The Trial of Jesus… vs. 53-65

• The show trial – mock justice…(5 points)
  • 1^st – Caiaphas (handsome) – the High Priest…
    • The son-in-law of Annas – the former High Priest (married into the right family)…
    • Became High Priest in 27 A.D. – he was appointed by the Roman government…
    • The High Priest should have been chosen by God (Aaronic line)…
    • But it was not longer a religious position – it had become a political position…
    • In this we see the decline of the morality of Israel – how far they were from God…
    • The High Priest himself – the one who represented God to the people – was a puppet…
    • He no longer spoke for God – he spoke for Rome!
  • 2^nd – An illegal trial…
    • According to Jewish traditional law (Mishna) the trial of Jesus was not even legal…
    • 1^st – Only a judge – not the High Priest – was allowed to pass judgment…
    • 2^nd– You could not try a prisoner at night (a rush trial – perversion of justice)…
    • 3^rd – It was against the law to interrogate a prisoner in a closed meeting…
    • 4^th – It was against the law to hold a trial the day before a Holy day (Sabbath)…
    • Think of a trial – leading to death – that took place in less than 24 hours – in private…
    • This was not justice – it was a lynch mob – they had only one purpose – kill Jesus
  • 3^rd – Sought (Imperfect) false accusations…
    • The leaders were not looking for truth – they only wanted a reason to crucify!
      • Since they could not get it honestly – they were more than willing to be dishonest…
      • The leaders brought (bought) many people with false testimony to accuse Jesus 
    • False Witness – Pseudo-Martyr – to pretend like you are telling the truth
      • The leaders needed 2 or 3 “witnesses” to agree – Deuteronomy 19:15
      • But even though many made accusations against Jesus – none of them agreed!
      • The problem was – Jesus was perfect – sinless – there was nothing to accuse Him of
      • They couldn’t get the riffraff to agree on one false story – against Jesus
      • Even though the world will bring accusations against the believer
      • There is no truth to it – so there is nothing to fear from it – empty words
    • Destroy this temple…
      • Then some came who said Jesus claimed He would destroy& rebuild the Temple
      • John 2:19,21 – “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”
      • Jesus was referring to the Temple of his Body – the crucifixion & Resurrection!
      • But even on this accusation – the two witnesses could not agree…
      • The lies people use to discredit believers – are often half-truths…
      • They will take things we have said – or done – and twist them to make them bad
      • They may accuse people of coming to church for bread – true – the Bread of Life!
    • Caiaphas demanded – ‘Do You answer nothing?’
      • With all the accusations – Jesus never said a word (Imperfect)…
      • Isaiah 53:7 – “He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”
      • When others attack us – attempt to discredit us – we have only 2 options
      • We can step up to defend ourselves – or we can choose to let God be our defense
      • If we defend ourselves – run around putting out fires only to find another started
      • Better to say nothing – and watch as God becomes our defense
  • 4^th – Are you the Christ…
    • In frustration Caiaphas said, ‘Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed?’
    • The Christ – Messiah – savior of the world – God incarnate!
      • None of their tricks were working – the trial had proven nothing…
      • So Caiaphas drove right to the bottom line – was Jesus God…
      • All the other accusations – really only have one root – a problem with Jesus
      • People make issues out of everything but the one real issue – Jesus in you!
      • Don’t get upset with people – realize their problem – they need Jesus
    • Jesus doesn’t hesitate to answer the question – the only one worth a response
      • He said to them all – ‘I AM’!
      • Don’t miss this – Jesus calls Himself God – THE ‘I AM’ – Exodus 3:14
      • He adds – and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power…
      • They had rejected Jesus – but one day they would believe…
      • When Jesus comes for the 2^nd time – riding out of heaven – Revelation 19:11
      • All of the Jews will see Jesus – realize He is their Messiah – and believe…
      • Zechariah 12:10 – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son.”
  • 5^th–The charge of Blasphemy…
    • Then Caiaphas tore his robe – a sign of outrage and contempt
      • There was no more need for false witnesses – Jesus own words condemned Him
      • They took a vote and decided – His crime was worth of death!
    • Jesus was the Messiah – but He was not messiah they wanted…
      • They wanted a savior who would conquer Rome – give them riches and fame
      • They did not want a savior who would take away their sin
      • Men still reject Jesus today because He is not the savior they want
      • They want to be rich – famous – popular / not forgiven of their sin
    • Hot hand…
      • So they spit on Jesus – not a little spittle – but from deep in the throat
      • They still do this today in the Middle east to show great contempt and hatred
      • They blindfolded and struck Him with their fists – prophecy Christ who hit you…
      • If you can see a punch coming – you can roll with it to lessen the effect
      • If you cannot see it – you take the full blunt force – causing severe damage
      • So begins the suffering of Jesus –beaten so badly…
      • Isaiah 52:14–“Many were amazed when they saw him—beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person.”
        
