Two Witnesses for Jesus

from Google Images

Josephus mentions an interesting event that occurred about a year prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. Pilate had built an aqueduct into Jerusalem using Temple funds for its financing. When many Jews objected to his use of Temple funds to pay for the project, he had some of his military men disguise themselves and mingle with the crowd of Jewish demonstrators. When Pilate gave the signal, his men began killing Jews in the crowd. They were supposed to kill only the most vocal demonstrators, but they killed indiscriminately, and with such vigor that they slew the lambs, too, which some of the Jews carried, intending to have them slain for the Passover celebration. Thus, the blood of the men was mingled with that of the animals (cf. Luke 13:1), a very distasteful matter among the Jews. Many of these Jews were Galileans, and, when this event was told to Herod Antipas, he also viewed the ordeal with contempt, putting Pilate and him at odds with one another.

 

Jesus’ Trial Before Herod

from Google Images

After Jesus’ first appearance before Pilate, the Jewish authorities could hardly believe their ears, when Pilate pronounced his verdict of innocence! Immediately they began to accuse Jesus more passionately. The Vulgate translates: “But,” they insisted, “He rouses sedition among the people; he has gone round the whole of Judaea preaching, beginning in Galilee and ending here.” The phrase: “…ending here” probably has reference to his entries into Jerusalem in recent days, publicly showing himself to be the Messiah and the large crowds gathering around him.

 

Are YOU the King of the Jews?

from Google Images

Pontius Pilate was a very cruel Roman governor, who ruled the Jews for about 10 years (25/26 AD to 35 AD), during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. The fact is, he was removed from office in 35 AD by his immediate superior, Vitellius, the Roman president of Syria, because of the indiscriminate and cruel manner in which he governed Jewish affairs. The fact is that Pilate was probably a bigot. It seems he bore a hatred for the Jews. From the very beginning he showed little respect for their religious beliefs. Josephus even mentions that when Pilate first took the reins of governorship of Judea, he secretly brought images of Caesar into Jerusalem,[1] something his predecessors hadn’t done, no, nor any governor after him.

 

The Charges Against Jesus

from Google Images

After finding Jesus guilty of blasphemy, a verdict requiring death under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 24:16), the Sanhedrin, immediately, brought Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1; cf. 3:1), because, under Roman Law, the Jewish authorities had no right to execute anyone for a crime (John 18:31).

 

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

from Google Images

On what basis in Jewish law was Jesus convicted by the Sanhedrin? Matthew and Mark say the high priest accused Jesus of blasphemy (Matthew 26:65; Mark 14:63). Did Jesus commit blasphemy? If not, why did the high priest believe he did or at least was able to convince the other priests present that Jesus spoke blasphemy? Luke records the trial held by the Sanhedrin in the morning:

 

Jesus’ Fourth Clear Claim to Deity!

from Google Images

The reason Jesus was condemned to die was that he claimed to be the Son of God. To show this, I’ll quote Luke but consider also the pertinent Scriptures in Matthew 26:63-66 and Mark 14:61-64 that record the trial of Jesus:

Luke 22:66-71 KJ2000 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, (67) Are you the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, you will not believe: (68) And if I also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. (69) Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. (70) Then said they all, Are you then the Son of God? And he said unto them, You say that I am. (71) And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. (emphasis mine)

 

Jesus’ Trial Before the Whole Sanhedrin

from Google Images

One might argue that Jesus’ whole public ministry was one, big, three and a half year trial, but in reality his trials were intermittent. He wasn’t debating with the Jewish authorities every hour of every day, and neither was he correcting his disciples all of the time. I suppose he had many hours of pleasant discourse in what could be termed good times with those closest to him. After all, the text does say he loved his disciples, and they loved him (John 13:1; 15:9; 16:27), and love cannot exist under constant criticism or distrust. Nevertheless, during Jesus’ final hours, he was tried almost constantly. It began during his final meal with his disciples, and the trials didn’t end until the day was over, and he lay peacefully in the grave.

