Mock Trial


Matthew 26:57-68
57Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.
58And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.
59Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death,
60but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward
61and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”
62And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”
63But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.
66What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.”
67Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,
68saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

After months of plotting and setting up traps the Pharisees finally have what they want; Jesus is bound and standing before them ready for trial. But they aren’t ready. If you will recall they had not wanted to deal with Jesus during the Passover Feast. But circumstances work against them and the plot unfolds. Their problem is that they haven’t had time to come up with a sufficient charge. Of course their goal is the death of Jesus but they don’t have anything that warrants that punishment with which to charge Him. They begin to look for witnesses.

In the legal system that they Jews lived under it took two corroborating witnesses to make any charge against a defendant stick. But the system also protected the accused because if you were caught lying about another person in court you paid with your own life.  You can see how you might be careful about lying to the judge.

Deuteronomy 19:16-21
16If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing,
17then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days.
18The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely,
19then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
20And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you.
21Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Finally, two men are found who will testify to the same thing. They heard Jesus say He would destroy the Temple. The Apostle John tells us what Jesus actually said in John 2:19. “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’” He never said He would destroy the temple, He said that they would do it. And of course He is referring not to the actual Temple but to His body, which they do torture and kill. All of these details of the trial only strengthen the fact that Jesus was in full control of the events taking place. His goal of gaining our salvation was still firmly in sight and this trail is only just a part of the path He must walk. Of course He speaks the truth, telling them that the next time they see Him it will be as He is seated on the right hand of the Father in glory. This only fuels their rage.

Our salvation was never in jeopardy. Jesus puts up with this charade for our sake, just as He will face the remaining trials and tortures that are to come for Him on this night of Passion. We are given these details so that we can see how He fulfills all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning His redeeming work. This trial was just a stop along the way.

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