THE CONDEMNATION OF JESUS ​​CHRIST

THE CONDEMNATION OF JESUS ​​CHRIST

(Trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate)

MATTHEW 27:1-38, LUKE 22:47, LUKE 22:54, MATTHEW 26, MATTHEW 27

According to the biblical account in the Gospels, Jesus, after carrying out his public ministry in Galilee and the surrounding area, where he taught in synagogues and public places, healed the sick, cleansed lepers, and performed various miracles, was accused, arrested, tried, and sentenced to death—a death inflicted on the criminals of his time, which is death on the cross, also known as crucifixion.

In this new teaching on "THE CONDEMNATION OF JESUS," we will study the Bible in depth to first understand: "WHO ACCUSED HIM?" In other words, who were the people who brought charges against Jesus before the Jewish and Roman courts.

Second, "WHAT WAS HE ACCUSED OF? "THE ACCUSATIONS"

In other words, what were the accusations brought against him by these people?

And why did they accuse him of these things?

Third, we will seek to understand "WHY WAS HE CONDEMNED?" What were the reasons for his condemnation according to the Jews and the Romans.

Fourth, "WHO WAS THE JUDGE OF THIS COURT?"

So, why couldn't Pontius Pilate save him? Who really condemned Jesus? Who ordered his crucifixion? Was it the religious leaders? The people? Or Pontius Pilate?

Fifth, since a person cannot be condemned without evidence proving the crimes he committed, otherwise it would be an injustice, we will examine the Gospels to see if "WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE"confirming the crimes of which the Jews and Romans accused him.

Finally, we will examine in more detail whether any witnesses agreed to testify against Jesus at that time in order to facilitate his conviction. WHO ARE THE WITNESSES?

WHO ACCUSED HIM?

WHAT WAS HE ACCUSED OF? "THE ACCUSATIONS"

WHY WAS HE CONDEMNED?

WHO WERE THE JUDGES OF THESE COURTS?

WHY WAS Pontius Pilate unable to save him?

WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE?

WHO ARE THE WITNESSES?

WHO ACCUSED HIM?

In other words, who were the people who brought charges against Jesus before the Jewish and Roman courts?

In the Gospel accounts, Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea, after being tried by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme council.

The Jewish leaders, including the high priest Caiaphas, accused him of blasphemy and sedition against Rome, while Pilate considered him a political agitator. Finally, under pressure from the crowd and the Jewish leaders, Pilate relented and condemned Jesus to crucifixion. Who was really accusing him? Who was bringing charges against Jesus to have him condemned? Where did this influence come from?

WHO WORRIED HIM?

1. THE JEWISH LEADERS:

Jesus' main accusers were the religious leaders of his time. Since his presence was disrupting their business, they decided to eliminate him secretly, seeking to falsely accuse him of blasphemy and of undermining the authority of the Temple and the Law. They used false witnesses to prove their accusations before the Sanhedrin.

MARK 14:1

Two days later, as the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover were being celebrated, the chief priests and scribes plotted to arrest Jesus by deception and put him to death.

MARK 3:6

The Pharisees left and immediately began to consult with the Herodians about how they might kill him.

MATTHEW 12:14

The Pharisees went out and plotted among themselves how to kill him.

MATTHEW 26:4

They plotted to seize Jesus and put him to death.

JOHN 7:1

After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, for he did not want to stay in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him.

2. THE SANHEDRIN:

At that time, the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jews, had the power to judge religious and traditional matters and to condemn certain cases related to the observance of Jewish law and traditions. According to the Sanhedrin and the Jewish traditions of the time, or according to the laws of Moses, anyone who disobeyed the law was sentenced to death by stoning, not crucifixion.

However, the Sanhedrin did not have the power to impose the death penalty, particularly for political and social reasons. This power to condemn for political and social reasons belonged to the Roman rulers at Jesus' time.

When Jesus was condemned, they interrogated him and found him guilty of blasphemy before their traditional court, the Sanhedrin, and then brought him before Pilate to be sentenced to death.

The Jewish Sanhedrin therefore played a major role in Jesus' condemnation, as it was they who legally transferred the case to the Roman court for Jesus' condemnation.

Thus, the Jewish Sanhedrin was also among Jesus' main accusers for his condemnation.