 

Peter Denies Knowing Jesus

from Google Images

The Jewish authorities arrested Jesus and led him away to the house of the high priest, and Peter followed at some distance (Luke 22:54). It would be an error to say that the Apostles were cowards. They were, indeed, willing to die with Jesus or be arrested with him, but all this was in the context of unbelief. They simply didn’t believe what Jesus told them, i.e. that their hearts had forsaken the way he taught them (Mark 14:50). They were acting like men and not messengers of heaven. They took on the posture of rebels, willing to fight their enemies with swords. This is the world’s way to attain victory, but Jesus claims to be our ‘Way’(cf. John 14:6) – i.e. his example points to victory. If, then, Peter followed Jesus (Luke 22:54; cf. Matthew 26:58), it was in the context of unbelief not an expression of loyalty. His posture was that of a rebel, and he followed Jesus as a spy, not a disciple.

 

The Disciples Forsook Jesus

from Google Images

As Judas’ betrayal took place, and when the apostles saw there was danger, they asked the Lord for their orders. They were not afraid. They were willing to fight, even with only two swords (Luke 22:38) against the multitude! While Judas would feel comfortable in today’s media, draining funds away from the Lord’s use to spread the Gospel, so he might support his own cause, Peter would have loved to lead a crusade. Both attitudes are wrong and do not serve God. One would steal in the name Christ, the other would kill in his name. Judas would exploit Christ for his own ends, while Peter would make presumptions upon his Master’s will and risk all for victory. While abiding in Christ (John 15:1-7) one does not act out of Adam’s strength or use this world’s methods (Matthew 26:52).

 

Personal Reflections on Jesus’ Arrest

from Bing Images

As Jesus was taken away, his only objection was how the Jewish authorities had come against him. They came under the cloak of darkness (Luke 22:53), just like so many of their deeds before (cf. John 7:53 and John 8:1-3). These men, who claimed to uphold the Law, unlawfully sought to arrest Jesus. They had plenty of opportunity to take him during the day (Luke 22:53), but they needed the cloak of darkness to hide their sin from the people. They were afraid. They were cowards, many people coming together to build up courage. Like a mob, they came against one Righteous Man. Jesus showed them their sin, but they continued in their evil deed unable to reply adequately.

 

Jesus Accused Judas of Slander!

On the evening he was betrayed and immediately after the evening meal, Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he announced that they were spiritually clean, except for one of them (John 13:10-11). Judas was unclean, spiritually. What does this mean? For a few days now I have been looking at Judas’ heart. His loyalty to Jesus was divided by his commitment to a cause, presumably a political cause, so Judas was probably a Zealot or a member of a similar political group. 

 

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?

from Google Images

Earlier I tried to show that Judas was devoted to Jesus,[1] but became increasingly drawn away to a **more important** objective.[2] I also claimed that Judas did not intend for Jesus to be killed. That was not part of his plan. He was evidently surprised with the outcome of the first trial and tried to get Jesus released. He visibly regretted what he had done, when he found he could no longer control the outcome, which he originally presumed he could.

 

Why Did Judas Steal from Jesus?

from Google Images

Less than a week before the crucifixion, Judas was openly indignant over the honor done to Christ by Mary, as she poured out her expensive ointment upon Jesus’ feet (John 12:4-5). Judas believed that something or someone else was more worthy of the valuable contents of Mary’s bottle (John 12:6). In an earlier post, which can be read HERE, we saw that Judas was one who had been devoted to Christ, but his heart began to change and became increasingly more committed to someone or something other than Jesus. His friendship and loyalty to the Lord was apparently overshadowed by something else that compelled him to steal and even covet the love offering of another poured out for Christ. He would rather have sold the contents of that bottle and used the money for something else. What changed Judas? What made him a thief? He was the treasurer of the group, but he stole from what was entrusted to him (John 12:6).

 

The Secret Life of Judas

from Google Images

I wonder: how many of us consider ourselves above betraying Jesus in the manner in which Judas did? I know I used to think I would never have done what Judas did, no matter what the circumstances. Nevertheless, I have come to realize how easy it is for many of us to ignorantly take part in similar betrayals of the one we love so much. I intend to write two or three articles in an effort to show how some of us, including myself, could and perhaps have been taken in by men who operate outside of the control or influence of the Spirit of God.