Jesus' Trial & Peters Denial - Frank Brancato 8-21-11

As we understand the setting. Now we know that Jesus concluded

his time with the 11 in the upper room.

From verses 13 through 17. We know that he spent time

promising. Those disciples wonderful

blessings in the new age to come and praying to the father that

the father would care for them. And the time that Jesus would go

to the cross. And not only then, But

continuing at that point and now the hour is come to move toward

Calvary. And so Jesus leaves that upper

room with that little group of 11.

He goes out of the gate down the little slope of Kidron crossing

the Winterthur and up the other side into the Mount of Olives to

a place called The Garden of Gethsemane.

And in this Garden, Jesus spends time in prayer, agonizing over

the anticipation of sin, bearing and separation from God.

And as we studied a few weeks ago, Jesus went there because he

knew that Judas knew that he would go there, he realized that

his hour had come and it was time for him to die and it makes

it very easy for Judas to lead that angry mob on that.

Day on that night to find him, certainly proving that Jesus was

no man's victim but Jesus was the ultimate Victor.

You remember that? We also studied and saw the

great and tremendous power. That is magnified in Jesus.

You remember when Judas came and gave the Betrayal kiss saying,

hail Master? But Jesus turned their well

planned maneuver into a Triumph of his own power when he said,

who are you looking for? For and they said, we're looking

for Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus responded like this.

He says, I am he or that word? He is in italics, if we take

that out from the original Jesus simply said, I am.

And the Bible says, when he spoke these words, they all fell

back. They all fell flat later on.

Jesus would ask them again. He said, who you looking for?

And they would respond. We're looking for Jesus of

Nazareth and Jesus proving that he was in complete control.

Said If you're looking for me, he said here I am and let these

men go. You see Jesus was building a

little shelter over his disciples getting them to admit

from their own mouths that they were only looking for Jesus

proving again always in control and never a victim.

But you remember this and it was the last scene before we ended

our sermon last time, the Peter jumps out of this little shelter

of protection. And he tiny takes matters into

his own hands and he remember as they're standing there and Judas

is standing there. And all of a sudden, the Bible

says that Peter grabs, his sword and he cuts off the ear of

malchus. Now, I'm going to share

something with you. I thought about this this week.

Actually remembering how I used to think or are used to think

this was talking about and when I was a kid, I used to hit men.

Peter must have really been a skilled swordsman.

He took his sword, he took careful aim and he took that

sword went right down the side of Malcolm X's head and sliced

off his ear. Sending him a message.

Don't mess with us. I think that when I was a kid

You know, there's nothing in all the Bible that says, that he was

a skilled swordsman and I don't believe that he cut his ear off

because he took careful aim and hit his Mark.

I think he cut his ear off because he missed.

I think he swung to cut his head off, and Malcolm has turned his

head like this, maybe something like that.

And he sliced off his ear. What was wrong with Peters

reaction? Jesus had built a shelter of

protection over those disciples getting them to admit, not once,

but twice, we are only looking For Jesus.

And Jesus says, well, if that's the case, you let these men go

Peter took matters into his own hands, didn't he?

Jesus grabs that ear? Whatever it was is mangled, as

it was, the language seems to indicate that he mended the ear

creating almost a new one and he put it back on the side of the

head of this man called malcolmus.

The problem with Peter is he tried to jump out of the

shelter, the Lord provided. And that's exactly what happens

today. When man stops listening to the

Lord and starts thinking for himself.

How many times religiously speaking has a man got himself

in trouble because he stopped listening to the Lord and

started thinking for himself every time man gets in trouble.

And so, did Peter in the long ago.

We can almost hear the tone, in the, in the words of Jesus, as

he puts the ear back on malka, sand-based.

Basically, as I paraphrase, turning to Peter and saying,

Peter, put that thing away. For he who will live by the

sword shall die by the sword. Now then verses 12 through 27,

we find that there are two dramas that are taking place,

not one, but two, these are separate dramas, they are

separate scenes and they are in separate locations and it will

only be at the end of our sermon this morning when we will see in

Luke's account in Luke chapter, 22 that these two scenes are

going to come together and they're going to meet.

But what we have is we've got one drama going on over here and

we got another draw. AMA going on over there.

You got jesus' trial right here and you got Peters denial over

here. And as I mentioned, just a

moment ago, these scenes are interwoven in our passage.

