WHAT LAWS DID JESUS BREAK? (4)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) What happened to Jesus, the Savior of mankind, is without precedent. Christ was condemned to death even AFTER he was declared innocent by the ruling authority (Pontius Pilate)!
b) Few people realize that Jesus actually had TWO trials. The first one, at the High Priest's palace, was right after his arrest and began around 2 a.m. Although this trial was held only with judges who were his enemies, enough of them were at the trial to officially arrive at a verdict and declare a sentence. Many of the details of this proceeding were recorded by the gospel authors. Because Jewish law demanded two sessions of the Sanhedrin hear and try a defendant, a second trial was held around 5 a.m. Very little is written about this proceeding, which was likely nothing more than a "rubber stamp" or automatic approval of the first trial. He was bound and sent to the Roman authorities around 6 a.m.
c) Below is the reason(s) why what happened to Christ after his last Passover, centering around what occurred during his first trial, was contrary to Biblical principles of justice or Jewish / Hebrew law.
1. The trial was held at night
a) Jewish law permitted only proceedings that took place during the daylight hours (Mishna, Sanhedrin 4:1, Mendelsohn, Criminal Jurisprudence of the Ancient Hebrews, p. 11).
i) "They shall not judge on the eve of the Sabbath nor on that of any festival." (Mishna, San. 4:1)
4. The trial was too short
a) Both trials were completed in the space of less than five hours. Jewish law says, however, that if a death sentence is pronounced that a trial cannot conclude until the next day (Mishna, Sanhedrin 4:1). There is little doubt that the starting time of the first trial (about 2 a.m.) and its shortness (around three hours) were sought after by the enemies of Jesus because:
i) It minimized the chances that council members who may or would have advocated him (they were not informed of the first trial) suddenly or accidentally showed up.
ii) It rendered nearly impossible the chances that any witnesses of the defense could be notified and arrive at the trial in time to offer their testimony.
The End ...
a) What happened to Jesus, the Savior of mankind, is without precedent. Christ was condemned to death even AFTER he was declared innocent by the ruling authority (Pontius Pilate)!
b) Few people realize that Jesus actually had TWO trials. The first one, at the High Priest's palace, was right after his arrest and began around 2 a.m. Although this trial was held only with judges who were his enemies, enough of them were at the trial to officially arrive at a verdict and declare a sentence. Many of the details of this proceeding were recorded by the gospel authors. Because Jewish law demanded two sessions of the Sanhedrin hear and try a defendant, a second trial was held around 5 a.m. Very little is written about this proceeding, which was likely nothing more than a "rubber stamp" or automatic approval of the first trial. He was bound and sent to the Roman authorities around 6 a.m.
c) Below is the reason(s) why what happened to Christ after his last Passover, centering around what occurred during his first trial, was contrary to Biblical principles of justice or Jewish / Hebrew law.
1. The trial was held at night
a) Jewish law permitted only proceedings that took place during the daylight hours (Mishna, Sanhedrin 4:1, Mendelsohn, Criminal Jurisprudence of the Ancient Hebrews, p. 11).
2. The trial was held before morning sacrifice at temple
a) Because the trial began before morning sacrifices at the temple it was illegal based on Jewish law (Talmud, Jer. San. 1:19).
a) Because the trial began before morning sacrifices at the temple it was illegal based on Jewish law (Talmud, Jer. San. 1:19).
3. The trial was held before one of God's annual feast days
a) The trial was illegal, based on Jewish law, because it began on a day before a high Holy Day (First Day of Unleavened Bread - John 18:28).
a) The trial was illegal, based on Jewish law, because it began on a day before a high Holy Day (First Day of Unleavened Bread - John 18:28).
i) "They shall not judge on the eve of the Sabbath nor on that of any festival." (Mishna, San. 4:1)
4. The trial was too short
a) Both trials were completed in the space of less than five hours. Jewish law says, however, that if a death sentence is pronounced that a trial cannot conclude until the next day (Mishna, Sanhedrin 4:1). There is little doubt that the starting time of the first trial (about 2 a.m.) and its shortness (around three hours) were sought after by the enemies of Jesus because:
i) It minimized the chances that council members who may or would have advocated him (they were not informed of the first trial) suddenly or accidentally showed up.
ii) It rendered nearly impossible the chances that any witnesses of the defense could be notified and arrive at the trial in time to offer their testimony.
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