Jesus on Trial

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 22:66.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Jesus on Trial.”

 

We are still in Passion Week. However, we have certainly moved from Thursday to Friday.

 

Verse 22:66 says as soon as it was day. In other words, the sun was up so this was about 6 AM. Jesus’ betrayal and arrest happened just after midnight.

 

Luke records three formal trials. However, you could say there were five.

 

The first us informal and even illegal but happened after His arrest and before Annas and Caiphas. This one happened under the cover of darkness in the earliest hours of Friday morning, and that is what made it illegal.

 

Even the first trial that we will see today was illegal. It was illegal to hold a trial on holy days. Friday was the Passover.

 

The last trial that we will see this morning is the one before the people. In between, we will see the trials before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and Herod.

 

 

1. Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin was about Jewish Religious Law, Luke 22:66-71.

66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” 70 Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.” 71 And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”

 

Again, verse sixty-six says it daybreak on Friday morning. Luke lists three groups that composed the Sanhedrin: the elders, the chief priests, and scribes.

 

The Sanhedrin was group of seventy men. They were the highest authority on Jewish Religious Life.

 

They tried to get Jesus to self-incriminate. He knew their plan and did not acquiesce. They would not have believed what He said anyway.

 

In verse sixty-nine, Jesus referenced Daniel 7 and Psalm 110. Daniel 7 speaks of the Messiah being called the Son of Man. Psalm 110 speaks to God’s Son reigning with Him.

 

In verse seventy, Jesus tacitly confessed to being God’s Son. For the Sanhedrin, this was blasphemy, and all they needed to hear.

 

They wanted Jesus dead. However, there was a problem. They did not have authority to carry out the death penalty living under Roman control.

 

 

2. Jesus’ trial before Pilate was about Roman Law, Luke 23:1-5.

1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” 5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”

 

The Sanhedrin could not do what they wanted. Therefore, they needed to find someone that could.

 

Look no further than Pontius Pilate. He was a Roman Governor under Caesar.

 

However, Pilate would not care about blasphemy. They need some more trumped-up charges.

 

Therefore, they brought three. First, they charged Jesus with perverting up the nation or stirring up Israel. This was not true, and Pilate did not care.

 

Second, they charged Him with not paying taxes and leading others to do the same. Again, this was not true, and Pilate did not care.

 

The third charge got his attention a little. Jesus was charged with being a revolutionary and challenging Caesar.

 

Pilate asked Jesus if He was king. Jesus did not mean the same thing as Pilate, but He answered in the affirmative.

 

Pilate was not threatened by Jesus and did not Caesar would be either. Therefore, he found no fault with Him, especially worthy of death.

 

However, the Sanhedrin would not settle for it. Their complaints and charges grew louder.

 

Not wanting to listen to them anymore, Pilate decided to pass the buck. Herod was in town for the Passover, and Jesus lived in Herod’s jurisdiction, so Pilate sent Him to Herod.

 

 

 

3. Jesus’ trial before Herod was about Jewish Secular Law, Luke 23:7-12.

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

 

Herod knew of Jesus and was excited about seeing Him. However, his excitement was like being excited about the carnival coming to town.

 

Herod questioned Jesus. However, Jesus did not answer a word. Some commentators say this could have been because of the way he treated John the Baptist.

 

Consequently, verse eleven says Herod and his troops beat Him and mocked Him. Then, they sent Him back to Pilate.

 

Normally, Herod and Pilate did not care for one another. However, on this occasion, they were both unimpressed with Jesus.

 

 

Conclusion

Finally, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. This would be the court of the people. Notice that phrase at the end of verse thirteen.

 

Even though Pilate attempted to pass the buck, he found himself having to decide regarding Jesus. However, he and Herod both did not believe that Jesus had done anything that warranted the death penalty.

 

Pilate wanted to have Him beaten and send Him on His way. However, the people would not have it.

 

They wanted Jesus dead and would not stop until He was. Instead of releasing Jesus, they suggested releasing Barrabas.

 

One last time, Pilate did not feel the same as the people. He knew capital punishment was serious, and he did not think that punishment fit whatever crime Jesus had committed.

 

However, the people would not have it. Verse 23 says they were insistent and demanding with loud voices.

 

Do you know what? They won.

 

They complained and screamed loud enough. Pilate gave in.

 

 

Applications

So here are two applications for today.

 

First, we hear this story, and we want someone to blame. The Sanhedrin are guilty. Pilate is guilty. Herod is guilty. The Jews are guilty.

 

Do you know who else is guilty? Look in the mirror.

 

But I was not there. Have you ever sinned even once?

 

No one is innocent. All are guilty.

 

Second, it is amazing to me that Pilate declared Jesus innocent on three separate occasions. See verses 4, 14, and 22.

 

However, the most damning verse in this text is verse twenty-three. Pilate believed differently, but he gave in to the people. He failed to do what was right.

 

When I was a little boy, I loved to window shop at Six Flags Mall with my dad. I’ll never forget one particular Saturday when I saw a woman being chased from a store.

 

“All that it is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” The source of this statement is debated, but its truth is profound.

 

Pilate was a good man in the sense that he knew Jesus did not deserve death. That would not have been fair or just. However, he let evil triumph when he did nothing.

 

Whether you are talking about work or school or your community or even your church, stand up for what is right. Do not let the vocal minority have their way.

 

Pilate could have intervened, but he did not. Do not let evil triumph on your watch.