INJUSTICE TO A HOLY GOD

A WALK TO THE CROSS WITH CHRIST

Injustice to a Holy God

Pastor Jerry Jackson

03.29.15

OUTLINE

JESUS CAME TO DIE SO WE MIGHT LIVE

FRIDAY 1:30 TO 3:00AM

JESUS FACED 3 RELIGIOUS TRIALS AND 3 CIVIL TRIALS

3 RELIGIOUS TRIALS

1. Before Annas

2. Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin

3. Before the Sanhedrin for Sentencing

3 CIVIL TRIALS

1. Before Pontius Pilate

2. Before Herod Antipas

3. Before Pontius Pilate Again

Matthew 26:57; Mark 14:53; Luke 22:54; John 18:12-14, 19-24

Then the cohort of soldiers and the chief captain and the officers of the Jews took and bound Jesus. They led him away first to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. (It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be prudent for one man to die for the people.) The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews assemble. I said nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who heard me. They know what I said.” When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I spoke wrongly,” Jesus answered, “explain to my error. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. Those who had seized Jesus led him away to the high priest’s house, where all the chief priests and elders and teachers of the law had gathered.

CAIAPHAS FOUND TWO WITNESSES TO AGREE THAT THEY HEARD JESUS SAY…

Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:58

“’I’ll destroy this temple of God made by human hands, and in three days I’ll build another, not made by human hands.’ But even then their statements did not agree.”

CAIAPHAS AND THE SANHEDRIN FIRST WANTED TO CHARGE JESUS WITH MASSIVE VANDALISM TO THE TEMPLE

Matthew 26:63; Mark 14:61

Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us whether you’re the Messiah, the Son of God.”

CAIAPHAS AND THE SANHEDRIN WOULD CHARGE JESUS SPEAKING BLASHPEMY – A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH

Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62

“It’s just as you have said, I am. Furthermore, I tell all of you that later on you will see the Son of Man sitting by the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Matthew 26:65-66; Mark 14:63-64

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Listen, you have heard his blasphemy. What do you think?” “He deserves to die!” they answered. Everyone condemned him as deserving death.

THE COURT SCENE TURNED EVEN MORE CRUEL AND UGLY

Matthew 26:67-68; Mark 14:65; Luke 22:63-65

Some of them began to spit in his face and strike him with their fists. The men who were holding Jesus began to mock him. After they had blindfolded him, they kept slapping his face and taunting him. “Prophesy!” they said. “Prophesy to us, you ‘Messiah’! Who just struck you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.

JESUS HAS TREMENDOUS LOVE AND PATIENCE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE

1 Peter 2:21-23 Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

FRIDAY 3:00 – 5:00AM

THE JEWS HELD JESUS IN CUSTODY UNTIL DAYBREAK

Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-23:1

As soon as daylight came, all the elders of the people – both the chief priests and the teachers of the law – met together against Jesus to execute him. They brought him up to the whole Sanhedrin and said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He said to them, “If I were to tell you, you would certainly not believe. And if I were to ask the questions, you would not answer me or let me go. But soon the Son of Man will be seated by the right hand of the power of God!” “So you are the Son of God?” they all said. “It’s just as you say,” he replied, “because I am.” “Why do we need further witnesses?” they said. “We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!” Then the whole council arose and tied up Jesus, and took him to appear before Pontius Pilate, the governor.

FRIDAY 6:00 TO 7:00AM

JESUS WAS QUESTIONED BY PILATE

Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; John 18:28-32

Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman judgment hall, where Jesus stood before the governor. Because it was early, they did not go into the judgment hall. They didn’t want to become defiled and be unable to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them. “Of what are you accusing this man?” he asked them. “If he were not a criminal,” they answered, “we wouldn’t have brought him to you.” “Take him and judge him according to your law.” Pilate replied. “We aren’t permitted to execute anyone.” The Jews responded. In this way they were fulfilling what Jesus said about the kind of death he would suffer.

THE JEWISH LEADERS LIED THEIR WAY OUT OF A PREDICAMENT

Matthew 27:12-14; Mark 15:3-4; Luke 23:2

They began accusing him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, He says he’s the Messiah, a king.” The chief priests and elders continued making many accusations against Jesus. But he made no reply. “Do you refuse to answer?” Pilate said. “Don’t you hear how many accusations they’re charging you with?” Jesus remained silent, not answering a single charge. The governor was astonished.

PILATE CONFRONTED CHRIST FACE TO FACE

Matthew 27:11; Luke 23:3-5; John 18:33-38

Pilate then went back to the judgment hall, and called Jesus. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “It’s just as you say. Are you asking this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But at present my kingdom is not from here” Jesus said. “Then you really are a king?” Pilate said. Jesus answered, “Its just as you say. I am a king – I was born for this, and for this I came into the world, so I might testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth hears my voice.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. After saying this, Pilate went out again to the Jews and said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man guilty of nothing.” But the chief priests and the crowds kept insisting, “He is stirring up the people. He is teaching throughout Judea, starting from Galilee and reaching even to this place.”

JESUS APPEARANCE BEFORE HEROD ANTIPAS

Luke 23:6-12

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. On learning that he was from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him up to Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. When Herod saw Jesus he was quite pleased. For a long time he had wanted to see him, since he had heard many reports about him and hoped to see him perform some miracle. He probed him with many questions. But Jesus didn’t answer them, even though the priests and teachers of the law stood there viciously accusing him. After Herod and his soldiers had ridiculed and mocked him, they clothed him in a gaudy robe and sent him back to Pilate. From that day on Pilate and Herod became friends; before this they did not get along.