It is almost like it's saying this talk about Jesus trial for

a little while and then all of a sudden it's as if it's saying

and meanwhile over here in Peters denial and a few more

things are said about Peters denial and then meanwhile back

over here at the try. It seems as though it's it's

written. And kind of like that.

But I'm going to tell you something folks.

There are two basic foundational truths.

That is found in these passages, and that is this.

We see the absolute Glory of Jesus Christ.

And at the very same time, we see the sinfulness of man.

And we see as sinful as man, was, we see the willingness that

Jesus had to pay the great price for sinful man.

That not only didn't deserve it, but was actually literally

denying him. At that moment.

Okay, here we go. Jesus Is trial.

I guess we'll call this act. 1 verses 12 through 14, and verse

12. The Bible says, then the

Detachment of troops and the captain of the officers of the

Jews arrested, Jesus and bound him.

You know, there's a very interesting thought here and

description in this multitude because in this, we find a very

good illustration of the kind of people the world picture of

those that deny Jesus today. In this multitude, you have

every kind of person, every kind of Walk of Life in this great

mob. And we've already proven that

there were hundreds of them, In this angry mob, there was

Gentiles and Jews. There was heathens and religious

people. There were soldiers and

servants. There were priests and

Pharisees. There's every different kind of

fella that you can imagine was with this mob.

And, you know, they didn't have all things in common, but there

was one thing that every single one of these had in common and

that was this they were totally and completely stone-cold blind.

To the incomparable qualities of the Son of God, they were

absolutely unaffected by the magnificence of Jesus Christ.

They were untouched. They were unmoved.

And I'll tell you this, that is a great picture of the grip, and

ugliness of sin, the blindness and ugliness and grip of sin.

You know, when we look at this scene, somebody tells me say why

people are interested more today than ever before.

We sit there with the word of God was showing me exactly what

they need to do to be saved. Just as simple as that and then

it but they don't accept it, they reject.

When we look at what happened on this occasion, it's easy for us

to understand what happened. What happens today?

Based on what's already happened?

Get this. They rejected Jesus, and he was

standing right in front of them. He speaks to words.

And they all fall down, unfazed and unaffected.

That's nothing new. Though the Apostle Paul said

this, the God of this world has blinded the minds of them that

believe. Not lest the light of the

Glorious gospel of Christ. Should shine unto them.

The God of this world is the same kind of idea.

When the Bible talks about Satan, being the prince of the

power of Darkness, Prince of the power of the air.

Now, they come in verse 12, in the Bible says that they bound.

Jesus, you know, there's probably several reasons why

they bound him. Jesus didn't fight back.

Jesus, didn't try to resist. If in fact, you remember

remember a couple times ago when they came into the Garden of

Gethsemane and they were aware that torches and lanterns and so

forth and so on, you remember that, I said that Scholars

indicate that there's probably a full moon at that time and

Jerusalem would have been little lid.

They didn't need that to fit to travel from Jerusalem to the

Garden of Gethsemane. They needed those lanterns

because they thought Jesus would hide, they'd have to go to every

nook and cranny In The Garden of Gethsemane and see where Jesus

was and they found him. Not only did they find him right

off? He walked toward them.

Why they binding? Well first of all, is common

practice to secure a captive. If you go to a rest, somebody,

if you go to arrest, somebody even today.

What do they do? They put handcuffs on you, you

may not be resisting but it's a sign of your captivity or of

being arrested. Secondly, in Matthew chapter 26

Matthew 26 · chapter mention

and 48, do you remember when Judas is having making his deal

with these haters of Jesus? He's making his deal.

And he says this, when I as I paraphrase, when I lead you to

Jesus, when you see him when you get him, what did you say?

He said hold him fast. I don't know why I said that,

but that's what Judas said and I would imagine that that's part

of it. But beyond that there's

something else. There's certainly a very

beautiful fulfillment of typical prophecy.

You remember, last time we talked about the fact that there

are two kinds of Prophecy there is verbal predictive prophecy,

which is a statement that is made, that is fulfilled or will

be fulfilled. Then there's a typical prophecy

in which certain acts a certain person or certain thing typifies

a fulfillment. Here's an example of verbal

predictive prophecy. It's when a statement like this,

Has made about Jesus unto us. A child is born unto us a son is

given verbal predictive prophecy.

