The Jewish Trials

Transcript

GR 407
6/28/1981
The Jewish Trials
JOHN 18:12-14, 19-24
Gil Rugh

The whole purpose in His coming is realized in these chapters. He will die as the sacrifice of God for the sins of mankind. Then He will be raised in victory triumphant over death and the devil. And chapter 21 forms the conclusion or epilogue of the book.

The opening verses of chapter 18 presented the arrest of Christ in the garden. Judas carries out the betrayal and Christ is arrested. We noted that in John’s account, the stress is on the sovereign control of Christ in all that goes on. He is the Master of the situation. He's going to be arrested because He chooses to be arrested on this occasion. That was demonstrated very clearly in verse 6 of chapter 18, having responded to their request of identifying Himself as Jesus of Nazareth. They fall back to the ground, presenting the fact that He is in control. If He had chosen not to be arrested, they would have had no power at all over Him. But it is God's time, God's appointed place in God's schedule, and so the arrest is carried out.

Peter tried to intervene and is not successful. Christ rebukes him, and carries out a miracle of healing here, restoring the high priest's ear which Peter has cut off in an attempt to resist the arrest. Again, Peter does not have the sensitivity for the program and plan that God is carrying out. He could have simply resolved His conflict by submitting Himself to the leadership of Christ on this occasion instead of trying to take control of things. To Peter it seemed like a great catastrophe taking place. It seemed like it was the time to resist and do battle. Rather it's the time to submit. You and I need to be careful that we're following the lead of Jesus Christ, the leadership of the one who is our Lord. And He sets the pace and the pattern.

Now following the arrest, there are a series of trials that take place in a rather compacted period of time. We're going to be looking over these in our next couple of studies. They can be broken down into two major divisions—the Jewish trials and the Roman trials. You can title them various ways, but there are 3 trials that take place under the Jews. And there are 3 trials that are more civil or Roman oriented. Civil from the standpoint of not particularly religious. So really a series of 6 trials that take place, and it ends up being a mockery of justice. The Jews for their part have already determined that they are to have Him executed, so when they bring Him for trial, they have already decided what must happen. They can expect no justice from the Jews in the trials that they will carry out. They are not determined to find justice, but rather to find a reason to crucify Him. And for the Romans, they don't particularly have any axe to grind over the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, but repeatedly Pilate will declare Christ innocent and then conclude that series of trials by turning Him over to be executed. So there is no justice in any of the activities. In a later study, we will look at some of the particular violations of justice and law, both Jewish and Roman, that are violated during these trials.

Verse 12 of chapter 18. "The Roman cohort and the commander, and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him." So Christ has identified Himself clearly as the One that they are looking for. So the Romans take charge here. They have Him bound and secured. The Romans were not ones to take a chance on losing a prisoner. You would think what would be the need to bind Christ? Well, it's simply a matter of security. He's bound and secured and "led to Annas first." And in the series of trials that are to take place first, the first is the one before Annas, a significant figure in Jewish history. He's called Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now it gets a little bit confusing because of the changes that have occurred. Annas had been high priest in Israel. He was high priest from 6 AD to 15AD, so from 6-15 AD, Annas was the high priest. Now if you remember in the Old Testament, high priest was a lifetime position. So when a man became high priest, he was high priest until he died. Now that had changed in New Testament times because the Romans had taken control of all significant positions. So they appointed the high priests. And the Roman Governor had the prerogative to dispose and replace the high priest because that was a controlling position for Israel. And the Roman Governor wanted to be sure he had his own man in control. So there is a mark of the spiritual deterioration that is occurring that the highest position in Israel has, in effect, become a political plum and is appointed by godless, political men. Now Annas, even though he was deposed by Quiranias, the governor, in 15 AD did not let go of the power.
Let me tell you, he had 5 sons that became high priest. He had one son-in-law, Caiaphas, who became high priest. He had one grandson who became high priest.
So you see, for an extended period of years even though Annas had been deposed, he held control and influence as far as the high priestly office was concerned and for many Jews he would still be the one recognized as high priest because of the fact the Old Testament said that his appointment was a lifetime appointment. Now that’s important to understand because Annas is going to be called high priest, and yet we’re told in verse 13 that Caiaphas is the high priest.
But it is similar with our situation with presidents today. We will speak of President Nixon or President Ford, President Carter. Even though they are no longer officially in office they carry the title. So it is here. So when you get over to verse 19 of chapter 18,"the high priest therefore questioned Jesus...” we're talking about Annas, not Caiaphas. Because Annas will then send Jesus to Caiaphas.

