nothing in secret

Jesus’ trial is kind of like the anti-police procedural. You know those shows like CSI and Criminal Minds, the ones where the authorities try to piece together what happened? In Jesus’ case, there was no question about what took place. 

Look at this part of his trial, as told in John 18:19-24: 

“Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

“‘I have spoken openly to the world,’ Jesus replied. ‘I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.’

“When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. ‘Is this the way you answer the high priest?’ he demanded.

“‘If I said something wrong,’ Jesus replied, ‘testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?’ Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”

Jesus rightly pointed out that he’d done his teaching out in the open, in the public square. In fact, much of it had been done in the temple. It’s striking that the high priest had never bothered to listen to Jesus himself. It’s even more extraordinary that he didn’t know what Jesus actually taught. He seemed to be questioning Jesus in the hope that something heretical would pop out.

But Jesus did nothing in secret. Everything was right there; nothing was hidden. And, for the first time in this story Jesus was sent on to a higher authority when his interrogator found nothing to accuse him with.

Jesus was so obviously innocent that it seems incredible that he was actually held, much less tried, convicted and executed. It seems like even the most basic effort might have won his freedom. But then, Jesus didn’t want his freedom. He wanted to die; in fact, for the plan to work, he had to die.

It’s amazing, isn’t it? All the evidence is out in the open but the prosecutor doesn’t know; the accused is innocent but won’t free himself. And the guilty - us- who are never put on trial are exonerated and put back on the streets.

It’s the weirdest trial ever.