Mark 14:53-72
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Jesus had always met and did His teachings to the common person of His time...He met with outcasts, fishermen, tax collectors, shepherds, and the fringes of society...He taught the most to His Twelve Disciples...And the most outspoken one of His immediate group was Peter, a fisherman -and close ally of His Teacher...And know those Jesus taught are gone, and He is alone and on trial...Peter, a while back, seemingly his strongest supporter is also very alone...And as I read the gospels about Peter in this setting, He seems as alone as Jesus is -and yet he is not on trial...Or is he?...
Mark writes about two men being questioned...The people asking the questions are searching for Truth...The people asking the questions are wanting to know basically what they believe in...The first Man is Jesus and He is being questioned by the Sanhedrin...Peter is being questioned in a courtyard by common everyday people...Jesus is now before the high Jewish officials known as the Sanhedrin...Jesus speaks the Truth to those questioning Him, and Peter does not...Jesus is being questioned for what He believes and who He is...And in a sense, Peter is being questioned also for what He believes in...Peter denies knowing Jesus...He denies His belief...
I think that if we were in Peter's shoes, we might do the same...I would have broken down and wept...When we have the ability to tell others that we know Jesus at work, in a social setting, or some other place -do we come out and openly and in detail tell others about Him?...Or does it feel better just to deny it?...Am I embarrassed by Him and that I follow Him?...It seems it is easier to quietly say only a little, and to move on to the next subject...