Page 529 - Bible History

Jesus fore the San­ hedrin
502 RIST REDEEMS THE WORLD
Jesus answered, ''I am. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of heaven.''
Pretending to be deeply shocked at these words of our blessed Savior, Caiphas rent his garments and said, "He hath blasphemed. What further need have we of witnesses 1 You have heard the blasphemy; what do you think7'' They cried out in one voice, ''He is guilty of death.-''
Although the Sanhedrin might declare that a man had been guilty of some crime for which he should be put to death, they had no power of ordering his execu­ tion. That right belonged to the Roman governor, who at that time was Pontius Pilate. They· knew Pilate's reputation. He was very careful to see that the law was carried out as perfectly as possible. He would not condemn a man to death unless he were convinced that he had had a just trial.
By holding a session of the Sanhedrin at night and condemning Jesus to death befote the morning sacri­ ce, the chief priests had broken the law. Knowing that Pilate would nd this out and therefore refuse to condemn Jesus to death, a meeting of the Sanhedrin was called again early the next morning.
All night long, Jesus had been at the mercy of the soldiers and the servants of the high priest. They had heaped insult after insult upon Him, and treated Him like the lowest criminal. They mocked Him, struck Him, and spat upon Him. They blindfolded Him and struck Him in the face with the palms of