Ch. 63, Before the Sanhedrin Court
“Son of Man: Urantia,” 2nd edition
Before the Sanhedrin Court
In secret, Annas’ agents had told the captain of the Roman soldiers to bring Jesus immediately to his palace after he had been arrested. The former high priest wanted to maintain his prestige as the chief religious authority of the Jews. He also had another reason for keeping Jesus at his house for several hours: to allow time to legally call together the Sanhedrin. It was unlawful to convene the Sanhedrin court before the morning sacrifice in the temple, and that animal was killed about 3 A.M. Annas knew that some thirty members of the Sanhedrin, all openly and strongly opposed to Jesus, had been waiting since midnight at Caiaphas’ palace. This group also constituted a court because it only took twenty-three members to do so, and they were ready to judge Jesus as soon as he was put in front of them.
Jesus spent about three hours at Annas’ palace on Mount Olivet, not far from the Gethsemane garden where they had arrested him. John Zebedee was safe in the palace not only because of the Roman captain’s word, but also because his mother, Salome, was a distant relative of the former high priest and he and his brother James were well known to the older servants having been guests at the palace many times.
Annas’ Examination
Annas had become rich off of the temple revenues, his son-in-law was the acting high priest, and with his relationships with the Roman authorities he was the most powerful person in all Jewry. He was suave, tactful, and plotting. He wanted to be in charge of getting rid of Jesus fearing to trust such an important task to his brusque and aggressive son-in-law. Annas intended to make sure that the Sadducees were in charge of Jesus’ trial—he was afraid that some of the Pharisees would be sympathetic because practically all of the members of the Sanhedrin who had fallen over to Jesus had been Pharisees.
Annas had not seen Jesus for several years, not since he had shown up at his house and then immediately left after seeing Annas’ reserve when greeting him. Annas had thought about using this early acquaintance to try and get Jesus to abandon his claims and to leave Palestine. He was reluctant to take part in murdering a good man, and had thought that Jesus might decide to leave the country instead of being killed. But when Annas stood in front of the stalwart and determined Galilean he knew at once that it would be useless to make such proposals: Jesus was even more majestic and well-poised than Annas remembered him.
When Jesus was young Annas had taken an inordinate interest in him, but now his income was threatened by Jesus driving the money-changers and other merchants out of the temple. This act had made the former high priest far angrier than had Jesus’ teachings. Annas entered his spacious audience chamber, sat down in a large chair, and ordered Jesus brought before him. After a few moments silently looking at the Master, he said “You realize that something has to be done about your teaching because you are disturbing the peace and order of our country.” As Annas glared questioningly at Jesus the Master looked straight into his eyes but said nothing. Annas asked “What are the names of your disciples, besides Simon Zelotes, the agitator?” Again Jesus looked down on him, but he did not answer.
Annas was upset by Jesus’ refusal to answer, so much so that he said “Do you not care if I am friendly to you or not? Do you have no regard for the power I have in deciding your fate?”
Jesus replied “Annas, you know that you could have no power over me unless it was permitted by my Father. Some would destroy the Son of Man because they are ignorant; they do not know any better. But you, friend, know what you are doing. How can you then reject the light of God?”
Jesus’ kind manner bewildered Annas. But he had already made up his mind that Jesus either had to die or he had to leave Palestine, so he summoned up his courage and asked “Just what is it you are trying to teach the people? What do you claim to be?”
Jesus replied “You know full well that I have spoken plainly to the world. I have taught in the synagogues and many times in the temple where all the Jews and many of the gentiles have heard me. In secret I have said nothing. Why then do you ask me about my teaching? Why do you not summon those who have heard me and ask them? Behold, all Jerusalem has heard what I have spoken even if you yourself have not heard these teachings.”
Before Annas could reply the chief steward of the palace who was standing nearby slapped Jesus in the face saying “How dare you answer the high priest with such words?”
