Download Study Materials
The trial of Jesus (2 things)
They want to the things this world has to offer them / not forgives of their sin!
1st – Peter’s Denial… vs. 54-62
Jesus was led to the High Priests house (the night trial of Jesus – not recorded in Luke)…
But 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 was 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!
1st denial…
A servant girl seeing Peter by the fire 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 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 – pretend we don’t know Jesus
The Rooster crowed the 1st time – Mark 14:68…
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
2nd 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
3rd 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 were with Him, you are a Galilean (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 was not 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 2nd time…
Right then Peter remembered the Words of Jesus – worse yet…
Jesus – in the midst of His trial – stopped to look at Peter after the 3rd 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 – but 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!
After the Resurrection – Jesus met up with the Disciples in Galilee – John 21:15-17
There by the shore – He asked Peter 3 questions…
1st & 2nd questions – Peter do you LOVE me…
The first 2 times Jesus asked – He asked Peter do you have PERFECT love for me…
Peter failed – denied Jesus 3 times – he could not say he PERFECTLY loved Jesus…
So Peter honestly answers – ‘Lord I LIKE You.’
3rd 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 3rd question (that and Peter did not like the # 3)
Jesus did not expect Peter to come to His level (PERFECT) He 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!
2nd – The Morning Trial of Jesus… (6 points)
1st – The two trials of Jesus…
- There are two trials of Jesus by the Jews recorded in the NT…
- The 1st ‘trial’ took place in the middle of the night – Matthew 26 / Mark 14...
- The 2nd trial recorded here in Luke takes place in the early morning…
- This second trial at daybreak was simply done for appearances – legitimacy…
- The verdict had already be rendered – Jesus was going to be crucified…
The reason for the 2nd trial – the 1st had been illegal…
According to Jewish traditional law (Mishna) the night trial of Jesus was not legal…
1st – Only a judge – not the High Priest – was allowed to pass judgment…
2nd– You could not try a prisoner at night (a rush trial – perversion of justice)…
3rd – It was against the law to interrogate a prisoner in a closed meeting…
4th – 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…
It was not justice – it was a lynch mob – they had only one purpose – kill Jesus
2nd – The trial at night – Mark 14:53-65
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
But even though many made accusations against Jesus – none of them agreed!
With all the accusations – Jesus never said a word (Imperfect)…
The High Priest Caiaphas demanded – ‘Do You answer nothing?’
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
But When Caiaphas demanded to know if Jesus was the Christ – He answered ‘I Am’
3rd – The morning trial began – before any official conviction – with a beating…
They blindfolded and struck Him with their fists – prophecy 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…
This was just the beginning of Jesus suffering – 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.”
4th – Since you are the Christ (Jesus had told them in the 1st trial) – tell us again…
Jesus answered – ‘If I tell you – you will not believe’…
They had not believed Jesus when He told them the night before…
So He knew they would not believe Him when He told them again now…
And even if He did told them what they wanted to hear – they would not let Him go!
There are many times we want to ‘make’ someone receive Jesus as their savior…
But if someone does not want to hear about Jesus – you cannot make them listen…
We can pray for them – so the Lord opens their heart/ears – so they want to hear!
Mike Lehr – knocking on my door – ‘tell me about Jesus’!
Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power…
They had rejected Jesus – but one day they would see He was the Messiah…
When Jesus comes for the 2nd time – riding out of heaven – Revelation 19:11
All of the Jews will see Jesus – realize He is the Messiah – and morn…
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.”
It is not a question of if we will bow to Jesus Christ – just when – Philippians 2:9-10
We can choose to believe in Jesus now – and worship Jesus in salvation
Or we will end up bowing our knew to Jesus later – in judgment and morning!
II Corinthians 6:2 – “Today is the day of salvation…”
Then they all asked Jesus – ‘Are you the Son of God’…
Jesus doesn’t hesitate to answer the question – the only one worth a response
He said to them all – ‘I AM’ – referring to the name of God – Exodus 3:14
Don’t miss this – Jesus calls Himself God Almighty – THE ‘I AM’
5th – Tearing the robe…
At the ‘confession’ of Jesus – Caiaphas the High Priest tore his clothes…
Mark 14:63 – “Then the high pries t tore his clothes…”
It was done in an effort to show the outrage at the ‘Blasphemy’ of Jesus…
That a man would claim to be God Almighty…
But by tearing his clothes – he was removed himself as the High Priest…
The Law forbade the High Priest to tear his clothes…
Leviticus 21:10 – “The high priest… must never… tear his clothing.”
By disqualifying himself as High Priest – he opened the door for Jesus to replace him
Hebrews 9:11 – “Christ has now become the High Priest over all…”
6th –The charge of Blasphemy…
There was no more need for testimony – Jesus own words condemned Him…
They made it official – Jesus crime was worthy of death!
He 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…
Leave a Reply