SECTION 12:
THE TRIAL-DEATH-AND RESURRECTION OF THE KING
JESUS BEFORE CAIAPHAS
OR
A FAILURE OF COURAGE
Scripture To Consider:
“And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Jesus at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And Peter went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward and said, ‘This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days”‘”
“And the high priest arose and said to Jesus, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it that these men testify against You?’ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Jesus, ‘I adjure You by the living God that You tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.’ 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.’“
“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! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He [Jesus] is deserving of death.’ Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Jesus with the palms of their hands, saying, ‘Prophecy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?'” Matthew 26.57-68
A Few Words Of Warning:
When Jesus was arraigned before the high priest Caiaphas and the chief religious court of the nation, it was supposed that Jesus was on trial for His life. In reality, it was the rulers who were being tried and condemned. The fate of the nation was being determined by their evil but undeserved treatment of Jesus.
Here was to take place the public rejection of Jesus their rightful King. The whole time the judges convict themselves of prejudice, dishonesty, and malice. They do not seek to ascertain the truth that justice may be done, but rather they desire to secure some pretext which may excuse the murder of Jesus, of which they were bent upon accomplishing. As they did what it is they did, they drove the nails of their own coffins deeper and deeper.
They summon witnesses to establish a verdict they already had reached; but these witnesses failed to agree, until two are found who affirm that Jesus had boasted His ability to destroy the temple and to rebuild it in three days. It was a distorted form of His prediction that when the temple of His body had been destroyed, He would rise on the third day. His public testimony and claim should be remembered in connection with the miracle of the resurrection.
Something To Consider:
However, even this testimony as presented is shown to be worthless, and its weakness is emphasized by the continued silence of Jesus which drove the high priest to desperation, as it clearly declared that no real evidence worthy of an answer had been produced. Which in reality, is an accurate example of the same future scene in our own lives when we are accused by the enemy of our souls, of our own sin that has been forgiven and washed away by the precious and atoning blood of Jesus.
Therefore, as we endure unto the end, as we faithfully abide in Jesus Christ, as we continue daily in His Word, there is no shred of evidence that will be produced at the end of our lives, if those lives have been lived by faith in the work of Jesus Christ our King. For there is no condemnation in Christ! Therefore, the question should be, are we truly living our lives in Christ Jesus?
Then Caiaphas solemnly adjured Jesus to answer plainly whether or not He is the Christ, the Son of God. With absolute distinctness Jesus replied, “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.” This striking future portrait of Jesus was predicted by Daniel the prophet, Jesus, the Messiah will be manifested sitting at the right hand of Power and eventually coming on the clouds of heaven in great glory.
Caiaphas then tore his garments to express his horror. The action was in a degree theatrical; but it was designed to emphasize the charge of blasphemy which he at once makes against Jesus. As he appealed to the council, they pronounce Jesus worthy of death. They were right; He did deserve to die, unless He was the Messiah, the divine Son of God. There is no middle ground. Where then shall we take our stand, with Caiphas or with Christ?
According to our Scripture to consider, “Then they spat in Jesus’ face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands.” The brutality seems incredible. These men claimed to be the special representatives of God; but the beast in man is nearer the surface than some suppose, and these rulers in their thirst for blood have been made more fierce by the disclosure of their own willful sin and shame. What can we learn from their horrifying example of brute force?
More Scripture To Consider:
“Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee.’ But Peter denied it before them all, saying, ‘I do not know what you are saying.’ And when Peter 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.’ But again Peter denied with an oath, ‘I do not know the Man!'”
“And after a while those who stood by came to Peter and said to him, ‘Surely you also are one of them because your speech betrays you.’ Then Peter began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’ And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the words of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Then Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Matthew 26.69-75
Something Else To Consider:
Meanwhile, another pitiful scene had been enacted for us in the open courtyard of the palace. It was not a revelation of malice but of cowardice. Peter was ashamed to confess that he was a follower of Jesus. He denied that he knew Jesus. Peter’s courage failed, not his faith. Therefore, something should be said in his defense. Some allowance may be made for his lapse of courage due to the long night of strain and sorrow, to the cold and loneliness, to the bewilderment of the hour and the suddenness of the arrest of Jesus.