Annas did not reprimand his steward, but Jesus said “My friend, if I have spoken evil bear witness against the evil; but if I have spoken the truth, why then would you hit me?”
Although Annas regretted that his steward had hit Jesus, he was too proud to show any notice of it. Confused, he went into another room leaving Jesus alone with the temple guards and household servants for almost an hour. When he returned he went up to Jesus’ side and said “Do you claim to be the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel?”
Jesus replied “Annas you have known me since I was a boy. You know that I claim to be nothing except what my Father has made me and that I have been sent to all people, Jew as well as gentile.”
Annas said “I have been told that you have claimed to be the Messiah. Is that true?”
Jesus looked at Annas but only replied “So you have said.”
Messengers arrived from Caiaphas’ palace to ask what time Jesus would be brought before the Sanhedrin court; since it was nearing daybreak Annas thought it best to send Jesus, bound and in the custody of the temple guards, to Caiaphas. A short time later he followed after them.
Peter in the Courtyard
As the band that was guarding Jesus approached the entrance to Annas’ palace, John Zebedee was marching alongside the Roman captain. Judas had dropped some distance behind everyone, and Simon Peter still followed from farther off. After John had entered the palace courtyard with Jesus and the guards, Judas came up to the gate but when he saw John and Jesus he decided to go over to Caiaphas’ home where he knew Jesus’ real trial would later take place. Soon after Judas left Simon Peter arrived, and as he stood before the gate John looked over and saw him just about the time that they were taking Jesus into the palace. The woman servant who was in charge of the gate knew John, and when he asked her to let Peter in she was happy to do so.
After entering the courtyard Peter went over to the charcoal fire to warm up because the night was cold. He felt out of place here among Jesus’ enemies, and indeed he was out of place. Jesus had not told him to stay near at hand like he had John: he was supposed to be with the other apostles who had been specifically warned not to risk their lives during Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.
Peter had hidden his sword shortly before he got to the palace gate, so he entered Annas’ courtyard unarmed. His mind was whirling: he was confused; he could scarcely realize that Jesus had been arrested. Peter could not grasp the reality of the situation—that he was there in Annas’ courtyard warming up beside the high priest’s servants. He wondered what the other apostles were doing, and after pondering how John had been admitted to the palace he decided that it was because the servants knew John since he had asked the gate-keeper to let him enter.
As Peter was warming himself by the fire, she who had opened the gate for him went over to Peter and mischievously asked “Are you not also one of this man’s disciples?”
Now Peter should not have been surprised at being known because it was John who had asked the girl to let him pass through the palace gates, but he was so nervous at being recognized as an apostle that it threw him off balance and with only one thought uppermost in his mind—the thought of escaping with his life—he quickly answered the maid and replied “I am not.”
Soon after, another servant came up to Peter and asked “Did I not see you in the garden when they arrested this fellow? Are you not also one of his followers?”
Peter was now thoroughly alarmed; he saw no way of safely escaping from these accusers so he hotly denied all association with Jesus and said “I do not know this man, neither am I one of his followers.”
The woman from the gate pulled Peter to one side and said “I am sure you are a disciple of this Jesus, not only because one of his followers asked me to let you into the courtyard, but because my sister here has seen you in the temple with this man. Why do you deny this?”
Peter, with much cussing and swearing, denied all knowledge of Jesus and again said “I am not this man’s follower: I do not even know him; I have never heard of him before.”
Peter left the firepit and walked around the courtyard. He wanted to escape but he was afraid to attract attention to himself. On getting cold he returned to the fire, and one of the men standing near him said “Surely you are one of this man’s disciples. This Jesus is a Galilean, and your speech betrays you because you also speak like a Galilean.” Again Peter denied all connection with his Master.
