THE COURT WITH NO APPEAL
(John 18:19-24)
The Sanhedrin that tried Jesus was one sided. In our court today, someone may appeal from a lower to a higher court for a new hearing if he was falsely accused. But the Sanhedrin was different.
This council had no appeal, meaning, nothing attractive or interesting about it. The 71-member (including high priest) abused their power to get to Jesus. This court was very dangerous. They can throw anybody to jail if they wanted to. That’s what they did to Jesus. They were supposed to be servants of truth and justice but that wasn’t the case with Jesus. They did a very dirty job. They fabricated a case against Jesus so they could put Him to death, they produced witnesses who gave false testimonies (Mk 14:56-59). Basically, the hearing was illegal:
• held at night. Jewish trials are only held during the daytime
• held on the eve of the Passover (Jewish custom usually forbade criminal trials right around the passover festival)
• Jewish court had no power to carry out death sentence (Mt 27:1,2; Jn 18:31)
Deut 17:6, one cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. It has to be on the testimony of two or three witnesses can a man be put to death. And each one’s testimony has to corroborate the others, meaning all their testimonies when put together must be consistent. It must support one another to draw a strong evidence to prove the accused of his guilt or innocence.
In verse 19 it says: “the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.” In this light let us talk about:
1. Jesus’ hostile friends
2. Jesus’ disciples
3. Jesus’ teachings
1. JESUS’ HOSTILE FRIENDS
The Pharisees and Sadducees were two religious groups in the time of Jesus who wanted Him out of the picture so bad that they had to devise an evil plan to kill Him so they would just go about their normal business. Jesus was gaining popularity among the Jews so they wanted Jesus out. These religious groups were very influential because they were supposed to be the ones that knew the Scriptures well and supposed to be practicing them religiously. At the onset of Jesus’ ministry, they hated Jesus already.
On many occasions they tried to trick Jesus into saying something so they can draw a case against Him to finally get rid of Him. Like at one time when they asked Jesus this question: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we? (Mk 12:14,15)
Jesus replied: “Why are you trying to trap me?
If Jesus said “No” they would report Him to the Roman governor for tax evasion and face treason (the overthrow of government).
If Jesus said “Yes,” they would report Him to the Jews as being disloyal to His nation.
But what was Jesus’ answer: ’Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. . . Whose portrait is this? They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mk 12:15-17)
Jesus was a threat to their whole way of life. Jesus was a thorn in their flesh. They thought “When Jesus was out, our business will be back to normal again.” “If not for this Jesus we would have prospered more.” That was basically what was in their mind as they followed Jesus wherever He went around Galilee, Caesarea, Jerusalem preaching, teaching and healing. They followed Him with prying eyes. Jesus was gaining attention. They hated Jesus with passion. They made it too
personal. It was political.
Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers took Him and they “brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.” (Jn 18:13)
Why was Jesus brought to Annas first (18:13) then later on to Caiaphas (18:24)?
Annas was the Jewish high priest from A.D. 7 to 15. Even after he was removed from office, Annas’s power and influence remained considerable. The Jews may have continued to think of him as high priest during times when Caiaphas actually held the office (Luke 3:2; John 18:19, 22-24; Acts 4:6). The fact that Annas here was conducting a private inquiry of Jesus after he was arrested (John 18:13, 19-24), is a strong indication that he still held great power among the Jewish religious leaders. Caiaphas was high priest (John 18:13, 24) from A.D. 18 to 36, during Jesus’ public ministry.
2. JESUS’ DISCIPLES
The same religious group questioned Jesus about His disciples.
“Look why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” (Mt 12:2; Mk 2:24)
This was on one Sabbath when Jesus and His disciples were walking through a grainfield that the disciples started picking some grain. This was considered working. Matthew told us the reason “because the disciples were hungry.” (Mt 12:2)
Another incident has to do with the washing of hands:
Mk 7:5 “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with unclean hands?”
Lk 11:37,38 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.
These devout leaders observed many traditions, ceremonial washing of hands and feet was one of them. The washing of hands was God’s instruction to the priests recorded in Exodus 30:17-21 for the priests to comply with before carrying out their sacred duties in the temple but these religious leaders wanted to extend this duty to ALL JEWS to be performed before prayers and before eating.
