The Pain Of God's Servant
"Betrayed, Abandoned and Denied"
Book of Mark Chapter 14:47-72
In our last lesson we read where because Judas Iscariot had betrayed the Lord Jesus and He was captured by His enemies.
But, this was not Satan's plan because it was God's Plan!
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, "when he had by himself purged our sins", sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world", but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Before the foundations of the world were even laid, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit decided on a plan to redeem all mankind from sin.
We know that Our Lord Jesus had great joy in going to the cross but today we will get to see the beginning of the shameful things that man presented to the Lord, Our God.
Let's begin:
The last verse we had last week was this one.
Mar 14:46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
Let's see what happened.
When Judas betrayed Our Lord with his kiss the soldiers instantly laid their hands on the Lord and our brother Peter sprang into action.
*****Mar 14:47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Who was the one that drew the sword?
Who was this servant of the High Priest?
Which ear was cut off?
Only the Apostle John gives us these details.
Joh 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
Peter had brought a sword but the Lord had said that no more than two swords would be needed this night.
Again the disciples had not understood what the Lord had meant.
Luk 22:35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
Luk 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
Luk 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Jesus had not meant that He needed any protection!
What Jesus was saying is "that after I am gone from you you will want to have your sword with you. In the world you will have conflict. It may be better to to have fewer clothes than to not have a means to defend yourself in this evil world.
We should also realize that there is a degree of uncertainty that comes with owning a means of self-defense.
We must realize that to be a Christian is to have enemies.
Satan has taken great strides in convincing the world that he does not exist and that he is not an enemy but a friend but we know he is a deceiver.
The most important sword we can own is the sword of the Lord!
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
And then Peter shows us that he had failed again.
And, what had Peter said and all the others had agreed on?
Joh 13:36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Joh 13:37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
What we see is that Peter was not so willing to lay down his own life, and if Jesus had not healed the ear of Malchus, Peter himself would certainly have been arrested.
The Lord Jesus had a plan for Peter and the other disciples and it was not meant for them to be captured at this time.
So Jesus took charge of this mob.
*****Mar 14:48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
Mar 14:49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
Jesus Christ had no intention of resisting arrest nor of starting a riot at this time.
He could just as easily have been captured at the Temple because it was His time!
Luk 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Every step the Lord Jesus took toward the cross is a footprint for all who believe, to study and learn from!
God had already given these words in the scriptures:
Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth".
Jesus "was not" now going to go against what was written about Him!
Jesus Christ had to die in order to become the salvation unto the end of the earth!
Jesus Christ shed His own blood for everyone who will believe this fact!
The Lord quickly got the attention of that mob so that none of their attention was not on His chosen disciples.
Those disciples were in a real panic and could easily have died that night if they had not been obedient and fled this scene.
The Lord Jesus was very calm and at no time was He not in complete control of this mob
If Jesus had spoken the word, 12 legions of angels would have arrived in the blink of an eye.
Jesus Christ was not a thief of the souls of man but a teacher bent on salvation.
Isaiah wrote:
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
And so the other fled.
*****Mar 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
We might say that these chosen of the Lord deserted Him in His hour of need but that is simply not the case.
In His humanness, no doubt the Lord felt betrayed.
But in His Greatness, as the Son of God, how can we miss Our Savior's Love!
The true shepherd will always protect the flock!
Jesus had said that none of these would perish at this time and He meant those words.
Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
The work that The Lord came to do could not be done, unless He did this thing alone!
It was not a time for "martyrs"!
*****Mar 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
Mar 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
It is believed by most that this young man was John Mark who wrote this "Gospel of Mark".
It was a common thing for these men of God who wrote the "Gospels" to not mention their names when the scriptures contained their own actions.
We say this a lot about John and the Books that John wrote but it is just as true for Mark, Luke, and Matthew.
We know that this character of Mark stayed with him until his later days. Mark was easily frightened of spiritual things.
We know that Mark stayed with Barnabas and Paul until Paul confronted a sorcerer in Paphos. It was after these things that Mark, still being a young man left to go back home.
Regardless who this young man was, he was a follower of Christ Jesus and he also fled being almost captured by other young men.
Maybe he had read about Joseph:
Gen 39:11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
Gen 39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and "he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out".
*****Mar 14:53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
While Judas had led a mob and some soldiers to capture Jesus, the High Priests had also been very busy.