Look over in Luke chapter 3. Annas and his family were fabulously wealthy in Israel. Much of their income and wealth came from the Bazaars of Annas.
You remember in the court of the Gentiles in the temple, they sold animals for sacrifices at exorbitant amounts? Sometimes to buy an animal for sacrifice in
the court of the Gentiles would cost 15 or 16 times as much as the same animal. And of course, Annas and his priestly followers had to approve the sacrifice, so they had a built in market. Simply reject the sacrifice that the people brought and sell them one of your own that was already approved. And then pocket the exorbitant profit.

But in Luke chapter 3, verse 2, you see something of the confusion of this time. In the priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John." You see in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, but there's only one high priest. But in Israel it is recognized that even though Caiaphas is official high priest, Annas is ruler. He is the power. So both are identified as high priest.

Look over in Acts chapter 4, note verse 6. "And Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high priestly descent." Here you have the family of Annas represented. But you see Annas is again called high priest, although Caiaphas is the official high priest. Caiaphas was high priest in Israel from 18 AD to 36 AD—he had a rather long term, during the whole time of which Annas would have been the great power.

Now, leave your Bible open to Acts a moment. I want to look at another passage here, but let me tell you something further about Annas and the high priests. These men were Sadducees. You remember Israel was divided into two main religious parties—the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Now the Sadducees would have been the liberal side as far as theology is concerned. Let me tell you what the Sadducees did not believe. They denied the resurrection of the body, personal immortality, and judgment in a future life. No bodily resurrection. Remember they tried to trap Jesus with the question of here's a man with seven wives, now in the resurrection who is he going to be married to? Because they didn't believe in a resurrection. They thought they had stumped Him by showing the foolishness of believing in resurrection. They do not believe in resurrection, they did not believe in immortality of the soul, they did not believe in coming judgment. They denied the existence of angels and spirits. They rejected the whole spirit world as non-existent. And they denied any concept of divine intervention in the world. In other words, God did not intervene in the world’s events. Man determined his destiny, not God. Now here you have the high priest, the ruling body in Israel (Sanhedrin) which is governed by the Sadducees and this body is led by people who do not even believe in the supernatural.

Look over in Acts chapter 23. Now on this occasion, Paul has been arrested so he is going to play the Pharisees and the Sadducees off against one another.
In verse 6, of Acts chapter 23, "Perceiving that one party were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Counsel, "Brethren, I am a Pharisees, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!" Now you note what Paul says here? The issue at stake here is the resurrection of the dead, and the reason I have been arrested is because I teach the resurrection of the dead.

Verse 7. "As he said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all." Now amazing the deterioration that has occurred in Israel that you can have the highest religious official in the nation being a man who does not even believe in the supernatural. The Sadducees. You remember how we keep the Sadducees and the Pharisees distinct? The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, so they were sad-you-see? Now you'll remember that. I first heard that when I was in Bible college and that helped me remember all the time. Anytime anybody talks about Pharisees and Sadducees I’m right away thinking, Sadducees—they are the ones who don’t believe. Isn’t it amazing that in Israel throughout their history God had intervened repeatedly, In the history of Israel and now they were governed by a man who did not believe in God’s intervention at all. So you can see what they would do with the Old Testament. They would reject all the supernatural in the Old Testament. What about all the appearances of angels in the Old Testament? The Sadducees didn't even believe there were angels and spirits. What about the promises through the Old Testament about coming judgment? The Sadducees did not believe in coming judgment. You know the Sadducees are not present today in the name Sadducee, but it is amazing that there are so many religious leaders today providing leadership for many people who themselves deny the very things that the Sadducees rejected.

Look over in II Timothy chapter 3. Here you have a description that could be applied to the Sadducees as well as to religious leaders of our day. Paul says, "In the last days difficult times will come. Men will be lovers of self, lovers of money..." That's all that Annas and his family were concerned about. Themselves, their own interests and the accumulation of vast wealth. "Boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." And then note the next statement. "...holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power." The Sadducees. They had a form of godliness but they denied the power. Note Paul's warning there to avoid such men as these. And we ought to take note of that today. Men of this character, we as believers are to have nothing to do with them. No involvement with, no association with. To recognize that just because a man is religious and has a form of religiousness, a form of godliness, does not mean he is a man of God, that he is truly a spiritual leader. The Sadducees being such a clear example.

