Grace to You Weekend

John MacArthur: Everything is illegal. The arraignment is illegal, the testimony is illegal, the interrogation is illegal, and the sentence is illegal. So, all those centuries and all those years of working out a very carefully crafted system of jurisprudence and justice, thrown away so they could kill Jesus. How profound is sinfulness?

Phil Johnson: Welcome to Grace to You Weekend, the Bible teaching ministry of John MacArthur. I'm your host, Phil Johnson.

You can imagine that throughout history there have been many people who have been put on trial and found guilty and have even been put to death for crimes they didn't commit. But there has been only one person in that situation who was absolutely and perfectly innocent. That person, of course, is Jesus Christ and his trial is John's focus today as John continues his series, The Divine Drama of Redemption. This study is a survey of the cross and the resurrection and the key events just before, helping you better grasp the grace of Christ and everything he endured to save sinners like you and me. And so with the lesson now, here's John.

John MacArthur: Through the years, the Jews developed a very sophisticated system of jurisprudence, a system of justice. They were proud of it. You know, of course, that the Jewish society of our Lord's time was fastidious about observance of the law. That fastidiousness was basically led by the Pharisees and the scribes who made sure that people adhered to divine law. Divine law, not only in scripture, but divine law that had been passed down in tradition, but was nonetheless, they believed from God.

One of the things that they were very proud about adhering to was the Mosaic call given here in Deuteronomy chapter 16 to be a just society. To have a system of law and a system of courts and judges and court officials, prosecutors and defenders, who would be able to maintain justice.

Having said that, let me say this, the Jewish trial of Jesus violated all those laws, all of them. It violated all principles of justice and perpetrated the greatest miscarriage of justice ever. It was illegal from the beginning to the end in every possible way. That's the Jewish trial. The Gentile trial was equally unjust. It was a secular tribunal, but it was a travesty of injustice, a violation of truth.

The religious Sanhedrin trial had three parts: the arraignment before Annas, the trial before Caiaphas, and the public re-trial by the Sanhedrin in the morning. The series of trials are one of the most fascinating parts of the accounts of the gospels concerning the last day of our Lord's life. Justice could have done no worse. The illegalities here are just blatant and consistent.

Let's start with an illegal arraignment. An illegal arraignment. The verdict was in before the procedure began. The decision was made as to what they were going to do with him. They were going to kill him. The procedure was a formality, looking for some reason to explain why they were killing him.

So, verse 53 says, they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. That's the composite of the Sanhedrin. They have come together already in the middle of the night because Judas got them together to point out where he was. They've been to the garden, they have him under arrest, and now they've got to come up with some reason to execute him.

Matthew and Mark give us a record of his main trial before the Sanhedrin in the house of Caiaphas. John adds the first phase. So, we have to leave Mark at this moment and go to John 18 for just a minute. John 18, because here you have the first phase of our Lord's trial, which is the arraignment before he was led away to the high priest and the Sanhedrin. As verse 53 says, something else had happened, and John 18 tells us what it was. Verse 12. So, the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. And then verse 13, and led him to Annas first. For he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

They led him first of all to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas. They led him to Annas first, why? He was the evil brain behind the Sanhedrin. He was the real power. That's why the temple operations were called the Bazaars of Annas. He was the one who was going to come up with an indictment, an arraignment. He was like a one-man grand jury. We got to have a crime here if we're going to have an execution. He's the smart one, he's the brains behind the operation. Give him the job.

While Jesus is before Annas, the Sanhedrin is gathering at the house of Caiaphas to plot their course in their mock trial. While Jesus is before Annas, the Sanhedrin is gathering together. And also, chapter 18 of John describes something else that's going on, Peter is denying Jesus. So, you have some scenes going on here, Sanhedrin gathering, Peter denying, Annas to come up with an indictment.

Verse 19. The high priest then questions Jesus. This is Annas, about his disciples and about his teaching. This is illegal. You can't come up with an indictment against someone by something they confess to without evidence. He is asking Jesus to admit something for which he can be executed. That's essentially what he is saying. Tell me about your disciples. Tell me about your teaching. Let me see if I can find something to indict you for.

Jesus answered him, I've spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, in the temple where all the Jews come together. I spoke nothing in secret. It's all out there. Why do you question me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them. They know what I said. Jesus essentially is saying this is illegal. I demand a legal process. He knows that he is not allowed to self-incriminate. Where are the witnesses? I've said nothing in secret. Ask those who heard me. Call witnesses.

Well, Annas didn't like that. When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, is that the way you answer the high priest? Jesus answered him, if I've spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong, but if rightly, why do you strike me? Annas can't cope with him. So, verse 24 says Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest, and that's where the main trial takes place.

Without a crime, without any testimony to corroborate a crime. They want him dead, and they're trying to figure out how to do it. So, they ramp up the violations of justice in a mad dash to get it done before the light breaks and the people start to show up.

