When Jesus was on trial before the religious leaders as the innocent Son of God, they rejected, abused, and condemned Him. Luke highlights both the depth of human depravity and the innocence of Christ, the One who endured injustice to bring sinners to God.
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Table of contentsJesus on Trial: The Larger Context of His Six TrialsThe First Jewish Trial — Before Annas (John 18:12–24)The Second Jewish Trial — Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65)Jesus on Trial Before the Temple Guards (Luke 22:63–65)Continuous and Increasing AbuseBlindfolded and TauntedAccusing God of BlasphemyJesus on Trial Before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66–71)A Verdict Already DecidedJesus Declares His Heavenly AuthorityLesson One: Human Depravity Revealed When Jesus Is on Trial1. Depravity in Their Violence2. Depravity in Their Willful Unbelief3. Depravity in Their Rejection of Jesus’s Authority4. Depravity in Their Eagerness to CondemnLesson Two: Jesus Submitted to Abuse to Save UsLesson Three: Jesus on Trial and the Logic of the TrilemmaUnderstanding LogicC.S. Lewis and the “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord” ArgumentNo Neutrality When Jesus Is on TrialConclusion: Responding to Jesus on Trial1. The Depravity of the Religious Leaders2. The Submission of Christ
When people hear the phrase “Jesus on Trial,” they often think of the Roman governor Pilate. But before Jesus ever stood before Pilate, He endured a series of corrupt Jewish trials that revealed both the depths of human depravity and the beauty of the gospel.
In Luke 22:63-71 we see the sinless Son of God—who fulfilled every prophecy, healed the sick, opened blind eyes, raised the dead, cast out demons, fed multitudes, and brought the kingdom of God near—mocked, blindfolded, beaten, and condemned by the very religious leaders who claimed to long for the Messiah.
These verses expose the frightening callousness of the human heart when it resists the truth. But even more, they reveal the heart of the gospel: Christ willingly enduring abuse so guilty sinners can receive mercy.
My prayer is that as we study Jesus on trial before the Jewish leaders, we won’t just understand what happened—we’ll deepen our love for the Innocent Son of God who suffered silently in our place.
Jesus on Trial: The Larger Context of His Six Trials
To appreciate what’s happening in Luke 22, it helps to see the full picture. Think of Jesus’s arrest in Gethsemane and His crucifixion as bookends. Between them, Jesus endured six trials:
Three Jewish trials before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin
Three Roman trials before Pilate, Herod, then Pilate again
These proceedings were filled with illegal procedures, false witnesses, political pressure, and profound injustice.
The First Jewish Trial — Before Annas (John 18:12–24)
Jesus was first taken to Annas, the former high priest who still held significant influence. There were no formal charges. Annas interrogated Jesus, hoping to trap Him. Jesus called out the illegality of questioning Him without witnesses, and one of the officers struck Him.
The Second Jewish Trial — Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65)
Next, Jesus was sent to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. This trial took place at night, which made it illegal according to Jewish law.
Jesus was charged with blasphemy.
False witnesses contradicted each other.
They couldn’t condemn Jesus until He clearly affirmed that He was the Messiah.
The high priest tore his robes and declared Jesus guilty.
Peter’s denials took place in the courtyard outside.
Luke 22:63–71 picks up with the abuse during this nighttime trial and then moves into the formal daytime trial that “legitimized,” in their minds, the verdict they already wanted.
Jesus on Trial Before the Temple Guards (Luke 22:63–65)
Luke 22:63 – “Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him.”
We might expect brutal treatment from pagan Roman soldiers, but Jesus wasn’t with the Romans yet. These were Jewish temple guards—men who served in the temple, not criminals from the streets.
The very people entrusted with maintaining holiness in God’s house abused the Holy One of God.
Continuous and Increasing Abuse
The Greek word for “beat” indicates continuous action. This wasn’t one blow; it was repeated, ongoing violence. Jesus was struck, slapped, spat upon, and insulted again and again.
In doing so, they fulfilled multiple prophecies of the Innocent Sufferer:
Isaiah 50:6 – “I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.”
Isaiah 53:3 – “He was despised and rejected by men.”
Psalm 22:7–8 – “All who see me mock me…”
Blindfolded and Taunted
Luke 22:64 – “They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’”
Blindfolding Jesus intensified the cruelty—He could not brace for the blows. Their mockery implied, “If You’re really a prop