Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 22:66-71; Matthew 27:1-2 "JESUS BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN COUNCIL"
Day 309 – Luke 22
Text: Luke 22:66-71; Matthew 27:1-2
JESUS BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN COUNCIL
Jesus was first brought to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest. After that interview, Jesus was brought to the home of the high priest where he was interrogated and physically abused.
These two incidents took place in the night. Jesus had gone without any rest for quite a while now. How tired He must have been. We can guess at how He must have fought off tiredness, as we remember how His Disciples fell asleep when He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Two interrogations in one night! Add physical abuse to the humiliation suffered. And all this while Jesus stood before His interrogators bound!
Luke described the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin Council.
“As soon as it was day, the elders of the people,
both chief priests and scribes, came together
and led Him into the council, saying,
‘If You are the Christ, tell us.’ “
Luke 22:66-67
The proceedings began with a solemn question. The Council wanted Jesus to make a full statement concerning His understanding of His identity. Did He believe that He was indeed the Christ?
UNBOWED AND UNDAUNTED BEFORE THE GREAT COUNCIL
Jesus knew the outcome of this trial. Instead of choosing silence, Jesus addressed the Sanhedrin council. If He remained silent, He knew that the high priest could once again try and force Him to reply by invoking the Name of God. In any case, Jesus stood unbowed and absolutely not intimidated by the Assembly of the highest Jewish court in the land.
“If I tell you, you will by no means believe.
And if I also ask you,
You will by no means answer Me
Or let Me go.”
Luke 22:67-68
The reply of Jesus revealed that He knew how the Sanhedrin Council functioned. Let’s consider some of the things that Jesus was alluding to in His statement.
1. If Jesus were to make a reply, or give a statement, the Sanhedrin Council was actually obliged to debate what He said. If He was right, then they were compelled to believe and accept His statement.
2. Jesus knew that He had the right to raise questions, and demand answers from the Sanhedrin Council. That was the inalienable right of every Jew. However, Jesus also knew that the Council would not entertain His questions.
3. The Sanhedrin Council was supposed to vote before a verdict could be given. However, He knew that the Council would not vote except to condemn Him. He knew that they would not let Him go now that they managed to arrest Him and try Him before the Great Council.
Nevertheless, Jesus would make one final statement before the Sanhedrin Council. Whether they would listen and accept His statement was not the point anymore. He knew what kind of reception He would obtain from the Great Council.
“Hereafter the Son of Man will sit
on the right hand of the power of God.”
Luke 22:69
Jesus must have purposely shaped His answer in such a way that the Sanhedrin Council had to think carefully what His statement meant. How could this statement be understood?
GOING FOR THE JUGULAR
The Sanhedrin Council must have been prepared themselves for this trial. They were going for the jugular. They were going for the kill. They were not going to try and debate Jesus. They had tried that route and they had failed all the time.
They were not interested in what Jesus actually offered as a statement. They were not going to debate His use of the eschatological Son of Man. They were not interested in His quoting of a Messianic reference in a Davidic Psalm.
Once again they asked Him a pointed question. They wanted Jesus to “incriminate Himself” by making a statement that could be interpreted as blasphemous.
Thus they asked,
“Are you then the Son of God?”
Luke 22:70
However Jesus replied, the minds of the Sanhedrin had already been made up. This was not really a trial. This was a specially convened court to convict and sentence Jesus. They were not interested in right or wrong. They were not interested in theological debate. All they wanted Jesus to do was to say it out loud that He believed Himself to be the Son of God, and they would close the trial proceedings.
Jesus calmly replied,
“You rightly say that I am.”
Luke 22:70
The reply of Jesus was truly classic! His reply may be translated, “You said it.” The Council should have at least asked for further clarification! They did not!
They concluded the trial there and then with these words.
“What further testimony do we need?
For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”
Luke 22:71
What a trial! What mockery the Great Council made of their judicial system!