Let's go back to Mark. Now, before we go to the trial in the house of Caiaphas. Mark gives a glimpse of Peter. Peter had followed him at a distance right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. For the moment, Mark just locates Peter. That's all he does, he just locates him. He's in the courtyard of the house of Caiaphas the high priest, sitting with the officers, warming himself at the fire. He's trying to blend in and stay warm. He's on the side stage, but boy, is he in a vulnerable spot as we will see when we get to verse 66, and Peter's denials are there recorded by Mark. But for the moment, we just know he's there.

Now, the Sanhedrin's inside. Jesus is in a large room. Peter outside in the dark courtyard near a fire with Roman guards, temple police, and other servants. He's caught between curiosity and cowardice, isn't he? So, you have an illegal arraignment. An illegal arraignment. Then it's followed by a series of illegal testimonies. Illegal testimony follows.

Now, the chief priests, verse 55, and the whole council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put him to death. They had determined the outcome. They had determined the sentence, death. They just had to find a crime. So, here you have these religious people so fastidious about the law, trying to find liars in the middle of the night. Matthew 26:59 says, they were bribing them. The very thing that Deuteronomy 16 forbid. They found some false witnesses, but they, while they would do it for the money, were not consistent. Some, it says in verse 57, stood up, began to give false testimony against him. But verse 59 says, even in this respect, their testimony was not consistent. They had no time to get together. They had no time for collusion. They had no time to meet with people and get the same story. They had no time to plot everything out.

Still bent on killing Jesus, they will not relent. This is not a trial, this is a conspiracy. They can't come up with a legitimate crime that they can sell the Romans, so the Romans will execute him. So, you have an illegal arraignment and an illegal trial essentially, illegal testimony.

Thirdly, you have an illegal interrogation, an illegal interrogation. This is quite interesting in verse 60. The high priest stood up. It's getting frustrating now. Their first effort, bringing in these bribed witnesses, collapses. The high priest then stands up, came forward, questioned Jesus, saying, do you not answer what is it that these men are testifying against you? As if Jesus had any legal duty to respond to liars who, by virtue of their own law, should have all been executed. These contorted concoctions required no reply from him. There was nothing to the accusations, therefore there was no reply necessary.

Verse 61 says he kept silent. He understands the legal order. Isaiah 53 verse 7 says, he was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to slaughter, like a sheep that is silent, so he did not open his mouth. There isn't a legal aspect to this whole thing. They violate every law. The arraignment is illegal, the testimony is illegal, the interrogation is illegal. And that leads us to the sentence, which is illegal.

What are they left with? The high priest must make his move. One option remains. Verse 61. Again, the high priest was questioning him and saying to him, are you the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? Are you the Messiah? Are you the Son of God? Which they knew to be a title of equality with God, absolute deity.

This, for the first time, is a legitimate question. This is not a what did you do question. This is who are you? Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? It is the first legitimate aspect of the proceedings. And Jesus knows the intent of the question, but he answers anyway, and the intent of the question is to play the final Trump card, the blasphemy card. They all know what he's claimed. They know he has claimed to be the Messiah. He's done it again and again and again and again. You find it strung out all through his ministry. They know he has claimed to be the Son of God repeatedly through the Gospel of John in particular. They confront him about making himself equal with God.

And Jesus said, and he answers because the question is legitimate, with the ego, the Tetragran, Yahweh, the name of God, I am. He then adds to that answer, and you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven. Instead of saying, I am, but, but, but let me explain and trying to reduce the impact of that. He says I am and escalates the reality of it. Yes, I am, the Messiah. Yes, I am, the Son of God. And you will see me sitting at the right hand of power, that is, at the right hand of God, and coming with the clouds of heaven.

Psalm 110:1 pictures the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God. What are you saying is, yes, I am, and my death is not the end. I will be exalted to the throne of God. I will return in glory to judge and reign over the earth. This is a glorious moment for our Lord. The question serves him well because it allows him in the horrors of facing the cross to rehearse what's coming after the cross.

He knows these words will bring about his death. He is ready. He has been through the Garden agony, and he will do the Father's will all the way to the cross. Then comes the verdict. This is the unjust sentence. Verse 63, tearing his clothes, the high priest said, what further need do we have of witnesses? Tearing clothes is a ceremonial and contrived display. In this case, fake righteous indignation.

The high priest responds as if Jesus is blaspheming by claiming to be Messiah, Son of God, sitting at the right hand of God, returning to judge and reign. And what is the punishment for blasphemy? Leviticus 24:16, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. So, the high priest says, what further need do we have of witnesses? Caiaphas at this moment calls an end to all the legalities with an illegal sentence. He condemns Jesus to blasphemy when he and the Sanhedrin are the blasphemers because Jesus is the Messiah, he is God, he is the one who sits at the right hand of the throne of God and he is the coming king and judge.

