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TH E K I N G ' S BUSINESS
Introduction: The order of events, as given in the four Gospels, which transpired between the arrest of Jesus in the Garden and His trial before Pilate, Is as follows: A preliminary examination before Annas (John 18:13). A preliminary examination before Caiaphas (John 18:24). Examination before irregular meeting of Sanhedrin (Mark 14:55, 56). Peter's denial (John 18 : 25-27). Mocking of J esus by the servants and others (Luke 22:63-65). The assembly of the Sanhedrin at day– break (John 18:28; Matt, 27:1). Jesus before Pilate (Mark 15: 1). The preliminary examination before Annas took place In the palace of the High Priest between · 1 : 00 and 2: 00 o'clock In the morning. Annas had for– m erly been High Priest but had been de– posed by the Roman government, al– though he was the legitimate High Priest according to the Jaw of Moses, it being a life office (Num. 20:28; 35:25). No doubt he was so r ecognized by the Jews. He had great influence with his son-in-law Caiaphas, and was In good standing with the Romans. Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas (v. 24). who questioned Him r egarding His dis– cipleship and His doctrine. The Sanhe– drin could not legally meet until day– break, but an irregular meeting was h eld and false witnesses were brought to tes– tify against Jesus. When J esus made no reply to their accusations, the High Priest adjured Him to declare whether or no He were the Messiah, to which J esus replied (Matt. 26:64): '-'l'hou hnHt sulil; neverthe leHs I suy unto you. llereurter 8bnll ye see the Son of man Hitting on the right hnntl of 1rnwer. and comh1J(' In the cloud• of heuveu." Then the assembly declare that He Is worthy of death, but they cannot legally vote at that hour. They vent their hatred of Jesus by mocking and reviling Him. The highest officials of the chosen people of God descended to the
depths of hypocrisy, cruelty and Injus– tice against the One Man of whom it could be said "This man hath done noth– ing amiss." Thus they fulfilled the Scripture (Isa. 53: 7). "JI .. 'Wttlii 01•pre81u•d. und he " 'nli affH ct ed, y('t h e 011enetl not h h• mout11 ; be 18 brought UH u lnmt. to t he .l!llaughter, and RM u sheep befor.. ht-r toihenrerl!il 18 du111b, 80 h e 01Jeneth not hh11 mou th." During this time Peter-who had fol– lowed Him, but afar olI-stood with the servan ts and warmed himself (v. 18). Mark gives us the steps In Peter's fall (Mark 14:66-72) . Poor Peter! He had declared, "Though all men shall be of– fended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." But the Lord said, "This very night. " There are many ways of denying the Lord,-love of self; fear of the world; association with worldly companions; failure to testify; but they all grow out of a lack of real separation from the world and surrender to the Lord. (Psalm 1:1.) With the break of day, a regular as– sembly of the Sanhedrin was called to ratify and make legal the decision al– ready arrived at-to cause Jesus to be condemned to death (Matt. 27:1)-and to this end they brought Him before Pilate. (1) THE CHARGES AGAINST JESUS, vs. 28-35: "What accusation bring ye against this man?" v. 29. The Hall of Judgment (v. 28) was Pilate's place of residence when In Je– rusalem. His headquarters was at Caesarea, but during the feast seasons he stayed in J erusalem. Though the J ews had brought Jesus to Pilate for trial, yet they themselves would not eI>ter the Hall of Judgment for fear that they would be defiled and thus be unprepared to eat the Passover. They regarded the place as being cere– monially unclean because of contact with the Gentiles, though there was no Jaw of Moses covering the case, but only their own traditions. They were "sac– rilegiously scrupulous." They did not
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