Now, on the other hand, there is sacrifices of the Old Law, and

every time that a sacrifice was laid on an altar, it was a

picture of Jesus Christ. It was a type that is typical

prediction. Now, both are accurate equally

Lee and both are important equally.

So Jesus is bound and in so doing fulfilled, typical

prophecy because in the Old Testament, according to Psalm

118 and 27, the Bible says, bind the sacrifice with cords under

the horns of the altar. In other words, when the

sacrifice was given it was to be bound.

Another example, very familiar, passage Genesis 22 and 9

regarding Isaac. Isaac was a perfect prophetic

type of Jesus Christ, a picture of Jesus.

And the Bible says, when he was laid on that altar to be

sacrificed, he was bound to the altar, Something else to, this

is just a side note here. But you remember when they were

going they spent that three days and they were traveling

together. And Abraham was with Isaac.

Who was carrying the wood? Bible says it was Isaac.

And you know, never in time prior to that time, had that

which is to be sacrificed carry, the wood that it would be

sacrificed on never happened before.

And it never happened again until Calvary when jesus carried

his cross. Perfect.

Perfect. Fulfillment of typical prophecy.

Being bound, was a fulfillment of typical prophecy.

Certainly Bound To the Cross was the ultimate fulfillment.

It of that prophecy in preparation for sin in verse 13.

We find we. Now get down to the nitty-gritty

of the trial, and the Bible says, they led him away to Anise

first for. He was the father-in-law of

Caiaphas. Who was the high priest that

year? Let me just say this.

Anna's and Caiaphas. These guys were real crumbs, I

don't know how else to put that these with the Despicable the

lowest of the low. These guys are crumbs but they

are extremely important to our narrative.

When Jesus was taken to Anise, this is the first phase of

jesus' trial because Jesus had not one, but he had two trials

that day. He had a religious trial and he

had a Civil Trial, his religious trial had to do with Israel, his

Civil Trial had to do with Rome. Now, nothing could be done in

terms of Jesus has a Execution without Rome, Israel could

decide that he should die, but it was Rome that had to carry it

out. It was Rome that had to execute

in. And so, first of all, we have a

religious trial and that trial had three phases.

Number one, right after he was bound in the Garden of

Gethsemane, there was the arraignment and the indictment

and that was before this man named anise.

The second phase of this religious trial was an illegal

Gathering when Caiaphas got together with the Sanhedrin, not

the next day, not a proper trial.

He got together with the Sanhedrin that very night, Phase

2, phase 3, the next morning again, Caiaphas and the

Sanhedrin, only this time, it was false Witnesses gathered

together in a mock trial. Three phases of his religious

trial. On the other hand, there were

three phases of the Civil Trial when Jesus was taken before

Pilate and pilate didn't know what to do with him.

In fact, pilot would never know what to do with, in fact, pilot

after examination later on says this he says I wash my hands of

the blood of this just man. I walked my hands of the whole

thing. I'm not going to be guilty of

the blood of this honest and true.

And just man. There's the pilot first, then he

said sent to Herod the tetrarch of Galilee who happened to be

down in Jerusalem at the time and hair didn't know what to do

either. So what's he do?

He sends him back to pilate. That's phase. 3 of the Civil

Trial. Let's talk about who anise was

for, just a little while, and this was a very powerful and

immensely rich, man. This was a man that really ran

the show. He was a man that was in charge

of concession booths. Now, I'm not talking about when

I say concession booths, I'm not talking about hot dogs and

popcorn, not talking about, a concession stand, talking about

a couple of things. First of all, I'm talking about

the sale of livestock and secondly, I'm talking about when

they would come to pay taxes. They would come and they were,

they bring foreign currency and they would need to exchange the

foreign currency in order that they might pay taxes.

In fact, that's why. Jesus was infuriated, we'll get

to that in just a moment. The problem is and this was a

man that was full of extorting the people.

In fact, some Scholars say that as much as five times, he

extorted them as much as five times what the actual rate would

have been. An awful, man.

In fact, the Jews themself selves hated anise.

The talmud says this, which was a commentary of history.

And so forth, said this about anise and I quote, woe to the

house of anise. Whoa, to their serpents hiss.

They are high priests, their sons are keepers of the

treasury. There's sons-in-laws Guardians

of the temple and their servants, beat the people with

staves. Now, anise literally hated

Jesus. Let's go back.

