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The Trial… vs. 57-68
- 1st – The High Priest… vs. 57-58
- Six Trials…
- In all there are SIX trials that Jesus went through before His crucifixion!
- FIRST – He was sent to stand before Annas [father in law of Caiaphas] – John 18:12-24
- SECOND – He was tried at NIGHT before the Sanhedrin [Jewish Counsel] – Matthew 26:57-68
- THIRD – He was tried in the MORNING before the Sanhedrin – Matthew 27:1
- FOURTH – He was tried before Pontius Pilate – Matthew 27:2-14
- FIFTH – He was tried before Herod Antipas [son of Herod the Great] – Luke 23:6-12
- SIXTH – He was finally sentenced to death by Pilate – Matthew 27:15-26
- Only FOUR of these TRIALS are recorded in the book of Matthew!
- The Sanhedrin…
- Those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest.
- Where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
- This was the SECOND of the SIX trials of Jesus…
- He had already been questioned by ANNAS [former High Priest]
- Then the SOLDIERS brought Jesus to the house of CAIAPHAS [Καϊάφας]
- CAIAPHAS was the current High Priest [appointed by Rome]
- The SCRIBES [γραμματεύς] and ELDERS [πρεσβύτερος] were gathered there [synagogue]
- This was the SANHEDRIN – the ruling body of the Jewish people [congress]!
- Illegal Trial…
- According to Jewish law [Mishna] the NIGHT trial of Jesus was NOT legal [four reasons]!
- FIRST – only a judge – NOT the High Priest – was allowed to pass judgment…
- SECOND – they could NOT try a prisoner at night [a rush trial]
- THIRD – it was against the law to interrogate a prisoner in a CLOSED meeting…
- FOURTH – It was against the law to hold a trial the day before a Holy day [Sabbath]
- Imagine a trial that leads to death – occurs in less than SIX hours – is done in PRIVATE…
- This was NOT justice – it was a lynch mob that had only one purpose – kill Jesus!
- From a distance… vs. 58
- But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priests courtyard.
- And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end!
- Peter wanted to know what was going to happen [the end] to Jesus…
- We tend to give him a hard time because he denied the Lord…
- But out of the ELEVEN disciples – ONLY Peter and John FOLLOWED Jesus – John 18:15
- The PROBLEM – although he continued [imperfect] to FOLLOW the Lord…
- FOLLOW [ἀκολουθέω] – the same word used when they left their nets – Matthew 4:20
- Rather than sticking CLOSE to Jesus – he stood FAR away [μακρός]
- Mark 14:54 – “He sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.”
- There are many Christians who follow Jesus – from a distance…
- They sit in Church on Sunday – then sit with the world Monday through Saturday…
- They want to live both for the Lord – and for the world!
- The farther we are from the Lord – the closer we will find ourselves to the world…
- But when we are close to the world – we will find it HARD to stand for the Lord!
- 2nd – Good Witness… vs. 59-63
- False Testimony… vs. 59-60
- Now the chief priests – the elders – and all the council.
- Sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death – but found none.
- Even though many false witnesses came forward they found none!
- The SANHEDRIN [συνέδριον] – were looking [imperfect] for something to accuse Jesus of…
- They did NOT care if it was TRUE – they had no problem with FALSE [ψευδής] witnesses…
- But the problem with LIARS – is they do NOT tell the TRUTH….
- The LAW required TWO witnesses to AGREE for the DEATH penalty – Deuteronomy 17:6
- And no matter how hard they tried – NONE [οὐ] of these liars could AGREE!
- The Temple… vs. 60-61
- 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!
- The LAST of the LIARS [ψευδής] finally did agree one thing…
- Jesus said he had the POWER [Δύναμαι] to destroy the Temple – rebuild it in THREE days…
- He had said that – but He was NOT talking about the Jewish TEMPLE [τὸν ναὸν]
- John 2:21 – “He was speaking of the temple of His body.”
