1. John 18-19
Jesus on Trial
February 2, 2014
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
Book Reference
THE DARKNESS AND THE DAWN:
Empowered by The Tragedy and Triumph of the Cross
By Charles Swindoll
2001
THE DARKNESS AND THE DAWN
Chapter 5
“The Six Trials of Jesus”
Charles Swindoll
THE SETTING OF JOHN 18-19
• Crowds in Jerusalem for Passover – 2.7 Million
• Festive spirit about religious celebration
• Jesus was the talk of the town
• Religious leaders did not want disruption
• Advance planning for Jesus’ public demise
• Roman rule superseded Jewish/Hebrew law
The Jewish Court System
• Designed to favor the accused
• Multiple witnesses’ testimony must agree
• Blasphemy was a capital offense.
• It was difficult to get a conviction on a capital offense.
• Death by stoning was the method of execution.
KANGAROO COURT
• A mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or
perverted.
• Term originated in the 1849 Gold Rush in which there were many “claim
jumping miners”.
• Justice was proceeding “by leaps” as a kangaroo would jump.
• “American” term only.
• The trials of Jesus would fit the definition of a Kangaroo Court.

2. Lawyer Sues Israel, Italy, King Herod and Emperor Tiberius … August 6, 2013
• Lawyer Dola Indidis from Kenya argues that the trial of Jesus was unlawful.
• Filed a suit with the International Court of Justice, the judicial branch of the
UN.
• “I filed the case because it’s my duty to uphold the dignity of Jesus and I
have gone to the ICJ to seek justice for the man from Nazareth. His
selective and malicious prosecution violated his human rights through
judicial misconduct, abuse of office, bias and prejudice.”
• The ICJ said they have no jurisdiction for this case.
The Prophecy of Jesus’ Trials
•
The Messiah would be betrayed by a friend:
Psalms 41:9
9
Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned against me.
Psalms 41:9
John 13:18, 21
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill
this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ …
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell
you, one of you is going to betray me.”
John 13:18, 21
•
The Messiah will be sold for 30 pieces of silver
Zechariah 11:12-13
12 I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they
paid me thirty pieces of silver.
13 And
the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which
they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter
at the house of the Lord.
Zechariah 11:12-13

3. •
The Messiah will be sold for 30 pieces of silver: Fulfilled
Matthew 27:3-4a
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was
seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests
and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
Matthew 27:3-4a
•
The Messiah will be forsaken by His disciples
Zechariah 13:7
7
“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who is close to me!”
declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Zechariah 13:7
Matthew 26:31
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me,
for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Matthew 26:31
•
The Messiah will be accused by false witnesses:
Psalms 35:11
11
Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
Psalms 35:11
Mark 14:56-57
56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then
some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:
Mark 14:56-57

4. •
The Messiah will be silent in front of his accusers:
Isaiah 53:7
7
He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
Isaiah 53:7
Matthew 26:62-63a
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer?
What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus
remained silent.
Matthew 26:62-63a
•
The Messiah will be beaten, mocked and spat upon:
Isaiah 50:6
6
I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
Isaiah 50:6
Matthew 26:67-68
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
Matthew 26:67-68
•
The Messiah will be sneered at and mocked:
Psalms 22:7
7
All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
Psalms 22:7
Luke 23:11a
11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him.
Luke 23:11a

5. •
The Messiah will be rejected:
Isaiah 53:3
3
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Isaiah 53:3
Luke 23:18, 20-21
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”
…
20 Wanting
to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
21 But
they kept
Luke 23:18, 20-21
TIME MEASUREMENT IN 1ST CENTURY
• Roman & Gentile world - new day begins 1 second after midnight.
• Jewish World – “watches” of 3 hour segments
– 1st watch begins at 6 PM (6 PM – 9 PM)
– 2nd watch (9 PM – 12 Midnight)
– 3rd watch (12 AM – 3 AM)
– 4th watch (3 AM – 6 AM)
– 6 AM – 7 AM is 1st Hour
– 7AM – 8 AM is 2nd Hour, etc.
– 12 Noon is 6th Hour
JESUS’ ARREST AND TRIAL #1
John 18:12-14
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials
arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the
father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one
who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for
the people.
John 18:12-14
John 18:19-23
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his
teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in
synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing
in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I
said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face.
“Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something

6. wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did
you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
John 18:19-23
TRIAL #1 – Annas
• 1st Jewish Trial was probably 2 AM (3rd watch of night)
• Annas had been High Priest for 17 prior years
• Was High Priest when Jesus drove money changers from temple with a
whip in John 2:15
• Jesus charged with “irreverence to High Priest”
• No witnesses to testify to charges as required
TRIAL #2 – BEFORE CAIAPHAS
Matthew 26:57-68
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the
teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a
distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down
with the guards to see the outcome.
59 The
chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence
against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any,
though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy
the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then
the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer?
What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus
remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if
you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You
have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will
see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on
the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then
the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why
do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

7. 67 Then
they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
Matthew 26:57-68
JESUS BEFORE CAIAPHAS – TRIAL #2
• Jewish Trial before the High Priest at 3 AM
• Jesus obligated to answer since “under oath”
• Charged with BLASPHEMY
– “An attitude of disrespect that finds expression in an act directed
toward the character of God.
– 3rd Commandment – Misuse of God’s name
– Punishable by stoning to death
– Jews under Roman rule could not carry out the death penalty
TRIAL #3 – Sanhedrin
Luke 22:66-71
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and
the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you
are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you
would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right
hand of the mighty God.”
70 They
all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 Then
they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from
his own lips.”
Luke 22:66-71
TRIAL #3 – THE SANHEDRIN
• 71 Members – Highest Jewish Council
• Vote individually – youngest to oldest
• No night verdicts – Trial began at 6:00 AM
• No immediate verdicts –
• Charge of Blasphemy

8. The Sanhedrin
THE SANHEDRIN DILEMMA
• Unable to carry out the Jewish Court penalty of death by stoning because
of Roman Rule
• Needed to carry Jesus before Roman authorities in Roman Courts for
death penalty
• Charges against Jesus switched from BLASPHEMY to TREASON.
• Romans could execute for TREASON, but not for BLASPHEMY
TRIAL #4 – JESUS BEFORE PILATE
Luke 23:1-7
1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to
accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes
payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”
3 So
Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
4 Then
Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a
charge against this man.”
5 But
they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He
started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
6 On
hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that
Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in
Jerusalem at that time.
Luke 23:1-7

9. TRIAL #4 – PILATE
• Roman Governor of Jerusalem area
• Pilate was very anti-Semitic; “the wolf for Jewish blood”
• In Jerusalem to keep peace during Passover
• Was currently under investigation for mistreatment of Jews
• Was accommodating to Jews because of the accusations
• Was a rival of Herod – tried to undermine each other
Pilate
TRIAL #5 – HEROD
Luke 23:8-12
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he
had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to
see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but
Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were
standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers
ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back
to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends —before this they had
been enemies.
Luke 23:8-12
HEROD ANTIPAS
• Son of Herod the Great who Killed babies in Bethlehem when Jesus was
born
• Ruled over Galilee – Area north of Jerusalem
• Had John the Baptist beheaded
• Jesus had called him a fox when Pharisees tried to scare him out of
Galilee
TRIAL #5 – HEROD
• 7 AM
• Pilate did NOT rule Jesus guilty of TREASON
• Herod was in Jerusalem to assist with crowd control
• Looked upon Jesus as a magician

10. TRIAL #6 – BACK TO PILATE
Matthew 27:1-2
1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made
their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away
and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
Matthew 27:1-2
Matthew 27:11-26
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,
“Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When
he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no
answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are
bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single
charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now
it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner
chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose
name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked
them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or
Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that
they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While
Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message:
“Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great
deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But
the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for
Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which
of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What
shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why?
What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

11. 24 When
Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar
was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am
innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All
the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then
he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed
him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27:11-26
TRIAL #6 – BACK TO PILATE
• Herod had no accusations, just mockery
• Jesus now wearing one of Herod’s old robes
• Now 7:30 AM
• God’s plan continues to unfold ………
WHY?????
Isaiah 53:5-6
5
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5-6
JESUS’ PRAYER FOR HIMSELF
John 17:1-5
1 ….He looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For
you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all
those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on
earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in
your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.