He had assembled together all the chief priests, along with the elders of Israel and the scribes, who we know were also the lawyers but we also know that many false witnesses had also been gathered.
BUT, before Jesus reaches this group He is taken to another place:
Joh 18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Joh 18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
Joh 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
Annas was the high priest of the Jews from A D 7-14.
Annas had been appointed by Quirinius who was then governor of Syria but Annas was later deposed by Gratus who was governor at that time but Annas still had considerable influence.
In A D 25 Caiaphas married the daughter of Annas and it was he who was raised to the office of high priest but we know who still pulled the strings of Caiaphas, it was Annas.
It is probable that Annas now sat as ruler of the Sanhedrin Court which could be compare to our Supreme Court here in America.
The Lord was first brought to this Annas, while Caiaphas was assembling the others and those false witnesses.
All these things were illegal according to Jewish Law but these men made their own laws.
What we should realize is that according to the law of sacrifices written by Moses, the children of Israel had to present their sacrifices first to the Priest at the door of the Tabernacle.
Lev 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
Lev 17:4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
The Lord Jesus, our sacrifice, was being presented to the High Priest!
But Peter had also reconsidered what he had said and he followed but not very close.
*****Mar 14:54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
Peter was the oldest of the apostles and the one they most looked up to.
Peter was the last man that should have followed "afar off".
Peter gives us another example of how someone, even with the best teaching, may still sin shamefully.
We are all still sinners and therefore, "we will all fail" the Lord from time to time, until He comes to take us home.
The Lord Jesus had told Peter these things would happen BUT only so Peter could prepare himself.
It would have been better for Peter to have prayed for strength, as he was taught, and as the Lord had done.
But the Lord Jesus had also prayed for Peter, and already knew the results.
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
When we know all these things that cause us to fail in our service to the Lord, prayer is our greatest weapon!
Satan has kept himself hidden all these years but the Lord Jesus has told us many things about him and we need to listen as these things "are just as true" as His words of Salvation.
Satan has a desire that we all fail in our service to the Lord.
Satan has a desire that we all follow the Lord Jesus from a great distance or from "afar off"!
Satan knows that the Lord requires a "personal relationship"!
But now we see as Peter chooses to warm himself at the fire of the enemy.
And, this illegal trial moves forward.
*****Mar 14:55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
Mar 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
Jewish law decreed, that no court should sit before sunrise---this trial happened just after a midnight arrest while the city of Jerusalem slept.
Jewish law required, that the accused should be have an advocate, or someone to plead his case----The Lord Jesus Christ stood alone.
Jewish law demanded, that witnesses of the accused be heard-----no one was available to testify for The Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus was call guilty before this trial even began!
The judge in this case, Caiaphas, had already declared that Jesus needed to die.
Joh 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
There was no search for "justice" at this trial---- but only for "guilt" and "judgment"!
Jewish law insisted that no sentence of death could be passed the same day of a trial--- The Lord Jesus was condemned to die.
Jesus law said:
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Deu 19:16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
Deu 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
Deu 19:18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
Deu 19:19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
No two witnesses had the same story!
This whole trial was a mockery of the law that these people said they represented.
Sounds a whole lot like America today!
So then comes "hearsay".
Hearsay, is not allowed in any true trial!
*****Mar 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Mar 14:59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
Mar 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Just after Jesus had purged the Temple of those that bought and sold at the Court of the Gentiles, these Jews had asked Jesus for a sign and Jesus had answered with these words.
Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus was never talking about the Temple in Jerusalem but only of His own body, which is about to take place at the end of this trial.
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Those certain persons had never understood what Our Lord was saying and they gave a false testimony or "hearsay"!
Christ Jesus had probably even pointed to His Own body as He had said these words!
The Lord meant that after the death of His flesh, He would in 3 days raise His body back up from that death, and we know that this is exactly what happened!
Those Jews in charge had clearly understood what Jesus had said, because after His death, these same Jews went before Pilate with these words:
Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Jesus had never said that it would He that would destroy the Jewish Temple!
Jesus had said that these Jews could not kill Him nor take His life away!
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
This false trial was not going as planned so, the high priest, Caiaphas, stood up to question the Lord Jesus, himself.
At first Jesus did not respond because none of these things were true!
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, "so he openeth not his mouth".
Only after these things did the high priest ask Our Lord a question that could be answered:
*****Mar 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
God had set up the Jewish priesthood by the hands of Moses and it was intended to be the highest and holiest of all positions in Israel.
But since Israel had been dominated by Rome, the office of the high priest had been filled with self-seeking, political opportunists!
Annas, Caiaphas, and that whole family were mean, petty villains, who were without honor and virtue.
They made up the laws as they went along, but even these evil men could have been washed in the blood of the Lamb!
Caiaphas realized this false trial was falling apart and took things in his own hands.
This was also not the job of the high priest in any trial!
He demanded that the Lord break His silence and speak!
So, Caiaphas asked a very personal question and Jesus responded.
*****Mar 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
God had said to Moses many years earlier:
Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Jesus said to Caiaphas, "I AM"!
Was Jesus the Messiah?
Jesus Christ was the only being on this earth who corresponded to all "types" and all "prophecies" of the Word of God!
Jesus Christ was the only being on this earth who gave "the true meaning" to the Word of God!
Jesus Christ was the only being on this earth "who could have performed the miracles" that are documented for us all to see. Most of those things cannot even be done in our day.
Jesus Christ was the only being on this earth who could control the forces of nature and did so.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah had control over the spirit world.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah had control even over death!
No human being could have possessed these powers without the hand of God, so the Lord Jesus said: "I AM".
And Jesus then added to those other words.
We have already discussed the two judgment seats.
The judgment seat of Christ reserved for the Church:
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The white throne of judgment is reserved for all unbelievers:
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
I believe Jesus was saying that Caiaphas would see Him in this place, the white throne judgment.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
And all those that remain today "who are like" Caiaphas and these others that sat at this mockery of a trial would see this:
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Caiaphas then showed his ignorance.
At the end, there will not be an opportunity for anyone to change!
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
*****Mar 14:63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
Mar 14:64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
The Lord Jesus had accepted the title of Messiah, because it was true!
The Lord Jesus would then be put to death for "Blasphemy"!
Blasphemy is, the speaking evil of God. Jesus was totally innocent of this charge.
It take a foolish people to "blaspheme" The Lord Jesus!
Psa 74:18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
It can be said that the enemies of God, "are also enemies to themselves" and "to the nation in which they live"!
An ungodly man can never be a true patriot, because without God every nation will be over run with evil men!
True patriots will always defend their own nation from all evil!
Oh, how we fail in these things.
Was Jesus the Messiah?
Moses had written these words:
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
To be the Messiah, the Son of God, it had to mean that Jesus Christ is absolutely equal to The Father who is in Heaven, in every way!
To attack this belief is an attack on Christianity!
John wrote:
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The Christian "faith" is based on "the fact" that Jesus Christ was truly the Messiah!
The world must first believe that there is a God:
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
AND, when we seek the true God, we will then find His Son!
Caiaphas refused to believe these things
Caiaphas rent, "or ripped", his robe.
Caiaphas in reality was not a true high priest under the laws of Moses which said that he had to be a descendant of Aaron.
Exo 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Exo 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
Exo 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
The robe of the high priest was so made that it could "not be ripped" or "rent".
Exo 28:31 And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Exo 28:32 And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, "that it be not rent".
Caiaphas was the false high priests and had a false robe.
The true robe of the Great High Priest was being worn by the One who he was judging and sat before him and had just said He was truly the Messiah and was also wearing the true robe of the high priest!
Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: "now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout".
Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
Jesus Christ was not only the Messiah to Israel, but the true High Priest of Christianity!
But what else had the prophets written?
*****Mar 14:65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
Isa 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Isa 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Peter had made his way into the palace at this time.
*****Mar 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
Mar 14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mar 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
This palace was the mansion of the high priest.
This fire would have been in the court yard just outside the chamber where the Lord Jesus was placed on trial and maybe on a higher level.
Peter had been arrogant enough to tell the Lord Jesus that he could never stumble which is impossible.
Peter had bravely raised a sword to defend the Lord when he was taken, when he had said he would die with Him.
Peter had fled for his own safety, leaving Jesus in the hands of the enemy.
Peter had followed from "afar off", when we need to snuggle up as close as we can get to Him.
But, Peter had regained enough courage to see what was happening with the Lord.
And, Peter was about to stumble again.
Our lesson here is that Our Lord knows that we will stumble, but we can never stumble to far from His "Grace"!
Peter needed this lesson he was about to learn!
What the Word of God says, will be what will actually take place!