- Silent… vs. 62-63
- The high priest arose and said to Him: Do You answer nothing?
- What is it these men testify against You? But Jesus kept silent!
- CAIAPHAS [high priest] stood up [dramatic effect]
- Stating Jesus was NOT defending himself [indicative] against His ACCUSERS…
- But Jesus was continually [imperfect] SILENT- and said NOTHING!
- Isaiah 53:7 – “He was oppressed and He was afflicted – yet He opened not His mouth.”
- I knew a pastor who was falsely accused of having an affair…
- When he went to seek counsel on what he should do he was simply asked: are you GUILTY…
- The answer was NO – so they counsel was do NOTHING – let God be your defense!
- When [not if] people say BAD things [lies] about us we have a CHOICE…
- We can DEFEND ourselves – although ironically this just makes us look GUILTY…
- Or we can say NOTHING – knowing that God will be our DEFENSE…
- Those who are INNOCENT have NO reason to explain why they did NOTHING wrong!
- Romans 12:19 – “Beloved do not avenge yourselves but rather give place to wrath. For it is written: Vengeance is Mine – I will repay says the Lord.”
- False Testimony… vs. 59-60
- 3rd – The Christ… vs. 63-64
- The Son of God… vs. 63-64
- 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!
- CAIAPHAS [high priest] then demanded Jesus answer him…
- Jesus had to tell the TRUTH [ἐξορκίζω] – before the LIVING God…
- Is He [present] the CHRIST [Χριστός] – the SON of God [ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ]
- Jesus answered CAIAPHAS: I AM [name of God] – Mark 14:62
- The title CHRIST [Χριστός] or [מָשִׁיחַ] – means the anointed one…
- It emphasizes WHO sent Jesus – He was anointed [called] by God – Psalm 2:2
- But the title SON of God [ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ] – emphasizes WHO Jesus is…
- It describes His relationship to the Father – the SECOND person in the Trinity – John 10:30
- Son of Man… vs. 64
- Nevertheless I say to you hereafter you will see the Son of Man!
- But Jesus added to those TWO titles – and gave a THIRD…
- The SON of Man [τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου] – emphasizing WHY He came…
- God HUMBLED himself – and took on the form of a MAN [ἄνθρωπος]
- So that a He could live a PERFECT life – then DIE in our place…
- Jesus was telling CAIAPHAS why God came down the FIRST time!
- Philippians 2:7-8 – “Coming in the likeness of men… He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death – even the death of the cross.”
- Second Coming… vs. 64
- Sitting at the right hand of the Power – and coming on the clouds of heaven!
- But because CAIAPHAS was NOT willing to receive the CHRIST the FIRST time…
- He would instead have to stand before the CHRIST the SECOND time…
- He would see Jesus SITTING at the right hand of the Father [power] – Revelation 14:14
- And then the clouds would PART – as Jesus comes down out of HEAVEN!
- Revelation 19:11 – “I saw heaven opened and behold… He judges and makes war.”
- There are only TWO choices when it comes to Jesus…
- We can chose to bow NOW – or we will be made to bow LATER – Romans 14:11
- Those who receive the SON of Man now [Jesus who died for our sins] are saved NOW…
- Those who reject Him – will experience His wrath LATER!
- The Son of God… vs. 63-64
- 4th – Tearing the robe… vs. 65-68
- Blasphemy… vs. 65-66
- Then the high priest tore his clothes saying: 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!
- Then CAIAPHAS tore his clothes – declaring Jesus had blasphemed [βλασφημέω]
- To him there was NO longer any reason for more WITNESSES…
- They ALL heard [indicative] what Jesus said – He claimed to be the CHRIST – the I AM…
- When he asked the SANHEDRIN what His punishment should be…
- They responded – he was GUILTY and should be put to DEATH!
