political allegation would force the Romans’ hands into action and bring about the end of Jesus. So they twisted Jesus’ words to make it look like He desired to tear down the temple: “and said, ‘This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days’” (Matthew 26:61). Jesus said something like what was suggested but it was clear He meant a temple not made with hands (John 2:19). But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips” (Luke 22:67a-71). This is a clear portrayal of His claim to be the Son of God. Jesus is saying that He will be their judge. Jesus gives the Sanhedrin the evidence they need to convict Him. Now, no false testimony is needed.
After hearing Jesus’ response of claiming to equal with God, the high priest tore his robe. “What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death” (Matthew 26:66).
Jesus is Beaten
Just before Jesus is the formal verdict was handed down by the Sanhedrin in the early morning hours, we are told that Jesus was mocked and beaten. It was the Temple guards who did this as they led him to His cell. “Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him” (Luke 22:63-64). It was there in the cell that Jesus would spend a few hours before the daylight dawned and the Sanhedrin gathered to render their final, decisive verdict.
2.3 Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council…” (Luke 22:66a). The Sanhedrin acted as Israel’s Supreme Court, the highest court in all of Israel. Yet, in place of a Supreme Court, this is really a Kangaroo Court. Now, in the earliest morning hours when all the council was awake, they met to give their final verdict: “And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate” (Mark 15:1).
The formal verdict only requires the advent of sunrise and a quorum of the Sanhedrin. This final judgment possesses an air of legality that the earlier verdict lacked.
A sentence could not be handed down on the same day a guilty verdict on handed down. If the guilty verdict was on Friday, you had to wait twenty four hours. Only in this case, the observant religious Jews would have waited until Sunday because of the Sabbath.
Voting Procedures
Normally, the junior members of the Sanhedrin voted first and the more senior members voted afterwards. The younger and more inexperience members of the Sanhedrin would have sat on the edge of the semicircle. This was the custom so the older men, who held more sway, would not automatically sway the younger men. The high priest was always supposed to vote last. If the entire group of the Sanhedrin voted there would have probably been 69 votes for condemnation and two individuals abstaining – Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. This was a Farce of a Trial.
3. Jesus is Your Forgiveness
Have you ever fooled around with an Etch-a-Sketch? It’s that toy with what looks like a television screen and two knobs that enable you to sketch whatever fits you desire. I never was much good at it. I’m not an artist by any stretch of the imagination. The Etch-a-Sketch was made for people like me. If you don’t like what you’ve “drawn” and especially don’t want to be embarrassed should anyone else see it, you simply tip the screen and your work of “art” vanishes! This is a lot like what God does with your sin when He grants forgiveness. Through the course of our earthly existence we sketch an ugly scenario of sin and rebellion and ingratitude and jealousy and lust. There it is, vividly imprinted on the screen of our souls.
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:5).
“but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back” (Isaiah 38:17b).
God has taken your sin and place it out of His sight behind His back. All this was done because of the cross.
Lyrics to How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
Closing Prayer
Father, I cannot imagine the horror and grief it took for your Son to suffer and die on the cross. You are our forgiveness; you are our very lives. Amen
Closing Statement
Is Jesus your forgiveness of sins? Are will you put yourself through a trial before God Himself?
