Roosters and Denials

John 18:12-27.

We concluded last week, with the confrontation in the Garden with Judas and the mob about to arrest Jesus.

This week we will explore the arrest of Jesus, His appearance before the Jewish High Priest.

And...

Peter’s denial.

We will balance the response from the Jewish leaders versus that of Peter to highlight the difference in the reactions to fear and faith when faced with a crisis.

What we hope to gain as application for our own lives is the knowledge of our own weaknesses and fears.

In looking at Peter’s denial, an obvious low point of his life, we can be encouraged to face our weak points and find God’s grace in the middle of what we would call a complete disaster.

Also realizing that with God, restoration is always possible through Christ Jesus.

In the bigger picture, Jesus, not only suffers betrayal and denial from some of those closest to Him, but also redeems Peter back into right fellowship with Christ and also show us the perfect example of how Christ has provided restoration for all of humanity.

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry He has shown a determined focus and commitment to the sovereign will of God the Father.

That commitment standing in stark contrast to the perpetual failure of humanity to govern ourselves appropriately.

It is good and proper for us to accept the fact that God stands ready to forgive and redeem us when we fail Him.

It is good to remember that, as children of God, our failures do not define us- Our submission to God’s will does.

we will also examine the commonalities and the differences that separated Peter and Judas and how they both responded to the one thing they had in common- The denial of their Messiah.

We will break down this section into three parts:

1- ARRESTED BUT RESOLUTE

2- QUESTIONED BUT STILL COMPOSED

3- DENIAL BUT NOT CONDEMNED

1- ARRESTED BUT RESOLUTE

John 18:12–18 ESV

So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

We looked at the relationship between Annas and Caiaphas in last weeks episode.

Some of the ongoing power struggle inside the Jewish political realm is in play here as the soldiers bring Jesus to Annas first- Although he had been removed from office and his son-in-law Caiaphas was High Priest that year.

The struggle is real and lends to some of the political intrigue that will develop as these events continue to unfold.

As a means of quelling a potential rebellion that would bring the wrath of the Roman Government down on the Jewish leaders- Caiaphas has already declared in a separate meeting of the Sanhedrin, that it would be better that one man die for a cause then to have Rome exercise it’s considerable power and authority to quench an uprising.

Yet in the middle of all the political wranglings, Jesus quietly maintains His composure and dignity.

And Peter denies knowing Jesus the first time.

It is vital to remember that there is nothing that the world can do to us, as believers and followers of Christ, that would remove us from His constant presence in our lives.

Jesus stayed on mission in the face of the most intense pressure any man could face- Yet did not lash out or respond to His accusers harshly.

And because He stood tall in the face of false accusations- We can as well when we face our trials and crisis moments.

2- QUESTIONED BUT STILL COMPOSED

John 18:19–24 ESV

The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

The Pharisees and religious leaders had already accused Jesus on multiple occasions of blasphemy and heresy.

Jesus’ use of the “I AM” statement is well documented across all four Gospels.

The misunderstandings of the Jews in regards to Jesus’ teachings are a central part of John’s gospel.

And once again, we see it in the questioning by Annas. He has heard all the false accusations about the teachings of this man and His Disciples.

Jesus’ response is perfect-

“I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.

Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”

Jesus speaking clearly and truthfully earns Him a slap on the face.

As a former High Priest Annas, mostly likely had his own set of personal soldiers.

That is the most likely explanation for the guard to strike Jesus.

And, again Jesus responds perfectly-

John 18:19–24 ESV

“If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

Annas had a problem- Jesus had done nothing that violated the Law of Moses. He had, on numerous occasions, criticized the Pharisees and temple priest for enforcing the “Traditions of the Elders”. The oral traditions of the Jewish Priesthood, first passed down generation to generation orally and were used to expand on and explain the teachings of the first five books of the OT- The Torah also known as the Pentateuch.

Jesus countered criticism of His disciples NOT following the Traditions, with the rebuking question of why did the Temple leaders follow the traditions of man and not the Commandments of God.

Jesus also drew large crowds of the common people of the day wherever He went. The temple Priest were as intimidated by His following as they were by Jesus’ calm demeanor.

The consistent and truthful testimony of Christ is another example for us to emulate in the face of adversity.

We can hold to our faith in Him and maintain our integrity when challenges come at us from all sides.

Jesus is laying down the gauntlet, by daring Annas to find something wrong with His teachings.

Annas could not find anything wrong- Because there was nothing but truth in every word that Jesus spoke.

So far we have seen Jesus standing steadfast and resolute- Despite being bound and arrested, Interrogated and physically assaulted- Jesus never wavered- His love for humanity overcoming their hatred of Him.

And now the painful part:

3- DENIAL BUT NOT CONDEMNED

John 18:25–27 ESV

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Now Peter completes Jesus’ prophetic word with his second and then third denial- All before the Rooster crows.

Impetuous Peter lets his own concern of self preservation overcome his love for his Messiah. He allows fear to conquer his faith.

So what was the difference between Peter and Judas?

Both failed their Messiah- But only one was redeemed.

Despite his failure, Peter’s heart was always towards Jesus. I have used the term “impetuous” several times to describe Peter.

He was the only one to get out of the boat on the stormy sea.

Jesus called him out and Peter answered the call and walked on water-

Until he got his eyes off Jesus, shifted his focus to the waves and began to sink.

Peter also attempted to defend Jesus by attacking a Priests servant in the garden- Till Jesus stopped him.

All these impulsive moves by Peter, and yet Jesus will later take a special moment to re-instate Peter. Why?

The gospels all note that Judas was a problem from early on. He was in charge of money bag for the disciples- And they knew he stole from it.

Judas was also looking for a strong leader that would lead a rebellion against the hated Roman Empire.

When he realized that Jesus had something else in mind- Possibly feeling personally disillusioned by Jesus not being what Judas wanted Him to be, Judas hardened his own heart and allowed Satan to possess him and ultimately betray Christ.

Judas only expressed remorse to the temple priest, by trying to return the ransom money- In despair, he hung himself on a rotten tree branch.

Both Peter and Judas are prime examples for us to learn from.

In this life, as followers of Christ, we will fail Him at times. It is a given- We are only human.

However, our failures should not define us- They should be turning points for us to recenter our focus on Jesus, and return to Him.

The broken and contrite heart will find grace forgiveness before a loving and faithful God.

The key takeaway: fear leads to denial and failure, whereas faith, even when we fail, opens the door to redemption