The Arrest and Trial of Jesus Christ SS3 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

THE TRIAL OF JESUS  (MATTHEW 26:57 – 68)

There were two separate trials of Jesus Christ – the Jewish trial and the Roman trial. After Judas had betrayed Jesus Christ, he was arrested and taken to Caiaphas, the high priest where the members of Sanhedrin – the highest Jewish council gathered. There, Jesus was tried and found guilty of blasphemy for claiming to be the son of God. 

The punishment for this offence by the Jews was the death penalty, but being a colony of the Roman Empire, they did not have the power to pass the death sentence. For this reason, they had to take Jesus to the Roman representative, Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem where he was tried the second time and found guilty, although he was innocent. 

This was to fulfil the scripture, for it has been destined that he would die for the forgiveness of the sins committed by man.

Christ Before The High Priest

Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane where he told his disciples to wait for him while he went up to pray. He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. He began to be sorrowful and troubled. He told them that his soul was sorrowful even to death and that they should remain and watch with him. Going a little further, Jesus prayed, “My father if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will but as thou will”. He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he asked Peter:

“So could you not watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40 – 41)

For the second time, he prayed, repeating the same words. Again he came back and discovered that the disciples’ eyes were heavy with sleep. He left them and went away to pray again with the same words for the third time. After this, he came back to the disciples and said to them:

“Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold the hour is at hand and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of the sinners. Rise; let us be going; see my betrayer is at hand.”

(Matthew 26:44 – 46)

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of his disciples came with a great crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priest and the elders of the people. The betrayer (Judas) had given them a sign saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him.” Judas came up to Jesus and said, “Hail master”. 

Immediately, they came up, laid hand on him and seized him. One of the disciples of Jesus stretched out his hands, drew his sword and cut off the ear of the slave of the priest. Jesus was against this and he said “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father; and he will once send more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?

And turning to the crowd Jesus said: “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the scripture of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

It was at this juncture that the disciples fled.

Those who seized him led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. He went inside and sat with the guards to see the end. The chief priest and the whole council (the Sanhedrin) sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. At last, two people came forward and said, “This fellow said I can destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.”

The high priest stood up and asked Jesus to answer the testimony against him, but Jesus kept quiet. The chief priest persuaded him to make a reply, but Jesus answered him: “You have said so but I tell you here after you will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64)

The high priest tore his robes and said: “He has uttered blasphemy; why shall we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgement?”

The people answered, “He deserves death.” They spat on his face and stuck him; some slapped him saying, “Prophesy to us you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Peter was sitting outside the courtyard and a maid came and asked him,” Were you not with Jesus the Galilean.” He denied this before them saying, “I do not know what you mean”.

When he came out to the porch, another maid saw him and said to the bystander, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter denied this again, this time with an oath. After a little while, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them for your accent betrays you.” Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and swear, “I do not know the man”. Immediately the cock crowed and Peter remembered that Jesus had said that before the cock crowed he, Peter, would deny him three times. He went out and wept bitterly.

Christ Before The Pilate And The Roman Authorities (Matthew 27:11 – 31)

After the trial by the Sanhedrin, Jesus was bound and arranged before Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus whether he was the king of the Jews according to the allegation brought against him by the chief priest, scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus replied that Pilate had said so. Pilate asked Jesus to defend himself. Given numerous allegations levelled against him, Jesus made no reply and this made Pilate wonder greatly.

At the feast of the Passover celebrations, it was the custom of the governor to release a prisoner whom the people wanted. The notorious criminal is called Barabbas. When the people gathered;

Pilate asked them to decide on the person they wanted him to release to them – Barabbas or Jesus who is also called Christ. Pilate knew it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Moreover, his wife had sent a message to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.” The governor repeated his question. The chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to opt for Barabbas and they did instead of Jesus. Pilate asked them what they wanted to do with Jesus and they shouted, “Let him be crucified”. Pilate asked them if Jesus committed any offence, but they shouted all the more that he should be crucified.

He took water washed his hands publicly and said, “I am innocent in this man’s blood; see it to yourselves”. All the people answered, “His blood should be on us and our children”. Then he released them Barabbas and they scourged Jesus. The soldiers of the governors took Jesus into the auditorium and they gathered the whole battalion before him. They stripped him put a scarlet robe upon him and planted a crown of thorns upon his head. They also put a reed in his right hand and kneeling before him, they mocked him saying, “Hail the king of the Jews.” They spat on him took the reed and struck him on the head. After they had finished mocking him, they stripped him of the robe put his clothes on him and led him away to be crucified.

Ways In Which People Are Denied Justice In The Society

1. Hiring of false witness
2. Adjournment: delay of trial and judgement
3. Bribery: some judges demand and take bribes
4. Falsification of evidence
5. Failure to deliver judgment when due
6. Rigging of elections
7. Nepotism and tribalism

 Christ Before Herod (Luke 23:6 – 12)

The trial of Jesus before Herod was only recorded in the gospel according to Luke. When Pilate learnt that Jesus was a Galilean which was within Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod who was himself in Jerusalem. When Herod saw Jesus, he was glad, for he longed and desired to see him. He heard about Jesus and he was anxious to see some signs performed by him.

Herod questioned Jesus at length but Jesus did not reply to him, not minding that the chief priest and the Pharisees were accusing vehemently. However, Herod and his soldiers treated Christ with contempt and mockery. They dressed him in gorgeous apparel and sent him back to Pilate. The trial of Christ allowed Herod and Pilate to reconcile for they were enemies before that period.