Just a few days now. Jesus, making his triumphal

entry into Jerusalem about a week prior to the time that he

would be taken to the Cross. You remember, when Jesus came

into Jerusalem, when Jesus overturned the tables of the

moneychangers member that he said, as I paraphrase in essence

this, you have taken the house of prayer and you have made it a

den of Thieves. You don't think that was eaten

anise. It sure was He messed up his

whole plan. Jesus made messed up his entire

plan. Not only was he the brains

behind the Machinery? This man and us but he was

messing up his business. There was a great reason to

bring Jesus before Anna's because if anybody had the power

and had the enticement to indict, Jesus, it certainly

would have been anise. So Jesus is brought before

Anna's first and then we meet a man named Caiaphas Caiaphas had

to be introduced because Caiaphas was technically the

high priest. At this time, according to verse

13. And in verse 14, it says now it

was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient, that

one man should die for the people.

Now Caiaphas have been plotting, the death of Jesus all along.

Jesus began to be very very popular.

You know, I think there's a lot of reasons as we mentioned

before, why they we Jesus had them come and take him in

private. Jesus was very popular.

They didn't do it in the downtown streets of Jerusalem.

There might have been a big Riot.

Jesus was giving himself up, so he did it in private and he knew

Judas would come there with that.

Angry mob. Absolutely.

Jesus was very popular. In fact, when Jesus came in and

his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The Bible says that he came on the back of a Colt of a donkey,

and they were crying out Hosanna.

They were magnifying Jesus. He was coming on the back of a

Colt of a donkey, but they were elevating him those that loved

him and those that he was popular among Caiaphas was

worried sick about Jesus. And so Caiaphas had been

planning his death all along. Let's go back before the

triumphal entry into Jerusalem and John chapter 11 and John

John 11 · chapter mention John 11 · chapter mention

chapter 11 verse, 49 Caiaphas had gotten together with his

people, his cronies his whoever and they got together and they

were discussing the matter of Jesus.

Very important, we've got to discuss about Jesus.

Do you remember what they said? They'd send a kind Fisk when

Caiaphas began to extend to them his concerns.

They said back to Caiaphas, don't worry about that.

It's To go away. It's no big deal.

It will all just come to pass. It will all just be.

All right, you know what kind of just said he said, you know, not

what you say another word, you don't know what you're talking

about. He goes even further.

This is amazing, Caiaphas says now, this is long before know,

we're the reason they were talking about.

We got to do something about Jesus because Jesus raised

Lazarus from the dead and they were worried about their worried

about the people that would follow Jesus.

And so Caiaphas says this, not only do you not know what you're

talking about but you can't understand and you can't even

see that it is expedient, get this.

Now it's expedient. That one man should die.

That a nation be spared. You don't even understand that.

It's expedient. That a one man die for the

nation. Now.

Interesting Caiaphas is saying this.

Because he wants literally Jesus taken out of the way because

Jesus is going to mess up the nation.

There's going to be a revolution, the Romans are going

to come in. They're going to take over and

they're going to wipe us all out.

We've got to do everything that we can possibly fathom to kill

Jesus to take him out of the way.

But I like what the Bible says, in verse 51, because he was

speaking prophecy, and he didn't even know it in verse 51 of John

John 11 · chapter mention

chapter 11. It says, now this he did not say

on his own authority, but being high priest that year he

prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation.

Now, how do you like that? He opens up his ugly, hateful

mouth with political end in mind saying, we have to remove Jesus

from the equation and let's just kill one of them.

Let's kill the head and let the entire nation be spared.

He was prophesying that one man would die.

That a nation figuratively there or world with people may live?

And what's amazing, there is the Bible says Caiaphas didn't even

know what he was saying. And God still in control was

through his lips, speaking prophecy to those that would

hear him. Now, I said all that to say this

Caiaphas hated Jesus and Caiaphas was plotting to get rid

of him. You know, sometimes people do

that, they get an idea in their mind.

For example, they may have a position on a certain Bible

passage or position about something regarding our life.

And the things that we do and don't do what's right and what's

wrong. And it seems though, people what

they want to do is they want to get the idea first.

I have this idea first, I think it ought to be this or I think

it is this then try to figure out a way to justify the belief.

And sometimes people make decisions in advance.

