With Yeshua, Jesus’s arrest the trial and conviction must follow before the scouring and crucifixion.
Chapter 40
Malchus, servant of the High-Priest
Early in life, I had been trained to follow in my father’s footsteps. He was a servant for the High-Priest Annas. When his son-in-law Caiaphas was anointed High-Priest in place of Annas, my father stayed in the service of Annas, and I was chosen to serve Caiaphas.
My duty can be summed up in a few words: see that Caiaphas’ dictates were followed. I was his connection to the Temple police, his personal attendant at social events, and most importantly, his eyes for any possible conflicts.
I was not surprised when in the middle of the night Caiaphas summoned me. It happened so often that my body became accustomed to little sleep. Caiphas and a few close confidants had made their decision. Yeshua must be arrested. The Temple police and a team of Roman guards were dispatched for his capture. I was to accompany them with the task of overseeing Yeshua’s arrest.
All went fine until one of the criminal’s sleepy-eyed followers took a sword to my ear! I screamed in agony and wanted to throw-up, my body revolting against the pain. Almost as an apology, the criminal told his followers to cease, and he healed my ear!
With the insurrectionist bound, we left. Yet I knew not what to think. Why would someone facing death care more about my ear than his own life?
Within an hour, we reached the castle of Annas. I understood why we first went to his residence. Annas has all the power. My boss, Caiaphas, was just a lackey doing Annas’ dirty work.
It might be the dead of night, but Annas was awaiting Yeshua’s arrival. I waited in the outer courtyard of the palace while Annas spent three hours questioning Yeshua. I could tell as they left Annas’ residence, that Annas was irate. Annas told one of the guards, and subsequently me, that Caiaphas was to find Yeshua worthy of crucifixion, regardless of how he did it. And Annas always got his way. My boss was a lily liver wimp when it came to his father-in-law.
At the meeting in Caiaphas residence confusion reigned as this small group interrogated Yeshua. Branding him an insurrectionist was important if they wanted a Roman death sentence. The infighting continued amongst Caiphas’s friends for at least thirty minutes because no acceptable charges could be found. Men made claims, but none were substantiated. Then two came forward, “This man claimed that he would tear down Yahweh’s Temple and build it again in three days.”
Caiaphas demanded an answer, yet Yeshua gave none. When peppered with questions, Yeshua finally answered, “Soon you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God, all powerful and coming on the clouds of Heaven.”
Tearing his robe, the high priest screamed, “This man claims to be God. We don’t need any more witnesses. You have heard what he said. What do you think?’
When Caiaphas’ confidants agreed, Yeshua was hurriedly taken to the Sanhedrin’s council chamber for the official pronouncement of death. Charges were quickly reached. Death was the only solution.
In a state of frenzy, the mockery of Yeshua began. It started slowly with someone spitting on Yeshua. Wild hysterical laughter followed as the drool fell down his face. Seeing the response, the leader of the temple police blindfolded Yeshua and the beating of him started. Blow by blow, as a gladiator taking his punishment, Yeshua groaned in agony at the continual pummeling but stood silent as a sheep being led to the slaughter.
It was now early morning, and death needed to occur before sunset and the beginning of a Sabbath day. I was dismissed from the council chambers to awaken Pilate so that he could hear the charges.
In the courtyard, the guards were warming themselves, trying to fight the chilly night air. Early morning hours always created a slight shiver. Because of the fog that had set in, I quickly went back to my room for a heavier cloak. When I arrived back in the courtyard, the sun started to rise. Then I heard the screaming, “No, I am not. A curse on me if I am lying.” The language that followed was what I had heard only from a drunken sailor lying in the alleyway. When I asked what had happened a servant girl said that two men had paid coin to warm themselves inside. One was thought to be a follower of Yeshua. When questioned, he denied knowing the criminal three times then hurriedly left. With the crowing from a nearby rooster announcing daylight was approaching, I knew I must hurry. Time was running out.
As I approached the palace of Pilate, I knew the claim that the prisoner was inciting an insurrection against the government would get Pilate’s attention. Pilate’s reign as governor was on shaky ground. Coming to power only five years earlier, Hebrews had already rioted twice against his rule; one for placing images of the emperor throughout the city promoting Caesar as a god, and a second for taking money from Temple’s treasury to build a Roman aqueduct. Pilate could not afford another revolt against his authority. If a speedy trial did not bring about a guilty verdict, then a riot against Pilate’s rule could follow. King Herod would then have to deal with the mess. Would he exile Pilate and appoint someone else as governor?
When Pilate acquiesced, the religious leaders quickly arrived, and the charges were read. “We caught this man trying to get our people to riot and stop paying taxes to Caesar. He also claims that he is the Messiah our king.”
When silence finally prevailed, Pilate interrogated Yeshua. Yeshua only admitted that it was true that he claimed to be the Son of God, but Pilate only found the charge humorous. Romans had the right to worship whatever god they wanted. If Yeshua wanted to be known as the son of some god, this was of no consequence to Pilate. Let him claim that title if Yeshua wanted. Pilate’s answer? “Take him and judge him by your own laws.”
Yet the battle for Yeshua’s death was not over. The leaders’ war of words ignited a ferocious fire against Pilate. Trouble seemed imminent. Then Pilate breathed a sigh of relief. The leaders offered another solution when they said, “He has been teaching and causing trouble all over Judea. He started in Galilee and has now come all the way here.”
Pilate realized Herod, ruler of Galilee, could render a verdict. And since Herod was visiting Jerusalem, send Yeshua to him.
King Herod Antipas was excited to meet Yeshua. Herod hoped for a show, even a miracle or two, for the king’s pleasure. Yeshua only frustrated Herod when Yeshua remained silent. After allowing his troops to mock Yeshua, King Herod Antipas had him sent back to Pilate.
Caiaphas now recognized only drastic action could keep his hope for a guilty plea alive. While we made the short trip back to Pilate’s judgment hall, my subordinates went throughout Lower Jerusalem to offer coins to the peasants. It took less than thirty minutes to find citizens that would follow them back and be paid to do whatever the religious leaders demanded. The religious leaders had their weapon. Oppose them and a riot would quickly follow.
Still, Pilate refused to condemn Yeshua. “I will have him beaten with a whip and set free.” Instead, the leaders whipped the crowd into a frenzy demanding death.
Pilate saw only one possibility to avoid a riot. As was custom at Passover, he would free one prisoner. Surely the crowd would choose to free Yeshua rather than a mass murderer. Simce the leaders were controlling the crowd, they insisted that Barabas be freed instead. Then Pilate asked, “What do you want me to do with this man you say is the king of the Jews? They yelled, “Nail him to the cross.” Pilot asked, “But what crime has he done?” “Nail him to the cross, they yelled even louder.”
As a final statement, Pilate sadly said, “I will not have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it.” Everyone answered, “We and our own families will take the blame for his death.”
Pilate ordered the crucifixion. The death of the people’s Messiah was now a forgone conclusion. Only carrying out the order remained.
Matthew 26:49-27:26 Mark 14:48-15:15 Luke 22:47-23:25 John 18:7-19:16
The Journey 