THE TRIALS OF THE KING
JOHN 18:28-38
Introduction:
Jesus was tried 6 times during a period of 24 hours. Let us look at these different trials and the events that took place around them.
I. JESUS WAS TRIED 3 TIMES BEFORE RELIGIOUS GROUPS
A. Before Annas, John 18:12-14.
1. Annas had been appointed high priest by Quirinius, governor of Syria, in A.D. 6 and remained until he was deposed by Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judea, in A.D. 15.
2. Annas was succeeded by five of his sons and by his son-in-law Caiaphas, Acts 4:6, “And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.”
3. At the trial of Jesus we find Annas conducting a preliminary investigation before the official trial by Caiaphas, John 18:13–24.
4. When Luke says that the high priest was Annas and Caiaphas, the singular is probably deliberate, indicating that, though Caiaphas was the high priest officially appointed by Rome, his father-in-law shared his high-priestly power, Luke 3:2, “Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.”
B. Before Caiaphas, Matthew 26:57-69.
1. The delay of the trial before Annas apparently gave Caiaphas time to assemble the “Sanhedrin” quickly, Matthew 26:59, “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;”
2. The purpose of Jesus’ trials was to find some legal basis on which to condemn Him to death.
a. Judas’ testimony was crucial to the religious leaders’ case, but he was nowhere to be found.
b. Other witnesses were sought against Jesus, a highly unusual court procedure, attempting to find anything that would make Him worthy of death, Matthew 26:60, “But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,”
c. Finally two witnesses agreed that Jesus had once said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days, John 2:19, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
C. Before the Sanhedrin, Matthew 27:1-2, “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.”
1. Jesus’ first Jewish trials occurred under the cover of darkness.
2. Since Jewish law required trials to be conducted during the day, the chief priests and the elders of the people realized an official trial was necessary.
II. JESUS WAS TRIED 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE CIVIL AUTHROITIES
A. Before Pilate, John 18:28-38.
1. His character.
a. Even pagan historians mention Pilate only in connection with his authorization of the death of Jesus: his only appearance on the stage of history is as procurator of Judaea.
b. Philo describes him as ‘by nature rigid and stubbornly harsh’ and ‘of spiteful disposition and an exceeding wrathful man’.
c. Pilate was hated by the Jews for his harshness and the fact that he was a Gentile ruling over them.
2. His power.
a. Since the Jewish council did not have the legal right to put Jesus to death, the case had to be brought before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
b. At this time Pilate refused to be their executioner.
1) He knew what was going on. He had seen the Triumphal Entry a few days earlier.
2) He knew that envy was the cause of their accusation against Jesus, Matthew 27:18, “For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”
B. Before Herod, Luke 23:6-12.
1. Jesus’ fame had reached Herod, v. 8, “And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him:”
2. Jesus refused to respond, v. 9, “Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.”
3. Herod and his men mistreat Jesus and return Him to Pilate, v. 11, “And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”
C. Before Pilate, John 18:39-19:6.
1. Pilate finds no fault in Jesus, v. 38, “Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”
2. The Jews are offered a choice, v. 39.
3. The Jews reject Jesus, v. 40.
4. Pilate scourges Jesus and dresses Him as a king, John 19:1-5.
5. The response by the Jews: Crucify Him! and Pilate acquiesces, John 19:6-18.