And then over time, try to justify the reason for making

that choice of the choice was already made.

Regarded. God's word.

We have to read God's work study, God's word know, God's

word and then obey and follow God's word, not the other way

around. Caiaphas wanted to kill him a

long time ago. It was a done deal, he was going

to make it happen. He just needed a reason.

Just needed a reason. To justify it.

Now, back over at Peters denial, verse 15 and Simon Peter

followed Jesus. And so did another disciple.

Now that disciple was known to the high priest and went with

Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.

Now, in Mark chapter 14 and 54, it says that that Peter followed

Mark 14 · chapter mention

Jesus of far off. Now, I don't know how far back

he was following him but he obviously was following him afar

off. Jesus had been taken captive.

He was out. In front somewhere, and all of a

sudden, Peter is with some other disciple.

Now, number one, it was a far-off.

He was sneaking around as it were, maybe just through the

bushes. I don't know behind the rocks,

trees. Of far off with another

disciple. Who is this other disciple?

I'll just say right now. I have no idea.

I don't have a clue. Because it doesn't say it's kind

of like to Luke 24, replayed. This is walking along with

another psycho. Who's the other disciples some

say was Luke. Who knows?

Who knows? It doesn't matter because it

wasn't given, but I'll just say this in passing.

It's just a little free tip, if some commentators say that it

was John. And the reason for that is that

they believe that John actually sold.

It says that whoever this disciple was, it was known to

the high priest. Some say was, John because,

John's father probably sold fish to the high priest.

We don't know. Oh that either that's the

problem. We don't know that he ever did

that some say it was Nicodemus and Nicodemus is going to come

on the scene to prepare the body of Jesus in a little while after

he was crucified some say it could have been him some say it

was Joseph of Arimathea and the reason for that is the Bible

actually calls him a secret disciple and this guy, he would

have been able to walk freely anywhere.

He wanted to go why he was a member of the Sanhedrin.

He was a secret disciple. And it wasn't, until after Jesus

was crucified that this secret disciple, mustered up the

courage. To go and ask the body of Jesus.

I kind of think it might have been him.

Preference. Doesn't matter at all.

Bottom line is Peter, is walking along with this unnamed

disciple. Now, picture this No, sooner

that Jesus puts a shelter of protection over his disciples.

And you know, really if you remember there's a good reason

why he did that, not because the disciples were scared, Jesus

needed these disciples after he had died on the cross.

And after Jesus was taken away, he needed these ambassadors.

That's number one. Number two, he needed him safe.

Number two, he spoke to them about their faith.

In time past, the only said, oh, ye of little faith.

He knew that they couldn't stand a trial like this.

He creates a shelter of protection over them.

And fact Matthews account says, all forsook him and all fled,

everybody except Peter, what's Peter doing?

He's doing the same thing that he did regarding malcolmus.

He stopped listening to the Lord and started thinking for himself

and he's going along and he's walking along and he sneaking

along with this. Other disciple.

Now, let me just make this point for me, just really beat up

Peter here in all fairness. Peter truly loved Jesus.

Peter loved Jesus. Peters motives were good.

His intentions were good. Here's the problem.

The problem was his overwhelming self-confidence, made him

believe that he could hack through any problem without the

security of Jesus Christ. He thought I can do it, I can

go, I can go and I can handle any problem that comes my way

and I can just hack right through the whole thing and I

can do so without the security that Jesus Christ.

Provided I can do that. You know, I'm gonna tell you

something, you need to have confidence to live your life.

That's true. We need confidence.

We all need confidence. There's a difference between

confidence though. And overwhelming

self-confidence. Now, we need to be confident in

our life because of our faith and trust in God.

When our faith is planted in our faith is on what it ought to be

that our confidence and our trust will be what it it ought

to be. But when we start thinking too

highly of our self that we can handle anything in the world,

that comes our way and we don't need the security that Jesus

provides that's when we get in trouble.

Now, before we get too hot about Peter, let's look at our lives

all of our Lives, shall we? I know.

That's not very fun. But the Lord says this, I'm

going to give you a secure place.

I'm going to give you a place where you can be secure.

The Lord said, don't get out in the world system ever that world

Cosmic the word Cosmos. It is the invisible evil.

Influence that combats. The church.

He says, don't get out into the world system, don't entertain

yourself with the world's entertainment, don't gobble up

the world's Customs. Don't be a part of that scene.

