“Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him, and led Him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year…” John 18:12-13 (Read John 18:12-24)
After Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was taken to the home of the high priests — first to Annas, who had been the high priest but was deposed by the Romans. Before Annas, Jesus was questioned regarding His disciples and His teaching and then sent to Caiaphas, the current high priest and a son-in-law to Annas.
Before Caiaphas and the Jewish council (Matt. 26:57-68), witnesses were sought against Jesus so that they might have grounds to condemn Him. When they could not even find two or three witnesses whose testimony agreed, Caiaphas placed Jesus under oath, saying, “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God” (Matt. 26:63).
Jesus answered, “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26:64; cf. Mark 14:62; Dan. 7:13-14). The high priest then tore his clothes and said Jesus had committed blasphemy because He was claiming to be the Messiah and God Himself. The Jewish Council said Jesus was guilty of death and then mocked and abused Him.
In the morning, because it was not legitimate for them to conduct a trial and convict a person at night, the Jewish Council met again, this time to officially try Jesus and find Him guilty of death (Matt. 27:1; Luke 22:66-71). Again, Jesus was asked if He was the Christ, the Son of God. When Jesus told them that He was, they found Him guilty and led Him off to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, to attain the death penalty for Jesus since they, themselves, were not permitted by the Romans to put any man to death (cf. John 18:31).
Why did the Jewish rulers so hate Jesus, and why was He condemned for telling and teaching the truth about Himself and the sinful world in which He lived? Because the truth hurt — it revealed their sinfulness and the shortcomings of their religious system!
Who wants to hear that they are sinners who need to repent? Who wants to hear that good works, sacrifices, and observances of certain religious rites won’t make them right with God or save them? Who wants to hear that apart from saving faith in Jesus, God’s own Son, and His blood, shed upon the cross for the sins of the world, there is no forgiveness, no salvation, no true religion, and no hope?
Even today, religious leaders and religious people don’t like to hear these things, but they are true! If you hold to your own righteousness and your own religious works, you will join in condemning the Jesus of the Bible. If you believe the truth and acknowledge that it was because of your sins that Jesus died, if you trust in Christ Jesus, God’s own dear Son, as your Savior, you will have life in His name!
Dear Jesus, Son of God and our Savior, grant that we not reject and condemn You for speaking the truth about our sins or about You and Your redemptive work. Through the Scriptures, reveal to us our utter sinfulness before God and graciously grant us faith to trust in You and Your blood shed for us upon the cross. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5-6
O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken
1 O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken
That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?
Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession—
What dark transgression?
2 They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee;
With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee;
They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee;
They crucify Thee.
3 Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;
Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit,
This I do merit.
4 What punishment so strange is suffered yonder!
The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander;
The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him,
Who would not know Him.
5 The sinless Son of God must die in sadness;
The sinful child of man may live in gladness;
Man forfeited his life and is acquitted—
God is committed.
6 There was no spot in me by sin untainted;
Sick with sin’s poison, all my heart had fainted;
My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me,
Such woe it wrought me.
7 O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded,
That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!
All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying
While Thou wert dying.
8 O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory!
How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story?
How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer?
What dare I offer?
9 For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder—
Thy woes, Thy mercy, still transcend our wonder.
Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee!
Can I requite Thee?
10 Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee;
I will renounce whate’er doth vex or grieve Thee
And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly
All fires unholy.
11 But since my strength will nevermore suffice me
To crucify desires that still entice me,
To all good deeds, O let Thy Spirit win me
And reign within me!
12 I’ll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing,
That earth’s vain joys to me no more be pleasing;
To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor
Henceforth forever.
13 Whate’er of earthly good this life may grant me,
I’ll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me.
I shall not fear what man can do to harm me
Nor death alarm me.
14 But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it;
Yet, Lord, for love’s sake, Thou wilt not disown it;
Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness
Nor shame my weakness.
15 And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven
To me the crown of joy at last is given,
Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee,
I, too, shall praise Thee.
Title: O Dearest Jesus
German Title: Herzliebster Jesu
Author: J. Heermann, 1585-1647
Translator: C. Winkworth, 1827-78 (alt.)