It was Preparation Day, the day before the Passover Sabbath. In the darkness of the early hours of the morning, Jesus was arrested. The crowd of guards and soldiers led him bound to Annas. Although Annas had previously been the high priest, Caiaphas his son-in-law was the high priest that year. So Annas quickly sent Jesus to Caiaphas. (John 18:13-14)
It was Caiaphas who had given counsel to the Jews that it was beneficial that one man should die for the people. (Caiaphas said this in John 11:49-51) Caiaphas knew he shouldn’t preside over these proceedings due to conflict of interest and lack of impartiality. In this situation, it was impossible for him to give the accused a fair trial.
The chief priests and all the council looked for witnesses against Jesus to put him to death. They were in an unusual situation. There was no charge for the arrest of Jesus. Witnesses hadn’t come forward to testify of any wrongdoing before the arrest. In this case, the jury worked to piece together a case against the accused.
Many testified falsely against Jesus, but their testimonies didn’t agree with one another. (Mark 14:55 )
According to the law, “A man can only be put to death when the testimonies of two or three witnesses agree. Only with agreeing testimonies can a matter be established.” (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15)
Two false witnesses at the trial said, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple built by hands; and within three days, I will build another temple made without hands.” But the details of their testimonies didn’t agree. (Mark 14:56-59)
Hundreds of years before that day, King David had prophesied about the trial of the Savior.
“False witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out cruelty.” (Psalm 27:12)
“False witnesses rose up and they laid to my charge things that I didn’t know. They rewarded me evil for good.”(Psalm 35:11)
“The mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me. They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.” (Psalms 109:2)
The men who guarded Jesus mocked him. They blindfolded him and hit him in the face.
“Prophesy; who struck you?” they asked.
They spoke many other blasphemous things against him.
As soon as it was day, the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the people came together and led Jesus into their council. Caiaphas stood up in the middle. (Luke 22:63-66)
It was unlawful to hold a trial at night. Accusations were made and testimonies were heard in the dark hours. A nighttime trial limits a defendant’s right to present witnesses for his defense. As a pretense of proper proceedings, the religious leaders had waited for daylight before they questioned Jesus and gave a verdict.
Caiaphas asked, “Do you have no answer? What is it that these people testify against you?”
Jesus held his peace and answered nothing.
“Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” asked Caiaphas. (Mark 14:60-61)
“If I tell you, you won’t believe or let me go. Hereafter the Son of man will sit on the right hand of the power of God,” said Jesus.
“Are you the Son of God?” the council asked.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am.” (Luke 22:67-70)
(Note: According to Mark 14:62, Jesus said “I am.”)
Then the high priest tore his clothes and asked, “Why do we need any further witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him guilty of death, even though they knew a guilty verdict couldn’t be given for a capital crime on the day of the trial. This was a law meant to allow time for reasonable deliberation.
They condemned Jesus for blasphemy.
Some began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him.
“Prophesy,” they said to him.
Even the servants struck him with the palms of their hands. (Mark 14:63-65)
King David wrote, “They surrounded me with words of hatred and fought against me without a cause. They have rewarded me evil for good and hatred for my love.” (Psalm 109:3)
