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Luke

Luke 
Day 
Day 306

Luke 22:63-65; Matthew 26:57-67 "THE WICKED AND ILLEGAL COUNCIL"

Day 306 – Luke 22

Text: Luke 22:63-65; Matthew 26:57-67

THE WICKED AND ILLEGAL COUNCIL

Matthew recorded the fact that a number of people gathered at the home of Caiaphas to interrogate Jesus that night. If Rabbinic accounts are correct, and if at least twenty-three Sanhedrin members must be present to form a quorum, then we must imagine that a significant number of people were present in the home of Caiaphas when Jesus was illegally examined. We read,

“Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council
sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,
but found none.”
Matthew 26:59-60

The phrase “all the council” can be read to refer to the fact that at least the minimum number of people needed to form a quorum was there. Perhaps not every single one of the council members was there. Could Nicodemus be one of the members of the Sanhedrin Council? If he were, he would be one who would take part in this illegal trial of Jesus.

Look at the people who comprised the Council. They were “the chief priests, the elders” and others of like social or religious standing! It was well known that people who were appointed to sit in such councils were people who were at least forty years of age! How could anyone imagine that people of such mature age could stoop to such activities!

The word “sought” in the Greek text is even more telling. The imperfect tense suggests that the Council “kept seeking” false testimony. The scenario painted in the text above is as if the Council was having a “dry run” before putting Jesus before the Sanhedrin Council meeting scheduled for the next morning.

They brought up witness after witness. They tried to get the witnesses to speak against Jesus. They kept seeking false witnesses to see if somehow these could incriminate Jesus. Amazingly, they kept failing!

STOOPING TO THE LOWEST LEVEL

Just how low could the Council stoop? We are surely astonished to read the following words,

“Even though many false witnesses came forward,
they found none.
But at last two false witnesses came forward and said,
‘This fellow said, I am able to destroy the Temple of God
and build it in three days.’ “
Matthew 26:60-61

How could the Council hope to convict Jesus if it was properly constituted? There would have to be people who would be asked to testify against Jesus and for Him too. Cross-examination was allowed. How could the false witnesses stand up to scrutiny?

Even if we allow for someone to make a statement that he could or would destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days, would that mere utterance constitute a capital offence? It is no wonder that the Council kept seeking to find false witnesses to incriminate Jesus. These witnesses that they had been able to churn out were not good enough!

THE SILENCE OF JESUS

How did Jesus react to all these antics of the Council? What a tragedy to see the august Sanhedrin Council disgrace itself in this way! Matthew recorded the response of Jesus. His response must have stunned the Sanhedrin Council members, including the high priest.

“And the high priest arose and said to Him,
‘Do You answer nothing?
What is it these men testify against You?’
But Jesus kept silent.”
Matthew 26:62-63

Caiaphas and the other Council members had perhaps counted on Jesus breaking under the pressure of being interrogated in this manner. They must have hoped that they could intimidate Him. They must have been shocked that Jesus was not in the least perturbed by their shenanigans!

At last Caiaphas became so exasperated that he spoke to Jesus personally. Why would not Jesus even attempt to answer and defend Himself? That was surely the most natural thing that an ordinary human being would do?

That might be so, if Jesus had just been the average human being! Jesus was fully human, but one would not describe him as an average person.

What made Jesus so strong that He could fight off the natural urge to respond to people who made wild accusations? Surely we know. He had spent much time in prayer. He had ascertained His Father’s will for Him. He must drink this bitter cup of agony. He would trust His Father through this and worse! He would not retaliate. He would not get angry. He would not be afraid either. His faith and trust in His Father enabled Him to keep silent.

ANOTHER ANCIENT PROPHECY FULFILLED IN THE SILENCE OF JESUS

As we read about the silent suffering of Jesus, we are reminded of a passage in the Book of Isaiah that prophesied how Jesus would respond in His suffering!

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7