Jesus' Trial: A Judicial Joke

Mark 14:53-65 ⁵³ They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. ⁵⁴ Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

⁵⁵ 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 any. ⁵⁶ Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

⁵⁷ Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶¹ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” ⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶³ The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. ⁶⁴ “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. ⁶⁵ Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

There were six trials in six hours. Mark shortens things as is his style: the three religious trials into one. Just in these religious trials there were at least 24 illegalities:

1) No crime

2) Arrest without warrant

3) Arrest at night

4) No legal authorities

5) Biased authorities

6) Trials occurred not in a court

7) Judgment before any accusation

8) The judges cannot initiate the charges they could only investigate charges

9) No official accusation/ illegal indictment

10) Secret trial

11) No defense consideration

12) No defense team

13) Self-incrimination

14) Trial before sundown

15) During the Passover Feast

16) Bribes of the witnesses

17) False witnesses

18) Abuse of evidence/not verified

19) Illegal reading of the verdict

20) Violence in the courtroom

21) They switched the charges! They started with Blasphemy, but that’s not worthy of the death penalty with the Romans, so they switched it to “wanting to overthrow Caesar”!

22) Trial concluded in one day

23) If the verdict was unanimous the defendant must go free

24) Intervention of the high priest in the proceedings

This was a judicial joke! A scam! A mockery!

Look at vs. 55 again: 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 any.

They were searching for something to make legal a verdict they had already decided on!

But they found none! If we have the arrogance and self-pride to judge Jesus we will end up with nothing too.

Vs. 56 said they got lots of testimony, but none agreed with each other. One of the testimonies actually misquoted something Jesus said in John 2:19. What they said He said was “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands’.”

What Jesus really said was, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

Jesus was talking about Himself. “If you destroy Me, I will rise up in three days.” And here they were trying to destroy the temple - Jesus and He was prophesying that when they did He would rise again in three days!

Jesus never defended Himself. The only time He spoke was when the high priest asked Him if He was the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One. And Jesus said: “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Jesus was the only one present who told the truth that night. For the second time that night He said “I Am” announcing to all that He was God true God – Yahweh. His next sentence referenced Daniel 7:13-14 ¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Only Jesus said He would be seated at the right hand of God. In Daniel, He was presented. But Christ went on as if saying He was presented and God approved and seated Him at His right hand. Jesus was judge – not them! That’s why He never defended Himself!

As priests and church leaders they recognized what He was quoting and it made them crazy! The high priest tore his mantle and called it blasphemy. And they hit Him!

The version I read (NIV) said the soldiers took Him and hit Him. Many versions say they received Him and hit Him. How do we receive Jesus? With pride and rebellion? Or by humbly bowing down in worship? All the people present that night accept Jesus were really the ones being judged – by how they received Jesus. May OUR hands not be slapping Him in rebellion, but be lifted to Him in praise!