So when you come back to John 18, you see something of the difficulty that we are about to confront. The very presence of Jesus claiming to be the divine Son of God is a statement of God's intervention in the affairs of mankind, and the Sadducees deny there could be any such thing. Does He have any hope of any kind of fair trial here? He has proceeded to do the miraculous which the Sadducees could not accept. This is the kind of man, the kind of people who are going to sit in judgment on Jesus Christ. Just as people today with similar theology sit in judgment on Jesus Christ and proceed to classify Him as just another man. But seek to lure people into false security by telling them there is no coming judgment and all will work out for good. Theology hasn't changed. The sinfulness of mankind has not changed. They still proceed to follow in blindness such blind leaders.

Note verse 13. This is Annas, he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now a note about Caiaphas. He is the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people. Look back in John 11. In the Counsel, the chief priests and the Pharisees convene a counsel. The Sanhedrin meets in verse 47. Verse 49, Caiaphas speaks up, "But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you..."' Note, looking out for our own skins. '"It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."' Now God was using him as a mouthpiece here to utter a prophecy that Christ would die on behalf of the nation. But you note, Caiaphas' attitude. Now he is the one high priest who is to officially preside over the governing body of Israel to try Jesus Christ. And he has already given his recommendation—that the most expedient thing for us is that this man be executed. Now can there be any hope of fairness or impartiality in this trial? These are the kind of men, the character of men who are going to try Jesus Christ. These are the men who are supposedly to provide spiritual leadership for the nation Israel in these days.

Back to John 18. Alright, jump up to verse 19. The high priest, Annas here, questioned Jesus about His disciples. We've skipped the account of Peter here, but we're going to pick him up next time. "The high priest therefore questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching." You know a strange thing has occurred and there is tremendous pressure on the Jews. They are coming up on a tremendous holiday. They must get this execution in and taken care of quickly. They have arrested Christ because Judas has made the arrangements, but they are ill-prepared to carry on a trial here. Here they have arrested Christ at night—which is illegal—and now he is questioning Him about His disciples about His teaching. One of the points of Hebrew law was that the man did not have to testify against Himself. But that's what he's asking Christ about. Now Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world." Note how broad it is. He wants to make the impact here. "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews camped together; and I spoke nothing in secret." Now it is true that He had private times with His disciples. But the point here is that He was not teaching one thing in secret and another in public. Everything I taught in secret was the same thing I taught in public. So anyone can tell you what I taught, if that's what you're interested in. In other words, Jesus is well aware that Annas is grasping here for something, because now we've got Him as a prisoner. There's got to be some reason to have Him as a prisoner, some reason to tell the Romans to execute Him. Jesus is aware of Annas' prediction. "Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; behold, these know what I said." In other words, Jesus is simply telling Annas, 'Try Me according to law. You are required to have witnesses. Call the witnesses. They can tell you what I said and that will determine whether I am guilty or not.' Now you see the trial begins to come apart rather quickly. Verse 22. "When He had said this, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a blow, saying, 'Is that the way You answer the high priest?'" You see the mockery of the whole system? Here’s a man who is supposedly a religious leader whose intent here is to have the Son of God murdered, and it is all a matter of routine. And the followers of Annas have no better character than he. This representative of Annas, this official, reaches over and strikes Christ in the face. Now note. They had not dealt with the question of the fairness of the trial, but rather ’You ought not talk to the high priest that way.’ In other words, you ought not tell the judge that you deserve a fair trial. Jesus responds in verse 23, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong, but if rightly, why do you strike Me?" In other words, if I have said something wrong, speak up! If I am telling the truth, why have you hit Me? In other words, if what I have said is not according to Hebrew law, speak up. If it is according to Hebrew law, why have you struck Me? You see, the law and requirements for fair trial are being totally set aside. There is no answer given here. Annas does not pursue it.

In verse 24, "Annas therefore sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest." Annas does not decide, Well, we don't have anything. He sends Him to Caiaphas, who would be the official high priest.

Turn over to Matthew chapter 26. Just want to note briefly Christ’s trial before Caiaphas which is the second of the Jewish trials. First, He was before Annas. Now he is sent before Caiaphas, bound. Still no official charge. Now how could they arrest Him without any charge? And in Matthew 26, verse 37, "And those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together." Verse 59, "The chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, in order that they might put Him to death." Now you see here, you have the judge and the jury working together. We've got to find some false testimony that will have enough weight to have this man executed. Now we sometimes think that religious people are good, moral character. This ought to reveal something of the unregenerate man. The heart of the unbeliever is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things. All you need is the right set of circumstances, the right situation, to bring out the vileness, the sinfulness. Verse 60, "They did not find it, even though many false witnesses came forward." They didn't have any problem getting false witnesses, but they had a problem getting false witnesses whose testimony would collaborate.

