LENT SERMON SERIES: HE MUST BE PUT DEATH (Matthew 26:57-68)

Who must be put to death? We all know the answer: Jesus, our Lord and Savior. In the history of the world, there was a trial whose outcome shook eternity. It was not an ordinary trial. This was the trial before the Jewish High Council, known as the Sanhedrin. This council was the highest religious authority in Jerusalem at that time. It handled religious matters and significant issues affecting the Jewish people. There were around 70 members, led by the High Priest, including chief priests and elders of the nation. By religious law, they had great authority. But under Roman rule, a death sentence also required approval from the Roman authorities. So the decision against Jesus was not only religious but also political. And their verdict was clear: He must be put to death.

 

The Beginning of Hatred

This verdict did not happen suddenly. It began with hatred quietly growing in the hearts of the religious leaders. They saw Jesus as a threat to their position, their power, and their influence. His teaching touched the hearts of the people. His miracles displayed the power of God. He spoke with authority that challenged the status quo. According to Matthew 26, the chief priests and elders gathered at the house of the High Priest, Caiaphas. It was here that they planned the arrest of Jesus through deceit. It is ironic: the High Priest’s house, meant to be a place of justice and truth, became a center of conspiracy. A place that should protect the weak became a throne of cruelty.

Hatred, when allowed to grow unchecked, leads to evil. When jealousy and ambition control the heart, reason is used to justify sin.

 

An Unfair Trial

Jesus was arrested at night and brought before the Sanhedrin. The trial was rushed. They sought evidence to convict Him of a crime deserving death. But there was a problem: no clear crime could be found. So they brought false witnesses. Many people gave testimony that was not true. They twisted His words. They accused Him with lies. Yet Jesus remained silent. He did not defend Himself. He did not argue. He did not resist. His silence was not fear. His silence was not weakness. His silence was a choice of love and obedience. He knew that this path of suffering was part of God’s plan for salvation. Jesus obeyed the will of the Father. He chose faithfulness, even while facing humiliation and injustice.

 

A Declaration That Shook the Council

Finally, the High Priest asked Jesus directly if He was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus answered clearly, saying that the Son of Man would sit at the right hand of Almighty God. This statement caused Caiaphas to tear his clothes in anger. In Jewish culture, tearing one’s garments was a sign of extreme anger or distress. Caiaphas declared that Jesus had blasphemed God. Without a fair trial, without a clear conscience, the Sanhedrin pronounced the sentence: He must be put to death.

This decision opened the door for violence. After the verdict, Jesus was spat upon, struck, beaten, and mocked. His eyes were blindfolded as they said, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” How dark human hearts can be.

 

Peter, Following from Afar

Amid this event, one disciple followed at a distance: Peter. Peter did not flee completely. He followed, but cautiously. He sat among the guards, wanting to see what would happen, but also to stay safe. Following from a distance is a dangerous position.

We may feel we are with Jesus, but not close enough to boldly confess Him. When pressure comes, when the situation is uncomfortable, it is easy to deny Him. Peter ultimately denied Jesus three times. He chose self-preservation over loyalty. How fragile human faith can be.

 

Jesus Accepts Injustice

The Sanhedrin’s decision led Jesus onto the path of suffering. He willingly drank the cup of suffering. He endured pain. He carried the cross along the path known as the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem—the road of suffering. He walked all the way to Golgotha. There, His blood was shed. His life was given. He died on the cross. All of this happened through an unjust trial. Yet Jesus accepted it willingly. Why? So that we, the sinners, might be justified. So that we, who deserved death, might receive eternal life. He took our place.

 

Holy Week Reflection

We are now in Holy Week, a time to reflect deeply on the love and sacrifice of Christ. Jesus died for us. We have been redeemed by His blood. We are living under the grace of salvation. The question for us is: how do we respond? Do we merely watch the story of the cross? Or do we let it change our lives? The story of Jesus’ trial warns us. Do not be like the Sanhedrin, who justified evil to maintain their positions. Do not twist the truth for personal gain. Do not be like Peter, who followed from a distance, loyal only when it was safe.

 

Tearing the Heart, Not Just Clothes

Caiaphas tore his garments in anger. But his heart was not broken with repentance. Today, God does not ask us to tear our clothes physically. God wants us to tear our hearts—acknowledging sin, abandoning pride, and returning to Him. If we have pursued the wrong ambitions, stop. If we have sought gain at the expense of others, repent. If we have indulged in greed and forgotten God, realize that life is fragile. Without God’s breath, we are just dust. Without His wisdom, civilization will crumble.

 

Living Faith in Everyday Life

Jesus died so we could carry out God’s mission: to show love, justice, and truth. Faith is not just about crowded worship. Faith is not just religious rituals. Faith must be real in our care for others, in honesty, in protecting God’s creation. Stop showing off piety without compassion. Stop praising God’s name if our lives are filled with hypocrisy. Seek God in meaningful silence, not just in noisy routines. Find God in the “Via Dolorosa” of life—in suffering, struggle, and tears.

 

Rejoicing in the Midst of Suffering

Interestingly, the fifth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday. Laetare means “Rejoice.” How can we rejoice amid suffering? We rejoice not because suffering is pleasant. We rejoice because God holds our hand. We rejoice because suffering is not the final story. The cross is not the last word. There is resurrection. There is victory. There is hope.

 

A Call to Repentance and Perseverance

Today, God calls us to: humble ourselves, confess our sins, abandon hypocrisy, return to first love. Nurture your faith. Be grateful for life. Take care of your health. Care for the world around you. Stand with those who fight for humanity. God calls us to walk in full obedience to the Father who sustains us. Let us journey through our own “Via Dolorosa” with deep reflection, persistent prayer, and a sincere heart of repentance.

 

 “He must be put to death.” This sentence was meant for us, because our sins deserved punishment. But Jesus took our place.

He was condemned so that we could be justified. He died so that we could live. He suffered so that we could be restored. Do not waste His grace. Come to Him with a broken but hopeful heart. Lean on your Savior. Trust His love. Stay faithful, even when  storms come. Happy Sunday. May God bless us all.

 

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