Jesus of Nazareth on Trial

First published: 2021-01-02

On May 15, 1964 Victor Achter gave a lecture on the public radio station, WDR, in Cologne, West Germany. The title of the lecture was “Der Prozess gegen Jesus von Nazarethl” [The Trial against Jesus of Nazareth]. Viktor Achter was a professor of law history at the University of Cologne, Germany.

Law historians have to examine carefully the reliability of historic documents, to be sure that the information they contain is authentic. Professor Achter raised the question if the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin and before the Roman provincial administrator, Pontius Pilate, were reliable historic reports or inventions of the apostles and other followers of Jesus. In the following I summarize Victor Achter’s findings.

There were two different proceedings: a blasphemy trial before the Sanhedrin and an administrative executive order by Pontius Pilate.

Pilate openly stated that he did not find Jesus to be guilty of anything. However, Jerusalem was crowded at the time of the Passover. He had to avoid the outbreak of riots by any means. He, too, reasoned that is was better for one man to die than many people dying in a riot. He sacrificed Jesus for the sake of public order.

The Blasphemy Trial

The proceedings of a blasphemy trial can be found in the writings of the Mishna and the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmud.

After the 71 members of the Sanhedrin had assembled. The accused suspect was brought in. Then witnesses were brought in individually. Each witness would give his testimony without pronouncing the blasphemy directly; they would substitute the literal blasphemy with other words. For example, instead of saying the accused pronounced the name “God”, the witness would say he pronounced the name “of the most High.” The witnesses did not hear the testimony of the other witnesses.

A conviction of guilt was reached when the testimonies of the witnesses agreed, not only in the main accusation, but also in details, like when and where they witnessed what the accused said and did. Once the conviction was reached, the oldest witness was called in to give his testimony again, but this time pronouncing the blasphemy literally. Upon hearing this the members of the Sanhedrin would rend their garment; this tear of the garments would never be repaired, to express that they had heard the witnesses of an unspeakable, highly offensive crime.

I will now quote the text from the Gospel according to Mark:

And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. (Mark 14:53-64)

Here are some very important points to notice:

The court was prejudiced: “And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death.” The court was not seeking the truth, but a death sentence.
There was a first attempt to gain a conviction. We do not know what accusations were raised against Jesus by the many false witnesses. Because they did not agree, their attempt to condemn Jesus to death failed.
In a second attempt to reach a conviction Mark reports the accusation; but again the testimony of the false witnesses did not agree. At this point no conviction of the crime was reached. Jesus was guiltless and could not be put to death.
The High Priest, who was leading the court, was disturbed, because Jesus did not answer even with one word to all the accusations, so he asked Jesus directly: “Art thou the Christ [in Hebrew: Messiah], the Son of the Blessed?” In his question the High Priest avoided pronouncing the name of God, he used the word “Blessed” instead.
Up to this moment, Jesus had not wasted even one word, but when the High Priest asked him directly if he was the Messiah, he answered; and since he had been silent, now he had the full attention of the whole court.
Jesus answered the question if he is the Messiah and the Son of God saying, “I am.” In the presence of the Sanhedrin, the highest court in Israel, Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God. The “I am” in the English translation is, in the Aramaic text of the Old Testament, the same word that is used in Exodus 3:14.

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Jesus added: “and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Jesus also avoided pronouncing the name of God by substituting the name of God with the word “Power.”
“And ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” This is a reference to Daniel’s prophecy. This prophecy was well known among the scribes and Pharisees. By alluding to Daniel’s prophecy he left no doubt as to who he is.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14.

This prophecy was fulfilled after Christ’s resurrection when he ascended to heave.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven, and the cloud received him, and he was covered from their eyes. Acts 1:9-11.

Jesus alluded to Daniel’s prophecy. But here he spoke not of is ascension to heave but predicted his second coming, that also the angels announced. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven, and the cloud received him, and he was covered from their eyes. Acts 1:9-11.

Jesus’ answer was like ab bombshell. The response of the High Priest and the Sanhedrin to his words was swift and unanimous, “Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.”
Jesus was not convicted of any crime by the many false witnesses. By saying the full truth, he committed the “crime” in the midst of the courtroom, before all the judges. Because the members of the Sanhedrin did not believe Christ’s testimony, they condemned him to death. Had they believed him, they would have fallen on their knees and worshiped him.

Jesus did not reveal who he was somewhere in a hidden, dark corner; but he said who he was openly before the highest court of Israel. His claim to be the Son of God, and to be the Messiah led to his condemnation and his death! And so he died on a cross.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. (I Peter 3:18).

We all are sitting in the seat of the judges, even today; because of the far reaching claims made by Jesus of Nazareth, who was born in Bethlehem.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (II Timothy 4:1-2).

We will either join the verdict of death, or we will humble ourselves and worship him; there is no neutral ground!

What is your verdict?