The Arrest and Trial of Jesus Christ – SS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

The arrest and trial of Jesus Christ were the hearings that followed his betrayal by Judas, ending with his being led away to be crucified.

• Arrest: Jesus was seized at Gethsemane after praying.
• Jewish trial: the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish council, tried him under the high priest Caiaphas for blasphemy.
• Roman trial: he was taken to the Roman governor Pilate, and briefly to Herod.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain why Jesus had both a Jewish trial and a Roman trial;
2. describe the prayer at Gethsemane and the arrest of Jesus;
3. narrate the trial of Jesus before the high priest and Peter’s denial;
4. describe the trial of Jesus before Pilate and before Herod;
5. list ways in which people are denied justice in society.

What are the key terms in the trial of Jesus?

• Sanhedrin: the highest Jewish council, which tried religious cases.
• Caiaphas: the high priest who presided over the Jewish trial.
• Blasphemy: speaking against God or claiming to be equal with God.
• Pilate: Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea.
• Herod: Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, who was in Jerusalem at the time.
• Passover: the Jewish feast at which the governor released one prisoner.
• Praetorium: the governor’s residence, where soldiers mocked Jesus.

Why did Jesus have a Jewish trial and a Roman trial? (Matthew 26:57-68)

Jesus had two trials because the Jews found him guilty but had no power to pass a death sentence.

The Jewish trial

• After Judas betrayed him, Jesus was taken to Caiaphas, where the Sanhedrin had gathered.
• He was found guilty of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God.
• The punishment for this offence among the Jews was death.

The Roman trial

• The Jews were a colony of the Roman Empire and could not pass a death sentence.
• They therefore took Jesus to the Roman representative, Pontius Pilate, in Jerusalem.
• Jesus was tried a second time and condemned, although he was innocent.
• This fulfilled the scripture that he would die for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind.

How do the two trials compare?

What happened at Gethsemane?

Gethsemane is the place where Jesus prayed in sorrow before his arrest.

• Waiting: Jesus told his disciples to wait while he went to pray.
• Companions: he took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee.
• Sorrow: he said his soul was sorrowful even to death and asked them to watch with him.
• First prayer: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt.”
• Sleeping disciples: he found them asleep and 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)
• Second prayer: he prayed the same words again and found them asleep again.
• Third prayer: he prayed a third time with the same words.
• Final words: “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 sinners. Rise; let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:44-46)

How was Jesus arrested?

Jesus was arrested at Gethsemane when Judas led a crowd armed with swords and clubs to seize him.

1. Judas came with a great crowd from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
2. He had given them a sign: “The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him.”
3. Judas said, “Hail, master,” and kissed Jesus.
4. The crowd laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
5. One disciple drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave.
6. Jesus stopped him: “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”
7. Jesus said he could ask his Father for more than twelve legions of angels, but the scriptures had to be fulfilled.
8. He asked the crowd why they came with swords and clubs as against a robber, since he taught daily in the temple and was not seized.
9. The disciples fled.

What happened when Jesus was tried before the high priest?

Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin at the house of Caiaphas and condemned for blasphemy.

• Place: he was led to Caiaphas, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
• Peter: he followed at a distance into the courtyard and sat with the guards to see the end.
• False witnesses: the council sought false testimony to put Jesus to death but found none at first.
• Charge: two people said, “This fellow said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.’”
• Silence: Jesus kept quiet when the high priest asked him to answer.
• Reply: pressed to answer, Jesus said, “You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64)
• Verdict: the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy.” The people answered, “He deserves death.”
• Abuse: they spat on his face, struck him and slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

How did Peter deny Jesus?

Peter denied Jesus three times in the courtyard of the high priest, as Jesus had foretold.

1. A maid asked, “Were you not with Jesus the Galilean?” Peter denied it before them all: “I do not know what you mean.”
2. At the porch, another maid told the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter denied it again with an oath.
3. The bystanders said, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Peter invoked a curse on himself and swore, “I do not know the man.”
4. The cock crowed at once.
5. Peter remembered that Jesus had said he would deny him three times before the cock crowed.
6. He went out and wept bitterly.

What happened when Jesus was tried before Pilate? (Matthew 27:11-31)

Jesus was tried before Pilate, who found no fault in him but yielded to the crowd and handed him over to be crucified.

The questioning

• Jesus was bound and brought before Pilate after the Sanhedrin trial.
• Pilate asked whether he was the king of the Jews, as the chief priests and elders alleged.
• Jesus replied that Pilate had said so.
• Jesus made no reply to the many accusations, and Pilate wondered greatly.

The choice between Barabbas and Jesus

• Custom: at the Passover, the governor released a prisoner the people wanted.
• Barabbas: he was a notorious criminal held at the time.
• Question: Pilate asked the crowd whether he should release Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ.
• Pilate’s view: he knew Jesus had been handed over out of envy.
• Pilate’s wife: she sent word, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.”
• Result: the chief priests and elders persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas.

The sentence

• The people shouted, “Let him be crucified.”
• Pilate asked what offence Jesus had committed, but they shouted all the more.
• Pilate washed his hands publicly and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
• The people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
• Pilate released Barabbas, and Jesus was scourged.

The mockery by the soldiers

• Soldiers took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole battalion.
• They put a scarlet robe on him and a crown of thorns on his head.
• They put a reed in his right hand and knelt, saying, “Hail, the king of the Jews.”
• They spat on him and struck him on the head with the reed.
• They then put his own clothes back on him and led him away to be crucified.

What happened when Jesus was tried before Herod? (Luke 23:6-12)

The trial before Herod is recorded only in the Gospel according to Luke.

• Reason: Pilate learnt that Jesus was a Galilean, which was within Herod’s jurisdiction, so he sent him to Herod in Jerusalem.
• Herod’s wish: he was glad to see Jesus, having long wanted to see some sign performed by him.
• Questioning: Herod questioned Jesus at length, but Jesus did not reply.
• Accusers: the chief priests and scribes vehemently accused him.
• Mockery: Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and dressed him in gorgeous apparel.
• Result: Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, and the two men, enemies before, became reconciled.

In what ways are people denied justice in society?

People are denied justice when courts, officials or the public act unfairly, as happened in the trial of Jesus.

1. False witnesses: people are hired to give false evidence.
2. Adjournment: trial and judgement are delayed.
3. Bribery: some judges demand and take bribes.
4. Falsification of evidence: facts are changed to favour one side.
5. Delayed judgement: judgement is not delivered when due.
6. Election rigging: the people’s choice is set aside.
7. Nepotism and tribalism: relatives or one’s own group are favoured.

Evaluation

1. Why did the Jews take Jesus to Pilate?
2. Describe what happened at Gethsemane.
3. State the charge brought against Jesus before the Sanhedrin.
4. Narrate how Peter denied Jesus.
5. Why was Jesus sent to Herod, and what was the result of the meeting between Herod and Pilate?

Assignment

Describe how Pilate tried to avoid responsibility for the death of Jesus, then list four ways in which people are denied justice in society.