JOHN 11:47

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called the Sanhedrin together and said, "What shall we do? For this man performs many miracles."

MATTHEW 26:59

The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death.

3. JUDAS:

The disciple who agreed to judge Jesus by handing him over to his enemies was one of the accusers who accused Jesus and condemned him to death.

What does MATTHEW 26:14 say?

Then one of the twelve disciples, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked them, “What will you give me if I deliver Jesus to you?” They counted out thirty pieces of silver and gave them to him.

4.PONTIUS PILATE:

Although he acknowledged Jesus' innocence, he was pressured by the crowd and the Jewish leaders, who accused him of inciting sedition against Rome by proclaiming himself King of the Jews. He finally gave in and condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion.

Thus, Pontius Pilate is also cited as Jesus' chief accuser, as he had full authority to release him. Fearing pressure from the religious leaders and the crowd, he participated in the accusations and complaints against Jesus for having condemned him to death.

WHO WAS PONTIUS PILATE?

Pontius Pilate (Latin: Pontius Pilatus) was a Roman citizen. Sent on a mission to Judea, he represented the Roman emperor. His presence at the time of Jesus gave him political and social power over the Jewish people living in Judea, whose capital was Jerusalem, where the Temple was located.

He was prefect of Judea, or governor of Judea, one of the main provinces of Palestine at the time of Jesus, from 26 AD, during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, for ten to eleven years. In the Bible, he is primarily remembered for ordering the crucifixion of Jesus after his trial, which gave this simple provincial governor exceptional notoriety.

WHICH ROMAN EMPEROR REIGNED AT THE TIME OF JESUS?

The Gospels mention Emperor Augustus at Jesus' birth, and Tiberius may have been in power at his death, as confirmed by several historians and biblical scholars.

According to the Gospels, Jesus of Nazareth preached and was executed during the reign of Tiberius, by the authority of Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of the province of Judea. Luke 3:1 indicates that John the Baptist began his public ministry in the fifteenth year of Tiberius's reign. Paul's missionary journeys, described in the book of Acts, therefore took place around the reigns of Emperors Claudius and Nero.

WHO IS CAESAR?

In the Bible, like "pharaoh," "Caesar" is an honorific title, primarily used to refer to Roman emperors, notably Augustus and Tiberius. The expression "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's" refers to the payment of taxes to the Roman authority, represented by the emperor. This simply means giving the emperor his due.

WHAT DID PILATE'S PRESENCE AT JESUS' TRIAL REPRESENT?

Pilate's presence at Jesus' trial reflected, above all, the strong presence of the Roman state in the country where Jesus was born: "The decision to condemn someone to death could only be made by that authority." Pilate, therefore, represented the Roman court; he was the supreme judge and the political and judicial force, the one who had the final say in condemning or releasing Jesus.

Secondly, Pilate's presence at this trial confirmed the position Jesus held among the Jewish people of the time. Transferring this trial to the governor, Pilate, who ultimately ruled, confirmed that Jesus was not just anyone; he was an important and influential prophetic figure of his time. "In conclusion, Pilate's presence gave Jesus' trial a historical and popular character. »

PILATE'S ATTITUDE TO THIS TRIAL!

Pilate's attitude toward this trial leads us to understand that it resulted from a conflict with Jewish tradition. Reading the Gospels, and particularly that of John, we see Pilate attempting to extricate himself from this traditional religious conflict between the religious leaders and Jesus by declaring to the Jewish authorities:

"This is not my problem, but yours."

MATTHEW 27:4

They said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They replied, "What is that to us? He is yours."

MATTHEW 27:19

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I have suffered many things in a dream because of him." »

MATTHEW 27:23

The governor said, "But what evil has he done?" And they shouted even more loudly, "Crucify him!"

JOHN 19:4

Pilate went out again and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no fault in him."

MATTHEW 27:24

When Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but that the uproar was increasing, he took water, washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, and said, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man. It is your business."

5. THE CROWD:

The crowd, manipulated by the Jewish leaders, exerted considerable pressure on Pilate to condemn Jesus, even demanding the release of Barabbas, a criminal, in his place. Thus, the crowd, also under the influence of its religious leaders and the Devil, was among Jesus' main accusers, facilitating his condemnation.

