Jesus was brought to the High Priest, Caiaphas. The whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus so that they could put Him to death. They couldn’t find anyone to testify against Him until two men came forward saying that Jesus had said that He was able to destroy and rebuild the Temple in three days. Jesus kept silent. Then Caiaphas asked Jesus if He was the Son of God and Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.” He was accused of blasphemy and they spit on Him.
I have been called for jury duty several times in the last twenty years, but have never had to serve on a jury. The court system in the United States requires witnesses to give a true testimony under oath or affirmation and the statement of even only one witness can incriminate a defendant. When the trial is decided by a jury those jurors must decide if the witnesses are telling the truth and if the defendant is guilty. No one spits on the accused defendant—they may want to, but that is just not acceptable in our court system.
Under Jewish law there needed to be two witnesses and their testimony had to be in agreement to establish a charge against a person. So these two witnesses were collaborating against Jesus, but blasphemy was not a charge that would result in a death penalty under the Roman rule.
During his trials Jesus went before Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-23) and Caiaphas, with the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68, Matthew 27:1); before Pilate (Matthew 27:2, 11-14); before Herod (Luke 23:6-12); and then a second trial before Pilate (Matthew 27:15-26). Annas was High Priest before Caiaphas and continued to be influential. Pilate, the Roman governor, had a palace in Jerusalem and was there at the time of the Passover when there could be trouble with the huge crowds that assembled. Herod also had a palace in Jerusalem, so it was a relatively short distance between each of Jesus’ trials.
The Jews couldn’t really put Jesus to death. They needed the Roman rulers to condemn Him to death. In actuality no one could put Jesus to death, He gave up His own life willingly. Gave it up for you and for me. Do you know that Jesus loved you enough to die for you?
Lord, it is hard to understand why you had to suffer such rejection and humiliation during these trials …for me. Thank you.
© 2012
by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights
reserved.
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