They are the blasphemers, but they render him the blasphemer. Verse 64, you have heard the blasphemy, how does it seem to you? Let's take a vote. No hesitation. They are instantly responsive. They all condemned him to be deserving of death. It is unanimous.

Everything is illegal. The arraignment is illegal, the testimony is illegal, the interrogation is illegal, and the sentence is illegal. So, all those centuries and all those years of working out a very carefully crafted system of jurisprudence and justice, thrown away so they could kill Jesus. How profound is sinfulness? And to show you their attitude, they all condemned him to be deserving of death. These are religious leaders now, essentially 24 chief priests, 24 elders, 24 scribes, and a high priest. And verse 65 says, some began to spit at him. Luke says, this began with the Sanhedrin. They began to spit at him. This is the Supreme Court. These are religious leaders.

Then to blindfold him, so he couldn't know what was coming from whom, and this is the comedy that begins that ends up as the comedy on Calvary. It's a joke now, it's time for mockery. They blindfold him, so he doesn't know what's coming or from whom, and then they beat him with their fists. Matthew says, others hit him with the palms of their hand, Matthew 26:67, slap after slap, saying, who hit you, who hit you? Prophesy. It's a horrible scene, mocking ridicule. The end of this section in verse 65 says, and the officers received him with slaps in the face.

The Sanhedrin turns him back over to the temple police and the Roman guards, and they follow the example of their noble leaders, and they slap him in the face as well. One could conclude that this nation and this Sanhedrin is rotting flesh, soon to be eaten like roadkill by the Roman eagle. But even more importantly, God will judge them and God has judged them as they have been cast into eternal hell. God's just sentence of judgment falls on them. But the sad thing is, the same sentence falls on anyone who rejects Christ. I don't know anyone who would say, well, I want to be like Judas. I don't know anyone who would say, I want to be like those guys. I want to be like that. You are like that if you reject Christ. And you'll spend an eternity in the same place those people will spend their eternity and are now there. But it was those kinds of people, and the kind of people we all are, for which Jesus went to the cross, right? To provide salvation for those who repent and embrace him as Savior and Lord.

Phil Johnson: You're listening to Grace to You Weekend, the Bible teaching ministry of John MacArthur. John's current series is titled The Divine Drama of Redemption. Well, friend, after hearing about the ultimate miscarriage of justice, the sham trial of Jesus that we looked at today. Maybe you're wondering why Jesus had to be so abused or why a loving God allowed his son to ultimately be crucified. Those can be difficult questions to consider. Thankfully, the Bible does not leave us without answers. Here are John's thoughts on that.

John MacArthur: And I think the compelling answer comes in one simple title, The Lamb of God. That's the lamb chosen by God. We all know that when the Jews came to offer a sacrifice, they chose a lamb. They brought an unblemished lamb to make a sacrifice. Well, God chose a sacrifice. Jesus is the lamb chosen by God. He's not a victim of men. He is God's chosen lamb. And of course, that's the very heart of the gospel that Jesus dies in our place. He is our substitute. Our sins are imputed to him and his righteousness is credited to us. This and a lot of other questions concerning Jesus are answered in a wonderful book called The Jesus Answer Book. I love that title. The Jesus Answer Book. This is full of answers to the questions that you have about Jesus. Why should you believe in his virgin birth? What do we know about his childhood? What did he say was the unpardonable sin? Why did the Lord treat his opponents so harshly? Why did Jesus not defend himself? Why did he die? Can we be sure he rose from the dead? And many more questions are all answered, divided up by topic in a question and answer format that you can go directly to the question that's on your mind and get the answer.

Phil Johnson: That's right, friend. This is a powerful little reference book that can answer questions you may have about Jesus Christ and equip you to tell others about him. To order a copy of The Jesus Answer Book for yourself or a few to give away, get in touch today. Call 800-55-GRACE or visit our website gty.org. The Jesus Answer Book is reasonably priced and shipping is free. This book can help you understand, maybe better than ever, who Christ is and what he promises to those who put their trust in him. The title one more time, The Jesus Answer Book. To order, call 800-55-GRACE or shop online at gty.org. And remember, at gty.org, you'll find thousands of free Bible study resources. If there is a passage in the New Testament that has always confused you or one that you simply want to know more about. John MacArthur has a sermon on it. You'll also find our blog with articles on compelling topics like the Seven Last Sayings of Christ, the problem of evil, God's design for the family, forgiveness, and much more. Our website one more time, gty.org. Now, for our entire staff, I'm Phil Johnson. Thanks for joining us today. Be back next week when John MacArthur looks at the turning point of all history, and why it matters for your life today. We're continuing John's study called The Divine Drama of Redemption with another half hour of unleashing God's truth, one verse at a time, on Grace to You Weekend.