View source for 184:3 Before the Court of Sanhedrists

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184:3.1 It was about half past three o'clock this Friday morning when the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol hief priest], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas Caiaphas], called the [[Sanhedrist]] [[court]] of [[inquiry]] to order and asked that [[Jesus]] be brought before them for his [[formal]] [[trial]]. On three previous occasions the [[Sanhedrin]], by a large [[majority]] [[vote]], had [[decreed]] the [[death]] of [[Jesus]], had [[decided]] that he was [[worthy]] of death on [[informal]] charges of law-breaking, [[blasphemy]], and flouting the [[traditions]] of the [[fathers]] of [[Israel]].

184:3.2 This was not a regularly called [[meeting]] of the [[Sanhedrin]] and was not held in the usual place, the chamber of hewn stone in the [[temple]]. This was a special [[trial]] [[court]] of some thirty [[Sanhedrists]] and was [[convened]] in the [[palace]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol high priest]. [[John Zebedee]] was present with [[Jesus]] throughout this so-called [[trial]].

184:3.3 How these [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol chief priests], [[scribes]], [[Sadducees]], and some of the [[Pharisees]] [[flattered]] themselves that [[Jesus]], the disturber of their position and the challenger of their [[authority]], was now securely in their hands! And they were [[Determination|resolved]] that he should never live to [[escape]] their [[vengeful]] clutches.

184:3.4 Ordinarily, the [[Jews]], when trying a man on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment capital] charge, proceeded with great [[caution]] and provided every safeguard of [[fairness]] in the selection of [[witnesses]] and the entire [[conduct]] of the [[trial]]. But on this occasion, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas Caiaphas] was more of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecutor prosecutor] than an unbiased [[judge]].

184:3.5 [[Jesus]] [[appeared]] before this [[court]] clothed in his usual [[garments]] and with his hands bound together behind his back. The entire [[court]] was startled and somewhat [[confused]] by his [[majestic]] [[appearance]]. Never had they gazed upon such a [[prisoner]] nor [[witnessed]] such [[composure]] in a man on [[trial]] for his life.

184:3.6 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_law Jewish law] required that at least [[two]] [[witnesses]] must [[agree]] upon any point before a [[charge]] could be laid against the [[prisoner]]. [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] could not be used as a [[witness]] against [[Jesus]] because the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_law Jewish law] specifically [[forbade]] the [[testimony]] of a [[traitor]]. More than a score of [[false]] [[witnesses]] were on hand to [[testify]] against [[Jesus]], but their testimony was so [[contradictory]] and so evidently trumped up that the [[Sanhedrists]] themselves were very much [[ashamed]] of the [[performance]]. [[Jesus]] stood there, looking down benignly upon these [[perjurers]], and his very [[countenance]] disconcerted the lying [[witnesses]]. Throughout all this [[false]] [[testimony]] [[the Master]] never said a [[word]]; he made no reply to their many [[false]] [[accusations]].

184:3.7 The first time any [[two]] of their [[witnesses]] approached even the semblance of an [[agreement]] was when two men [[testified]] that they had heard [[Jesus]] say in the [[course]] of one of his [[temple]] [[discourses]] that he would " destroy this temple made with hands and in three days make another temple without hands. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_mark#Chapter_14] That was not exactly what [[Jesus]] said, regardless of the [[fact]] that he pointed to his own [[body]] when he made the remark referred to.

184:3.8 Although the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol high priest] shouted at [[Jesus]], " Do you not answer any of these [[Accusation|charges]]? "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Mark#Chapter_14] [[Jesus]] opened not his mouth. He stood there in [[silence]] while all of these [[false]] [[witnesses]] gave their [[testimony]]. [[Hatred]], [[fanaticism]], and unscrupulous exaggeration so characterized the [[words]] of these [[perjurers]] that their [[testimony]] fell in its own [[entanglement]]s. The very best [[refutation]] of their [[false]] [[accusations]] was [[the Master]]'s [[calm]] and [[majestic]] [[silence]].

184:3.9 Shortly after the beginning of the [[testimony]] of the [[false]] [[witnesses]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annas Annas] arrived and took his seat beside [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas Caiaphas]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annas Annas] now arose and [[argued]] that this threat of [[Jesus]] to destroy the [[temple]] was sufficient to warrant three charges against him:

*1. That he was a dangerous traducer of [[the people]]. That he taught them impossible things and otherwise [[deceived]] them.
*2. That he was a [[fanatical]] [[revolutionist]] in that he advocated laying [[violent]] hands on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_temple the sacred temple], else how could he destroy it?
*3. That he taught [[magic]] inasmuch as he [[promised]] to build a new [[temple]], and that without hands.