I have built for you a place where you can grow and you can

be safe and friends. That is the church.

We have Security in the body of Christ.

We encourage one another. We not only have the Lord, we

have each other, There are security and you know, we go to

a gospel meeting. Don't you feel strengthened?

I do why you just spent time on the same page worshiping god

with people. That works him.

Just like you and believe just like you do and have the same

faith. Hope and trust in the same Lord.

What happens what happens is when Christians do this?

When they say, you know, your kid me, I can handle it.

I can go out in the world and remain strong.

I can go and do what the world does and I'll be all right.

I'm going to tell you something, folks.

Any time we do that, we fall. We really do.

You know, I'm at a some when I was younger I'm just going to

throw myself out there. Here we go.

When I was younger. Okay, a lot lot, lot, lot

younger. Okay, I made poor choices

because I thought I was strong enough to handle it on my own.

You know what I sinned? I made mistakes and I send and I

fell Now, I never stop coming. But I guarantee I wouldn't ride.

I was a boy and I wouldn't, right?

And I had to make those things, right?

I'm going to tell you any time that you think that you can take

yourself and remove yourself from the security of the Lord

has provided and go out in the world that participated things

in the world and be strong. You are kidding yourself. as was

I, Verse 16, Peter stood outside the door.

Then the other disciple who was known to the high priest went

out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in,

you know, I don't know exactly how the scene was, but it seems

to me that this other disciple goes in first and says something

to this girl. And then kind of turns back to

Peter. Come on, Peter.

Let's go coast is clear. Jesus has already.

He's already taken their far off.

Girl at the door. Come on Peter.

Let's go through. And notice what happens.

Now, the servants Verse 18 and the officers who made a fight

actually, Went too far. Okay.

Here we go verse 17, then the servant girl who kept the door

said to Peter. You are not one of this man's

disciples, are you? And he said, I am not now

picture this Peter was not afraid to stand there.

In the Garden of Gethsemane side by side and fight for his Lord.

He was not afraid for that. Guess what else he was afraid?

He wasn't afraid. He was ready for what he was

ready to follow Jesus, and be there at this big trial.

Bye. He was ready for the big stuff.

He had planned for the big trial.

He had said to the Lord, if they take you and they take your

life, I'm going to be there with me.

If I lose my life, I will never leave your side.

And remember what Jesus said to him?

We'll get to that in a minute. He was ready for the big trial.

He was ready for the big stuff. Sometimes we're like that too.

We're ready for the big stuff. You're ready for that will stand

for that. He was ready for the big stuff,

and he was not afraid of the big stuff.

The guess, what? He was scared to death to tell

the truth. He was afraid and didn't have

the courage to tell the truth. You know why telling the truth

takes real courage? It is harder to tell the truth.

When you have to accept the consequences of your answer,

whatever that is, it's harder to do that than it is to fight.

Peter was ready for the big trial but he wasn't ready for

the little girl at the door, interesting folks, That's what

Satan does and that's how Satan works.

You get self overconfidence that you think in your mind, you can

handle anything. And just about that time you

fall And you know what? Peter now is stuck with his lie.

Everybody stuck with Evan been stuck on the LIE, you tell a lie

because you don't have the courage to say what's right?

You tell a lie and then you're stuck with the lie.

So you have to lie again and then you're stuck with a lie.

So you got to lie again. Then you can't remember, by the

way, it's always better to tell the truth.

It is. You know, why you don't have to

remember anything. You just say it.

Like it was. You don't have to remember what

you said. Last time.

All you got to remember what the facts were.

But a liar somebody that tells lies you have to remember what

you said, the last time and then keep lying and lying and lying

and that's being stuck with the lie and that's exactly what

happened to Peter. And you know, with those words,

those three words amazing, he's ready to go.

And she says, you are not one of the disciples, are you, you

know, it's written in a way that she knew the answer and he said,

I am not. With those three words gone.

We're all of his heroic promises that he made the Jesus with

those three words. Gone were all his all of his

courage that he had. In his heart.

Gone was all of his fleshly confidence, which became an.

And while he became an arrogant coward unable to confess his

Lord, cringing and lying denial. And you know something The

entire thing happened so fast. He didn't even know what hit

him. Look at Verse 18, look at the

progression. What's happening now to Peter.

