57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The teachers of the law and the elders had come together there. 58 Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. 60 But they did not find any proof, even though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally, two other witnesses came forward. 61 They said, “This fellow claimed, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God. I can build it again in three days.’ ”
62 Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? What are these charges that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I am commanding you in the name of the living God. May he judge you if you don’t tell the truth. Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But here is what I say to all of you. From now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said, “He has spoken a very evil thing against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard him say this evil thing. 66 What do you think?”
“He must die!” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face. They hit him with their fists. Others slapped him. 68 They said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit you?”
69 Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A female servant came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But in front of all of them, Peter said he was not. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gate leading into the courtyard. There another servant saw him. She said to the people, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 Again he said he was not. With a curse he said, “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter. “You must be one of them,” they said. “The way you talk gives you away.”
74 Then Peter began to curse and said to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Right away a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. “The rooster will crow,” Jesus had told him. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Peter went outside. He broke down and cried.
Matthew 27:11-14
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
1. Jesus’ success
1st challenge and answer
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
2nd challenge and answer
62 Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? What are these charges that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
3rd challenge and answer
The high priest said to him, “I am commanding you in the name of the living God. May he judge you if you don’t tell the truth. Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But here is what I say to all of you. From now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Discussion 1:
Why did Jesus succeed in the challenges? What can we learn from Him?
2. Peter’s failure
Why and how did Peter follow Jesus?
1st challenge and answer
Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A female servant came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But in front of all of them, Peter said he was not. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
2nd challenge and answer
71 Then he went out to the gate leading into the courtyard. There another servant saw him. She said to the people, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 Again he said he was not. With a curse he said, “I don’t know the man!”
3rd challenge and answer
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter. “You must be one of them,” they said. “The way you talk gives you away.”
74 Then Peter began to curse and said to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Right away a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. “The rooster will crow,” Jesus had told him. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Peter went outside. He broke down and cried.
Discussion 2:
If you were Peter, what would you do? What can we learn from him and what lessons can we learn from his failure?
3. Why did Jesus foretell Peter about his denial of Him?
Matthew 26:31-35
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Refer to Luke 22:31-34
31 “Simon, Simon! Satan has asked to sift all of you disciples like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon. I have prayed that your faith will not fail. When you have turned back, help your brothers to be strong.”
33 But Simon replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, you will say three times that you don’t know me. And you will do it before the rooster crows today.”
Jesus knew that His disciples would desert Him and Peter would deny Him. He loves them as His own sheep dispite their failure. He made an appointment to meet with them again in Galilee after His success and resurrection.
Prayer:
