Even Youths

Day 1: Matthew 26:57-63a The Jewish trial March 29, 2010

This trial violates both Jewish legal regulations codified in later centuries, and several common standards of jurisprudence, both ancient and modern. Among the irregularities: (a) there is no presumption of innocence; evidence is sought for pre-determined verdict (26:59-60); additionally, capital trials were: (b) restricted to daylight hours, (c) prohibited on the eve of a Sabbath or a festival, (d) not to render verdict in capital cases on the same day as the trial, (e) to meet only in an official courtroom, and (f) should accept only unimpeachable testimony.

From their own perspective, these leaders were not corrupt, but expedient. They acted urgently to squelch a religious movement that opposed the God-ordained temple, as well as their own leadership. They acted to squelch a political movement that could antagonize the Romans into yet another slaughter of Jews. Still, their determination to bring a swift end to this movement led both to violation of Jewish legal standards and to miscarriage of justice.

For those who suffer injustice of even lesser sort, this trial provides two comforts. First, Jesus experienced worse than we ever shall, and is by our side in our own suffering. Secondly, even this injustice was under God’s sovereign control and achieved his predestined goal. As the persecuted church later prays, “Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen” (Acts 4:27-28).