Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

For the last two posts, we have considered the sentencing of Daniel to the fate of death in two different aspects. First was the sentencing to death by an unwilling judge, and secondly the sentencing to death by envious enemies. Both foreshadowed the Messiah’s experience.

This post will consider the legality of the sentencing and not necessarily the connected emotions of those involved in the dastardly deed.

Now when I speak of the legality of the sentencing for Daniel, it just so happened in Daniel’s case that his life long practice of prayer became illegal though the passing of a temporary injunction. Yes formally, Daniel was sentnenced to death “legally” but in all appearances this was simply a method to exact the desired out come of an evil group of government ofificials.

Of course, for the Lord, the illegality of the sentencing is shocking. As I ventured through my research, I found a list of 21 of the Sanhedrin’s laws broken in order to condemn and crucify their Messiah. (Thanks to By Faith for this summary)

• 1. No arrest by the religious authority was to be arranged by a bribe.
• 2. No criminal proceedings were to be taken after sunset.
• 3. Judges and Sanhedrin members must not participate in an arrest.
• 4. No trial could take place before the morning sacrifice.
• 5. No secret trial was allowed – only in public.
• 6. Charges are not to be sought from a man after his arrest.
• 7. Trial procedure – first the defence, then the accusation.
• 8. All may argue for acquittal – all may not argue for a guilty verdict.
• 9. Any two witnesses must agree on every detail.
• 10. No allowance is made for the accused to witness against himself.
• 11. The High Priest is forbidden to rend his garments.
• 12. No charges are to originate from the judges.
• 13. A charge of blasphemy must involve the name of God.
• 14. No condemnation of the accused is allowed on the basis of his words alone.
• 15. A verdict could not be announced at night.
• 16. In cases of capital punishment, the trial and verdict cannot occur on the same day.
• 17. Voting for the death penalty is by individual vote – from the youngest to the eldest.
• 18. A unanimous verdict for guilt shows innocence.
• 19. The sentence for a guilty verdict must be given three days after the verdict.
• 20. The judges are to be humane and kind.
• 21. The person condemned to death must not be first beaten or scourged.

My friends – though Daniels sentencing was formally legal, the trap that was laid for him was not unlike that of the Messiah. Both men were brought before a wicked ruler and condemnation was declared unjustly.

Both men suffered though they did nothing illegal. The laws were ignored or twisted to gain the result of a wicked group of men!

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