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Then those who had seized Jesus led Him to Caiaphas. John tells us that Caiaphas was High Priest that year. Normally, the High Priest was elected for life but conditions were so bad in Judea that it almost became an annual event. The dubious honor that befell Caiaphus was similar to that of Judas. Always, in the past, when a evil thing had to be done by a High Priest, God so arranged it so that an evil man would be in office. So, it appears, it was the same this time also. It was the ruin of Caiaphas that he became the leader in putting Christ to death.
Caiaphas, the Scribes and the Elders were gathered together. Presumably, this was the Sanhedrin. They had been there all night. They were egger to get rid of Jesus and they stayed in secession until the guards brought Him in. Any other time it would have taken days to assemble this court. Many believe that they had been assembled for two days, at which time they had conceived and put into motion the plot to kill Jesus.
It is interesting to note that the normal gate to use coming into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives would have been the East Gate, but sense it was late at night and all the gates were closed, they were required to use an entrance called the "Sheep Gate". It was so called because sheep brought in to the Temple for sacrifices came in this way. Wasn't it fitting that Jesus, the Lamb sacrificed for the sins of the world, came in this way.
We do not know where the disciples were during this time. But we do have a note about Peter. It notes that Peter followed a safe distance back. It was out of "love" that Peter followed Jesus but it must have been out of "fear" that he sought to get lost amid the servants at the Palace of the High Priest. What drew Peter so close to the trial? Was it love of Jesus or was it curiosity?
It would appear that when the court opened, there were no charges to place against Jesus, so Caiaphas calls for witnesses. Many came forward, seeking to gain favor with the court, with false allegations. These witnesses and their false testimony would not work before Pilate, some basis for blasphemy had to be established. So again Caiaphas calls for witnesses. Two step forward. Their charge, "This fellow said I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days." This surly was true but of course Jesus was speaking of His own body.
Upon hearing this, Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "Have you no answer to make of these charges?" But Jesus did not answer that scripture might be fulfilled as it was written in Isa. 53:7, "As the sheep is dumb before the shearer and before the butcher, so He opened not His mouth." He was silent because His hour "had" come.
Then they put Him under oath and asked Him this question. "Tell us, on the living God, are you the Christ, the Son of the Living God?" Here was another one of those impossible situations that Jesus found Himself in many times. If He did not answer, they would find Him in contempt of God. If He did answer truly and declare that he was the Christ, they would charge Him with blasphemy. The sad part was that they were not interested in the answer anyways.
But Jesus did answer, "As you said, I am the Christ." "But I tell you, hereafter you will see me seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of Heaven." He was speaking of His position in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God and of His coming in glory at the Rapture.
The court had heard all that they wanted to hear. He had admitted that He thought that He was the Christ. This meant that He thought that He was equal with God and this was blasphemy. The High Priest went through the customary routine of tearing his cloths at the incident of blasphemy and cried out to the court to know what their judgment was. Caught up in the frenzy of the moment they forget their position of trust and honor and act like a mob trial. They cry out, "He deserves death." This was all that they could do for they did not have the authority, under Rome, to give the death sentence, only Roman representatives could do this.
It is certain that not all of this court agreed with this verdict. Surly Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathaea or perhaps even Gamiliel did not agree with this decision. But the vocal majority was heard above those with cooler minds and the judgment was that He deserved death.
As if this judgment was not enough, notice the other indignities that they did to Him after the verdict.
This was the start of a day of persecution that led to the cross.
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