When a court is corrupted it becomes a kangaroo court. The dictionary defines a kangaroo court as; “a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted or a court characterized by irresponsible, unauthorized, or irregular status or procedures.” Kangaroo courts can be very official, backed by powerful people but they are still mock courts intent on an agenda that doesn’t have anything to do with justice.
Jesus was hauled in front of a kangaroo court; “And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. . . . Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.” (Matthew 26:57,59,60) They kept looking; “But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” (v. 60,61)
The kangaroo court jumped on it; “‘And the high priest arose and said to Him, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” (v.62-64) That was it – time for the death sentence. The high priest declared; “‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death.’” (v. 65,66)
What was Jesus’ crime? According to the high priest’s kangaroo court – Jesus was guilty of blasphemy saying that He could do an ‘impossible thing’ – rebuild the temple in three days. They knew He did raise Lazarus from the dead and the chief priest plotted to kill Lazarus at the time; “But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” (John 12:10,11) The chief priest also conflated Jesus’ statement: “This he [Jesus] spoke of his body; they perverted it, endeavoring to show that he meant the temple at Jerusalem. They neither stated it as it was, nor did they state correctly its meaning, nor did they agree about the words used. It was therefore very little to their purpose.” (Barnes’ Notes) But it was enough to condemn an innocent man to death.
And only one obstacle remained before the high priest could follow through with this ‘judicial murder’ – “Just one problem; the court didn’t have the power to execute people. And that’s where the Romans come into the story.” (The case against Caiaphas)
And the execution was murder by Romans.
Steps Down The Road 