THE TRIALS OF JESUS

  • The trial and crucifixion of Jesus the Christ are the greatest miscarriages of justice in all the annals of history
  • Not only did these trials violate the written Law of Moses, but they violated the civil laws designed to carry out the principles of justiceof the Law of Moses.

Hebrew Trial

Preliminary Trial before Annas

Night

  • Law Does not Provide for Preliminary Trial
  • High Prieset played role of prosecutor
  • Jesus was compelled to testify
  • Jesus struck – Judges are supposed to protect the accused and prevent abuse

First Sanhedrin Trial

  • Night, not in public, at Caiaphas Home
  • Judges acting as prosecutors
  • Trying to seek false testimony – no penalty for those giving false testimony
  • Jesus put under oath and compelled to testify
  • Jesus pronounced guilty by high priest before a vote (if any taken)
  • Crime? Blasphemy
  • Jesus Beaten

Second Sanhedrin Trial

  • Before Morning sacrifices – “As soon as it was day” – Too early
  • Compelled Jesus to testify
  • Why a second Trial? – To have a pretense of legality!
  • Why not a legal trial? Fear of people! Without this perhaps murdered before then!
Roman Trials of Jesus

1st Appearance before Pilate

  • Charge Changed – Evil doer
  • Desire to put Jesus to Death – Prophecy Matt. 20:17-19
  • Jesus Acknowledges He is a King – NOT AN EARTHLY KING!
  • Charge Changed to Treason
  • Jesus Does not Deny He is King of Jews – He confirms it!
  • Jesus silent to charges – Mention this prophecy verse when discussing Herod.
NOT GUILTY #1

……………………………………………. STOP

Trial Before Herod

  • Wanted to see a miracle
  • Jesus silent to Herod’s questioning –Is. 53:7
  • More Abuse
  • NO VERDICT

……………………………………………. STOP

Second Appearance before Pilate

NOT GUILTY #2
  • Pilate interprets Herod’s action as NO GUILT
  • Pilate says “nothing deserving death has been done”
  • Pilate wants to punish (to satisfy Jews) and release
  • Asks Jews Who they would release - Jesus or Barabbas (murderer)
  • Wife wanted Jesus to be released
NOT GUILTY #3
  • Mob causes Pilate to wash hands of matter
  • Jews accept blood on themselves and their children
  • Soldiers take Jesus
  • Jesus scourged
  • Jesus stripped, abused, beaten, given crown of thorns

……………………………………………. STOP

  • NOT GUILTY #4
  • BEHOLD THE MAN (Separate Page)

……………………………………………. STOP

  • Jews Holler Crucify!
Not Guilty #5

Jews Announce real complaint “He made Himself out to bethe Son of God”

  • Pilate Wants to release Jesus again because He is afraid, perhaps that He is about to Crucify a God.
  • Pilate falls to Politics.
  • Hands Jesus over to be Crucified.
  • Jesus again mocked.
  • Led away to be Crucified.

“Behold the Man”–Unknowing Reference to prophecy in Zechariah 6:12-13 (King James Version). It is important because in our study we want folks to understand that this is indeed the savior!

“Behold, the man whose name is Branch; and He shall grow up out of His place; and He shall build the temple of Jehovah; even He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”

Why should we consider this reference to the Branch to be prophecy of Jesus?

  • We have discussed that Jesus was the branch when we discussed his birth
  • Jeremiah refers to the Branch as well... he identifies 5 things in Jer. 23:5
  1. Come from David’s Lineage
  2. Be a righteous person
  3. Reign as King
  4. Exercise wisdom
  5. Execute justice and righteousness
  • From the verse above “He shall build the temple of Jehovah”
  1. Mt. 16:18–“Upon this rock I shall build my church”– referring to Peter’s confession that Jesus was the “Son of the Living God”
  2. 1 Cor. 3:11 - “For no Man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid which is Jesus Christ.”
  3. 1 Cor. 3:16–Referring to the Church at Corinth –“Do you not know that you are a temple of God...”
  4. 2 Cor. 6:16“... For we are the temple of the living God...”
  5. There are other references to the Church being the house of God...

Jesus Did Build the Temple

Therefore.... when Pilate says... “Behold the Man” He opens a link to prophecy which not only is one more sign that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, but that His sacrifice was not in vain nor is our faith, which holds Him as the foundation of our worship to God.