In The Word
Read: Matthew 26:57-75
57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.
59 Now the chief priests and the entire Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. 60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward,61 and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You offer no answer for what these men are testifying against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I place You under oath by the living God, to tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”64 Jesus *said to him, “You have said ityourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66 what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”
67 Then they spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,68 and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
Peter’s Denials
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a slave woman came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another slave woman saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it, with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “You really are one of them as well, since even the way you talk gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had made: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Our Lord and Savior was brought before the religious leaders and the Jewish people to take an account of what they deemed to be sin. He was accused of blaspheming against God by teaching about the fact that He, Himself, was the Son of God. Caiaphas, the high priest, led the uprising against Jesus. The Sanhedrin Council, the highest religious organization, was in such a hurry to kill Jesus that they rushed the trial and came to the decision to crucify Him in a twenty-four hour time span.
When Jesus stood before the council they presented to Him a very specific task: “…And the high priest said to Him, ‘I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God’” (Matthew 26:63 NASB). The task was not meant to give Jesus an opportunity to share the truth, but rather to give them cause to execute punishment. Jesus knew this, but He still took a stand for the truth knowing that the consequences of His words would result in His death.
At some point in each of our walks with the Lord, we will be challenged to stand for truth in the midst of adversity. The question is: will you stand or will you give in to the pressure of the things you are faced with? Christ chose to take a stand because of you, so the least you could do today is take a stand for Him and His righteous cause. Ask Jesus to give you the strength to stand and be bold. Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).