Why was Jesus Condemned to Death? - Study 4/7/11
Why was Jesus condemned to death?
As we enter the Easter season, let us meditate on the sufferings of Christ, his trial, death, burial and resurrection. There is no greater interpretation or explanation of these events of Christ’s life than to read the actual account. We will therefore just read and ask the Holy Spirit to minister to our hearts. We will pick up the narrative right after the last supper of Jesus with his disciples. I will also encourage you to read the accounts in the other gospels as recorded by Mark 14-16; Luke 21-24 and John 18-21. They are all saying the same thing but from different angles and with some details that the other may not have recorded.
Why did the high priest condemn Jesus to death? You will be surprised by the high priest’s assessment and the implications. Please read on.
Matthew 27:36
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless[e] I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish[f] by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, the elders,[g] and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.[h] But at last two false witnesses[i] came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’”
62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66 What do you think?”
They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”
69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”
70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”
74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Notice the accusers of Jesus and what he was condemned for. Jesus was condemned for one reason and that is for blasphemy. What was his blasphemy. “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy!” (Matthew 26:63-65).
2. Why is this claim a blasphemy? You see the Jews understood all along what Jesus had been preaching and saying to them. He claimed that he was the son of God which is equivalent to saying that He is God. The Jews believed that there is only one God and God does not have a wife. So any claim of being the son of God is a claim to being God. Jesus claimed he was God and he never denied the conclusion of the Jewish leaders. This is very important because the only who could have died on the cross to take away the sins of man is a holy and perfect one. The only one who is perfect and holy is God.
3. Notice Jesus prayed. He did not defend himself. Jesus prayed not my will but yours be done. He willingly accepted this mission and knew exactly what he came for.
4. Jesus’ disciples were afraid and tired. They could not pray and they deserted Jesus. The disciples reflected the best of our intentions without life given to us from the power of the cross.
I am so glad that Jesus did not defend himself. His silence has meant life to us. Lent and Easter season is not a time to feel sorry for Jesus because he does not need that. It is a time to reflect and express our gratitude for what Jesus did for us.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for willingly accepting the verdict of the high priest. The only reason you did it is for me to be cleansed from my unrighteousness. Thank you for being considered a fool for my sake. You have taken the greatest insult a Creator can take from the ones he created. Thank you and forgive me for all my sins. Forgive me for the times I have deserted you and denied you. Grant me your grace to be counted worthy in your presence. Amen.
As we enter the Easter season, let us meditate on the sufferings of Christ, his trial, death, burial and resurrection. There is no greater interpretation or explanation of these events of Christ’s life than to read the actual account. We will therefore just read and ask the Holy Spirit to minister to our hearts. We will pick up the narrative right after the last supper of Jesus with his disciples. I will also encourage you to read the accounts in the other gospels as recorded by Mark 14-16; Luke 21-24 and John 18-21. They are all saying the same thing but from different angles and with some details that the other may not have recorded.
Why did the high priest condemn Jesus to death? You will be surprised by the high priest’s assessment and the implications. Please read on.
Matthew 27:36
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless[e] I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish[f] by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, the elders,[g] and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.[h] But at last two false witnesses[i] came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’”
62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66 What do you think?”
They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”
69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”
70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”
74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Notice the accusers of Jesus and what he was condemned for. Jesus was condemned for one reason and that is for blasphemy. What was his blasphemy. “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy!” (Matthew 26:63-65).
2. Why is this claim a blasphemy? You see the Jews understood all along what Jesus had been preaching and saying to them. He claimed that he was the son of God which is equivalent to saying that He is God. The Jews believed that there is only one God and God does not have a wife. So any claim of being the son of God is a claim to being God. Jesus claimed he was God and he never denied the conclusion of the Jewish leaders. This is very important because the only who could have died on the cross to take away the sins of man is a holy and perfect one. The only one who is perfect and holy is God.
3. Notice Jesus prayed. He did not defend himself. Jesus prayed not my will but yours be done. He willingly accepted this mission and knew exactly what he came for.
4. Jesus’ disciples were afraid and tired. They could not pray and they deserted Jesus. The disciples reflected the best of our intentions without life given to us from the power of the cross.
I am so glad that Jesus did not defend himself. His silence has meant life to us. Lent and Easter season is not a time to feel sorry for Jesus because he does not need that. It is a time to reflect and express our gratitude for what Jesus did for us.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for willingly accepting the verdict of the high priest. The only reason you did it is for me to be cleansed from my unrighteousness. Thank you for being considered a fool for my sake. You have taken the greatest insult a Creator can take from the ones he created. Thank you and forgive me for all my sins. Forgive me for the times I have deserted you and denied you. Grant me your grace to be counted worthy in your presence. Amen.
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