The sun had not yet risen when they reached the gates of the Temple. Within, the Sanhedrin met in secret to try this Nazirite prophet for his alleged blasphemy. The Scribes and Pharisees mocked as he was led in by the guards. Long they had awaited this hour, to put an end to this mans ministry. They worked in secret, in the darkness of night, for fear of the crowds that once flocked to him. He was a threat to them, to their authority. The people loved this miricle worker from Galilee and followed his words, many of which condemned the Priests and the elders. And the Romans were a concern as well. They might see his following as a possible threat to Imperial authority and blame the priests. That might hurt their special status under the occupation; end their privilege. He must be stopped.
They questioned him into the morning searching for some charge to bring against him. They could find none, and were enraged. At last they brought forth false witnesses to present lies in evidence against him. The group of priests and elders, charged with guiding the people of Israel, had become a pack of snarling wolves. They railed against this innocent man even striking him when he would not give the answers they wanted to hear. At last, shortly after dawn, he was led out. They charged him with blasphemy and sentenced him to death. They could not carry out the sentence under Roman law, however, without the consent of the Roman Governor. Therefore the chief priests accompanied the guards as they led Jesus to appear before Pilate.
Jesus stood before Pilate, his face bruised by the priests' beatings, as the priests made their case before Pilate and asked that he be crucified. The governor listened patiently, then turned to Jesus. He had not spoken a word as the priests presented their false case. Jesus offered no defense against their charges, but stood unmoved by their attacks.
Pilate knew that this was some kind of religious/political feud and wanted no part in it. When he learned that Jesus came from Galilee he saw a way out. He ordered the case be sent to King Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee, who was visiting Jerusalem for the Passover. This enraged the priests but they were powerless before Pilate.
It was a long, hot march to Herod's palace. Jesus had not slept at all the previous night and he had been on his feet without rest for hours, when he arrived before Herod. Herod only taunted the Nazirite prophet. He feared ruling against him, but he also feared the power of the priests. After he grew weary of his game he ordered his guards to beat Jesus for his silence and return him to Pilate.
After a fierce beating that left his face bloody and bruised, and another long march in the heat, Jesus again stood before Pilate. The priests again demanded death, but Herod refused, ordering him to be flogged. Hoping to placate the priests, he ordered the maximum allowed under Roman law; Fourty lashes.
The lash used by the Romans was a cat-o'-nine-tails with sharp bits of metal and bone tied to the end of each thong. With each stroke they dug into the prisoners back, ripping the flesh. After ten or so lashes the flesh was shredded and the muscle was exposed. By thirty lashes the muscles were ripped and torn and the barbs began to contact bone. Few men survived fourty lashes, none without permanent disability. When the cords that tied his wrists to the post were cut, Jesus fell to the ground barely conscious. Salt and oil were poured onto his mutilated back to staunch the blood and he was again taken before Pilate.
The priests were still unmoved. They demanded death, and would settle for nothing short of immediate crucifixion. Pilate, still looking for a safe way out of sentencing what he knew was an innocent man to death, conceded. He sentenced Jesus to crucifixion, but he would offer him to the people as a passover gift. It had been his tradition to pardon one man sentenced to death each year in honor of the Hebrew Holy Day.
Pilate stood before the crowd with Jesus on one side and Barabbas, a convicted murderer, on the other. He offered the choice to the crowd. Three times he made the offer, each time emphasizing Jesus' innocence and Barabbas' guilt. Each time the crowd screamed for Barabbas. At last he asked the crowd what was to be done with Jesus and they screamed 'crucify him'. His fate was sealed and Pilate bowed to the will of the people.