Jesus Arrested! Sentenced to Crucifixion!

High Drama from Midnight to Mid-Morning

5 courts and 6 Trials between the arrest at 'Garden of Gethsemene' and the sentencing at 'Pilate's Court' !

A dramatic midnight arrest of Jesus, at the Garden of Gethsemane,was quickly followed by a series of trials, which led to the sentencing of Jesus to crucifixion, in the morning.

He is sentenced by the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, who tried hard to reason with Jesus' accusers; even to the extent of clearly saying 'I find no fault in him (Jesus)'.

Release Barabbas. Crucify Jesus

At one point, Pilate said to the Jewish Chief Priests, who brought Jesus to him, that he is willing to release Jesus - keeping with the custom of releasing prisoners during the festivities.

But the mob of angry men asked that the notorious bandit Barabbas be released, in place of Jesus.

And when Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, they all screamed "Crucify him"!

Pilate then washed his hands in a basin, and said that he does not want the blood of innocent Jesus on his hands, even though he is sentencing Jesus to crucifixion.

The crowd replied, "Let it be on our hands, and on our children's"!

Evidently, the pressure from Jews who insist that Jesus blasphemed by implying he is God, was something Pilate was unable to argue against.

"I find no fault with him," said Governor Pilate
but the angry mob shouted, "Crucify him!".
When Pilate said he does not want the blood of
an innocent man on his hands,
the Jewsish leaders said, let it be on us and our children!

Pilate then called for a basin of water
and washed his hands in front of the crowds,
before condemning Jesus to the Cross.

Arrest at the Garden

It all started late on Thursday night, after the Passover meal at the Upper Room, Jesus had left for the Garden situated near the Mount of Olives to pray - as was his usual practice - with three of his disciples.

It was learnt that the three disciples, Peter, James, and John had fallen asleep, even though he had asked them to stay awake and pray for him.

Just when he returned from his private prayer, and when he was just gently reprimanding them - for the third time, for sleeping instead of praying - he was arrested.

Betrayed by a Kiss

Judas Iscariot, his other disciple reached the place with some temple guards, priests and elders, and Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek which  - this reporter found out later, from one of the eye-witnesses - was a signal for the guards to identify and arrest Jesus.

Jesus Words then :  “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? Every day while I was with you in the temple complex, you never laid a hand on Me. But this is your hour—and the dominion of darkness.”

The Judas Kiss 
An Artist's Drawing

Between the trials

Jesus was first led to the high priests, and then after questioning, in the early morning, to another court by the Sanhedrin, where he was accused of blasphemy. He was then led to Pontius Pilate.

Pontius Pilate, however, sent Jesus to King Herod, as he considered Jesus who was from Galilee to be under Herod's jurisdiction. [Herod was in Jerusalem, for the Passover].

But Herod sent him back to Pilate.

It is learnt that Pilate and Herod, who were not on good terms with each other for long, became friends during this trial.


Jesus in Six Trials. Five Courts. In one night, and early morning.

1. Before Annas
2. Before Caiaphas
3. Before the Sanhedrin
4. Before Pilate
5. Before Herod
6. Before Pilate Again

'Words that incriminated Jesus'
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From Sanhedrin

Elders: “If you are the Messiah, tell us.”

Jesus: “If I do tell you, you will not believe. And if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of God.”

Elders: “Are you, then, the Son of God?”

Jesus: “You say that I am.”

Elders: “Why do we need any more testimony, since we’ve heard it ourselves from His mouth?”

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From Pilates court.

Pilate: “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

Jesus: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom does not have its origin here.”

Pilate: “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

Jesus: “You say that I’m a king, I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Inside Stories from an Incredible Night
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What happened in the Upper Room?

And in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Our reporter who talked to one of the disciples said that Jesus, during the last supper, on Thursday night said, and did, some remarkable things.

He shocked them by saying he will be betrayed. He shocked them by washing their feet. He shocked Peter saying Peter would actually deny Jesus three times, on the same night (before the rooster crows in the morning).

Interestingly, Jesus also broke bread and distributed wine and said to his disciples that it is symbolic of his body and blood. He told them to do this ceremony of sharing bread-and-wine in his remembrance.

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DON'T MISS!

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Special Issue Tomorrow: Crucifixion