Peter's pride would be destroyed but his "faith" would take a great leap forward!
AND, we know that Peter learned these lessons well!
Peter denied the Lord the first time and the cock crowed loudly.
*****Mar 14:69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
Peter was a loving, brave and loyal man but he was alone in the midst of his enemies and the enemy noticed!
Peter had come to see the end of what the Lord had been saying, and what Peter saw was a miserable sight.
Most everyone else was caught up in this unjust trial but this little maid kept pointing Peter out.
In the brightness of the flames of this fire this maid kept seeing the face of Peter and he could not pass as one of the crowd.
Peter denied the Lord a second time!
*****Mar 14:70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
Mar 14:71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
I am from the south and if I go up north, the way I speak makes me stick out and noticeable.
Peter found himself in this same situation.
That little maid had gotten busy doing what she was paid to do but Peter's own words had given him away.
He was not local to Jerusalem and in was fact that those from Galilee had their own distinct use of the language. Their own brogue.
It is said that men from Jerusalem carefully choose each word that they say and most of them are truly rude.
But men from Galilee were not so careful in what they said and could be vulgar.
SO, Peter denied the Lord for the third time.
And the cock crowed loudly.
*****Mar 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
At this very moment Jesus was being led away from the palace of the high priest and to judgment hall of Pilate, having been sentenced to death for blasphemy.
But only Rome could cause this death to take place.
The darkness of night was over and the Sun was dawning.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Luke wrote these words:
Luk 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
These things also brought a new day for Peter:
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
It was a sad and miserable day for Peter.
Peter had been broken and humbled and He went to find the other disciples and gather them together.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
"Betrayed, Abandoned and Denied"
Book of Mark Chapter 14:47-72
In our last lesson we read where because Judas Iscariot had betrayed the Lord Jesus and He was captured by His enemies.
But, this was not Satan's plan because it was God's Plan!
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, "when he had by himself purged our sins", sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world", but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Before the foundations of the world were even laid, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit decided on a plan to redeem all mankind from sin.
We know that Our Lord Jesus had great joy in going to the cross but today we will get to see the beginning of the shameful things that man presented to the Lord, Our God.
Let's begin:
The last verse we had last week was this one.
Mar 14:46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
Let's see what happened.
When Judas betrayed Our Lord with his kiss the soldiers instantly laid their hands on the Lord and our brother Peter sprang into action.
*****Mar 14:47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Who was the one that drew the sword?
Who was this servant of the High Priest?
Which ear was cut off?
Only the Apostle John gives us these details.
Joh 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
Peter had brought a sword but the Lord had said that no more than two swords would be needed this night.
Again the disciples had not understood what the Lord had meant.
Luk 22:35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
Luk 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
Luk 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Jesus had not meant that He needed any protection!
What Jesus was saying is "that after I am gone from you you will want to have your sword with you. In the world you will have conflict. It may be better to to have fewer clothes than to not have a means to defend yourself in this evil world.
We should also realize that there is a degree of uncertainty that comes with owning a means of self-defense.
We must realize that to be a Christian is to have enemies.
Satan has taken great strides in convincing the world that he does not exist and that he is not an enemy but a friend but we know he is a deceiver.
The most important sword we can own is the sword of the Lord!
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
And then Peter shows us that he had failed again.
And, what had Peter said and all the others had agreed on?
Joh 13:36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Joh 13:37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
What we see is that Peter was not so willing to lay down his own life, and if Jesus had not healed the ear of Malchus, Peter himself would certainly have been arrested.
The Lord Jesus had a plan for Peter and the other disciples and it was not meant for them to be captured at this time.
So Jesus took charge of this mob.
*****Mar 14:48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
Mar 14:49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
Jesus Christ had no intention of resisting arrest nor of starting a riot at this time.
He could just as easily have been captured at the Temple because it was His time!
Luk 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Every step the Lord Jesus took toward the cross is a footprint for all who believe, to study and learn from!
God had already given these words in the scriptures:
Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth".
Jesus "was not" now going to go against what was written about Him!
Jesus Christ had to die in order to become the salvation unto the end of the earth!
Jesus Christ shed His own blood for everyone who will believe this fact!
The Lord quickly got the attention of that mob so that none of their attention was not on His chosen disciples.
Those disciples were in a real panic and could easily have died that night if they had not been obedient and fled this scene.
