Objectives: The students will learn:
1. How the Trial of Jesus was illegally conducted.
2. How there is no errors in the Bible accounts.
3. Why Jesus went to Trial
Memory Verse: Isaiah 53:3
Setup
Put plush toys into a group of 70 (23 for priests, 23 elders, from wealthy landowner class, 23 scribes, lawyers, and High priest.) This represents the Jewish High Court - Great Sanhedrin with Frederick, representing Jesus, in the center.
Review Plush toys grouping
Answer, we are going to talk about the Trial of Jesus. Why 70? Do a sword drill - Numbers 11:16-17. The Great Sanhedrin used this verse for setting up a court of 70.
Give the quote, “The task is daunting because almost our entire understanding of events comes from five divergent accounts, each of which was written by a Christian (who did not witness the final days of Jesus directly) for a distinct audience from thirty-five to seventy years after the trial.” Do a COA – Is this quote support the Biblical viewpoint? Answer – No. Note, one theory is that the Book of Luke, with the Book of Acts, were legal documents for Paul’s trial at Rome.
Contrast with this quote, “Unlike the wildly disparate birth narratives, or the confused resurrection narratives, the four gospels present a roughly similar story of Jesus' arrest and trial.”
Biblical accounts of the trial before Pilate are largely fictional… (almost certainly invented) prisoner Barabbas.
“The party may also have included, as John reports, a Roman cohort under its commanding officer--but it is hard to believe that deployment of so large a force (a cohort consisted of about 600 men) would be seen as desirable to effectuate the arrest of a single individual.
Ask students, “Why would they have 600 men to arrest Jesus?”
Summary – The Bible, Luke especially, is shown to be historically correct. These statements are not based on knowledge, but a desire to reject the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the same idea found in the Sanhedrin.
In New Testament times the Sanhedrin consisted of twenty-three priests, who held anti-supernaturalistic, Sadduceeic views; twenty-three elders, also holding Sadduceeic leanings, who belonged to the wealthy landowner class; twenty-three scribes, meaning lawyers, who had Pharisaic leanings; and two presidents, for a total of seventy-one members. Only twenty-three members representing these three factions were required for a quorum, but the number needed by law for a majority vote was thirty-seven.
Sanhedrin comes from the Greek term sunedrion (literally, "sitting together") meaning council. The Sanhedrin is both a Jewish judicial and administrative body. The Sanhedrin was composed of local elites--including members of the high-priestly family, scribes (religious experts), and lay elders. It probably operated under some sort of Roman oversight, at least with respect to its taxing, law enforcement, and other administrative functions.
The High Priests
There were two High Priests, Annas, who was deposed in 15 AD and Caiaphas, the Roman appointed High Priest.
Review the Judges
Sword drill - John 11:45-47, Sanhedrin knew that Jesus performs miracles pointing to his Messiahship.
Sword drill - John 11:49-50, The Sanhedrin interested in their own survival. Note in 70 AD, the nation and the Sanhedrin were destroyed.
Sword drill - Matthew 27:18 The Sanhedrin were motivated by envy
Object Lesson – Show a leading question. Select one student, who doesn’t have any pets, as an accused. Say to the student, “Under the oath of this court, answer yes or no, have you stop beating your dog.”
If the student refuses to answer, the student is guilty of breaking the oath.
If the student says, “Yes”, then he did beat his dog.
If the student says, “No”, then he is beating his dog.
Review Problems with the Trial Illegal Court
· Bribed Judas to betray Jesus
· Conducted the trial at night
· Failed to bring Judas to court to accuse Jesus.
· Tried him by a single judge, Annas
· They made no formal indictment against him
· They tried him even though they were prejudiced and had plotted to kill him long ago.
· They did not defend him, although that was their duty under their law.
· They questioned Jesus directly so that he could incriminate himself.
· They failed to acquit Jesus when there were no witnesses.
· They deliberately sought false testimonies.
· They slapped him for no reason.
· They called his testimony blasphemy when it was the truth.
· They put him under a most solemn oath.
· They did not punish the false witnesses for giving false testimony.
· They voted twice within a few hours of time rather than waiting twenty-four hours.
· They condemned Jesus to death, even though according to Jewish law, if the judges unanimously condemned a criminal, he must be acquitted, because their unanimous vote would be considered a mob action.
1. Last Supper, first day of the feast of unleavened bread
2. Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him three times before the cock crows
3. They leave for the Mount of Olives.
4. Jesus tells Peter he will deny him three times before the cock crows (twice)
5. Jesus and the disciples arrive at Gethsemane.
6. Jesus prays, his disciples sleep.
7. Judas arrives with soldiers from the chief priests and elders
8. Judas kisses Jesus
9. Jesus arrested
10. Peter cuts off Malchus' ear.
11. Jesus heals the ear.
12. Jesus taken to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas.
13. Annas sends Jesus to Caiaphas.
14. Jesus taken to Caiaphas. The scribes and elders were assembled.
15. Peter and another disciple follow Jesus to the high priest's palace.
16. False witnesses claim that Jesus said he would destroy the Temple. Jesus silent. High priest asks Jesus if he is the Christ. Jesus answers in the affirmative. High priest tears his clothes, pronounces death sentence. Jesus beaten
17. Peter's first denial, accused by the maid who kept the door
18. Peter's second denial, accused by another maid
19. Peter's third denial, accused by a servant of the high priest.
20. The cock crows
21. Jesus looks at Peter
22. Peter leaves the palace and weeps
23. Jesus is beaten. In the morning, the council asks Jesus if he is the Christ. He answers in the affirmative.
24. Jesus taken to Pilate in the morning.
25. Judas returns the money to the priests and hangs himself. The money is used to buy the potter's field
26. Pilate asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews. Jesus replies in the affirmative.
27. Jesus accused by the Jews. He does not answer
28. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod.
29. Herod questions Jesus. He does not answer.
30. Jesus dressed in a robe and mocked.
31. Herod returns Jesus to Pilate.
32. Pilate intends to release Jesus. The Jews ask for Barabbas instead
33. Pilate washes his hands
34. Jesus whipped, dressed in a robe and a crown of thorns and mocked. After further interrogation, Pilate hands him over to be crucified.
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