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gathered together to evaluate their options in responding to the mounting crisis in Jerusalem. It sounded to them as if Jesus was claiming to be the Son of God. In addition to sounding like religious blasphemy to their ears this term also had political22 implications: the term “Son of God,' the “Anointed One," evoked images of the legitimate King appointed by God to rule Israel. So the council determined that Jesus should be eliminated. However, they realized that Jesus had many followers among the people and considered that a revolt could arise if they killed him outright.
The New Testament records23 the inner workings of the plan they devised. They manipulated Judas, a close disciple of Jesus, by contriving to pay him thirty pieces of silver in exchange for his identification of Jesus to the authorities. The betrayal was to be enacted by Judas placing a kiss on Jesus. Thus the priests involved the Roman soldiers in the capture of Jesus, and had Jesus brought as a prisoner to be judged by the Roman Governor. As the plot unfolded, Jesus had to endure a night of physical and mental torture at the hands of the Roman soldiers. Then in the morning he was brought before the Roman court to be tried by
the governor, Pilate.
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