The religious leaders kept this law because they believed their “cleanliness” equaled “godliness.” Jesus did not see it the way they did. That’s why He did not imposed these tradition to His disciples. Thus, the question: “why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with unclean hands.”
3. JESUS’ TEACHINGS
Jesus was not the leader of a cult or secret organization. He was not planning a religious or a political coup d’ etat. Instead, Jesus noted that everything he taught had been taught in public. Even the quiet and private talks with his disciples included no secret or subversive teachings that would incite rebellion otherwise Judas would be the one leading the revolt. Everything he said to the disciples was told to the crowds.
3.1. NOTHING DISCRIMINATING ABOUT HIS TEACHING.
“I have spoken openly to the world . ..”
3.1.1 God’s word is not detrimental to one’s legal rights or beliefs. In fact the United States’ constitution followed Biblical principle—protecting constitutional freedom, religious liberty, the sanctity of life and institution of marriage and family. With mere men, the Word of God is nothing but gibberish or meaningless words until the Holy Spirit carries it to the heart of an individual.
3.1.2 God’s word is universal. It was written for both the Gentiles and the Jews. If one obeys it, it will benefit him/her. If one disobeys it, then face the consequence regardless you are a Jew or not. Everyone will benefit from it: whites, blacks, reds, and yellows.
The word “world’ here is the “kosmos” which means the created realities, the orderly arrangement, or the world including its inhabitant. His teaching was meant not teach the Jews alone who were present at that time but including all future generations to come —what He taught His disciples shall be passed on to generation to generation:
Jn 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
3.2. NOTHING PRIVATE ABOUT HIS TEACHING
“I always taught in synagogues or at the temple where all the Jews come together.”
Jesus didn’t have any hidden agenda to begin with. He taught in the proper places like the synagogues and temples for He knew where the common Jews would gather.
Mt 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”
That is the reason why news about Him spread all over Syria. The people brought to Him all who were stricken with various diseases and maladies, those suffering from pain, the demon-possessed, those with acute arthritis and even the paralyzed—He healed them.
He also taught in the temple courts:
Jn 7:14 “Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.”
Jn 7:28 “. . . Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts . .”
Mt 26:55 “. . . Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.”
3.3. NOTHING MYSTERIOUS ABOUT HIS TEACHING
“I said nothing in secret.”
There was nothing subversive about His teaching to instigate or start a rebellion against the Roman Governor. His beatitude or sermon on the mount were taken from the Old Testament mainly from the Book of the Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy. Jesus quoted so much from the law making it crystal clear to the listeners.
Mt 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Jesus came, not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. There is no contradiction between Jesus’ teaching and the Law. The beatitudes are not new teachings. For the most part, Jesus quoted them from the Book of the Law helping us to understand the deeper meaning that did not focus merely on outward acts but a change in the inner depths of the human heart which, had been the reason for the law all along.
3.4. NOTHING ABOUT HIS TEACHING WAS OFFENDING]
“Why question me? Ask those who heard me.”
Jesus challenged the high priest to call those who heard his teaching so they can testify before the Council that none of His teachings were offending at all. None of Jesus’ teachings were in violation of the Law of Moses.
In any court proceedings, the proper way of interrogation is to question the witnesses for they are the ones who can provided solid evidence or proof the one accused of a crime. That is why Jesus said, “Why question me? Ask those who heard me.” The reason why the Sanhedrin cannot produce any witnesses to testify against Jesus because there was nothing that Jesus taught that were not in violation of the Law of Moses or against God. All that Jesus taught were true.
3.5. NOTHING ABOUT HIS TEACHING CAN BE DENIED
“Surely they know what I said.”
All those who heard Jesus’ teaching and preaching understood what He was talking about. I believe that Jesus’ teachings penetrated the hearts of the people.
Mt 7:28,29 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
Mark 1:22 “The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.”
Mt 13:54 “. . . he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?”
What king of authority that the teachers of the law didn’t have?
Divine authority. Because Jesus’ teaching was the Word of God—divinely originated, divinely inspired. Most of Jesus’ teaching and preaching were quoted from Old Testament making it clearer to His hearers. He was exposing the Word of God to the people.
