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Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night and brought first to Annas, the high priest according to the Law given through Moses. The Romans deposed him for political reasons, ensuring he was unable to lead the Sanhedrin (3:2; John 11:49-50, 18:13-14, 19, 22, 24; Acts 4:5-6). After questioning Jesus, Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas, his son-in-law and the Roman-appointed high priest. Caiaphas conducted an illegal trial according to the Law given through Moses, before the Sanhedrin. The trial was illegal because it was Passover and still night (66, John 18:24).
Both high priests were thus unfit to be high priests, for they violated many God given laws during the questioning and trial. This was no problem for Jesus became a high priest in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:1-10). As high priest, Jesus would offer himself up as the lamb of God, without defect for the sins of the people (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:6, 7:17, 19:9). The lamb must be examined to ensure it was pure before it was sacrificed according to the Law (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 1:3, 10, 3:1, 6-7, 17:5). So, Jesus was examined and found without fault (Matthew 26:60; Mark 14:55).
Desperate to find a reason to kill Jesus, the religious leaders finally demanded, “If you are the Christ, that is, the Messiah, tell us” (67). Funny, because only a few months earlier, he had already publicly told them in the temple he was, and they were ready to stone him back then (John 10:24-33). So, when they asked it again secretly with no crowd present, Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God” (66-69).
Frustrated, all the religious leaders finally asked in their belief the capital punishable question, “Are you then the Son of God?” Jesus did not fail to confess, “You are right in saying I am.” And with the true confession, Jesus offered himself up as the lamb of God for my sins and the sins of all who believe in him. Praise be to the lamb of God.
