The Third Station: Jesus Is Condemned by the Sanhedrin

Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to ob­tain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none. The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus. saying, "Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?" But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, "Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?" Then Jesus answered, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.'" . . . They all condemned him as deserving to die. (Mark 14:55, 60-61, 62, 64) 

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CAIAPHAS
Annas, my lather-In-law, sent Jesus to me with clear instruc­tions: "Caiaphas, you know what you must do. He Is a dangerous man." That crafty old fox, Annas, had spies watching Jesus for months. Finally they gathered enough evidence to arrest him and to send him to me for a trial. What caught the attention of Annas and myself, of course, was his arrogance-the arrogance to drive the money-changers out of the temple; the arrogance to allow the people to shout "Son of David" when he entered Jerusalem. Then finally came the rumors that he claimed to be the Messiah. Alter questioning his disciple, Judas, we decided to arrest Jesus se­cretly at night, away from the crowds. If we didn't act soon this so-called Messiah could Incite a revolution and bring the Roman army crashing down upon us. No, no, it Is better, far better that one man die than the nation be destroyed. Then came the trial. The witnesses were confused and unconvincing. If there was ever a slim hope of convicting him, I had to confront him with the key question: "Are you the Messiah?" Had he said "no," he could have walked away. But the simple-minded Galilean openly stated, for all to hear, that he was the "Glorious Son of Man." He blasphemed! And for that, he signed his own death warrant. What else could I do? Had you been high priest, would you have done differently? 
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PRESIDER: Let us pray .
ALL: Jesus, you suffered injustice at the hands of the 
self-righteous. As your followers, strengthen us when we most accept unjust treatment from others. Give us the courage to engage in the struggle for justice in our world. Amen. 
Were you there when Jesus was condemned? 
Were you there when Jesus was condemned? 
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were you there when Jesus was condemned? 

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