Mark chapter 14 indicates there is repeated conflict in the testimony given, and Hebrew law demanded the testimony be in agreement. And that's logical. Here you have all these witnesses but nobody can agree. Obviously something's wrong. Two came forward and said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'" Mark also adds at this point in the account that even their testimony did not agree. “The high priest stood up and said to Him, ‘Do You
make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?'" Now you see the high priest is trying to draw Jesus into testifying against Himself, the frustration of it! Speak up, speak up! Well, what's there to speak up against? Nothing has been said which would hold water in court. That's the frustration of Caiaphas now. Speak up! We can't find anyone else to say anything incriminating!
Verse 63, "Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, 'I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.'" By oath Caiaphas says this to Christ. "Tell us whether You are the Messiah, the Son of God." Note here what He does. He asks Christ to testify against Himself, and that will be the basis. Now Jesus Christ could have refused and been within the bounds of Hebrew law. He could not be required to testify against Himself. But He does respond. Again you see the total control here. That it is God's time. And important to note here, the fairness of it is not an issue. Again we noted in our last study that sometimes we as believers get concerned in suffering and difficulty, in trial, that it doesn't seem fair and it doesn't seem right. But it's exciting to me to even study the arrest and trials of Jesus Christ and to recognize whether men are dealing fairly or not does not hinder the plan and program of God. Sometimes I as a believer can get so bent and so concerned because it’s just not fair. It’s just not right. Then I can sit back and say, ’But it doesn’t hinder God's plan for me at all!’ God's plan for me will be accomplished, and the fact that someone does me wrong, someone treats me unfairly is used by God to carry out His plan with me. That’s amazing! Amazing that God uses the sinfulness of mankind to accomplish His own purposes, even in the lives of His children.

So if you're going through a hard time and somebody's getting on you unfairly, when you perhaps have suffered a great injustice, be reminded that that does not frustrate the plan of God for you at all. Here the unfairness, the injustice of it all is all being used by God to carry out the greatest plan of all—the redemption of fallen humanity.

Verse 64, ’’Jesus said to him, 'You have said it yourself...'" And He doesn't stop there. "...nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." And this just blows the high priest's mind! "The high priest tore his robes saying, 'He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of proof?' There was no further proof, there was no other proof! This is the statement they want! He has declared Himself to be the Messiah. He has also declared Himself to be the Son of God. Now note here, and it's interesting that the two are joined together. The fact that He declared Himself to be the Messiah would not be a capital offense even in Israel. It would simply be a matter of time to demonstrate whether it was true or false. But in Israel He could be held guilty for blasphemy when He declares Himself as the Son of God, and you note here how it is taken. As a declaration of His Deity! The Son of God.

Two background passages for this. Turn back to Psalm 110. Jesus said to Caiaphas, 'You shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power.’ Psalm 110, a Messianic Psalm. "The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." Now you note in effect what Christ has said to Caiaphas. You are one of the enemies who is going to see Me seated at My Father's right hand. Sit at My right hand... Caiaphas, you shall see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power. "Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

Turn to Daniel chapter 7. Christ also said to Caiaphas, 'You shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.’ The background for that is Daniel chapter 7. Tremendous vision of the Ancient of Days. Verse 13, "I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming." We see the declaration there. In effect, Christ is saying, ’I am the One written about in Psalm 110. I am the One spoken of in Daniel chapter 7. That's right, I am the Messiah the Son of God. And you shall see Me seated at the right hand of the Father. You shall see Me coming in My glory as I establish Power and reign over all.

So before Caiaphas, the trial climaxes in effect because the Jews have what they want. The grounds for execution. Verse 65 of Matthew 26, "The high priest tore his robes, saying, ’He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?' They answered and said, 'He is deserving of death!"' What a mockery! These men who already decided well in advance that He must die, acting as though they were concerned about the righteousness and holiness of God that this man must die. And you note how they begin to respond. Verse 67. "Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists, and others slapped Him, and said to Him, ’Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?'" This is before the religious leaders of the nation Israel! These are the ones who supposedly leading this nation in the paths of righteousness. It ought to be a warning to us to evaluate very carefully those who claim to be spiritual leaders in light of what the truth of God says.