Peter was so nervous that he again left the fire and went off by himself on to the porch. After he had isolated himself for more than an hour, the gatekeeper and her sister happened to meet him and again both of them teased him saying he was one of Jesus’ followers. Again Peter denied that he was, just as the cock crowed reminding him of Jesus’ warning earlier that night. As Peter stood there his heart heavy and now crushed with guilt, the palace doors opened and the guards led Jesus past him on the way to Caiaphas’ house. As the Master walked by looking at Peter, Jesus saw the despair on his former self-confident and superficially brave apostle’s face. Peter never forgot that look as long as he lived: no mortal had ever before seen such pity and love in Jesus’ face.
After Jesus and the guards passed out of the palace gates Peter followed them, but only for a short distance. He could not go any farther: he sat down by the side of the road and cried. He was bitter. When he was done crying those agonizing tears he returned to the camp hoping to find his brother, Andrew. When he arrived he only found David Zebedee, who sent a messenger along to guide him to where his brother was hiding in Jerusalem.
Peter’s entire experience occurred in Annas’ palace courtyard on Mount Olivet. He did not follow Jesus and the high priest to Caiaphas’ palace. Since Peter realized that he had repeatedly denied Jesus by hearing the cock crow, that indicates that all of this occurred outside of Jerusalem because it was against the law to keep chickens in the city proper.
Up until the cock crowed and Peter came to his better senses, his only thought as he walked up and down the porch to keep warm was how clever he had been dodging the servant’s accusations identifying him with Jesus. At the time he was only thinking that these servants had no moral or legal right to question him, and he congratulated himself thinking that he had avoided being identified and possibly subjected to arrest. Not until the cock crowed did it dawn on Peter that he had denied his Master: not until Jesus had looked at him did he realize that he had failed to live up to his privileges as an ambassador of the kingdom.
Having taken the first step along the path of compromise and least resistance, there was no other choice apparent to Peter except to continue his decided course. It requires a majestic character having started out wrong to turn around and go right. All too often a person’s mind tends to justify continuing on the wrong path once started. Peter never believed that he could be forgiven until he met Jesus after the resurrection and saw that his Master received him just like he did before this tragic night of denials.
Before the Sanhedrin Court
At three-thirty that morning Caiaphas called the Sanhedrin court to order and asked for Jesus to be brought before them for his formal trial. This was not a regular meeting of the Sanhedrin, and it was not held in the usual temple chamber hewn out of stone: it was a special court of some thirty members being held in the high priest’s palace. Three times before the Sanhedrin had ordered Jesus’ death on informal charges of blasphemy, lawbreaking, and flouting the traditions of Israel. John Zebedee was with Jesus throughout this so-called trial.
How these scribes, Sadducees, chief priests, and some of the Pharisees flattered themselves that Jesus, the one who had disturbed their position and challenged their authority, was now firmly in their hands! They were resolved that he would never escape alive. Ordinarily when the Jews tried a person about something that could result in the death sentence they proceeded carefully: they had safeguards in place to ensure fairness when conducting the trial and selecting the witnesses. But this time Caiaphas acted more like a prosecutor than an unbiased judge. Jesus appeared before this court dressed in his usual cloths with his hands tied behind his back. The entire court was startled and somewhat confused by how majestic he looked. Never before had they witnessed such composure in a man on trial for his life.
Jewish law required that at least two witnesses had to agree on any point before a charge could be made against the prisoner. Judas could not be used as a witness because the Jews specifically forbid a traitor’s testimony. More than twenty false witnesses were there to testify against Jesus, but their testimony was so contradictory and it was so evident that it was all trumped up that even the Sanhedrin was ashamed of it. Jesus stood there looking down gently on the liars, and his manner made the witnesses uneasy. The entire time the Master never said a word; he made no reply to their many false accusations.
The first time that any two of the witnesses even came close to an agreement was when two men testified that in one of Jesus’ sermons they had heard him say that he would “destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days make another temple without hands.” Now that was not exactly what Jesus had said, but regardless he had pointed to his own body when he made that remark.