184:3.10 Already had the full [[Sanhedrin]] [[agreed]] that [[Jesus]] was [[guilty]] of [[death]]-deserving [[transgressions]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_law Jewish laws], but they were now more concerned with [[developing]] charges regarding his [[conduct]] and teachings which would [[justify]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilate Pilate] in pronouncing the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment death sentence] upon their [[prisoner]]. They knew that they must [[secure]] the [[consent]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_governor Roman governor] before [[Jesus]] could [[legally]] be put to [[death]]. And [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annas Annas] was minded to [[proceed]] along the line of making it [[appear]] that [[Jesus]] was a [[dangerous]] [[teacher]] to be abroad among [[the people]].

184:3.11 But [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas Caiaphas] could not longer [[endure]] the [[sight]] of [[the Master]] standing there in [[perfect]] [[composure]] and unbroken [[silence]]. He thought he knew at least one way in which the [[prisoner]] might be induced to [[speak]]. Accordingly, he rushed over to the side of [[Jesus]] and, shaking his [[accusing]] finger in [[the Master]]'s [[face]], said: " I adjure you, in the [[name]] of the living [[God]], that you tell us whether you are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Deliverer], the [[Creator Son|Son of God]]. " [[Jesus]] answered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas Caiaphas]: " I am. Soon I go to [[the Father]], and presently shall the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man] be clothed with [[power]] and once more reign over the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_39 hosts of heaven]. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_22]

184:3.12 When the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol high priest] heard [[Jesus]] utter these [[words]], he was exceedingly [[angry]], and rending his outer [[garments]], he exclaimed: " What further need have we of [[witnesses]]? Behold, now have you all heard this man's [[blasphemy]]. What do you now [[think]] should be done with this law-breaker and blasphemer? " And they all answered in unison, " He is [[worthy]] of [[death]]; let him be [[crucified]]. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_22]

184:3.13 [[Jesus]] [[manifested]] no interest in any [[question]] asked him when before [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annas Annas] or the [[Sanhedrists]] except the one [[question]] [[relative]] to his [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_120 bestowal mission]. When asked if he were the [[Creator Son|Son of God]], he instantly and unequivocally answered in the affirmative.

184:3.14 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annas Annas] [[desired]] that the [[trial]] [[proceed]] further, and that charges of a definite [[nature]] regarding [[Jesus]]' [[relation]] to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_law Roman law] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Roman_Empire Roman institutions] be [[formulated]] for subsequent presentation to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilate Pilate]. The [[councilors]] were [[anxious]] to carry these matters to a speedy termination, not only because it was the [[preparation]] day for the [[Passover]] and no [[secular]] [[work]] should be done after noon, but also because they [[feared]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilate Pilate] might any time return to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarea#Early_history Roman capital of Judea, Caesarea], since he was in [[Jerusalem]] only for the [[Passover]] [[celebration]].

184:3.15 But [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annas Annas]] did not succeed in keeping [[control]] of the [[court]]. After [[Jesus]] had so unexpectedly answered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas Caiaphas], the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol high priest] stepped forward and smote him in the [[face]] with his hand. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annas Annas] was truly [[shocked]] as the other members of the [[court]], in passing out of the room, [[spit]] in [[Jesus]]' [[face]], and many of them [[Ridicule|mockingly]] slapped him with the palms of their hands. And thus in disorder and with such unheard-of [[confusion]] this first session of the [[Sanhedrist]] [[trial]] of [[Jesus]] ended at half past four o'clock.

184:3.16 Thirty [[prejudiced]] and [[tradition]]-blinded [[false]] [[judges]], with their false [[witnesses]], are [[presuming]] to sit in [[judgment]] on the [[righteous]] [[Creator Son|Creator]] of [[Nebadon|a universe]]. And these impassioned accusers are exasperated by the [[majestic]] [[silence]] and superb bearing of this [[God]]-[[man]]. His [[silence]] is terrible to [[endure]]; his speech is fearlessly defiant. He is unmoved by their threats and undaunted by their [[assaults]]. Man sits in [[judgment]] on [[God]], but even then he [[loves]] them and would save them if he could.

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_184 Go to Paper 184]</center>
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[[Category:Paper 184 - Before the Sanhedrin Court]]
[[Category: Silence]] 
[[Category: Judgment]]