For two thousand years, volumes have been written about the Cross, scores of songs composed to tell of its glory, and thousands of artists have depicted its wonder through color on canvas. We may study the Cross, analyze it, preach it, teach it, sing it, wear it, and display it in our home, and yet never allow it to get beyond a superficial sympathy for the cross. How can we transform our understanding of Christ’s death into a compulsion that drives us daily to Jesus’ side?

The answer lies in forging our personal path to the foot of the Cross. We do so by approaching Christ’s final moments through the grid of our own life experiences. We need to see ourselves in the story. We are in the crowd.  We’re standing close enough to Jesus that we could reach out and touch him as he’s being questioned. What does Jesus see?  We have a view of the crowd beside Pilate. We’re hiding with the disciples. Listen to the heartbeat and try to understand the motives and emotions that are driving the moment.

We begin our story at John 18:12, seven hours[1] of Jesus’ trial experience begins. During this time, Jesus endures 6 trials. I want to do my best to allow you to step into the scene and capture something fresh and new at each one.

As I was studying and reading I learned how corrupt the entire trial of Jesus was. The trial of Jesus was a travesty of justice, according to both Jewish and Roman law. The Jewish people had prided themselves on their sense of fairness, equity, and justice--and rightly so. They have laid a foundation of justice that has benefited the world that we live in today. The system of justice practiced in our courts traces some of its origins to the Judaic justice system.

I want you to see that Jesus had a role in choreographing his own arrest and trial. God is sovereign. It was for this very purpose that God sent his Son into the world. They did not arrest Jesus; he arrested them (us). They did not bring Jesus to trial; it was Jesus that was holding court and it was our sins that were being judged, the sentence given and the penalty paid.

Trial One: Annas

(John 18:12-13, 19-23)

Here’s where we find Jesus’ first trial.

 “Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up. They brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)”[2]^{, [3]}

The time is somewhere around 1:30am. It’s going to take 10 minutes for this powerhouse of a procession to lead Jesus to for his trial. Remember, there are about 600 armed soldiers that make up a detachment. Even though Jesus is willing going, the soldiers are abusing their present authority by treating Jesus as a hardened criminal.

The mob proudly escorts Jesus through the deserted streets of Jerusalem. The religious leaders were in a hurry—they wanted to complete the execution before the Sabbath and get on with the Passover celebration. The first destination is the High Priest (Caiaphas). This residence was a palace whose outer walls enclosed a courtyard, where servants and soldiers could warm themselves around a fire. Next door to Caiaphas is the palace where Annas lives. I can imagine someone in this entourage asks the question, “Say, do you think it would a good idea to pass this by Annas?”  A few men acknowledge, “You’re right. Remember what happened last time?”

They bring Jesus to the courtyard and Annas[4] appears on the balcony. If we were able to see the expression on Annas’ face, it would have told a story of egotistical delight. He looks down at Jesus. He has waited eagerly for this day.  He speaks with a tone of arrogance to those standing beside him. “Finally this trouble maker will be silenced. This is the man that ran the shopkeepers out of the temple courts; it cost me days of profit.  Now it’s my day.”

Annas breaks the silence by asking Jesus as to what he taught. “Jesus replied, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple courts, where all the Jewish people assemble together. I have said nothing in secret.”[5]  And with this, the trial should have been thrown out.

According to Jewish law:

1. It was against the law to make a formal arrest at night. Secrecy was not tolerated in Jewish law.
2. You could not arrest someone without formal charges. No charges were given.
3. The trial could not take place before dawn. This was to ensure that the accused received a fair trial. At night it would be difficult for him to gather a defense.
4. Bribery was considered a serious crime. Judas was bribed by the plaintiffs to secure Jesus arrest. 

In Jewish law, the defendant could not incriminate himself. Annas was opening with an illegal question. “While this was happening, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching”[6] Jesus, the only law abider in this trial rightly identifies a point of order and answers, “No, you tell me what I believe.” Embarrassed, Annas sends him on to Caiaphas. There’s not a reason why the trial should have continued. Any trial with any other person would have been thrown out. It should have ended right there. However the religious leaders were not looking for justice, they wanted to murder Jesus. Jesus had purposed to go forward to the cross. They then lead Jesus’ next door to Caiaphas’ palace. He’s the current High Priest.

The time is 2:00. This trial will only last a few minutes and at most till 3:00am

Trial Two: Caiaphas

“Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.”[7]

Peter is in the courtyard in front Caiaphas’ palace. Yes he denies that he knows Jesus, however, I would really like to cut him some slack.  Remember, he did cut off Malchus’ ear and he is following Jesus. You have to give him points for that.

Try to imagine Peter’s experience this way.  By some fluke of nature the Vancouver Canucks land up in the Stanley Cup final. It’s the seventh game against the Colorado Rockies, it’s their home game and you have tickets. The only hockey jersey you has Bertuzzi’s name on it. You wear a jacket over it and enter the stadium only to discover that you are the only Canuck fan in the building and you’re sitting beside Steve Moore’s mother. Will you take your jacket off?

