GUILTY!: What Were the Charges Brought Against Jesus and Who was Responsible for His Death?

GUILTY!

What Were the Charges Brought Against Jesus and Who was Responsible for His Death?

Luke 22:63 - 71

April 5, 2022

Ernest L. Williams, Sr.

Why do people who sometimes have similar beliefs are frequently at odds with each

other? We see that with Democrats and Republicans, among denominational Christian groups,

black and white people in this country. Maybe its not our differences that divide us but our

similarities. Jesus and the Jewish leaders in his day both believed in God, yet they were

constantly at odds. Perhaps before we cast judgment on others because of our differences, you

may want to walk a mile in their shoes.

If we are going to make the world a better place, one person at a time, sometimes we

need to push our wants aside and get to know people who are different than us. That is what Mrs.

Xernona Clayton did in 1967. Mrs. Clayton was a Civil Rights activists working for Dr. King

and Mrs. Coretta Scott King in Atlanta in the 1960s. Mr. Calvin Craig, a Grand Dragon of the Ku

Klux Klan in Atlanta was a strong advocate for racial segregation and a leader of Klan rallies and

cross burnings.

Clayton and Craig got to know each other when they both became involved in the Model

Cities program in 1967. They built an unusual relationship based on daily debates about their

differing views on race and society. Surprising everyone, Craig resigned from the Klan in 1968,

denouncing the organization and crediting Clayton for his conversion. All because a little lady in

Georgia dared to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

But sometimes, despite good efforts, some people will not change. The religious leaders

in Jesus’ day sure didn’t change. But that didn’t stop Jesus from keeping to his plan. And neither

should mean, self-willed, heartless people keep you from your goals in life.

Our task, examine the charges that were brought against the Lord Jesus and who was

responsible for his death. In Matthew 26:3, the chief priests and elders plot to kill Jesus. There

was no justice in his case even though Moses had given a form of due process and the

presumption of innocence (Deut 19:15-20; Nu 35:30). They were determined to kill him before a

trial had even begun. About that time Judas met with the chief priests (Mt 26:14). This is one of

the most dreaded statements in all of Scripture, “From then on Judas watched for an opportunity

to hand him over.” (Mt 26:16)

After the Lord’s Supper, the temple guards arrested the Lord in the garden and then

brought him to Caiaphas (v.57). The Sanhedrin was looking for false witnesses up front (v. 59).

Two false witnesses came forward (vv. 59, 60) but their stories did not agree (Mk 14:56). Jesus’s

charge (in Matthew): “I am able to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days’ (v. 61). [We

read this like a movie, we know what’s coming next.]

Jesus is then interrogated by the high priest (vv. 62-63). Charge: Blasphemy (v. 65). They

spit in his face and hit him and told him to prophecy, “Who hit you?” (vv. 67-68). Mark’s

account shows that they blindfolded Jesus during the mocking (Mk 14:65). The next morning

(Friday), Jesus is taken to Pilate (Mt 27:11). Jesus is sentenced by Pilate (v. 24) and then flogged

(v. 26). He is mocked by the soldiers (vv. 27-31, Mk 15:16-20). Before he is taken to Pilate,

Jesus is sentenced at Caiaphas’ house (Mt 27:1; Mk 15:1; Lk 22:54). The Sanhedrin then

sentenced him again. When the Sanhedrin renders the verdict of guilty, Jesus is set to Pilate. The

chief priests and elders prosecute Jesus before Pilate (Mk 15:3).

In Luke’s account, after the Lord is taken to the house of the high priest, he is mocked by

the temple guards (Lk 22:63). After the Jewish mocking in Luke, Jesus is immediately taken to

the Sanhedrin (Lk 22:66). The court led Jesus to Pilate in Luke 23. Luke is the only account that

gives the trials of Jesus before Pilate and Herod. The Jewish court brings four charges against

Jesus before Pilate:

1. Subverting our nation (Lk 23:2).

2. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar (Lk 23:2).

3. Claims to be Christ, a king (Lk 23:2). Sidenote: Jesus was being convicted on

being who he really was. People today are convicted on trying to be someone else.

4. He stirs up the people (Lk 23:5).

Pilate sends Jesus to Herod (Lk 23:8-12). In the text you notice the tension between Pilate

and Herod (v. 12). What were the final charges? We see the charges when Jesus is brought

back to Pilate: Insurrection (rebellion/treason) (v. 14). Ironically, the man that the Jews was

asking to be released was actually guilty of insurrection (rebellion) and murder (Lk 23:19; Jn

18:40).

John’s account fills in more detail about the plurality of chief priests. In John, Jesus is

first tried by Annas, the outgoing high priest) and then by Caiaphas, the current high priest (Jn

18: 13, 14). This brings the total to six trials: before Annas, before Caiaphas, before the

Sanhedrin, before Pilate, before Herod, and then back before Pilate again.

Who was responsible for Jesus’s death?

 The chief priests, rulers, and the people (Lk 23:13).

 Those who said crucify him (Lk 23:20-21, 23).

 You and me.

 God the Father

What are some of the theological and historical issues in the text?

1. The Sanhedrin consisted of 70 elders divided into 3 divisions or 23s, plus the high priest.

(Ex 24:1, 9; Nu 11:16). The Jewish trial of Jesus was handled incorrectly according to

Moses:

a. A trial held at night.

b. At the high priest’s house

c. On the eve of a festival day

d. Beginning with reasons for conviction

e. Based on false contradictory witnesses.

f. The verdict rendered on the day of the trial.

2. Caiaphas’ prophecy (Jn 18:14): “Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews,

that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”

3. The mocking of Pilate and his guards. This is Matthew’s account (Mt 27:27-31).

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto

him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in

his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King

of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own

raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

4. What is the meaning of Jesus’ statement before the Sanhedrin? (Mt 26:64; Mk 14:62):

“ Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see

the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

When Jesus said this, the high priest tore his clothes and charged Jesus with blasphemy.

But when they get to Pilate, they change the charges because blasphemy was not a

Roman offense.

Application

1. I wanted to go over Jesus’ trial to show you what all was involved concerning our

salvation. Jesus was wrongfully convicted by Jewish leaders who were to blind to Jesus

as the Son of God. They were comfortable in their positions and lifestyles to submit to

Jesus. Jesus did not fit their social status. Is that how it is today? Have we gotten to the

place now where we are out of touched with Jesus?

2. Did you know that we all are responsible for his death? He died for our sins. Listen to an

account of Jesus’ suffering, 700 years prior (Is 53).

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as

it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement

of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord

hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to

the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was

cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

3. One aspect of being a Christian is suffering for Christ. How will you hold up when you

are called upon to suffer for Christ? (2 Tim 3:12) Yea, and all that will live godly in

Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

4. One of the best methods of reconciliation is to put yourself in your opponent’s place.

Jesus did that for us. Will we do the same for him?

2 Corinthians 5:

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to

us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their

trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in

Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the

righteousness of God in him.

Conclusion

If we were to be charged with being a Christian, would we be found guilty or innocent?

Are we guilty of witnessing Christ to a family member, loved one, to a friend, or to a stranger?

Are we guilty of visiting the sick? Are we guilty of feeding the hungry? Are we guilty of visiting

with those in prison? Are we guilty of clothing the naked and destitute? Are we guilty of truly

loving our wives, husbands, children, and parents? Are we guilty of being willing to walk n

someone else’s shoes to better understand them? Are we guilty of forgiving those who have

either did us wrong or did a loved one wrong? Are we guilty of giving cheerfully?