The 12 Minute Family Devotion

Jesus Before The Sanhedrin

Welcome to the Faces the Sanhedrin family devotional. This Bible story takes place in the hours after the events in the Garden of Gethsemane. After Jesus was arrested he was taken before Caiaphas, the high priest, and the Sanhedrin, a council of elder rabbis.

Matthew 26 tells us that the Sanhedrin was desperate to convict Jesus of a crime and so they allowed false testimony against him. Caiaphas demanded to know if Jesus was the son of God. When Jesus replied “you have said so,” Ciaphus tore his robe and accused Jesus about blasphemy.

Family Bible Reading 
Matthew 26:57-68(NIV) 
 

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

 

Discussion Questions
After you have watched the Bible video and completed your family Bible reading discuss the following questions. 
 
1. Why do you think the Sanhedrin wanted to convict Jesus of a crime?
 
2. Why do you think Jesus called himself “the Son of Man”?
 
3. Why was Jesus perfect and didn’t do anything wrong?  
Closing Prayer
Dear God, thank you that Jesus lived a perfect life and was declared guilty because of our sins. Help us to never forget that Jesus was willing to give his own life so that we could forever be children of God! We ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
 
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