The Price of Sin Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction, Setting and Players
Introduction, Setting and Players
Video “Resume vs Reference” — What we are studying in God’s word over these next few weeks is the remedy for sin and our hope for eternal life. Our resume, no matter the quality, could never be enough. The cost of sin is much higher than our ability to pay. We can never atone for our sin. But Jesus could and did so.
Last week Jesus began the work of reconciling us to God when He was arrested…this week He takes the next step on the way to the cross when He is interrogated by the high priest.
However, this week, as we see the story unfold, we are also going to focus on what appears to be a side note…the three times Peter denies Christ. It is in these three denials, we see our own weakness and desperate need of Jesus and His work on the cross for our sins.
So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up.
Arrested and tied Him up — The Romans step forward after Peter cuts off the ear of the servant of the high Priest. There was no need to arrest Peter because Jesus had healed the man of his wounds but in order to prevent any further violence the Romans were now taking control of the situation.
First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time.
Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”
First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time.
They took Jesus to Annas, the father in law of Caiaphas who was the high priest at the time. This may seem like a funny move…why not just take him to the actual high priest?
Annas — had been high priest from AD 6-AD15 when he was deposed by Valerius Gratus, Pilate’s predecessor. The high priesthood was an office in which one was supposed to serve for life. In the eyes of many Annas was still the legitimate high priest.
This may seem like a funny move…why not just take him to the actual high priest? But Annas had been high priest from AD 6-AD15 when he was deposed by Valerius Gratus, Pilate’s predecessor. The high priesthood was an office in which one was supposed to serve for life. In the eyes of many Annas was still the legitimate high priest.
Another note...Annas’ five sons and son in law all were high priest at one time or another so Annas was the patriarch of a high priestly family…his influence was enormous even for those who didn’t consider him the legitimate high priest.
Caiaphas — Although recognized high priest by the Romans, his real claim to fame was his unconscious prophecy found in
Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about!
You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
“For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute,
so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,
His prophecy gives him away…He is no idealist looking for justice to be done but rather a cynical politician who has already decided upon Jesus’ death.
God uses whom He will whether they are willing participants in His story or not!
Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus.
Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in.
Peter — The leader of the disciples. The brash, confident, strong-willed fishermen who stated he would die before ever denying Jesus. He loved Christ and was determined in his will to follow him to the end.
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
“No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.
Another disciple — John never mentions himself by name in his gospel but this is him. What is interesting is that he has access to such a powerful man/family in Jerusalem. He was known to the servant of the high priest, the most powerful man in the nation. After all he was a mere fisherman by trade!
A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets.
He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
But John’s father, Zebedee, was wealthy enough to have some hired hands so his fishing business was a larger one. His family may have given substantial gifts to the temple in Jerusalem and it is entirely possible that John had developed some close relationships within the high priest’s family.
So John was able to enter the court of the high priest and get Peter in as well.
Peter’s First Denial of Jesus
Peter’s First Denial of Jesus
The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not.”
Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.
You are not one of that man’s disciples are you? — Obviously she expected a no answer from the emphasis in the original language. Peter went along with her and said no. He was scared and intimidated by this slave girl and those around her. His courage melted. His will to live and die with Jesus, as strong as it had been, was now shown to be human.
Jesus had stood face to face with a Roman cohort of 600 soldiers, Jewish officials and guards who were intent upon arresting and crucifying Him…He said “I AM.” Peter, in the face of a little servant girl said, “I’m not.”
What we are seeing unfold in this story is how far one can follow Christ without the Holy Spirit. Determination of the will to follow Jesus won’t get you very far.
Jesus Questioned
Jesus Questioned
Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them.
Annas decided to question Jesus upon two matters: His disciples and His teaching — He wanted to know the size of Jesus’ following and what He had taught them. Were they being primed to rebel against Rome or become a theological heresy among the Jews?
The way Annas was interrogating Jesus was illegal. It was illegal to question a defendant; he was never to be called upon to incriminate himself. A criminal case against someone had to be established by witnesses. A case was to rest upon the weight of the testimony of these witnesses and they were the ones who should have been speaking. It was never the responsibility of Jesus to demonstrate His innocence.
Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret.
Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”
In answering Annas — Jesus never mentions the disciples. He was determined to defend them to the end. This may have been the reason that He three times uses the emphatic, “I taught, I preached, I have not spoken in secret. He is taking the attention off of the disciples and made certain it remains upon Himself
Jesus is not being uncooperative at this point but rather appealing to proper legal proceedings. Witnesses are supposed to be front and center speaking rather than Jesus. In a Jewish trial witnesses for the defense are the first to speak.
Jesus is appealing to the High Priest to find witnesses of His teaching so that they might answer His question in a legally proper way. What we are seeing is a real life Kangaroo Court if there ever was one! In fact the entire night will be such in both the hearings with Annas as well as the one to come with Caiaphas.
Picture of a Kangaroo Court
Kangaroo Court — A kangaroo court is a court that ignores recognized standards of law or justice, and often carries little or no official standing in the territory within which it resides. The term may also apply to a court held by a legitimate judicial authority who intentionally disregards the court's legal or ethical obligations.
In answering Annas — Jesus never mentions the disciples. He was determined to defend them to the end. This may have been the reason that He three times uses the emphatic, “I taught, I preached, I have not spoken in secret. He is taking the attention off of the disciples and made certain it remains upon Himself
Jesus also is making the point that what He taught in private was the same as what He had taught in public…there was no difference and no secret teachings.
Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.
One of the guards didn’t like the tone Jesus used with the High Priest or perhaps he didn’t like the fact Jesus had rebuked the High Priest so perfectly; he took it upon himself to slap the face of Jesus…ushering in the physical abuse which would occupy the life of Jesus over the next day.
Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”
Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.
Jesus invites the man who hit him to point out where He was wrong in His assertion to Annas. Where was He wrong in His legal understanding? There was no answer from the man who slapped him nor Annas…and Annas decides this preliminary hearing is over and sends Jesus on to Caiaphas…the one who would have to take action in order to send Jesus to Pilate.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials of Jesus
Peter’s Second and Third Denials of Jesus
Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”
But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?”
Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
Peter is asked twice more if he is a disciple of Jesus and each time says he is not. The first time he is asked by a group as they stand around a charcoal fire warming themselves and he says no. The second time he is asked by someone specifically…a relative of Malchus, the man who lost his ear to Peter’s sword in the garden.
A charcoal fire glows red but does not give off flame so there was not much light around the fire. The man accusing Peter of being the disciple of Jesus had been in the olive grove and seen a man cut off Malchus’ ear…he looked intently upon Peter almost certain it was him…but Peter emphatically says no!
“Jesus had stood up to His questioners and denies nothing. Peter cowers before his questioners and denies everything.” — DA Carson
At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”
Jesus was being taken from His questioning by Annas through the courtyard on His way to Caiaphas when the third denial of Peter took place. The rooster crows, Jesus catches eyes with Peter and Peter is broken.
Peter was experiencing something we all must come to in our relationship with God. We must come to the end of our own perceived strength and self-sufficiency so Jesus might become our strength and sufficiency.
Peter had been so confident and sure of himself. He would NEVER deny Jesus. He would die before he ever did such a thing. He would NEVER let the one He loved be tortured and crucified. He would die before his eyes ever witnessed such a thing. But here he is…broken, scared and weeping bitterly after having denied the one whom he loved and pledged devotion.
Peter was making the mistake so many have over the years. Peter tried to hold onto Jesus instead of letting Jesus hold onto Him.
Peter was depending upon his resume, himself, his own ability to love and be faithful. God simply wants all of us, Peter included to have faith in Jesus and depend upon Him instead.
Jesus makes us faithful and strong. Jesus gives us the ability to love and hold fast even when the storms come. These all come from Him not us!
Later we are going to see that Peter is forgiven and restored to His position as an apostle. He is filled with the Holy Spirit, lives His life by faith, and becomes a bold witness for Christ.
Peter could never be a follower of Jesus; never be the witness for Jesus He hoped to be; until the day he died to self and placed faith in Jesus for His life.
Then, like Jesus, He could stand boldly in the face of Roman soldiers, the Sanhedrin, angry mobs and foolish skeptics. All because his life was no longer lived from the power of his will but the power of His faith and relationship with Christ.
Two Ways to Live
Two Ways to Live
Peter is a star supporting actor in these first two scenes of the Passion story. He represents all of us who, at one time or another, have sought to follow Christ on our own terms.
It was not until Peter came to the end of himself, was broken and died to self that he was resurrected to real life. He had to learn what it was to take up His cross and follow Jesus…Up to this moment he was determined to do all he could to make sure there was no cross ever associated with Jesus.
Do you want the strength to be faithful in your relationship with Christ? Do you want the courage to stand in the face of the world and say, “I am a follower of Christ?”
There are two ways to live in this life…in Christ or in self. We see in Peter’s life where living in your own strength will get you. Where has it gotten you?
A great preacher, who came to the truth of what it means to live life by faith in Christ instead of dependence upon self, once confessed that all his former sermons about man's moral duty had not exerted a feather's weight of influence upon the conduct of his people. It was only when he brought them by his preaching near to the Cross that he was able to note any change in their lives.
A lot of us are determined to live for Jesus. But like Peter, on Sundays, we are filled with motivation to go out and sin no more, share our faith and live by faith…to live lives obedient to Christ. But on Monday our strength is gone in the face of even the smallest opposition. We fold under pressure…and like Peter, we are broken in our failure.
Do you want strength to be faithful in your relationship with Christ? Do you want the courage to stand in the face of the world and say, “I am a follower of Christ?”
The great Scottish preacher Chalmers, after having been, as it were, reconverted in the midst of his ministry—when he turned away from preaching mere morality and began to preach redemption through the Cross—confessed that all his former sermons about man's moral duty had not exerted a feather's weight of influence upon the conduct of his people. It was only when he brought them by his preaching near to the Cross that he was able to note any change in their lives.
The great Scottish preacher Chalmers, after having been, as it were, reconverted in the midst of his ministry—when he turned away from preaching mere morality and began to preach redemption through the Cross—confessed that all his former sermons about man's moral duty had not exerted a feather's weight of influence upon the conduct of his people. It was only when he brought them by his preaching near to the Cross that he was able to note any change in their lives.
Do you want a changed life? Live God’s way and be a part of His plans? Then you must die to self-sufficiency and live by faith in Him. You have to believe and trust Him for the power to live the way your heart wants to live.
And I know your heart wants to live faithful! I know that because you are a true believer and you want what Jesus wants! Paul in Romans said I don’t do what I want to do and I do what I don’t want to do…who can rescue me??? His answer is found at the end of chapter 7 when he answers this question, “Jesus!”
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Jesus rescues us from the consequence and power of sin. Jesus places His Holy Spirit within us, empowering and changing our life. If we will have faith and depend upon Him we lay down our weakness to pick up His strength.
You just have to stop thinking you have all the answers. Stop believing your will to obey is enough. Stop depending upon your emotions to be where they need to be so that you decide to do the right thing.
Love Jesus, enjoy your relationship with Him and have faith in Him.
The man or woman who turns the other cheek is the one who loves Jesus more than they hate the one who slapped them.
Faith — “Believe it is so when it isn’t so because it is so because God said it is so.”
Take up your cross, die to self effort and have faith for His power to live. Trust Christ!