04/03/2026
Matthew 26:47-56 (1-1:30am)
The Confrontation, Betrayal by means of a kiss and Jesus’ arrest
Social Media Update: A huge mob, heavily armed, is headed to Gethsemane and Judas is with them. There is a large population that does not trust that guy. (See Facebook for the overnight timeline)
Jesus is arrested in the Garden after He is betrayed with a kiss from Judas. He is immediately taken, bound in chains, handcuffs or whatever they had but suffice to say; it was a little bit overkill because He was hardly a threat. He offered NO; NADA; ZERO resistance because this was all part of the Father’s plan. He was taken to the first of 6…yes, 6 trials. Of those 6 trials, 3 were Jewish tribunals while the other 3 were in a Roman court.
Trial 1: Shortly thereafter, Jesus was taken to the residence of Annas, the former Jewish High Priest and son in law of the former High Priest Caiaphas. The physical abuse continued while the court pronounced their sentence. According to John 18:12-14, the go ahead for Jesus’ ex*****on was given.
Trial 2: They quickly move Jesus to the next trial in front of Caiaphas, the current High Priest. This time, a number of the Sanhedrin council members were present at this trial… Kangaroo Court if you will. According to Matthew 26:57-68, this took place at the home Caiaphas…yes, you read that correctly, at his home and we read that Peter had followed the crowd to the High Priests’ home. They also continued to physically abuse Jesus. Decision: Death Sentence based on the charge of blasphemy, because Jesus proclaimed Himself the Messiah, God the Son.
Again, it is impossible to pinpoint specific times within this timeline, especially in light of these events taking place during the early morning hours. It is probable that Jesus was imprisoned at the Caiaphas’ palace between 3 and 5 am.
Trial 3: The illegal trials continue, possibly around 5am, as Jesus is brought before the High Priest, scribes and the Sanhedrin (The Jewish Supreme Court). Matthew 27:1-2 informs us that they decide to ask the Roman Government to execute Jesus. They have already sentenced him to death; they just couldn’t carry it out without using the Romans to carry it out.
Matthew 27 describes two significant events: 1) Jesus is taken to Pilate, the Roman Governor in an attempt to persuade him to pronounce Jesus’ death sentence. 2) In verses 3-10, overcome with guilt, Judas attempts to make amends for his betrayal of Jesus, which by the way, fails horribly and takes his own life. It makes you wonder if he ever attempted to make amends with God…probably not!
Trial 4: The Roman trials begin and they are no less ridiculous as the Jewish trials. Possibly between 6 and 7 am, Jesus is led to Pilates HQ and presented Jesus, but didn’t go in because they didn’t want to defile themselves and exclude themselves from the Passover. Pilate came outside to meet the accusers and the accused. According to John 18:28-38, Pilate found no guilt in Jesus.
Trial 5: Possibly around 7, having realized that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate transferred the case to Herod Antipas because Galilee was under his jurisdiction and Herod just so happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. But Herod was more interested in seeing a magic performance than hearing his case. After a lot of ridicule and abuse, Jesus was directed back to Pontius Pilate for the 3rd and last of these Civil Trials. The verdict: Not Guilty. Luke 23:6-12
7:30 am
Social Media Update: People have reported that after the arrest of Jesus last night and the 6 mock trials, Jesus has just been sentenced to death by crucifixion. See Facebook for a full report of last night’s events.
Trial 6: Again, a rough estimate would place the time at 7:30 when Jesus arrived back at Pilates HQ. Pilate repeatedly tried to release Jesus but the leaders continued to object. Pilate ordered Jesus to be flogged and beaten to a point where he was barely recognized, seeking to appease the bloodthirsty Religious leaders; however, blood would not satisfy their thirst. Cries of crucifixion were screamed from the riotous crowd and Pilate, washing his hands as a symbol of saying that his involvement with this “Jesus Affair” was done. Matthew 27:1-2
8:00
Social Media Update: Jesus was taken into the Praetorium (the Roman court) where they continued to mock and torture Him by driving a crown of thorns into His skull.
Shortly thereafter, Jesus, forced to carry His own cross is led through the streets of Jerusalem (along the route known as the Via Dolorosa, or the Way of Sorrows), through throngs of people en route to Golgotha (The Place of the Skull) to be crucified. We know the place as Calvary’s Hill. The route contains 14 points known as the Station of the Cross.
