Page 95 - Life of Christ w videos

These Jewish trials were illegal on several accounts. Trials were NEVER to occur in private homes, but in
a public place where witnesses could be found. Also, there was a rule that witnesses could NEVER be
called at night. The indictment against Jesus was illegal also because the judges themselves brought up
the charge without any prior testimony by witnesses. The Jewish court was not allowed by law to
originate charges. The court illegally proceeded to hold its trial of Jesus before sunrise so that no one
would be available to testify on His behalf. Even though Jewish law did not permit the trial of a capital
offense to begin on the day before an annual festival day, Jesus was arrested and tried the day before
the High Sabbath, that also happened to be the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Jn.18:28;
19:31). Finally, Jesus was condemned by the Sanhedrin for the crime of blasphemy, stating that He was
the Messiah and Chosen One of God. However, the Court illegally switched the charges from blasphemy
to treason against Rome when the case went before Pilate. No evidence was ever presented and after a
brief interview, Pilate determined that Jesus was not guilty of treason.

The religious leaders knew that the trial held in the middle of the night was illegal and that it likely
would not pass muster with the Roman procurator. So, they brought Jesus back to obtain a confession
out of Him and then take Him to Pilate. Jesus was standing nearby when Peter concluded his final denial
and looked up to see Jesus gazing at him. Peter went out of the courtyard and wept bitterly (Luke
22:61-62). After confessing to be the Messiah and the Son of God – God in the flesh, Jesus was taken to
Pilate.

Jesus Tried by Pilate and Herod Antipas (Luke 23:1-5, Mark 15:1-5, Matthew 27:1-2, Matthew
27:11-14 and John 18:28-38; Matthew 27:3-10; Luke 23:6-12; Matthew 27:15-26, Mark 15:6-
15, Luke 23:13-25 and John 18:39-40; John 19:16, Mark 15:16-20, and Matthew 27:27-31)

In order to avoid defiling themselves by entering a Gentile domicile, the Jewish rulers who were about
to commit the greatest crime in the history of mankind, had induced Pilate to set up his court on the
pavement outside of Antonia Fort. Pilate was indifferent to the Jews and all their petty issues, but this
Nazarene had raised so much objection over the last few years that he consented to hear the case. The
Sanhedrin attempted to get Pilate to condemn Jesus simply because they demanded it, but Pilate would
have none of that. So, Pilate took Jesus alone into
his palace for a private interview. It is here that
Pilate for the first of FIVE times declared Jesus
innocent of any capital crime. Hearing that Jesus
was from Galilee and that the governor of Galilee
was in town, Pilate sent Jesus across town to
Herod’s palace.

Meanwhile, Judas, who loved money more than
Jesus, found himself enslaved to the sin of lust and
betrayal. He could not deny that Jesus was the
Messiah and God in flesh, for he had witnessed all
the healings, the raising of the dead, the calming of
the storms, and all the amazing teachings of the
Son of God. And now, because of his betrayal,
Jesus was being condemned to crucifixion. Guilt
welled up within his soul to the point where he

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