Daily Devotions
John
John 18:12-27 (Matthew 26:57-68) "THE TRIAL BEFORE CAIAPHAS AND THE SANHEDRIN COUNCIL"
Day 283 – John 18
THE TRIAL BEFORE CAIAPHAS AND THE SANHEDRIN COUNCIL
While John only briefly noted that Jesus was brought to Caiaphas, he gave no details. It would be good for us to turn to the Synoptic Gospels to read about how Jesus fared at that trial.
Matthew noted that the trial before Caiaphas was unlike that of Annas. There, Jesus and Annas met face to face. Annas did not have the Sanhedrin Council with him, Caiaphas did.
“And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him
away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the
scribes and the elders were assembled …Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council
sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him
to death, but found none. Even though many false
witnesses came forward, they found none. But at
last two false witnesses came forward and said,
‘This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the Temple
of God and to build it in three days.”‘”
Matthew 26:57, 59-61
This trial of Jesus was a mockery of the religious-judicial system supposedly represented by the Sanhedrin Council. The highest body of the Jewish nation, the Sanhedrin Council was established to help maintain the high moral justice associated with their religion.
Instead, we read of how the Council members had already decided that Jesus was guilty and must be put to death. They began with the sentence. After that they looked for evidence to convict Him.
They had hoped that witnesses, even false ones, could be found to speak against Jesus. However, their testimonies were so poor that they knew they would be ridiculed by the public if they relied on the false witnesses and their testimonies!
A DESPERATE ATTEMPT
Caiaphas arose and took over the interrogation of Jesus. Matthew carefully recorded how Caiaphas went about trying to trap Jesus.
“And the high priest arose and said to Him,
‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men
testify against You?’ But Jesus kept silent.
And the high priest answered and said to Him,
‘I put You under oath by the living God:
Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!'”
Matthew 26:62-63
The wily high priest understood why Jesus kept silent. There really was no need to answer the witnesses. They contradicted themselves. They were unreliable witnesses.
Caiaphas decided that there was just one way to make Jesus talk. He would proclaim the Name of God. He would also ask Him if He thought He was the Christ, the Messiah and the Son of God!
THE REPLY OF JESUS
His Father’s Name had been invoked! His role as the Messiah was now in question! Of course Jesus would reply, even though He knew that His reply would result in His being sentenced to death.
“Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said.
Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see
The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the
Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.'”
Matthew 26:64
Jesus could not but state the Truth. He was the Son of Man. He would be sitting at the Right Hand of God, the right hand of God’s power! He would one day return in all His glory on the clouds of heaven.
AS EXPECTED – RELIGIOUS THEATRICS
When Caiaphas heard these words, he must have felt that he now held the trump card against Jesus.
“Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying,
‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need
do we have of witnesses? Look, now you
have heard His blasphemy!
What do you think?'”
Matthew 26:65-66
The crafty high priest played to the galleries. He incited the Council to condemn Jesus in self-righteous anger and indignation. Almost as if they were on cue the Council members replied,
“They answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death.'”
Matthew 26:66b
Jesus had not been called to give an explanation of what He had declared. The Sanhedrin Council went wild after they decided that Jesus was worthy of death.
Uncalled-for abuse rained on Jesus. The erstwhile august Sanhedrin Council became an ugly mob! Matthew noted this poignantly,
“Then they spat in His face and beat Him;
and others struck Him with the palms of their
hands, saying ‘Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is
the one who struck You.'”
Matthew 26:67-68