The Messiah's Arrest in a Crooked Trial

Apr. 13, 2025

Background:

People testify to the lies made up about us saying that it is true
Not everyone in prison is guilty, someone incriminated them to get them locked away
Christ came unto his own and his own received him not (John 1:11)
Jesus opened it up to not only the Jews but the Gentiles as well
Christ was standing before the court and all the negative feelings against humanity
Christ prepared for this hour in the garden of Gethsemane and we also must prepare ourselves
We must always be on alert

Key Sermon Points:

1. The court did not operate fairly or mercifully towards Jesus

Jesus was already prepared to meet them because he was prayed up so he went to meet those that were after him
In the span of a few hours several factors were revealed by the hatred in their hearts
They had the case at night hastily at night which was illegal
During daytime it allowed witnesses to come forward and allowed for fairness and transparency
Jesus was fair (Matthew 8:5-13)
Jesus has compassion (Matthew 9:35-38)
Jesus did not have a witness and they had false witnesses
All cases had to be tried in court but Jesus was being tried during the Passover week and no cases should be tried that time
They did not have the power to administer capital punishment they had to go to the Romans

2. There was the confused faith and loyalty of Peter

Peter did not pray during the time that Jesus had told him to pray in the garden
When we operate in the spirit all things are possible but when we operate in the flesh the devil will tear us up
Peter wanted to see the end but watched from a distance
When our prayer life is jacked up we too are jacked up
Peter was overconfident
A lot of timed we are over confident and we have not power unless we line up with Jesus
Peter denied Christ (Matthew 26:69-74)
When we are not the light we should be we deny who He is
Peter denying is a testimony of not only his weak faith but ours also...It reminds us of God's grace
If we stand for Christ we often find our ridicule and abuse will pass over.
We focus on our fears instead of what he has done for us
When we stand for right God will always be there for us

3. The religious and evil leaders with false testimony

These people were lined up to come and lie on Jesus
The court was not convening to see if Jesus was guilty but to seek false witnesses against Jesus
It is important for us as believers to tell the truth because Jesus is truth and false witnesses will be punished (Proverbs 19:5)
Lies come straight from the devil
You lose credibility and no one wants to be around you (Proverbs 12:22)

4. The frustration of the evil council

The council knew the witnesses were not credible, so they went after Jesus directly
Jesus kept silent when falsely accused (Matthew 26:63)
His silence was that of innocence (Isaiah 53:7)
Jesus came as the sacrificial lamb but when he returns he is coming as a lion
Jesus could not deny who he was and confirmed that he was the Messiah, the Son of God

5. They unjustly treated Jesus