In the Jewish Legal system no man was ever to be convicted in a single day – always a 2nd trial the following day – time given to think/pray. If a judge proclaimed a person innocent on the 1st day, they could not change the verdict on the second day. But if a judge found a person guilty on the 1st day, they could change the verdict on the 2nd day.
In Jesus' trial there was no waiting until 2nd trial/day or final conviction before all smote Him, spat on Him, battered etc – punishment was not permitted like this.
No Friday trial permitted before the Sabbath- “On eve of Sabbath or a Holy Day”.
No trial was permitted in the hours of darkness. Must be between morning sacrifice and evening sacrifice.
In the Jewish legal system, only one conviction was to be made per trial.
In Jesus' trial He was tried 1st for sedition- the witnesses disagreed, inconsistent testimony. He should have been released then.
In Jesus' trial they bribed the witness/es, which was forbidden. Exodus 23:8
False witnesses were used. Under Jewish law they were to receive the same punishment that the accused was to get and the accused was to go free.
At Jesus' trial they had 2 trials all in one session. This was not allowed.
Under Jewish law they were to seek every avenue to see that an innocent person was acquitted and not condemned.
Under Jewish law no trial was permitted before the morning sacrifice. There was to be a prayer prayed by the priest at the time of this sacrifice and it was to give the individuals time to also seek God's guidance personally in the matter. Nothing was to be done without prayer.
No man is to be condemned before at least 1 judge says that he is innocent. Caiaphas acted as defence council by himself, not before all the judges. “All those in favour” is not the true method of that legal system. He rent his High Priestly robe - the ephod, a capital offence = death.
Witnesses were the only prosecution in the legal system.
In Jewish law every judge was to give his verdict as an individual, not simultaneously, as in Christ's trial. It must start with the junior judges first, so that they could not be influenced by any other/s.
The trial must be held in the hall of the Temple Gazigh, but Jesus' trial was illegally held in the High Priest's palace.
Judges were to be totally neutral. There was total enmity against Christ before He appeared – several times they had met to plan His death.
Jewish law stipulated that they not conspire against any person before the trial. In Jesus' trial there are at least 3 previous meetings recorded.
In the legal system, as it then stood, there were improperly elected judges, “privilege for duty”. They purchased their positions/commissions - for the highest bidder received it.
Under Jewish law every effort was to be made to acquit the innocent – but in Christ's case, every effort was made to convict the innocent.
It was a custom before the death of a condemned person for a proclamation to be made that others might bear testimony/witness to his innocence. No such proclamation was made for our Lord.
No one could bring an accusation on himself – it is not allowed. Only 2 witnesses can do so.
If a quick decision was made, the High Priest's role was to acquit the person immediately.
If they were unable to decide, they were to go home, fast and pray and come back and even if all 71 accused and a young observer in the rear of the court could find a way to acquit, he was elevated to the Sanhedrin for life.
The 71 were seated in a semi-circle, on cushions, so that all had an equal view of the accused – they all saw the same thing.
Votes were counted by 3 parties (Left ,Right & Centre) plus the High Priest, so that there could be no doubt.
Even up to the point of the death of the accused, if a witness came forward with information that proved the innocency of the condemned, the Sanhedrin were to be called back and then a horseman would be dispatched to have the sentence stopped and the innocent released.
Not one person spoke up in defence of Christ on the day! e.g. Like Eve in Eden & the Israelites at Mt. Carmel. He speaks up for each one of us each and every day.
The fairest judicial system in history, given by Himself, the Merciful God, was used to illegally condemn Himself, the only innocent Man in this world's history.
He is my Advocate and Judge, in the only Judgement that matters, so, He knows what it is like, from both sides. Now that is really fair.
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And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Isaiah 59:14
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:10-12
Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven. Matthew 10:32,33
For them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
If the members of the church labor faithfully to build up the cause of truth, they will not escape the tongue of gossip, falsehood, and slander. OHC 359
History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people. And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes. The principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. And had she but the power, she would put them in practice with as much vigor now as in past centuries. Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured.
God's word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution…Courts of justice are corrupt. Rulers are actuated by desire for gain and love of sensual pleasure. Intemperance has beclouded the faculties of many so that Satan has almost complete control of them. Jurists are perverted, bribed, deluded. Drunkenness and revelry, passion, envy, dishonesty of every sort, are represented among those who administer the laws…The same policy of deception has marked the history of the Roman Church. It has professed to act as the vicegerent of Heaven, while seeking to exalt itself above God and to change His law. Under the rule of Rome, those who suffered death for their fidelity to the gospel were denounced as evildoers; they were declared to be in league with Satan; and every possible means was employed to cover them with reproach, to cause them to appear in the eyes of the people and even to themselves as the vilest of criminals. So it will be now. While Satan seeks to destroy those who honor God's law, he will cause them to be accused as lawbreakers, as men who are dishonoring God and bringing judgments upon the world. Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to their words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives. GC 581-592.