Now, the servants and the officers who made a fire coals

stood there for, it was cold and they warm themself Peter stood

with them and warmed himself. Now I got a question for Peter,

don't you? What in the world are you doing

there? What are you doing there, Peter?

Why are you there you stood next to the Lord in the garden?

But now you are standing among. You are denying the Lord now and

you are standing among the enemies of the Lord.

How does the guy get messed up so badly?

How does that happen? First three ways first, his

overconfidence convinced him, he could make it on his own and

that happens today. Folks, I can go out and do what

the world does. I can do those things.

I can buy a little bit of the world's morality.

I can flirt a little bit with the world's kind of thinking,

and it's going to be fine, and I'll be fine because I'm strong,

that's number one. Here's number two.

Peter was unprepared. I'm going to tell you, I've said

this so many times because my dad.

Screamed in my head, my whole life, you have to decide the

kind of person that you want to be in advance before you are

faced with the Temptation, you have to understand, you have to

prepare yourself on how you're going to act in any time.

Are you going to stand up for the Lord?

Are you going to deny the Lord when you're at work?

What people are using foul language at work, but we going

to laugh at their jokes a little ride along with those things.

Are we going to make the determined resolve?

The we're not going to participate in those things.

Are we going to be of, we ready for the big stuff?

But scared of a girl with the door?

You have to decide what you're going to be.

So do I we all do before you're faced with the Temptation or you

will fall Somebody asks you a reason of the hope that is in

you with meekness and fear. Somebody asks, you that are you

real? Are you able to respond in like

manner? With meekness and fear, thirdly,

because of his unpreparedness. He's now standing with the

enemies of Jesus and that was Peter and that's exactly the

pattern for falling. Starting off with getting

involved in worldly things and then all of a sudden.

Now here's Peter with warm hands and a cold heart.

Back at the trial verse 19. the high priest and asked Jesus

about his disciples and his Doctrine, you know what's

interesting to me about this is this this line of questioning

was illegal They're now asking questions about his disciples

and his Doctrine, the law stated that when anybody was brought on

trial, he could not testify to bring guilt upon himself.

The evidence had to be presented from Witnesses, testifying

against him. Another words, a man was

innocent until proven guilty. There was really a fifth

amendment thing going on, where no man could condemn himself by

his own word. But this trial wasn't legal,

there's trial was a mockery. They already determined that

Jesus would die, they were just trying to justify their actions.

So they asked Jesus, why don't you tell us about your disciples

tell us about your Doctrine. He wanted Jesus to talk about a

planned Insurrection or to talk about his heresy, so they could

say there it is. Aha, gotcha.

You're planning a revolution. You're a heretic.

If they can do that, they already planned to kill him, but

if they can do that now they've got justification.

Look how Jesus responds. So beautifully and verse 20.

Jesus answered him. I spoke openly in the world.

I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple

where the Jews always meet and in secret I said nothing verse

21. Why do you ask me?

Ask those who heard me what I said to them.

Indeed, they know what I said. Verse 22 and when he had said

these things, one of the officers who stood by struck

Jesus, with the palm of his hand.

Saying, do you not answer the high priest like that?

You know what's interesting is this word struck?

It could also mean it comes from a word rep yzma.

And it could also mean to be struck with a stick.

I don't know if it's going to be symbolic or not but in Micah

Micah 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5 and verse 1. We have these words, they shall

Smite the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

Now, whether this was figurative or literal, there's certainly a

perfect fulfillment of prophetic language, Micah calls.

Jesus, the judge of Israel. Now, anise was the acting judge.

He was playing judge, but little did he know that?

This was the real judge. Jesus responds to this and verse

23 by saying if I have spoken evil bear witness of the evil.

But if well, why do you strike me?

Jesus is saying where are your Witnesses and?

Why are they hitting me? Why is that verse 24 that Anna

sent him? Bound to Caiaphas the high

priest and it's messed up. He blew it.

He had been indicted. There were no charges against

Jesus so he sends him to Caiaphas.

And the trial was Caiaphas was certainly a mockery in the

middle of the night. During the time, he was with

anise there, they had gathered together, the Sanhedrin and

Caiaphas to carry out this mock trial.

And all that was was a gathering of false Witnesses.

Was a part of the plot all along they found no evidence against.

Jesus, finally, to agreed that they were going to he was going

to destroy the temple. But that wasn't enough.

