The Mis-Trial Of Jesus (Continued)
Written by: Dr. Harold Sawyer
What happened in the trial of Jesus? The Sanhedrin certainly had the right, the jurisdiction, to try Jesus because of the charges brought against Him; namely blasphemy. After all, He had claimed to be one with the Father (John 10:30), He had forgiven sin, the prerogative of God alone (Mark 2:7-11), and He had said He was the Christ, the Son of the Blessed (Mark 14:61, 62).
In the haste of the mob to try and condemn Jesus, almost every rule of the then existing law of Moses and Hebrew custom was violated, which, of course, made His trial illegal.
1. To begin with, the Sanhedrin decreed that Jesus should be killed (Matthew 26:1-5). This was “pre-trial” judgment. “No judge could sit in judgment if he be at enmity with the accused or if he had formed a preconceived idea concerning him.”
2. His arrest was effected through the information of a traitor, which violated the code of Leviticus 19:15-18. See Luke 22:1-6, 47-53.
3. He was arrested by members of the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:52-54).
4. The arrest was made without the issuance of any legal warrant. It was not the result of a legal mandate from a court whose intention it was to conduct a legal trial.
5. His arrest was at night (Mark 14:17, 27-, 32,43-66).
6. He was taken to the house of Annas, who was not the high prie4st at that time (John 18:12-14, 19-23).
7. This trial was in a house, not in the Temple.
8. All the Sanhedrin were not present in Annas’ house.
9. Jesus was struck physically by a member (John 18:22) and spat upon (Matthew 26:67).
10. He was judged and bound over to the high priest (John 18:24).
11. The trial before Caiaphas, the high priest, was before the morning sacrifice.
12. The witnesses could not agree (Mark 14:56).
13. Jesus testified against Himself (Mark 14:56, 60-63).
14. The high priest rent his clothes (Matthew 26:65). An ordinary Israelite could tear his garment as a sign of grief, but priests were forbidden because their vestments were made according to specific directions from God and were figurative of his office.
15. The trial before Caiaphas was also in a house, not a Temple (Luke 22:54). Not only should a trial of this nature be held in the Temple, but any sentence of condemnation also had to be pronounced there.
16. Jesus had two trials by the Jews, only hours apart, not on separate days (Matthew 27:1, 2; John 18:28a).
17. The high priest could never say the accused was innocent or guilty. Yet Caiaphas did (Matthew 26:65.)
18. Jesus was never afforded the opportunity for someone to speak in His favor (remember, all his disciples had forsaken Him; Mark 14:50).
19. He was found guilty upon His uncorroborated testimony.
20. All condemned Him to death (Mark 14:64). (to be continued)
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless, touch, strengthen, and heal you in Jesus Name, Amen.
