Judas lied and told the High Priest that the other apostles thought the same although the chief priests did not want to arrest Jesus at that time as they did not want to cause a riot.
The trial before the Sanhedrin
On the night before Jesus was crucified, soldiers seized him and took him to Annas, the father in law of Caiaphas.
Annas questioned him about what Jesus was doing. Because Jesus would not give a straight answer, Annas did not want anything to do with it so sent him to Ciaiphas’ house.
Present at the house were the Sanhedrin.
Ciaiphas then asked Jesus “Are you the Son of God?” to which Jesus replied “I am.”
The High priest tore his clothes because in those days when they hear blasphemy ripping your clothes is a sign of anger.
Blasphemy is a death penalty.
The Jews did not stone Jesus as they did not have the authority to do so because they were in Jerusalem. Only the romans can execute people.
They then decided to send Jesus to Pontius Pilate who was roman. However, he wasn’t interested so they had to think of a way to find Jesus guilty.
The response given by Jesus to questions and why the trial was illegal
They eventually found a way of making him guilty.
Jesus was calling himself the King of the Jews but this is wrong as Caesar is. This is classed as treason, which is a crime against state.
The Sanhedrin came to a decision and bound Jesus up, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. The case was completed in a day, if Jesus were found guilty then the case should have lasted a few days, which means the trial was illegal.
When Pilate first saw Jesus he asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus replied “Yes, it is as you say.” Jesus would not give a straight answer.
The trial before Pilate and Pilates attempt to release Jesus
The chief priests had accused Jesus of many things but Jesus made no reply to anything after that.
At this time of year it is not unusual to free one prisoner and let the crowd decide.
A man called Barabbus was in prison that had committed murder in the uprising.
So, Pilate asked the Jews if they would rather Barabbus or Jesus to be freed.
Pilate thought there would be no contest in Jesus’ favour but he was wrong. The crowds were shouting ‘Execute Jesus! Crucify him!’
Pilate then released Barabbus to please the crowds and handed over Jesus to be crucified.
An outline of how he was punished and put to death
Jesus was made to carry his cross to a place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull.
He was beaten with a cat ‘o’ nine tails whip which is a whip with pieces of metal attached to the ends which inflicted terrible injury.
Jesus was then stripped and fixed to the cross by nailing his wrists and feet to the cross.
He was offered drugged wine, an anaesthetic for the pain, but Jesus did not want it.
Above each cross was a notice saying why each prisoner was on the cross. Jesus’ simply said ‘The King of the Jews’.
At the ninth hour Jesus took his last breath.
People have proved that he died of asphyxiation which means suffocation.
As soon as Jesus died, the curtain of the temple tore in two.
When the centurion saw how Jesus died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God.”