MARK 15:13-15

13 They shouted again, "Crucify him!" 14 Pilate said to them, "What evil has he done?" And they shouted even more loudly, "Crucify him!" 15 Pilate, wanting to appease the crowd, released Barabbas to them. After having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

6.SATAN THE DEVIL:

The greatest invisible accuser behind the scenario of Jesus Christ's condemnation is the Devil, the chief demon, who orchestrated all these scenarios in an attempt to destroy God's plan. Although in reality, he could not destroy God's perfect plan, he instead played a major role in the fulfillment of the plan of salvation.

In summary, the condemnation of Jesus resulted from a combination of factors:

the accusations of the Jewish leaders before the Sanhedrin, Pilate's decision under popular pressure, and the influence of the crowd manipulated by the religious leaders and Satan the Devil.

THE ACCUSATIONS:

1. SEDITION AND ROYAL CLAIM:

In the list of charges brought against Jesus for his condemnation, the Jewish authorities, composed mainly of religious leaders of his time, accused him of proclaiming himself king of the Jews, which, in their eyes, amounted to an attempt to overthrow Roman authority, in other words, a kind of coup d'état against the Roman government.

LUKE 23:1-3

Then the whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 There they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man disturbing our people by preventing the Jews from paying taxes to the emperor and by pretending to be the Messiah, the king."

3 Pilate then questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" he asked. "You say so yourself," Jesus replied.

2. BLASPHEMY:

The second major accusation was blasphemy against God. According to the Jewish religious authorities, in accordance with their laws and traditions, Jesus had blasphemed against God, particularly by presenting himself as the Son of God.

LUKE 22:66-71

66 At daybreak, the leaders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes gathered and brought Jesus before their great council. 67 The interrogation began: "If you are the Messiah, tell us." Jesus said to them, "If I answer you, you will not believe; 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer me. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of Almighty God." 70 Then they all began to cry out together, "Are you the Son of God?" "You yourselves say that I am," Jesus replied. 71 They then cried out, "What further testimony do we need? We ourselves have heard it from his own mouth."

3. PUBLIC DISTURBANCES:

The third major accusation: Jesus was accused of stirring up trouble among the people and refusing to pay taxes to the Roman emperor.

LUKE 23:1-3

The whole assembly rose and brought him before Pilate. 2 There they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man disturbing our people by preventing the Jews from paying taxes to the emperor and by pretending to be the Messiah, the king." 3 Pilate then questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" he asked. "You say so yourself," Jesus replied.

THE TRIAL AND THE COURTS:

According to procedure, being Jewish by blood, Jesus was first presented to the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, and then before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

UNCERTAINTY ABOUT PILATE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CASE:

The Gospels depict Pilate as hesitant to condemn Jesus, but ultimately yielding to pressure from the crowd and the Jewish authorities.

DECISION TO TRY PILATE:

Pilate condemned him to crucifixion, a Roman punishment reserved for criminals and rebels.

THE CRUCIFIXION:

In Jesus' time, crucifixion was a very humiliating public execution. The Gospels confirm that Jesus was crucified in public, a humiliating and painful punishment.

"SYMBOL OF SACRIFICE"

This punishment of the cross was therefore acceptable, both religiously and politically, between the Roman and Jewish authorities, who shared the management of the affairs of the province of Judea.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

At the time of Jesus, Palestine consisted of three main provinces:

Galilee in the north, entirely dominated, influenced, and managed by the Roman authorities; and Samaria in the center, also entirely managed by the Romans. In the south, Judea was the only province whose management of power was shared, perhaps due to the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem, which was the most important site for the Jews.

PROPHETICALLY, WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CRUCIFIXION?

Prophetically, the death of Jesus on the cross is considered by Christians as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity. For, according to the Scriptures, he died to save man from sin and, through his death, he became the mediator between man and God; no one can come to the Father except through him. He becomes the way, the life, and the truth. Therefore, there is no salvation without Jesus.

He died to reconcile us with our Creator, who is God. It is through his death that we have been saved and through his wounds that we have been healed. Amen.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:

Historians examine the political and religious motivations for Jesus' condemnation, drawing on the Gospel texts and historical sources of the time. In summary, according to historians, Jesus' condemnation was a complex event, likely the result of political, social, and religious tensions and conflicts, the implications of which lie at the heart of the Christian faith.