The main reason suggested though that Judas betrayed Jesus because of is that he was offered money by the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus, around 30 pieces of silver it is believed. Everybody knew that Judas like his ‘fair’ share of money, he regularly helped himself to the funds that Jesus and the apostles shared.
The chief priests would have arrested Jesus earlier than they actually did if it had not been for the feast of the Passover, they did not want to arrest him during that time because they thought that the people might cause riots. It was about this time that they offered Judas the 30 pieces of silver to ‘do the dirty’ on Jesus.
After the Passover, Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin, the accusation against Jesus was that he said that he would destroy a man made temple, and in 3 days build another temple not man made. Each witness’s evidence did not agree with the others’ and so the whole of the Sanhedrin could not find any evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
Jesus’ answer to the chief priest’s question about if he had anything to say about the accusations was . . . well there wasn’t one. Jesus remained silent. That was until Jesus was asked if he was the Christ, to which his answer was simply ‘yes, and you will see the son of man sitting at the right hand of the father and coming on the clouds of heaven’.
As this was said the priest tore his clothes, he did this because in those days when blasphemy was heard, as a gesture of anger you were to rip your clothes.
Jesus could then be found guilty of blasphemy; he was then spat on, punched and beaten up by the guards, whilst he was blindfolded.
Before Jesus, by the Sanhedrin, was handed over to Pilate, he was bound. When Pilate first saw Jesus he asked him, ‘ are you the king of the Jews’ Jesus replied ‘Yes it is as you say’ The chief priests had accused Jesus of many things when Pilate asked if Jesus would answer Jesus remained silent.
At this time of the year it was the usual thing to let free a prisoner that the people actually wanted in society. Pilate asked the Jews if they would rather barabbus ( a terrible thief etc.) or Jesus, a man who has done no wrong. He thought it was a no contest in Jesus’ favour but he was wrong. Pilate reluctantly released barabbus to please the crowds. He then flogged Jesus and handed him over to be crucified.
I know must answer the question of whether or not the trial before the Sanhedrin was legal.
The witness’s all gave false testimonies, which is perjury, so all of the witness’s could have been punished by death. Also the case was completed within the day, whereas if Jesus was to be found guilty then the case should have lasted at least two, these reasons alone can prove that the trial was illegal.
The way Jesus was treated during and before his death was appalling. Archaeologists and many historians provide us with information about execution by crucifixion.
- Prisoner was beaten with cat ‘o’ nine tails whip.
- He was made to carry the cross to the crucifixion site.
- The prisoner was then stripped and fixed to the cross, nails were hammered into the wrists and feet
- Prisoner was allowed drugged wine, a kind of anaesthetic to the pain.
- On the cross was a notice telling of why the prisoner was on the cross.
- Death was usually by suffocation rather than anything else, e.g. bleeding
- Death usually took a few days, but even this was sped up when the centurion put a sword into Jesus’ side.