So finally, he's simply asked, are you then the Messiah, And

Jesus says, I am in the Bible says that the high priest

grabbed his clothes and ripped his clothes and yelled

blasphemy. Bible says, they they push him

along now. Shoving him along.

There were those that were part of the angry mob that were

slapping him in the face and says, and says, to him prophesy

unto us, Now, King prophesy, who is he?

That smote thee? But, you know, just in case we

think that Jesus was being humbled here or in a real mess,

I want you to notice Peter's Denial in verses 25 to 27 and

will close with this. Now, Simon Peter stood and

warmed himself. Therefore, they said to him you

are not also one of the, his disciples are you.

He denied it and said, I am not one of the Servants of the high

priest are relative of him whose ear Peter cut off said, did I

not see you in the garden with him Peter then denied again and

immediately the rooster crowed. You know, Luke's account in,

Luke 22, and verse 60 talks about these two, seems now that

have been inner woven throughout our text and and The Gospel

according to John, Luke brings them together.

And right after Peter says, I know not what thou sayest.

Another account says, With cursing and swearing, he said, I

know not the man. Right after.

He says, I know not what thou sayest Luke's account.

The Bible says that Jesus turned and he looked, Upon Peter.

When Peter heard the cock Crow, he remembered that the Lord said

before the cock crows Peter, you will deny me three times.

Peter goes out and he weeps bitterly.

I'ma tell you something, folks, any of us at any time, if we're

not living as we should, there is only one way out.

And that's to look back to the face of Jesus and come back.

That's it. And every time we sin, that's

the only thing we can do, and have the blood of Jesus, wash

our sins away when we confess those wrongs and ask God to

forgive us once we are baptized into Christ.

But there's a message here that we can all learn.

You know when the Bible talks about be careful when you go to

restore somebody that has fallen be careful and don't ever have

the attitude. It can never happen to me.

That's the truth. We can't ever have the attitude

that it would never happen to us because I'm going to tell you

something. Here's a perfect example of how

a strong believer in Jesus. An apostle of Jesus Christ can

be tempted, can be weak and can fall.

I could happen to anybody any of us.

At any time. We learned from this narrative,

the danger of self overconfidence, we learn the

danger of prayerlessness. You know, Peter should have been

praying in the garden and not sleeping.

We learn the danger of evil company in our life.

We learn the power that fear can have in our life to, we learn

all that But I'm going to tell you this.

If you go with me and I'm almost finished, Stay With Me.

I'm going to tell you this. It has a happier ending.

Because Peter did fall and Peter was sorry.

But the Lord restores him before Jesus ascended to his father

where he is now, He restored him.

Please notice chapter 21 of John and beginning in verse 25 and I

will be finished first 15. I'll be finished.

And when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon,

Simon, son of Jonah. Do you love me more than these?

He said to him? Yes.

Lord you know that I love you. He said feed my Lambs He said to

him again a second time, Simon son of Jonah.

Do you love me? He said, yes.

Lord, you know that I love you, he said unto him.

Tend my sheep. He said to him a third time,

Simon son of Jonah? Do you love me?

Peter was grieved? Because he said to him a third

time. Do you love me?

And he said to him, Lord, you know, all things.

You know that I love you. Jesus said feed my sheep.

I think it's interesting, just in passing here.

Jesus has this man confessed, his Lord, and confess his love

for his Lord three times. One for every time you denied.

Notice though. What Jesus says most assuredly I

say to you. When you were younger, you

girded yourself and walked where you wished.

But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and

another will gird you and carry you, where you do not wish,

notice what this means. The next verse this, he spoke

signifying by what death he would glorify God and when he

had spoken this, he said to him, follow me.

You know, what? That tells me, that tells me

Peter was restored. And it tells me that Peter was

going to pay the ultimate price. It always cost something to

follow Jesus. It costs us everything to follow

Jesus. Here's the thing.

And this is what we hope for this.

What we hang our hat on in our life, right here.

What Paul said, I have fought the good fight.

I have finished. My course, I have kept the faith

henceforth. There is laid up for me a crown

of righteousness that the Lord. The righteous judge, shall give

me on that day and not to me only, but to all those that love

his appearing. There's a price but I take this

the reward far outshines the price.

It's worth infinitely, more than the cost of being a Christian.

We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the

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