Page 129 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

Study Section 15: The illegal Trials of Jesus

15.1 Connect.

Do you remember when you were kids and your folks gave you a gift, but your brother or
sister got a bigger or nicer gift? We would complain, “That’s not fair!” We said this out of
selfish desires to have the nicer or bigger gift for ourselves.

Jesus was tempted just like we are, yet He never sinned. Imagine how tempting it would be,
when being falsely accused, to at least speak up and justify yourself. Jesus endured four trials in the
night before He was crucified. Two of them were before the religious leaders and both of these trials
were totally illegal --- against the laws of the Jews. He also endured two trials before the Romans and
was found innocent of any crimes … yet He was crucified. The whole ordeal was totally UNFAIR! But
Jesus did not care about fairness. He came to lay His life down voluntarily for our sins. So, He went to
the slaughter as a lamb who said nothing. Let’s walk in His shoes today….

15.2 Objectives:

1. The student should be able to explain how the harmonization of the Gospels reveals six
denials of Peter.

2. The student should be able to identify why the Jewish trials of Jesus were totally illegal.

3. The student should be able to explain why Pilate was willing to crucify Jesus even when He found Him
innocent of all crimes.

15.3 The Illegal Trial before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:54, Matthew 26:57, Mark 14:53
and John 18:12, John 18:15-18 and Luke 22:54; John 18:13-14, John 18:19-24, Matthew 26:59-
66 and Mark 14:55-64, Matthew 26:67-68, Mark 14:65 and Luke 22:63-65; Matthew 26:69-
75, Mark 14:66-72, John 18:25-27 and Luke 22:55-60; Luke 22:61-62 and Luke 22:66-71)

The religious leaders had made elaborate plans to arrest and convict and even execute Jesus
BEFORE the city awoke. They performed their dastardly deeds while it was yet dark lest the
people rise and revolt in His defense. Immediately after being arrested late at night, Jesus was
taken to the home of Caiaphas on the Western Hill of Jerusalem, near the “upper room”.
From there, various illegal trials occurred. (Trace the journey from Gethsemane to the High
Priest’s House on the map on the next page).

John followed the fake trial processions from the Western Hill across the city to Fort Antonia near the
Temple, across the city again to Herod’s palace, then back to Fort Antonia. (Take a few minutes to trace
this journey on the map on the next page). Peter, professing his allegiance to the Lord twice when told
he would deny Christ, followed at a distance. Peter was unable to gain entrance into a courtyard until
John spoke a word on his behalf. By this means, Peter was in the admitted to the courtyard in the cool
of the night.

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