The Lord Jesus was very calm and at no time was He not in complete control of this mob
If Jesus had spoken the word, 12 legions of angels would have arrived in the blink of an eye.
Jesus Christ was not a thief of the souls of man but a teacher bent on salvation.
Isaiah wrote:
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
And so the other fled.
*****Mar 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
We might say that these chosen of the Lord deserted Him in His hour of need but that is simply not the case.
In His humanness, no doubt the Lord felt betrayed.
But in His Greatness, as the Son of God, how can we miss Our Savior's Love!
The true shepherd will always protect the flock!
Jesus had said that none of these would perish at this time and He meant those words.
Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
The work that The Lord came to do could not be done, unless He did this thing alone!
It was not a time for "martyrs"!
*****Mar 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
Mar 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
It is believed by most that this young man was John Mark who wrote this "Gospel of Mark".
It was a common thing for these men of God who wrote the "Gospels" to not mention their names when the scriptures contained their own actions.
We say this a lot about John and the Books that John wrote but it is just as true for Mark, Luke, and Matthew.
We know that this character of Mark stayed with him until his later days. Mark was easily frightened of spiritual things.
We know that Mark stayed with Barnabas and Paul until Paul confronted a sorcerer in Paphos. It was after these things that Mark, still being a young man left to go back home.
Regardless who this young man was, he was a follower of Christ Jesus and he also fled being almost captured by other young men.
Maybe he had read about Joseph:
Gen 39:11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
Gen 39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and "he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out".
*****Mar 14:53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
While Judas had led a mob and some soldiers to capture Jesus, the High Priests had also been very busy.
He had assembled together all the chief priests, along with the elders of Israel and the scribes, who we know were also the lawyers but we also know that many false witnesses had also been gathered.
BUT, before Jesus reaches this group He is taken to another place:
Joh 18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Joh 18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
Joh 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
Annas was the high priest of the Jews from A D 7-14.
Annas had been appointed by Quirinius who was then governor of Syria but Annas was later deposed by Gratus who was governor at that time but Annas still had considerable influence.
In A D 25 Caiaphas married the daughter of Annas and it was he who was raised to the office of high priest but we know who still pulled the strings of Caiaphas, it was Annas.
It is probable that Annas now sat as ruler of the Sanhedrin Court which could be compare to our Supreme Court here in America.
The Lord was first brought to this Annas, while Caiaphas was assembling the others and those false witnesses.
All these things were illegal according to Jewish Law but these men made their own laws.
What we should realize is that according to the law of sacrifices written by Moses, the children of Israel had to present their sacrifices first to the Priest at the door of the Tabernacle.
Lev 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
Lev 17:4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
The Lord Jesus, our sacrifice, was being presented to the High Priest!
But Peter had also reconsidered what he had said and he followed but not very close.
*****Mar 14:54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
Peter was the oldest of the apostles and the one they most looked up to.
Peter was the last man that should have followed "afar off".
Peter gives us another example of how someone, even with the best teaching, may still sin shamefully.
We are all still sinners and therefore, "we will all fail" the Lord from time to time, until He comes to take us home.
The Lord Jesus had told Peter these things would happen BUT only so Peter could prepare himself.
It would have been better for Peter to have prayed for strength, as he was taught, and as the Lord had done.
But the Lord Jesus had also prayed for Peter, and already knew the results.
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
When we know all these things that cause us to fail in our service to the Lord, prayer is our greatest weapon!
Satan has kept himself hidden all these years but the Lord Jesus has told us many things about him and we need to listen as these things "are just as true" as His words of Salvation.
Satan has a desire that we all fail in our service to the Lord.
Satan has a desire that we all follow the Lord Jesus from a great distance or from "afar off"!
Satan knows that the Lord requires a "personal relationship"!
But now we see as Peter chooses to warm himself at the fire of the enemy.
And, this illegal trial moves forward.
*****Mar 14:55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
Mar 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
Jewish law decreed, that no court should sit before sunrise---this trial happened just after a midnight arrest while the city of Jerusalem slept.
Jewish law required, that the accused should be have an advocate, or someone to plead his case----The Lord Jesus Christ stood alone.
Jewish law demanded, that witnesses of the accused be heard-----no one was available to testify for The Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus was call guilty before this trial even began!
The judge in this case, Caiaphas, had already declared that Jesus needed to die.
Joh 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
There was no search for "justice" at this trial---- but only for "guilt" and "judgment"!
