Trial and Denial

Matthew 26:57-75 

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin Trial 

57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, "This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"

62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" 63 But Jesus kept silent. And 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!"

64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

65 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! 66 What do you think?"

They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."

67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?"

Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly

69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee."

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying."

71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth."

72 But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"

73 And 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."

74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!"

Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And 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.

Jesus was taken to a fixed trial by those bent on stopping His ministry which exposed their hypocrisy and ungodliness under their own law added to God’s.  It was fixed in their minds, but actually it was the Lord God who had fixed this sentence of death for His Son (Isaiah 53:12, Matthew 20:18-19, Luke 24:7, John 10:18) and moved these with hardened hearts to do the work on God’s behalf for our salvation by dying by sacrifice in our place.  These religious but not right men brought false witnesses contrary to the Law (Exodus 20:16) to slander God’s Son whom they refused to believe and accept in order to pass a sentence of death on Him according to their own law which had supplanted God’s that they claimed they were defending.  But when two false witnesses (liars) were set up to the court to twist the words of Jesus concerning the destruction of the temple and building it back in three days (John 2:19-21), they thought they had him in their cunning (Genesis 3:1, Ephesians 4:14) as of their father the devil (John 8:44) also set on death and lies of false witness against God’s words.  Jesus did not answer that accusation about the temple restoration of His body in His resurrection because they could not comprehend or accept that truth.  Instead, He responded when directly asked if He was the Christ, the Messiah and Son of God promised to them who they refused to believe had come then.  Jesus told them they were correct and went on to tell of His glory seated with the Father in heaven’s throne room and His future return on the clouds for judgment (Psalm 110:1, Acts 7:55, Daniel 7:13, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7).  This incensed them greatly enough to deny the truth predicted by scripture and labeled Him a blasphemer against Himself and His Father whose Word He is (John 1:1)!  They beat Him as foretold to take our punishment for our sin (Isaiah 53:5) and mocked Jesus (Isaiah 50:6, 53:10-11) in their blind rage against the Lord and His Anointed (Psalm 2:1-2), they ironically sentenced their Lord to death for their own sins against Him!  That was the unfair trial.  Then came the unfortunate denial of Peter.  It was likely born out of fear for his own death if he associated himself with the Christ in their midst outside the court of the high priest.  He repeatedly denied that he knew or was with Jesus as the Lord Himself told him he would do as he brashly boasted he would never do (Matthew 26:34-35, John 13:38).  When the rooster crowed, however, the words of Jesus came to stand before him to expose his denial and caused him to grieve and weep over what he had done and the hubris of his earlier statement of faithfulness.  We also are mere men and may deny our knowing Jesus Christ at times, but may we learn to stand firm and not repeat this mistake but give bold testimony of who the Christ is and what He has and will do for eternity for those who believe and receive Him through repentance and faith.  Remember this trial and denial as examples for us as it is written for our exhortation and encouragement in 1 Corinthians 10:11-13.  May we learn humility and faith through these trials and temptations for denial.