OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS SON TO SAVE US

Matthew chapter 26 verses 57 - 68 records the events that followed the Lord Jesusˋ arrest where they took him to Caiaphasˋ house who was the high priest that year.

(The book of John chapter 18 records that they first stopped that the house of Annas who was the high priestˋs father-in-law who then sent Jesusˋ onto to Caiaphasˋhouse.)

Peter (and another disciple per John 18) followed behind the arresting detachment to see what was going to happen to Jesus.

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, 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. But at last two false witnesses 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?”

During the questioning of Jesus, false witnesses appeared to testify against Jesus but there were no credible testmonies until two witnesses presented the fact that they heard Jesus say that He was able to destroy the temple and rebuild it three days.

Through the questioning, Jesus was silent but when the high priest, putting Jesus under oath, asked Jesus directly if He was the Christ, the Son of God.

To this Jesus answered that He was indeed who Caiaphas was asking if He was hand further to that, He would been see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.

This astounding statement by Jesus where He described His future position on the throne of God and His ultimate return to earth in glory scandalized the participants in the trial and they settled that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy and worthy of death.

Once they had determined among themselves that Jesus was guilty, they felt free to degrade Him and they began spitting on His face and striking Him and mocking His claim to be the Christ.

Because Israel was under the control of the Roman Empire at that time, the leaders of Israel had no power to impose capital punishment on anyone and so in order to have Jesus killed, they would have to take Jesus to the Roman authorities to have Him tried in Roman courts so that they could legally have Him put to death and thus the narataive will take us to the palace of the Roman governor of Judea named Pontius Pilate.

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