Why was Jesus arrested?
Answer
All four of the gospel accounts say that Jesus was arrested because the leaders of the Jews wanted to kill him (Matthew 26:3-4; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:2; John 11:53) out of envy (Mark 15:10). The charges varied throughout his trial: lying (Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:58-59); blasphemy (Matthew 26:65-66; Mark 14:64); many things (Mark 15:3); sedition against Rome (Luke 23:2); and just because he is a bad man (John 18:30).
In some defense of the Jewish leaders, they thought they had a valid reason for wanting Jesus dead. He had, in their view, violated the Sabbath and falsely claimed that God was his father, “Making himself equal with God.” (John 15:16-18) He did not strictly violate the Sabbath, and he was the Son of God, but they did not see it that way.