- The key event was the tearing of the ROBE…
- The LAW forbit the High Priest from every doing that – Leviticus 21:10
- The moment CAIAPHAS did – he was disqualified from being the HIGH priest…
- Because he needed to be REPLACED – it opened the door for a new High Priest!
- Hebrews 9:11 – “Christ has now become the High Priest over all.”
- There are people who still think they need to go to a PRIEST to be forgiven…
- Others believe that they must PRAY to the SAINTS in order for God to hear them…
- But we do NOT need a man to be our MEDIATOR between us and God – I Timothy 2:5
- We now have a HIGH Priest who gives us direct access in the Throne room of heaven…
- We can pray to Him anytime – and He will FORGIVE us!
- Hot hand… vs. 67-68
- Then they spat in His face and beat Him – and others struck Him with the palms of their hands.
- Saying: Prophesy to us Christ! Who is the one who struck You?
- The SANHEDRIN then began to [πτύω] SPIT [onomatopoeia] in Jesus face…
- They still do this today in the Middle east to show great contempt and hatred…
- They also BLINDFOLDED Him and slapped Him with their hands – Mark 14:65
- Saying PROPHECY to us CHRIST who hit You – only then would they stop!
- If we can see a punch coming – we can roll with it to lessen the effect…
- If we cannot see it – we take the full blunt force causing severe damage…
- So begins the suffering of Jesus –beaten so badly He became unrecognizable!
- Isaiah 52:14 – “Many were amazed when they saw him beaten and bloodied – so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person.” [NLT]
- Blasphemy… vs. 65-66
- Six Trials…
- 2nd – Three Times… vs. 69-75
- 1st – Staying Outside… vs. 69-70
- Servant girl… vs. 69
- Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him saying:
- You also were with Jesus of Galilee.
- But he denied it before them all saying: I do not know what you are saying!
- Peter was still sitting OUTSIDE [ἔξω] and watching the TRIAL from a DISTANCE…
- When a young WOMAN [παιδίσκη] came up to him saying: you were [imperfect] with Jesus…
- It was NO accident that it was a young girl [not a Roman solider or Temple guard]
- Yet even in front of her – Peter could NOT stand up for Jesus…
- He DENIED it telling EVERYONE [πᾶς] – he had NO idea [perfect] what she was saying!
- The warning…
- Mark 14:68 – “He went out on the porch and a rooster crowed.”
- God tried to give Peter a reminder he was going the wrong way!
- When we being to DRIFT from the Lord– compromising our walk…
- God will send us those subtle reminders – a Bible verse that touches our heart…
- Or a friend who encourages us to come to church…
- The question is are we listening – or so caught up in our sin that we miss it!
- Hebrews 2:1 – “Listen very carefully to the truth… or we may drift away.” [NLT]
- Servant girl… vs. 69
- 2nd – Wrong direction… vs. 71-72
- The Oath…
- When he had gone out to the gateway another saw him and said to those who were there.
- This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.
- But again he denied with an oath: I do not know the Man!
- Peter went FATHER away from Jesus – retreating to the GATE…
- No doubt he was getting NERVOUS – if one person recognized him someone else might…
- Sure enough – another [ἄλλος] saw him and said: he was with [imperfect] Jesus…
- But Peter DENIED a SECOND time – and took an OATH [ὅρκος]
- He VOWED he had [perfect] NEVER [οὐ] seen [εἴδω] that man before…
- In only a few hours he went from I will DIE for you – to I NEVER knew you!
- Compromise…
- When King David chose to stay home – rather than go to Battle – II Samuel 12:1
- He never could have imagined how much that simple choice would cost him…
- Because he was NOT where he should have been – he saw Bathsheba bathing…
- The resulting AFFAIR – and MURDER [Uriah] almost destroyed him!
- No one wakes up one day and decides to RUIN their lives…
- It comes as a result of a sequence of BAD choices made over time…
- One compromise leads to another – until we find we have wandered FAR from the Lord!