However, Peter’s fall had been shameful in his own sight and mind, and his disgrace distressing. The denial had been repeated three times as Jesus had predicted. At first it may have been considered as deceit on his part. Then it had been confirmed with an oath, and finally accompanied with anger. It is easy to point the finger of scorn and disappointment at the great apostle; but there are few of the followers of Christ who in times of less severe testing have not as truly denied their Lord by word and or deed or both, with cowardice, deceit, and wrongful angry passion.
Then Peter heard the cock crow; and he remembered the word of Jesus, and he went out and wept bitterly. Those were tears and cries of repentance, and they prepared the way of both pardon and peace. To many a fallen follower of the King there has come some such surprise of providence which has recalled vows of devotion and tender words of warning and fellowship with a loving Master.
The memory has brought bitter tears of repentance for both Peter and whoever of us who are truly honest with ourselves concerning our own personal lapse of courage and failure of faith. But afterwards, there came for Peter, as there has and will come for us, a bright dawning morning, a meeting with the risen Christ, a new confession of love and a deeper devotion to His cause.
Something More To Consider:
Peter’s earlier declaration was, “Even if all are made to stumble [to become offended] because of You [Jesus], I will never be made to stumble.” And after a warning from Jesus to not think so highly of himself, Peter again replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” Luke’s gospel reveals when Peter was asked about his relationship with Jesus, Peter explained, “I do not know what you are saying!”
Luke also stated, “Immediately, while Peter was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.” Can we relate to what Peter must have felt at that very moment? What image is immediately flashed upon the monitor of our minds concerning the particular look of Jesus due to Peter’s denial, will tell much of our true understanding of Jesus and His compassion towards sinners such as ourselves.
Yes, Peter had a major meltdown moment of the failure of his courage. Without asking for a show of hands, we too could tell of our own occasions of the failures of our own courage. But what look was it that Peter saw in the face of Jesus? Was it a look of disdain and discouragement? Was it a look of surprise or of I told you so? Or was it a look of complete forgiveness, and overwhelming show of mercy and grace that Peter had not known to that time in his life?
A Few Final Words:
Jesus stood before Caiaphas for crimes against humanity and their so-called religion that Jesus did not commit. He did receive the death sentence that we all deserved. But Peter was undoubtedly caught red-handed doing that which he could not have earlier comprehended. The truth is that failed courage is part of our flawed human nature.
In the book of Acts, once the promised by Jesus, Holy Spirit was poured out upon the earliest believers, we never again see them experience failed courage. Rather, just the opposite is true. There is just so much we can declare in and of our own human strength. According to Jesus, “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” According to the apostle Paul, we are to walk in the Spirit of God and therefore, not fulfill the lusts or failures of our flesh.
How many of us honestly know exactly what Peter was going through as he was found guilty of following Jesus from afar? How many of us honestly know exactly what Peter was going through as he was found guilty of warming himself with the heat of the world’s fire? Though Peter cursed, though Peter denied knowing Jesus, though Peter allowed his courage to fail in the midst of the then in the face accusations from the world, at least Peter went out and wept bitterly over his sin. That is more than can be said of the vast majority of those of failed courage.
In Closing:
What we do as a result of our own failure of courage; what we do when overwhelmed by our own sin is most important and has eternal ramifications. Therefore, let us guard against pride, arrogance, and our thinking more highly of ourselves than we should while seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Let’s Pray:
Our Father in heaven, thank You for the written and preserved record of Jesus standing before Caiaphas and the so-called religious leaders of that day. Thank You Father for the lesson of a lifetime concerning our own personal failure of courage. Fill us to overflowing with the power and presence of Your Holy Spirit that we may be found looking unto Jesus in our times of distress, disappointment and discouragement. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 