Religious Trials and Denials

(One Perfect Life Chapters 181-184) In this portion of the Gospel Jesus is arrested and tried before the religious authorities. Also recorded is the scattering of the disciples and Peter’s denial. Twice Jesus identifies Himself as “I am.” This is the name of God the Father given to Moses at the burning bush. When He announces that He is the “I am” come to earth in human form, the authorities have all they need to convict Him of blasphemy – a crime punished by death.

When Judas betrays Jesus, your Bible translates the Geek word hetairos as “friend.” The word indicates not a true friend but an imposter pretending to be a friend for their own gain. Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss – this sign of affection is perverted to identify Jesus to His captors. More painful was the action of the eleven whom we are told “all forsook Him and fled” (Matthew 24:56).

Jesus was not a victim of this perversion of justice that evening, He was in charge of the events the entire time. When asked who they were looking for He is told “Jesus.” Jesus responds, “I am.” Your Bible says “I am, He” but the “He” was added by the translators and causes us to miss an important declaration. Jesus is claiming to be the “I am” of Judaism. He is the God of Israel that has come to die for the sins of all people. At this declaration, all around Him fall to the ground – a natural response to being in the presence of the one true God! Jesus could have fled while they were on the ground but He stays and allows Himself to be arrested.

Jesus is taken to Annas who had been the high priest for several years. He was still the ruling authority in the religious court even though his son-in-law Caiaphas held the formal position. Annas questions Jesus but cannot find a crime by which he could convict Jesus. While Jesus is being questioned by Annas, Peter denies Jesus for the first time and the rooster crows

Jesus is next sent to Caiaphas for His official trial before the Sanhedrin. They could not get false witnesses against Him and when two finally did come forward, their stories were contradictory. In an effort to find a reason to kill Jesus, Caiaphas asks Jesus if He is the Messiah. Jesus responds “I am.” Caiaphas understands what Jesus is asserting and accuses Him of blasphemy, a crime deserving of death.

While Jesus is on trial before Caiaphas Peter is on trial before the people in the courtyard. They accuse Peter of being a disciple of Jesus. He not only denies it but invokes God, by giving an oath, that he does not know Jesus. As the third denial is crossing His lips, the rooster crows the second time.

It was not legal to hold a religious trial in the middle of the night. Jesus is wrongly convicted but accepted the verdict as necessary to fulfill God’s plan for salvation.