- Hebrews 3:13 – “Hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
- The Oath…
- 3rd – Cursing and swearing… vs. 73-75
- Accent… vs. 73-74
- A little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter:
- Surely you also are one of them for your speech betrays you.
- After a short time [μικρόν] those who had been standing nearby and LISTENING…
- Came up [active] to Peter and said: you are [indicative] one of them…
- They could tell because of his ACCENT [sounded like he was from Galilee]!
- A few years back we had a family come from Australia on a Missions trip…
- People came up to me asking if they were speaking in ENGLISH…
- They were – but their accent was so different – I had to INTERPRET for them!
- Relative…
- John 18:26 – “A relative of him whose ear Peter cut off.”
- John adds that one of those who came up to question Peter was related to Malchus…
- He was NOT about to forget the man who cut off the ear of his relative…
- Peter must have felt trapped – he was NOT just recognized as being with Jesus…
- There would no doubt be CONSEQUENCES for his rash actions with the sword!
- The rooster…
- He began to curse and swear saying: I do not know the Man! Immediately a rooster crowed!
- Then Peter began to CURSE [ἀναθεματίζω] – cursed if he was lying…
- SWEAR [ὀμνύω] – to make a VOW to convince someone you are telling the truth…
- He had [perfect] NEVER [οὐ] seen [εἴδω] that man before – and the ROOSTER crowed!
- Jesus looked…
- Luke 22:61 – “The Lord turned and looked at Peter.”
- Set the scene – Peter had been watching the TRIAL of Jesus…
- Little by little getting father and father from his Lord…
- And as the rooster crowed – morning had come – the SANHEDRIN had made their decision!
- Jesus was being BEATEN – and through His bruised and blood stained face…
- He turned and looked over at Peter – just as he DENIED the Lord for the THIRD time…
- I have to believe it was NOT a condemning look – there was NO disappointment…
- Instead His gaze was filled with compassion and LOVE…
- Yes Peter had FAILED – but that is exactly what Jesus came to DIE for!
- Peter Remembered… vs. 75
- Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him.
- Before the rooster crows you will deny Me three times. So he went out and wept bitterly!
- At that moment Peter REMEMBERED [passive] what Jesus had said…
- The Lord told him he would BETRAY Jesus THREE times – Matthew 26:34
- Seeing his failure – Peter was BROKEN – and went out WEEPING!
- CONVICTION is good – the work of the Spirit telling us to REPENT – look to Jesus…
- CONDEMNATION is bad – focusing on our failures – looking to our sin…
- When we are FOCUSED on our mistakes – we are NOT looking to Jesus…
- We are CONDEMNING ourselves – even though God says we are FORGIVEN…
- We just NEED to get our eyes off ourselves – and put them back onto Jesus!
- I John 3:20 – “If our heart condemns us – God is greater than our heart.”
- Accent… vs. 73-74
- 4th – Restoration…
- Perfect Love…
- After the Resurrection – Jesus met up with the DISCIPLES in Galilee – John 21:1-17
- There by the shore – He asked Peter THREE questions…
- The first TWO times Jesus asked: Peter do you LOVE [ἀγαπάω] Me…
- Peter had failed and denied Jesus THREE times – he could not say he AGAPE the Lord…
- So Peter honestly answers: Lord I LIKE [φιλέω] You!
- Third Time…
- The third time Jesus asked He changed His question: Peter do you LIKE Me…
- Peter was upset by the question – why did Jesus change His question…
- But Jesus did not expect Peter to come to His level [ἀγαπάω] He came to his level [φιλέω]!
- Jesus does NOT expect us to be perfect – far from it – He knows we are NOT…
- But He comes to find us – in our disappointment and self-pity
- He meets us right where we are – no matter what we have done…
- And wants to bring us back into that close relationship with Him!
- Perfect Love…
- 1st – Staying Outside… vs. 69-70
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