So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people…
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. (John 18:12–14, 28-40)
A friend of mine who once worked in the Billy Graham Association told me about a time when Billy Graham requested a Federal Audit. The auditors initially protested saying, "We have not had cause to suspect you of wrongdoing, so we have no reason to audit." Mr. Graham insisted until they agreed. When the audit was finished, they were obligated to present the findings to a Congressional Committee. After the meeting, one of Graham's friends who sat on that committee called him. He told him that usually when such a report is given, even if the organization is innocent, the auditors will suggest some improvements for accounting. "Today," the friend said, "they couldn't even think of any improvements."
Jesus is doing a similar thing with his trial. He, as our Sovereign Savior, put himself on trial before a Jewish court and a Roman court in order to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was who he said he was. The Jewish court represented the court of heaven which sought to apply the revealed law of God. The Roman court represented the court of man applying what some consider to be the most highly developed legal system in history. Jesus was tried by both and convicted of nothing justly. However, his purpose was not to clear his name but to prove that he was the perfect redeemer. What kind of hope would we have if we had to live with the suspicion
that the one who claimed to take our place and give us his righteousness was really a charlatan and a megalomaniac? This passage does not call us to pity Jesus; it calls us to entrust our souls to him as our perfect redeemer.
The Jewish Trial
The Hebrew law had a double base. There was the Mosaic law (Pentateuch) and Talmud (oral tradition based on it). The Talmudic law had two parts: the Mishnah (basic law) and the Gemara (commentary on Mishnah). There were also two Talmuds: the Jerusalem (written down in fourth century) and the Babylonian (written down in the fifth century). The Babylonian is four times longer and could occupy as many as 400 volumes. It was, to say the least, a very thorough system.
What unfolds in this passage shows us that despite this intensely thorough system, the Jews could not find Jesus guilty of anything. Therefore, they conducted an illegal trial. This trial was illegal – by their own standards – for at least six reasons: 1) it was by night; 2) it was conducted on the day before a Jewish Sabbath; 3) it was completed in one 24 hour period; 4) no defense was allowed; 5) the conviction was based on defendant's testimony; 6) and it concluded with a unanimous vote.
All of these stipulations were put in place to ensure just legal proceedings, and the Jews trying Jesus had to break them all, because he was innocent. Jesus was the perfectly innocent redeemer according to the Jewish law.
The Roman Trial
A purely Jewish trial would not be sufficient, because it could be said that while Jesus broke no Jewish laws, he was guilty of insurrection and insubordination to the laws of the State. If there was any guile in him whatsoever, he could not be our Redeemer. Therefore, he comes before the Roman court.
Jews knew Roman system: Indictment, examination, defense, and verdict. The indictment was threefold, 1) "Perverting the nation" – serious charge but unsupported; 2) Treason – clearly false and already proven to be (Mt. 22:17); 3) Claim to be king. This one was taken most seriously by Pilate. After Pilate's examination, Jesus gives his defense. Jesus' kingdom is not earthly or there would be fighting. Jesus’ kingdom is of truth ruling over men's minds and hearts. So in Pilate's mind, if truth was all Jesus was concerned about, there was no need to take Jesus seriously. The verdict was that Jesus was innocent. But Pilate was a coward and put the cries of the crowd over the law.
It was not that the Jews could not execute (they executed Stephen in Acts 7). It was that they could not crucify. It seems clear that Caiaphas pushed for the crucifixion to fulfill Deuteronomy 21:22-23, "Cursed is every man that hangs on a tree." Caiaphas wished to prove that Jesus was accursed. However, John understood that this occurred providentially to fulfill John 12:32 and provide the way to take away the sin of the world.
Finally, we must see ourselves in Barabbas. We are the ones whose guilt is clear but who have been set free by our innocent redeemer. Let us rejoice in the reality of our innocent substitute as we look forward to the resurrection!
Prayer
Because Jesus was convicted in our place, we can confess our sins before God with confidence, knowing that we will be forgiven. As you prepare for Maundy Thursday and taking the Lord’s Supper, confess yours sins to God and receive the forgiveness that is yours if you believe in Christ.
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