While Peter denies knowing Jesus, he is being led across the balcony. As he does so the eyes of Peter and Jesus meet. Instead of disappointment and surprise, Peter sees love and forgiveness in the eyes of Jesus. Right after the resurrection, Jesus sought out Peter.

Jesus is interrogated and beaten by Caiaphas and his thugs, placed in a holding cell till dawn. 3:00 – 5:00am - Imprisonment at Caiaphas’ palace.

Trial Three: All Jewish Leaders[8]

 “The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find anything.”[9]

By 5:00am all the religious leaders have met and we read that they began to look for evidence for which to put Jesus to death. Do you see that? They’ve arrested Jesus; this is his third trial and their still looking for something to charge him with.

They bring in witnesses to testify against Jesus. Jesus remains silent and one by one the witnesses begin contradicting themselves.

They continue to break their own laws:

1. It was illegal to have a secret trial. Needed to be well publicized to provide the accused the best defense possible.
2. The trial could not commence unless the accused had defense council.
3. To present false testimony in crime, the penalty was to receive the same penalty as they sought for the accused. It was a serious crime. In addition, they bribed people to come forward with false testimony.

Through it all Jesus remains silent. Finally Caiaphas breaks stride perhaps out of major frustration turns to Jesus and asked, “Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus replied, “I Am”.

Finally, they made ONE accusation that was true! With that the theatrics broke out. You can see Oscar written all over it. Caiaphas tears his clothes to reflect his great grief. But, be clear on this, Caiaphas is not concerned about God’s name only a good show. It’s probably rehearsed. They quickly pronounce the death sentence; blind fold and torture him. And with this, Caiaphas announced the successful completion of the trial.

At 6:00am they are ready to bring him to Pilate so that the death sentence could be carried out.

Trial Four: Pilate

 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor’s residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal.  So Pilate came outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”[10]

Do you get this? They have just concluded their part of the most unjust trial of all history. They take the creator of this universe, the Christ, the Son of the Living God to seek out his murder. These are corrupt vile men. And now they avoid entering a Gentile courtyard because it will defile them and prohibit them from eating the Passover meal. This is religious legalism at its best.

It’s 6:00am and Pilate, the Roman Governor is getting ready for breakfast and he is disturbed with the request that Caiaphas wants him to come to gate. Get this about Pilate; at this time he’s living with major job insecurity. He was not in the good graces with Rome. When he assumed this role he entered Jerusalem with much pomp and ceremony, parading banners bearing the emblem of Tiberius, and so doing highly insulted the Jews. At one point he needed money for a new aqueduct for himself and so he had his soldiers raid the temple treasury and got the money he needed. He hated he Jews. As a result of many of these antics, Rome was reconsidering his role with them.

There are so many things that Jesus could have said. “I am King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. For my own pleasure I created all things.” But Jesus says nothing and Pilate finds no guilt in him. But the roars of the crowd make him feel like he is losing control. A riot may result which will put him in further conflict with Rome. He thinks he comes up with a perfect plan.

Trial Five: Herod

Herod had jurisdiction over Galilee.  “When he learned that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who also happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign. So Herod questioned him at considerable length; Jesus gave him no answer.”[11]

At 7:00am Jesus is brought before Herod. Jesus remains completely silent. And when Herod realizes that Jesus will not perform for him, he sends him back to Pilate.

Trial Six: Pilate

This event begins at approximately 7:30am and Jesus is crucified at noon.

Pilate said, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I have the authority to release you, and to crucify you?” Jesus replied, “You would have no over me at all, unless it was given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

From this point on, Pilate tried to release him. But the Jewish leaders shouted out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar! Everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar!”  When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in the place called “The Stone Pavement” (Gabbatha in Aramaic). (Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, about noon.) Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, here is your king!”

Then they shouted out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your king?” The high priests replied, “We have no king except Caesar!” Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. [12]

Injustice continues till the end.

1. The court illegally switched the charges from blasphemy to treason when the case went before Pilate. Jesus' opponents wanted him killed but they did not want to do it themselves. Therefore, they charged him with treason[13] - a crime against Rome - so the Romans would be responsible for the execution.
2. According to Jewish and Roman law, a person was not permitted to be executed on the same day as the sentencing. It was required that they have one complete day in between the sentencing and the execution to allow for the defense to make final appeals and allow for the accused to make his final case. Strict rules were to be followed here. All of them were violated.

Consider Jesus….

1. He endured massive injustice. Why? Because each of us have or will experience injustice in our life. “Life’s not fair. God I please you and look what happens.” Jesus understands because he’s experienced it.
2. As he is paraded from trial to trial, he sees a mother whose tiny child was brought back to life.
3. He sees a teenager who sat one day on the hillside listening to Jesus teach.
4. He sees an old man that shared in the loaves and fishes.
   

Stop and Think: