First hour [6-9AM] on Good Friday: Trails continues
Jesus Christ began to be judged in front of serious of councils : “When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor [Mt 27]. Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”[ Mt 27; Deut. 21:9, 27:25]. His love of money led his demise, as explained in the homily of St. John Chrysostom. Ironically, Judas has the same name as Judah, as one of the twelve sons of Jacob, who rather than shedding his brother Joseph’s blood, sold him for thirty pieces of silver [Gen.37:26].
At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips. ”Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man……Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. [Lk 22-23]
“And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. [Jn 18 ] To fulfill the prophecy “I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak; I have become like one who does not hear” [Ps 38:13-14] and the saying, whose mouth can offer no reply. he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” [Is. 53:7].
They caused to stand in the court Him, before Whom stand archangels in fear and trembling. He who forgives sins, was accused as a sinner by them, the Judge of judges was judged by them. O! What a Lamb, they took Him and He followed them like a meek sheep which is dumb before its shearers.[[the Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom]
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. [Mt 27:3-6]