Although the high priest shouted at Jesus, “Are you not going to answer any of these charges?” Jesus did not say a word. He stood there in silence while others came up and told their lies. The witnesses were filled with such hatred, fanaticism, and dishonest exaggeration that their testimony was meaningless. The best answer to their lies was Jesus’ calm and majestic silence. Shortly after the trial started Annas arrived and took his seat beside Caiaphas. Annas now stood up and argued that Jesus’ threat to destroy the temple was enough to bring three charges against him. First, that he was a liar and dangerous for the people; he taught them impossible things and otherwise deceived them. Second, that he was a fanatic and a revolutionary; he advocated violently destroying the sacred temple, and third, that he taught magic because he promised to build a new temple and to do so without hands.
The full Sanhedrin had already agreed that Jesus was guilty of breaking Jewish laws that carried the death-sentence, but now they needed to come up with charges that would allow Pilate to also order the death sentence. They had to have the Roman governor’s consent before it was legal to kill Jesus. Annas intended to follow the idea of making it appear that Jesus was too dangerous of a teacher to be out among the people.
But Caiaphas could not tolerate watching Jesus just stand there in unbroken silence and perfect composure, and he thought he knew of at least one way to make him speak. After rushing over to Jesus’ side and shaking an accusing finger in his face, Caiaphas said “I command you in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Deliverer, the Son of God.”
Jesus replied “I am. Soon I go to the Father, and presently will the Son of Man be clothed with power and once more reign over the hosts of heaven.”
The high priest became even angrier, and tearing at his outer court-robe yelled “Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, you have all heard this man speaking against God. Now what do you think should be done with this blasphemer and lawbreaker?”
They all answered as one declaring “He is worthy of death; crucify him.”
Jesus showed no interest in any of the questions he was asked, except for the one question relating to his mission on Earth. When asked if he was the Son of God he instantly and undeniably said yes.
Annas wanted the trial to continue so they could strengthen the charges against Jesus before presenting them to Pilate. But the others were anxious to get the trial over with: no secular work could be done after noon that day and they all wanted to prepare for the Passover. They were also worried that Pilate would leave at any time and return to Caesarea, the Roman capital, since he was only in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
Annas lost that argument and could not control the court. After Jesus had answered Caiaphas in such an unexpected way, the high priest stepped forward and hit him in the face with his hand. Annas then sat there in shock as he watched the other members of the court spit in Jesus’ face and mockingly slap him as they left. In disorder and confusion, this first session of Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin ended at four-thirty in the morning.
Blinded and prejudiced by tradition thirty false judges with their false witnesses were presuming to judge the righteous Creator of a universe. These accusers, passionate with hate, were infuriated at this God-human’s majesty and superb bearing. His silence was terrible to endure and his words were defiant and fearless. Jesus was unmoved by their threats and unafraid of their assaults. People sat in judgment on God, but even then God loved them and would have saved them if they had allowed it.
The Hour of Humiliation
Jewish law required that whenever passing the death sentence there had to be two sessions of the court. This second session was supposed to be held the day following the first, and the time in between the two was supposed to be spent fasting and mourning. But these men were impatient and could not wait until the next day to confirm their decision to kill Jesus: they only waited one hour. In the meantime, Jesus was left in the courtroom with the temple guards who along with the high priest’s servants amused themselves heaping every sort of indignity they could on the Son of Man. They mocked him, spit on him, and beat him cruelly: they would hit Jesus in the face with a stick and then say “Divine for us, you the Deliverer, who it was that hit you.” These insults and assaults on this unresisting Galilean continued for a full hour.
During the mock trials and this hour of the guards and servants tormenting Jesus, John Zebedee was alone and pretty much terrified waiting in a room off to the side of the court. When the beatings had started Jesus indicated to John with a nod of his head that he should leave the room. Jesus well knew that if he allowed his apostle to stay to watch the insults that John would be so resentful he would probably respond and then be killed.