How can Jesus not have divine authority whereas He is the Logos, the Word. The divine power and divine wisdom of God. The divine word. The teachers of the law quoted other rabbis to support their own teachings. At this time, the New Testament has not been written yet. So Jesus at this time was speaking the very word of God carried along by the Holy Spirit which later on became the four Gospels. When Jesus was teaching and preaching, the New Testament was in the making.
One of the officials standing close by struck Jesus in the face for the way He answered the high priest. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” He was demanding that Jesus give him the true answer—which he did.
Jesus replied: “If I said something wrong what was wrong in my answer? But if I told you the truth what did you strike me for?
It is amazing how people can pay respect to fellow human being and disrespect God. The officer demanded respect for the high priest whereas he cannot even respect another fellow human being. He struck Jesus for no reason at all. It is so easy for people to abuse their power and authority when they are in position.
If you recognized the responsibilities of your posItion and your exact relationship to the one who is above you, you will be wise. It is not always the ruler of a country who is the most intelligent man in that country. Nor is the principal of a school smarter than the teachers under him. The same holds true of students and teachers. Many times teachers are so wrong in their philosophy of life. Recognize realities even while you recognize the deficiencies of others, for the Scriptures teach us that those who are over us are placed there by God for some purpose.
It was even worst when the people were given a choice as to which prisoner they want released.
On one hand, after examining Jesus, Pontius Pilate recognized that Jesus was innocent (Mt 27:23; Lk 23:4; Jn 18:38) and wanted to free him. On the other hand, Pilate also had an interest in pleasing the Jewish leaders in order to protect his own political position. So in the face of his dilemma he offered to release a prisoner to the Jews at their Passover feast (John 18:39). Given the option of Jesus or Barabbas, Pilate thought that the Jewish crowd would choose to have Jesus set free. Pilate underestimated the influence of the Jewish leaders over the Jews.
The people chose to release Barabbas (18:39,40), a rebel and a murderer (Mk 15:7; Lk 23:19), a folk hero among the Jews known for his notoriety (Mt 27:16) and have Jesus crucified who preached the truth, taught them the truth, healed the sick, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the mute, even raised the dead to life, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, the Christ who delivers us from eternal hell fire.
Note: It is ironic but the name Barabbas which is Aramaic means “son of Abba” or “son of the father” where the word “bar” means “son of.” Why he was given that name I don’t know. All I know is that the Bible says he was an evil, dangerous man who don’t deserve to carry the name “Barabbas.” After he was released, Barabbas disappeared from biblical and secular history.
Again, whatever the reason, the crowd shouted for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 27:21-22)—there’s only one reason just as Jesus said: “. . . this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” (Mt 26:56)
For the fulfillment of prophecy so that we can have eternal life. (Isaiah 52:14; 53:4-7).
The rejection of Jesus Christ’s divinity is happening in our days as it did during the time of Jesus.
• The Jehovah Witnesses choose to believe in a different Jesus who they claim was a created being and not the Jesus of the Bible who is divine, the I AM; the pre-existent One — who was, and is and is to come, the eternal God.
• People wants to choose abortion instead of adoption;
• People wants to redefine marriage instead of abiding in a marriage designed by God that is between one man and one woman;
• People wants to replace the nativity with Santa Claus and his reindeer including Rudolf the red-nose reindeer;
• People claims that Mary mediates between man and the Lord Jesus instead of believing what the Bible says: “. . . there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . .” (1Tim 2:5)
CONCLUSION:
Christianity is still under trial in our days. Jesus is under fire everyday. Today’s school classrooms, seminaries, media and publications, the movie industry, workplaces, and even the sanctuaries of our churches has turned into court rooms with no appeal at all. They don’t stop crucifying Jesus.
There is a book entitled “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown and became a bestseller in 100 countries. Why such interest? Because people don’t want to read and listen to Jesus’ teaching, the Bible, which is TRUTH, that is why they can’t tell FACT from FICTION. Mr. Brown’s book is pure fictional — full of false testimonies against Jesus. IF THEY WOULD ONLY LISTEN TO JESUS’ TEACHING. IF THEY WOULD ONLY READ GOD’S WORD THEN THEY WOULD KNOW THE TRUTH AND SAY: INDEED JESUS IS LORD, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
