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Day 75 Matthew 26:57-75 Matthew 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 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 unto him, Answer thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee? 63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. 66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. 67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, 68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? 69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also was with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou say. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrays thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. Has anyone tried to make you out as the one in the wrong, telling lies about you, and getting you in trouble? Or have you denied the truth to save yourself from condemnation? Peter didn’t run and flee with the rest of the disciples. He followed the soldiers to see what would happen to Jesus. While Jesus was inside with the chief priest, Peter was warming himself by a fire in the courtyard. Meanwhile, the chief priest and elders questioned Jesus and brought false witnesses against him so they could put him to death. Yet, none could be found, because according to the law, two witnesses had to agree. Jesus didn’t say anything to what was said against him, because everything said against him was a lie. However, out of total frustration the high priest asked him a straightforward question: Are you the Christ, the Son of God? To which Jesus told them the truth. As Christians, you know it was the truth that caused Jesus to be put to death, not all the lies told about him. Notice how the chief priest asked that question. He asked if he was the Christ. Christ means Messiah. He wanted to know if he was indeed their Messiah. When Jesus affirmed he was, then all those with the high priest condemned him to death. Jesus made another interesting statement. Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. He told the chief priest and elders they would see him return. In the book of Revelation, Jesus told John what would happen in the end. Revelation 1:7 Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Everyone, ever born will see him when he returns for the final battle between Jesus and Antichrist, Satan. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, told them everyone would bow before Jesus and declare who he is. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (KJV) Everyone will acknowledge Jesus as Messiah, living and dead. It doesn’t matter whether they acknowledged him or not while they lived and walked the earth, they would all acknowledge him in the end. In the middle of the questioning, Peter was asked if he was a follower. However, fearing what would happen if he said he was, he denied he was a disciple of Jesus. It wasn’t until the cock crowed that he remembered what Jesus had told him earlier, and in humiliation ran and wept for what he had done, that he said he would never do. In John’s gospel we have a complete picture of what happened and how Peter came to be in the court of the high priest. John 18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spoke unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Luke’s gospel shows what happened when Peter denied Jesus the third time. Luke 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou say. And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. When you see the whole picture, you know why Peter ran from the court and wept with bitter remorse for his actions. The other disciple was John. He never referred to himself by name in his gospel. Therefore, it was John who brought Peter into the court of the high priest because he knew the high priest. When you come face to face with the truth, you won’t be able to hide from it. It will cause you a lot of grief until you reconcile your actions with the person you wronged while you tried to protect yourself from condemnation. Peter faced what he did after Jesus’ resurrection when Jesus confronted him. John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, love thou me more than these? He said unto him, Yea, Lord; thou know that I love thee. He said unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He said to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, love thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou know that I love thee. He said unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He said unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, love thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Love thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou know all things; thou know that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Even when we have done the unthinkable, there is always hope. However, at the moment, the only thing Peter could do was to flee from the court and weep for his actions. Jesus had told Peter what would happen before it did, not to bring remorse, but to encourage him and give him hope. Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou know me. Satan does his best to hinder you from the course God has laid out for your life. In your remorse, don’t forget your purpose. Peter forgot until the cock crowed. Only then did he remember what Jesus told him. What have you done that caused you remorse? How long will you live with the bitterness of your actions? Remember what your purpose is and seek reconciliation so you can move forward with God’s plan for your life. Let’s pray: Father, you know me. My actions don’t always line up with what you purposed in me. Forgive me and lead me back to my purpose. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 3 July 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay