A Clear Miscarriage of Justice
Mar 2017
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Most democratic countries around the world use a Judeo-Christian judicial system. This means that the laws of that land would be similar to the laws in the time of Christ. It would not take an officer of the court long to see the blatant disregard for justice in the trial of Jesus Christ. In fact, it would no doubt be a clear miscarriage of justice.
THE KISS OF BETRAYAL
Jesus was betrayed by Judas with the infamous kiss. Jesus was not deceived by this traditional sign of affection that caused the guards to arrest him. And yet, in the very midst of this betrayal, Jesus called Judas “friend.” So is the great love Christ has for all of mankind. When a person was arrested, the charges were to be clearly explained to the accused. This was not done. As a matter of fact, they didn’t know what they would eventually charge Him with!
A HASTY TRIAL UNDER THE CLOAK OF DARKNESS
According to Jewish laws, trials were never to be convened after sunset. In their haste to have Jesus tried, convicted, and buried before the Passover began, they felt that taking certain liberties would be overlooked. Here’s the irony of their logic: they didn’t want to break the Sabbath laws but they had no reservations in a clear miscarriage of justice!
UNSANCTIONED TRIAL
The trials, in each of the locations, were illegal. Israel was not authorized under Roman law to try capital cases. Rest assured, they intended to find Jesus guilty of a capital offense. So began His trial with no time to prepare a defense for a crime not stated. Jesus was not given legal representation. The Sanhedrin demanded that in cases where no one would stand on behalf of an accused person, a member of the Sanhedrin would act as legal counsel. The fact that it was unanimously decided to execute Jesus in itself demanded a mistrial! This was a clear miscarriage of justice!
THE FIFTH AMENDMENT
The establishment of the Fifth Amendment, which protects you and me from self-incrimination, came from the Jewish law so clearly ignored by the Sanhedrin. The demand for two or three witnesses was cast aside. Instead, they went on a “fishing” expedition. They were looking to Jesus to supply the evidence needed to impose the death penalty: “The high priest then asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine” (Jn. 18:19). He was hoping that Jesus would say something that would be considered blasphemous enough to demand a death penalty. Jesus responded by saying that He taught openly and in the synagogues. His doctrine was of “public record.”
DECLARED INNOCENT YET EXECUTED
“Pilate said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse Him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him” (Lk. 23:14-15).
Pilate, Herod, then Pilate again declared Jesus as innocent of all charges. No other person in history had been declared innocent three times by the highest courts in the land and then executed!
THE GREATEST MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE
The greatest miscarriage of justice is, in fact, God forgiving us of our sins. Justice demanded that we be judged and found guilty. We deserved eternal punishment, yet God’s love manifested through Calvary made a way for the guilty to be declared innocent. That, my friend, is a miscarriage of justice for which I am so grateful.
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