By the time you read this, we will have celebrated Easter. And prayerfully yours involved a whole lot more than cute bunnies and chocolate candy. (Although I sure hope the Reese’s Peanut Butter “eggs” are still in the store!)

But I have continued to mull over some details regarding Good Friday. And a question is still reverberating in my mind: Who or What actually took the life of Jesus?

If you are even a casual student of the New Testament, you know that Jesus had six trials before He went to the cross. Three of them were before Jewish authorities and three were before Roman leaders.

Annas (a former High Priest) ruled that the proceedings could continue. Caiaphas (the current High Priest) ruled that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy. And then the “trial” before the Sanhedrin began.

The Sanhedrin was consisted of 71 Jewish leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees and elders) and in order for them to make a ruling a number of conditions needed to be met.

1. There must be a quorum. Likely they did not have a full session.
2. They could not meet during the Passover. They were doing so.
3. They had to meet in the Hall of Hewn Stone on the Temple grounds. They were at Caiaphas’ house.
4. They must allow a full day to go by before ruling so that mercy might be invoked. They ruled right away.
5. There must be two witnesses to the “crime.” There were none.

After the mockery of this last Jewish “trial,” Jesus was taken to Pilate, the governor of Judea. Pilate found Him to be innocent of any crime against the state. But Pilate sent Him over to Herod Antipas, the governor of Galilee who happened to be visiting Jerusalem. Herod also could not find Jesus guilty of any treason and sent Him back to Pilate. Although Pilate saw no proof of any crime, he allowed Jesus to be condemned.

Six trials. A Jewish ruling body and two High Priests. Two Roman governors. Five hours of questioning and trumped-up charges. And yet Christ went to the cross.

So back to the question that I am still “chewing on.” Who or maybe what took the life of Jesus? John 10:18 answers that for us: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord…” It was LOVE that sent Him to the cross. HIS LOVE for me and YOU!

I am still mulling on that amazing fact. His love for me (and you) made Him willingly give up His life. Want to ponder that with me?