Sunday, April 2, 2017 - The Trials of Jesus!
Pastor Roger C. Marcos
April 2, 2017
How Can I Grow In Christ?” Have you ever asked yourself this question?
Whether you have been a Christian for many years or just recently received the Lord Jesus, it’s very important to know how to grow in Christ. Unfortunately, improving behavior, increasing Bible knowledge, or developing spiritual gifts may become distractions from real growth in Christ. The real growth in Christ is the Increase of God’s Life In You. The first way to grow in Christ is to love Him.
What Happened Before Jesus’ Trial? He went to the Garden of Gethsemane, to make a concrete transaction to the Father thru prayer. His LAST MAJOR EVENT in the garden was begging the Father for two request” MINOR PRAYER, Take this cup of suffering from me, and the MAJOR ONE: Thy Will Be Done.
Upon giving all He can in prayer the Father provide the courage He needed the most. In His presence, in Gethsemane, expressed His AGONY....the Bible says He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.
“Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’
Before Jesus' trial - The Betrayal
“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him.
Jesus replied, ‘Friend, do what you came for.’ “Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
Jesus before Annas. Jn. 18:13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
Jesus was led first to Annas for a preliminary examination. The Question Of Legality
The trial before Annas was entirely ILLEGAL. It was held at night, contrary to Jewish law; no indictment (a formal written statement charging a person with an offense) was prepared; no witnesses were heard; no counsel or defense attorney was provided for the Defendant--all these things were required by Jewish law. The only thing which was provided for the Defendant was a brutal slap in the face! It was a mockery and travesty of justice. Travesty: something that fails to represent the values and qualities that it is intended to.
In other words, everything they did was wrong, unfair, unjust, perverted and contrary to proper legal procedure. They seemingly broke every law in the book! They sought by any means possible (even illegal means) to condemn Jesus, but they are the ones who should have been condemned for their travesty of justice. They accused a Man of crimes He had never done and they wickedly condemned the
1. JEWISH HIGH PRIEST- Jesus went through trials before His execution. The Jewish High Priest and the Jewish High Court (the Sanhedrin) effectively asked Jesus two questions:
Annas Ask Jesus Two Things In John 18:19?
1. His Disciples. 2. His Doctrine. (teaching) John 18:19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
In His response is in verse John 18:20-21 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
Do you think the officer was able to answer the Lord’s question in John 18:23? 23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?
24 Then Annas sent him still bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
So very CLEAR what Jesus saying: "I decline to be a witness against myself, and I demand that you produce honest witnesses as the law requires." Following this fair request, Jesus received unfair treatment from the hand of a wretched officer.
JEWISH HIGH COURT (Sanhedrin) effectively asked Jesus two Questions:
Are you the Messiah? And Matthew 26:63-66
Are you the Son of God?
In the Book of Matthew 26:63-67 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered. His Great Crime
As soon as Jesus had made His great claim, the High Priest gave the verdict (Matthew 26:65):
HE IS GUILTY OF BLASPHEMY
The Council then pronounced the sentence (Matthew 26:66): HE IS WORTHY OF DEATH,
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
To both of these, Jesus answered, "I AM." This was enough to condemn Jesus for blaspheming God by claiming to be God.
HOLY ONE and the JUST One Acts 3:14! 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.
Mark 14:55 tells us that all the Chief priest was gathered together for this nighttime occasion. This is a reference to the Jewish Sanhedrin, the ruling council.
Verse 55 NOW THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ALL THE COUNCIL SOUGHT TESTIMONY AGAINST JESUS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH BUT FOUND NONE. NKJV.
The Sanhedrin (under the leadership of Caiaphas and under the influence of Annas) found some FALSE TESTIMONY Matthew 26:59. NOW THE CHIEF PRIESTS, THE ELDERS, AND ALL THE COUNCIL SOUGHT FALSE TESTIMONY AGAINST JESUS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH.
Why did the testimony of these witnesses prove to be a great embarrassment to the Jewish leaders Mark 14:56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
Finally two witnesses came forth with an accusation based on something Jesus had once said Matthew 26:61. And said this fellow said, I AM ABLE TO DESTROY the temple of God and to build it in three days.
Compare John 2:19-21 and explain how the Jews (and these witnesses) misinterpreted what Jesus said. Did the testimony of these two witnesses carry much weight Mark 14:59
Luke 23:1-6 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.” 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.
At first Pilate hoped to turn Jesus over to the Jews and to let them deal with Him according to their law John 18:31 ” King James Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
. Such a King was no threat to Pilate, and thus he announced his verdict of’ "NOT GUILTY" (John 18:38). 38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.
Conclusion:
Luke 23:13-15
13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.
Next Sunday- message will find out WHY THEY STILL CRICIFIED Him. Herod, and Pilate, announced the verdict JESUS WAS INNOCENT.