Jesus Christ
The Passion
The Arrest and Trial of Jesus Christ
by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D.
Jesus had but one day to live and he felt sorrowful, and perhaps even a bit fearful at what was to come to pass and his ability to withstand the tortures: "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me...the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
As Jesus well knew, he would die alone, on the cross. His disciples would run away and deny him, for as Jesus knew, they had little faith. He had no hope but God; that and his belief that he would rise again on the third day. All he need do was have faith in the "Father" and "drink" from the "cup," and then the prophecies and" thy will be done."
Jesus was sorrowful and depressed. The end was near.
"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch over me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch over me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time" and then it was time." -Matthew 26.
Jesus arose and said: "behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." -Matthew 26.
Jesus had instructed his followers that they must not to resist, lest they all be killed on the spot. Jesus was determined that he alone would go to his death, and would be tortured and crucified. As Jesus said: "all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled....Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled" (Matthew 26). His followers, his 12 disciples, had abandoned him to his fate. Even Peter, "the rock" who at first offered minimal resistence, would run away and hide, denying Jesus three times before the cock crows in the morning.
"Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly" -Matthew 27.
Jesus went willingly with his captors who mocked and savagely beat him. "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?"
As he had prophecied, Jesus was dragged before the chief priests of Israel: "And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying... Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands." -Mark 14.
Jesus had now been condemned to death by the chief priests of the Jews. But as it was Passover, and as Jesus was claiming to be the king of the Jews, the sentence could not yet be carried except by the Roman representative, the governor, Pontius Pilate.
"When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the
governor." -Matthew 27.
Pilate was not impressed with the charges. So what if Jesus, this harmless preacher, was claiming to be "the Son of the Blessed." Pilate could see no crime in that. Men were condemned to death for high treason and crimes against the Roman empire, not for preaching and prophecizing. Insofar as Pilate could tell, Jesus had committed no crime.
The priests argued otherwise. They declared Jesus a traitor who was guilty of sedition. Jesus, they told Pilate, was claiming he was the King of the Jews.
But "when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, Jesus answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly."
"And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?"
Finally, Jesus was prepared to seal his fate. He would admit that he was the Messiah, the King of the Jews, and this would be a death sentence. It would be treason against the Imperial Roman Empire. In accordance with Roman law, he would be crucified.
"Art thou the King of the Jews?" Pilate asked again.
And Jesus said unto him, So sayest thou."
As prophecied, he would be killed, but not by the Jews, and not for breaking Jewish law. He would be crucified by the Gentiles, for treason and sedition. There could be only one king of the Jews--the Roman emporer.
And yet, Pilate was not ready to play his part in this divine drama: "Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man."
The priests and scribes, and Pharisees were outraged. Jesus must die, they demanded. He was a revolutionary. He had committed treason. Jesus of Nazareth, of Galilee, was claiming to be the Messiah, the king of the Jews. It was blasphemy. Crucify him, they demanded.
Pilate was not so inclined: "When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with Jesus in many words; but Jesus answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate." -Luke 23
Herod had professed to be a Jew. Jesus said nothing because it had been prophecied that the Messiah would be killed not by Jews, but by Gentiles. Pilate, a Gentile, must condemn him to be crucified.
"Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?"
Jesus had sealed his fate. He had been born to be king, and he had committed treason and sedition by claiming the crown. Pilate had little choice but to order his death by crucifixtion. Yet, still Pilate hesitated. There was another more deserving of death, Barabbas, a Zealot, a true revolutionary who posed a direct threat to Roman rule. Perhaps he could persuade the Jews to let Jesus go in return for the life of Barabbas.
"And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?" -John 18.
Pilate was still prepared to give Jesus his freedom, to exchange the life of Jesus for a man whom he perceived to be a greater threat to Roman rule--Barabbas, a man described as a thief and revolutionary; that is, a Zealot.
"Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus."
"Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. Let him be crucified.When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
"Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified...and they took Jesus and led him away" (Matthew 27, Mark 15, John 19).
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