Throughout this awful hour Jesus said nothing. For this gentle and sensitive soul, a human joined with the God of all, no part of his humiliation was worse than this hour at the mercy of cruel and ignorant guards and servants who had been aroused to abuse him by the Sanhedrin’s example. The human heart can in no way imagine the shudder of outrage that swept over a vast universe as the celestial beings witnessed their beloved Sovereign submitting himself to his stupid and misguided creatures on the unfortunate sin-darkened world of Urantia.
What is this animalistic trait in humanity that leads people to want to insult and physically assault whatever they cannot spiritually attain or intellectually achieve? In the semi-civilized person there still lurks an evil brutality that looks to vent itself on those people who have superior wisdom and spirituality. Witness the brutal ferocity and evil coarseness of these supposedly civilized people as they took a certain form of animal pleasure from physically attacking the unresisting Son of Man. As these blows, taunts, and insults fell on Jesus he did not defend himself, but he was also not defenseless. Jesus was not beaten, he was just not fighting back in the physical sense of the meaning.
These are the moments of the Master’s most impressive victories in his long and eventful career as maker, savior, and upholder of a vast and far-flung universe. Having lived a full life revealing God to humanity, Jesus was now making a new unprecedented revelation of humanity to God: Jesus was revealing to the worlds the final triumph over all fears in the isolated creature’s personality. The Son of Man had finally realized his identity as the Son of God, and Jesus did not hesitate to say that he and the Father were one. On the truth of that supreme experience he warned every kingdom believer to become one with him, even as he and his Father were one. The living experience of Jesus’ religion becomes the way that allows spiritually isolated mortals on Earth to escape the isolation of their personality with all of its fear and helplessness. In the brotherhood of the kingdom of heaven the faith sons of God are finally delivered from both personal and planetary seclusion. The God-knowing believer increasingly experiences the universe’s ecstasy of spiritual socialization: citizenship in heaven and realizing one’s divine destiny of becoming perfect with God.
The Second Meeting of the Court
At five-thirty in the morning the court reassembled. Jesus was taken into the room to the side of the court where John was waiting. Here the Roman soldier and the temple guards watched over Jesus while the court formulated the charges they were going to present to Pilate. Annas made it clear to the others that just charging Jesus with blasphemy would carry no weight with Pilate. Judas was in the room during this second meeting of the court, but he did not testify.
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This session of the court only lasted half an hour, and when they ended the meeting to go before Pilate they had drawn up the charges against Jesus—all worthy of the death penalty—under three headings. First, that he was perverting the Jewish nation; he was deceiving the people and leading them to rebellion. Second, that he was teaching the people to refuse to pay Caesar’s tax and third, that he was claiming to be a king, the founder of a new sort of kingdom and inciting treason against the emperor.
This entire process was abnormal and completely against Jewish law. No two witnesses had agreed on anything except those who testified about Jesus destroying the temple and raising it up again in three days. Even then no witnesses were brought for his defense and Jesus was not asked to explain what he had meant. The only point that the court could have consistently judged him on was blasphemy, and that would have rested entirely on his own testimony. But even with blasphemy they did not cast a formal ballot for the death sentence. Now they dared to come up with three charges to take to Pilate, all without witnesses and all agreed on while Jesus was absent. At this point three of the Pharisees said no, and left. Yes, they wanted to see Jesus destroyed, but they would not charge him without witnesses and in his absence.
Jesus did not appear again before the Sanhedrin court. They did not want to look on his face as they judged his innocent life. Jesus did not know, at least as a mortal of the realm, of their formal charges until later when he heard Pilate recite them.
While Jesus was in the room with John and the guards and the court was in its second session, some of the women living in the high priest’s palace came to look at the strange prisoner, one of them asking “Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”
Jesus replied “If I tell you, you will not believe me; if I ask you, you will not answer.”
At six o’clock that morning Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ home to appear before Pilate where he would be condemned to death for what the Sanhedrin had so unjustly ordered.