Episode 145 - Jesus on Trial: Authority, Fear, and the Pursuit of Truth

Welcome to Focused on Christ! In this powerful episode, hosts Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into the dramatic and pivotal story of the trial of Jesus. We explore the events leading up to and during Christ's appearances before Caiaphas and Pontius Pilate.

• The Arrest and Peter's Sword: We begin by examining the moment of Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane, including Peter's impulsive act of cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant. Jesus rebukes Peter, emphasizing that His purpose is not to accomplish God's will through violence, contrasting this with the desire for worldly power. Jesus asserts that He could call down "more than 12 legions of angels" (around 72,000) but chooses not to, to fulfill the Scriptures.

  
  

• The Disciples' Flight: We discuss the fear that caused the disciples to abandon Jesus, with one young man even fleeing naked after being seized. This event illustrates the nature of humanity's focus on self-preservation in stark contrast to Christ’s selflessness.

  
  

• The Illegal Trial before Caiaphas: Jesus is led to Caiaphas, the high priest, where an illegal night trial takes place before the council (Sanhedrin). Caiaphas was installed by the Romans, but Annas (related to Caiaphas) was the de facto authority and orchestrator of hostility against Jesus. The council sought false testimony to put Jesus to death.

  
  

• Jesus' Confession and Rejection: When asked directly if He is the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus answers truthfully, referencing the prophecy of the Son of Man in Daniel. The high priest tears his robes, accusing Jesus of blasphemy, and the council declares He "deserves death". The irony is that the thing they rejected Jesus for was the truth: He is the Messiah, the Son of God.

  
  

• The Question of Truth before Pilate: Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, was present in Jerusalem due to the potential for rebellion during the Passover. Jesus tells Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world," and that He came to "bear witness to the truth". Pilate responds with the famous question, "What is truth?". Though Pilate finds "no guilt" in Jesus, he disregards the truth revealed to him.

  
  

This tragic yet essential moment illustrates God's sovereign plan to steward evil for His ultimate purpose of salvation.

Next week, we will continue the story by looking at the actions and ultimate fate of Peter and Judas during the time of Jesus' trial.

Focused on Christ is a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church.

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