The word trial means tests. There are many different types of trials Jesus went through these are
* Physical
* Faith
* Emotional (friendship)
* Legal; Jesus had three legal trials in front of the Sanhedrin (Jewish law), Herod and Pontius Pilate roman governor (Roman law)
Garden of Gethsemane
Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane with Peter, James and John and told them "Sit here while I pray" Jesus began to be deeply distressed and troubled so he told them "Stay here and keep watch".
Going a little further he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. Jesus said "Abba Father, everything is possible far you take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will? He then returned to the disciples and found them sleeping, he asks them to stay watch and pray.
Once again he went away and prayed the same thing; he came back again and found them asleep. Returning the third time he said “Are you still sleeping? Enough! The hour has come Look; the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Judas approached Jesus and said "Rabbi!" and kissed him. This was the customary greeting between n Rabbi and his disciple It was a sign of loyalty, respect and friendship but Judas' kiss was a kiss of betrayal and was to identify Jesus to the Sanhedrin guards.
The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then Matthew (one of Jesus' disciples) drew a sword and struck the servant of the high priest cutting off his ear. "Am I leading a rebellion?" said Jesus "That you have come with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the scriptures must be fulfilled. Then everyone deserted him and fled except for Peter who followed at a distance.
These events were emotional trials and trials of his faith because Jesus knew what was going to happen and what God wanted him to do. Even though he didn't want to go though with it he trusted and had great faith in God.
Trial in front of the Sanhedrin
They took Jesus to Caiaphas the high priest and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death, but they did not find any.
A trial like this should have never taken place because the trial was at night and according to Jewish law trials have to take place in the day, the witnesses should have been interviewed privately and they weren't and trials should have lasted three days but it only lasted one.
Many testified against him, but their statements did not agree. Some witnesses stood up and said "we heard him say ' I will destroy this manmade temple and in three days will build another not made by man"'. Yet even then their testimony did not agree. The high priest then stood up and asked Jesus "are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him "Are you the Christ the son of the blessed one?" "Yahweh/ I am" Jesus replied "and you will see the son of man sitting on the right hand of the mighty one and coming on the clouds of heaven".
The high priest tore his clothes as a sign that Jesus can not go back on what he has just said and that it can not be replaced like the high priest's clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
Blasphemy was so terrible to the Jews because he was saying that he was equal to God and the Jews believed in one almighty God. They all condemned him worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they bind folded. Struck him with their fists and said "Prophesy" and the guards took him and beat him.
Trial before Pilate
The Sanhedrin could say they thought Jesus deserved to die but they needed Roman permission and a good reason. They had accused Jesus of blasphemy but the Romans would not take this seriously because it was a religious charge and the Romans had so many Gods so someone saying they were equal to God would not bother them.
The Sanhedrin all met to think of a charge the Romans would take seriously. They changed the charge to treason because Pilate would have to take notice when Jesus was called 'King of the Jews'. Pilate was afraid he would lose his job or his life if the Emperor heard that one of the citizens was being called n king. So he had to question Jesus and see if this was true.
Pilate was the governor of the area ruled by the Romans and his job was to keep the peace and to rule by Roman law.
The Sanhedrin bound Jesus, led him away and turned him over to Pilate. “Are you the King of the Jews?" asked Pilate
"Yes, it is as you say" replied Jesus
The chief priests accused him of many things so again Pilate asked him "Aren't you going to answer see how many things they accuse you of" but Jesus still made no reply and Pilate was amazed.
Pilate knows Jesus is innocent and wants to release him. He knows the priests are jealous of Jesus and they want to get rid of him.
It was the custom at the feast to release a prisoner requested by their people. A man called Barabas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd called upon Pilate to release a prisoner.
“Do you want me to release the King of the Jews” asked Pilate.
The priest had stirred up the crowd to shout for Barabas and Jesus' friends had run away so they could be sure Jesus was put to death and Pilate believed that after Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem the people would shout for Jesus to be set free.
"What shall I do with the King of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!" They shouted
"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate But they shouted all the louder "Crucify Him!!" Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabas then had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace. They dressed him in a purple robe and twisted a crown of thorns which the placed on his head. They shouted "Hail the King of the Jews!" and spat at him and struck him with a staff. When they had finished mocking him they took off the purple robe put his own clothes on him and led him away to be crucified.
On the Journey to Calvary a man from Cyrene was passing by. He was forced to help Jesus carry the cross. His name was Simon, father of Alexander and Rufus.
After 3 hours Jesus was crucified. The crowd taunted him.
"so you who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days , come down from the cross and help yourself."
"He saved others" they said" but he cannot help himself"
After 6 hours it became dark over the land and at the 9th hour Jesus cried out
"Eloi eloi lama sabachthani?" which means "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"
Conclusion
In conclusion to my essay Jesus had many trials between his arrest to his death on the cross. The trials or tests he had to go through were Physical tests, tests of faith, emotional trials, and he had three legal trials: from the Sanhedrin (Jewish low) Pontius Pilate the roman governor (Roman law) and Herod. He suffered many unfair and unjust trials but with his strength and belief in God he passed all of them.
Jesus showed faith, courage, and belief, he died on the cross for us and in doing so he suffered. He did not want to die or face these trials but he had great faith in God and trusted him. I couldn't of shown such faith or believe in God. I would of been too scared of death and the whole unfairness Jesus went through.
The main benefits of Christ's trials and death on the cross are that with enough belief and faith in God we can all achieve something if one man can die and suffer for us then we all can give something back to him by ` loving one another' as he taught us.