• Peter’s Denial… vs. 66-72
  • While the mock trial of Jesus was taking place…
  • Peter followed at a distance – warming by the fire…
    • This was Peter’s first mistake – he was following Jesus – but from far away…
    • Not only was Peter not close to Jesus – instead he cozying up to the world!
    • Often like Peter – we believe in the Lord – we follow the Lord – from a distance…
    • We want to live both for the Lord – and for the world… 
    • Look like a Christian on Sundays – like the world Monday – Saturday…  
    • Problem: the farther we are from Jesus – the closer we will find ourselves to the world
    • And when we are close to the world – we will find it hard to stand for the Lord
  • 1^st denial…
    • Peter was in the courtyard– and a servant girl said, ‘You were with Jesus…’
      • Peter immediately denied knowing the Lord…
      • One might have sympathy with Peter at this point…
      • He is right outside the mock trial that was rushing Jesus to His death on the cross…
      • There was very real fear that if you stood for Jesus – you would share His fate…
      • Rather than stand for Jesus – it is far easier to blend into the world
      • If we stand for what is right – we might very well be mocked or ridiculed
      • Easier to warm ourselves by the fire of the world – and pretend we don’t know Jesus
    • The Rooster crows the 1^st time…
      • Timing is everything – God gave Peter a reminder – but he missed it…
      • When we being to drift from the Lord – into the world – compromising our walk
      • God will send us those subtle reminders – a Bible verse that touches our heart
      • Or a friend who says just the right thing – reminding us to get back to Jesus…
      • The question is are we willing to listen – or so caught up in the world we miss it
  • 2^nd denial…
    • A little further away from Jesus – Peter went outside onto the porch…
      • He was trying to just blend into the crowd – hoping no one would recognize him
      • The servant girl saw him again and said, ‘He is one of them…’
    • A second time Peter denied Jesus – this time with an Oath – Matthew 26:72
      • If we continue to hold onto the world – we grow even further from Jesus…
      • We come to a place when we no longer want people to recognize us as Christians
      • We want to be in the world – be just be like the world
      • Then we do not have to face persecution – we think life will be easier/better
  • 3^rd denial…
    • A relative of Malchus (Peter cut off his ear) recognized Peter from Gethsemane
      • Peter was from Galilee and had a different accent than those from Jerusalem…
      • He said, ‘You are one of them, your speak betrays you.’
    • A third time Peter denied Jesus…
      • He began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know this Man!’
      • To someone he had once stood up for Jesus in front of – Peter now denied Jesus!
      • He adds cursing & swearing as if to prove he wasn’t even a religious man
      • There is no middle ground – if we are not drawing closer to Jesus – father away
      • Friendship with the world is a slippery slope – you quickly slide down
      • The end result is we become just like the world – even sound like the world
  • Immediately the rooster crowed a 2^nd time…
    • Luke 22:61–“Jesus turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’”
    • Right then Peter remembered the Words of Jesus – worse yet…
    • Jesus – in the midst of His trial – stopped to look at Peter after the 3^rd denial…
      • The convocation must have been overwhelming – the failure was complete
      • Peter – in Jesus hour of greatest need – had failed the Lord completely
      • He had boasted – even if all others leave – yet now he himself had denied Jesus!
    • Peter went out and wept bitterly!
      • Peter was broken – he had learned the most important lesson
      • Peter learned he could not trust in himself – he learned to he needed Jesus!
      • When we get to that place where we have completely failed
      • We have done things – become so much like the world – we are shocked
      • Jesus is right there – He is looking right at us – not in condemnation
      • But in forgiveness – if we are willing to let our heart break – repent
      • Come back to the Lord – stand with the Lord!
      • Come to that place where you realize you need the Lord – every day!
        
• Peter’s Restoration – John 21:15-17
  • After the Resurrection – Jesus met up with the Disciples in Galilee
  • There by the shore – He asked Peter 3 questions…
  • 1^st & 2^nd questions – Peter do you LOVE me
    • The first 2 times Jesus asked – He asked Peter do you ‘AGAPE’ Me?
    • Peter had failed – denied Jesus 3 times – he could not say he AGAPE the Lord
    • So Peter honestly answers – “Lord I ‘like’ (phileo) You.”
  • 3^rd question – Peter do you love me…
    • The third time Jesus asked – He changed His question – “Peter do you ‘like’ Me?”
    • That is what Peter was upset by the 3^rd question (that and Peter did not like the # 3)
    • Jesus did not expect Peter to come to His level (AGAPE) Jesus came to Peter’s level!
    • Jesus does not expect us to be perfect – far from it – He knows we are not
    • He knows we tend to get caught up in ourselves – caught up in the world
    • 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