One other note here. Look over in Luke chapter 22. After the trial before Caiaphas there is one other Jewish trial that takes place. That is before the officially assembled body of the Sanhedrin. They have an official meeting of the Sanhedrin, the 70 governing leaders of the nation Israel. They were the ones who would have to give final statement on the guilt of Christ. Luke 22, verse 66, "And when it was day..." and that ought to tell you something about the trials that have already occurred. Contrary to Hebrew law, held at night. Hebrew law says a man was not allowed to be tried at night. Didn't affect them. This trial is just a formality. The only thing that matters is that we execute Him. "When it was day, the Council of Elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, 'If You are the Christ, tell us.'" Now note here. What they want is His official testimony before the official body so they can officially condemn Him. Now the reason they want this is so they can then proceed to the Romans and say that we the Sanhedrin, the governing body of the nation Israel, have come to this conclusion. So they desire the semblance of formality and correctness so the Romans can respond in accordance with their desire. "'If You are the Christ, tell us.' He answered them, 'If I tell you, you will not believe.'" Note. They're not interested in the truth. They are not interested in who Jesus really is. They have made up their mind not to believe. Not so different from so many people today. You look and say, How could they do this? How could they be like this? Yet many people today hear of Jesus Christ, they are presented with the truth of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Savior, the One who died for the sins of mankind. Yet they will not believe. They will not believe even though they are told. They are told that the penalty for their sin is death, that God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. But they will not believe. They have no different character than these who are trying Jesus Christ. They are unaffected by the evidence. They are unaffected by the truth because they have made up their minds not to believe. They are self-righteous, satisfied that they are okay. They do not need Jesus Christ. They do not need His salvation because they are okay as they are. No one so difficult to reach as a self-righteous person.

"If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’" Note that, the boldness of Christ here. The recognition of God’s purposes. It's interesting and amazing that Christ does not belabor the unfairness of the trial. He does not argue the legalities that are transpiring. It's a recognition that God is using all of this to accomplish His purpose. They are guilty before God but that is not frustrating God's purposes for His Son. Amazing that balance. Peter will later preach in the Book of Acts that you took this One who is the Messiah by godless hands to crucify Him. The wicked sinful desires of the human heart are used by God in the accomplishing of His purposes.

"’From now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.' And they all said, 'Are You the Son of God, then?' He said to them, 'Yes, I am.' They said, 'What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.'" That concludes the Jewish trials— 3 of them, Annas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin. All for the same purpose to the same end—find a reason to declare Him guilty. Find a reason to state that by our law, He ought to die. Now we'll note that by the time He gets to the trial before the Romans, the Jews will change the grounds for His execution. Because the Romans had no reason to execute Him because He declared Himself to be the Son of God. No desire, no interest on the part of the nation Israel to receive their Messiah. But, the purposes of the Messiah’s coming are being realized. "For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for man." The purpose of the coming of the Son of God to earth was that He might be the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Is this a great tragedy? Is this a great catastrophe? It’s tragic, it's catastrophic, but it’s a great fulfillment of the great plan of God, that by the death of His Son we might have life. That we might be privileged to come to believe in Him as the Son of God who died for us, and by believing we might have life.

If you are a believer, you ought to be encouraged and rejoice as you see God's purposes being accomplished. We see the tremendous, sovereign God controlling all the details to secure a redemption for you and me personally.
And if you have not yet come to trust in Jesus Christ, you ought to stop and take note. What is the Son of God doing here being abused and mistreated by human beings? He is here because of sin. He is here because you are under condemnation, and if He doesn't die for your sins, you must die for them. And in love He died that you might believe and have life. Let’s pray together.

Father, we thank You for the privilege of having a glimpse into Your working even this morning, to see Your hand in control of all the events, that those matters planned by You in eternity past, prophesied by the prophets centuries before now being brought to fruition as Your Son is put on trial. Lord, how we rejoice as we see Your hand in control, that even the wicked, sinful activity of fallen humanity is used by You to accomplish the greatest of all purposes, the security of redemption for Your own glory. How we as Your children can take courage and comfort, and rejoice as we recognize even in our own trials, even in so many situations where we seem to be treated unfairly where we don't get what we rightfully deserve, yet we realize that nothing but nothing can frustrate Your plan for us as Your children.

Lord, I pray for those who may be here today who are not Your children.
Father, perhaps they fail to see their great need, even as the Sadducees failed to see theirs. Lord, help them to see themselves as sinners in Your sight, those, Father, for whom Your Son was here on trial, suffering to die in their place, bearing their sin in His body on the cross, that they might believe and have life. We’ll praise You for what You do in our lives, for we ask it in Christ's name