Jesus Declared Innocent – 7 Times!
As is recorded in the Bible, within a period of eight hours, from 2:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Jesus Christ suffered six trials before receiving his death sentence.
The first three trials were Jewish religious trials.
- The first was before Annas in the House of the High Priest,
- The second before Caiaphas, also at the same location, and
- The third, in and by the Court of the Sanhedrin.
In each of these three trials, Jesus was found guilty.
The next three trials were Roman Civil trials.
- The first was before Pilate in the Praetorium,
- The second by Herod in Jerusalem, and
- The third and final trial was again before Pilate in the Praetorium.
In each of these three trials, Jesus was found innocent.
The Old Testament prophesies the outcome of the trials as it declares His innocence:
“He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken. And He put His grave with the wicked, and with a rich one in His death; although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth,” Isaiah 53:8-9 .
The New Testament then records seven witnesses who declare and confirm the innocence of Jesus.
- Judas Iscariot: “Saying, I have sinned, betraying innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? You see to that,” Matthew 27:4.
- Pontius Pilate: “And Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man,” Luke 23:4.
- Herod Antipas: spoken by Pilate: “Lo, nor even Herod, for I sent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death has been done by Him,” Luke 23:15.
- Pontius Pilate’s Wife: “But as he was sitting down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man, for today because of Him I have suffered many things in a dream,” Matthew 27:19.
- Dying Thief: “And we indeed justly so, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing amiss,” Luke 23:41.
- Roman Centurion: “And when the centurion saw what had been done, he glorified God, saying, Truly this Man was righteous,” Luke 23:47.
- Roman Guards: “But the centurion and those guarding Jesus, seeing the earthquake, and the things that took place, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this One was Son of God,” Matthew 27:54.
“Seven” (7) in the bible represents and symbolizes the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual).
~ Angus MacKillop
One thing I pass on to my children is there is ALWAYS evil afoot in a mob. A mob will always choose Barrabas (evil) over Jesus.
Truly our Lord was found dumb before His accusers, None of them could prove our Lord was found guilty. Yet He went to the cross because of the Greatness of His Love. He became sin for us, so through Him, we would become the Righteousness of God in and through Him!
I try to always remember that a person gossiped about may be innocent. Unless I hear the truth with my own ears I do not accept what I am told. Many times the person talked about was completely innocent. Remember Jesus said no one has power over me unless my Father allows.