Jewish law insisted that no sentence of death could be passed the same day of a trial--- The Lord Jesus was condemned to die.
Jesus law said:
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Deu 19:16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
Deu 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
Deu 19:18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
Deu 19:19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
No two witnesses had the same story!
This whole trial was a mockery of the law that these people said they represented.
Sounds a whole lot like America today!
So then comes "hearsay".
Hearsay, is not allowed in any true trial!
*****Mar 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Mar 14:59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
Mar 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Just after Jesus had purged the Temple of those that bought and sold at the Court of the Gentiles, these Jews had asked Jesus for a sign and Jesus had answered with these words.
Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus was never talking about the Temple in Jerusalem but only of His own body, which is about to take place at the end of this trial.
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Those certain persons had never understood what Our Lord was saying and they gave a false testimony or "hearsay"!
Christ Jesus had probably even pointed to His Own body as He had said these words!
The Lord meant that after the death of His flesh, He would in 3 days raise His body back up from that death, and we know that this is exactly what happened!
Those Jews in charge had clearly understood what Jesus had said, because after His death, these same Jews went before Pilate with these words:
Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Jesus had never said that it would He that would destroy the Jewish Temple!
Jesus had said that these Jews could not kill Him nor take His life away!
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
This false trial was not going as planned so, the high priest, Caiaphas, stood up to question the Lord Jesus, himself.
At first Jesus did not respond because none of these things were true!
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, "so he openeth not his mouth".
Only after these things did the high priest ask Our Lord a question that could be answered:
*****Mar 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
God had set up the Jewish priesthood by the hands of Moses and it was intended to be the highest and holiest of all positions in Israel.
But since Israel had been dominated by Rome, the office of the high priest had been filled with self-seeking, political opportunists!
Annas, Caiaphas, and that whole family were mean, petty villains, who were without honor and virtue.
They made up the laws as they went along, but even these evil men could have been washed in the blood of the Lamb!
Caiaphas realized this false trial was falling apart and took things in his own hands.
This was also not the job of the high priest in any trial!
He demanded that the Lord break His silence and speak!
So, Caiaphas asked a very personal question and Jesus responded.
*****Mar 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
God had said to Moses many years earlier:
Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Jesus said to Caiaphas, "I AM"!
Was Jesus the Messiah?
Jesus Christ was the only being on this earth who corresponded to all "types" and all "prophecies" of the Word of God!
Jesus Christ was the only being on this earth who gave "the true meaning" to the Word of God!
Jesus Christ was the only being on this earth "who could have performed the miracles" that are documented for us all to see. Most of those things cannot even be done in our day.
Jesus Christ was the only being on this earth who could control the forces of nature and did so.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah had control over the spirit world.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah had control even over death!
No human being could have possessed these powers without the hand of God, so the Lord Jesus said: "I AM".
And Jesus then added to those other words.
We have already discussed the two judgment seats.
The judgment seat of Christ reserved for the Church:
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The white throne of judgment is reserved for all unbelievers:
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
I believe Jesus was saying that Caiaphas would see Him in this place, the white throne judgment.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
And all those that remain today "who are like" Caiaphas and these others that sat at this mockery of a trial would see this:
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Caiaphas then showed his ignorance.
At the end, there will not be an opportunity for anyone to change!
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
*****Mar 14:63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
Mar 14:64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
The Lord Jesus had accepted the title of Messiah, because it was true!
The Lord Jesus would then be put to death for "Blasphemy"!
Blasphemy is, the speaking evil of God. Jesus was totally innocent of this charge.
It take a foolish people to "blaspheme" The Lord Jesus!
Psa 74:18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
It can be said that the enemies of God, "are also enemies to themselves" and "to the nation in which they live"!
An ungodly man can never be a true patriot, because without God every nation will be over run with evil men!
True patriots will always defend their own nation from all evil!
Oh, how we fail in these things.
Was Jesus the Messiah?
Moses had written these words:
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
To be the Messiah, the Son of God, it had to mean that Jesus Christ is absolutely equal to The Father who is in Heaven, in every way!
To attack this belief is an attack on Christianity!
John wrote:
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The Christian "faith" is based on "the fact" that Jesus Christ was truly the Messiah!
The world must first believe that there is a God:
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
AND, when we seek the true God, we will then find His Son!
Caiaphas refused to believe these things
Caiaphas rent, "or ripped", his robe.
Caiaphas in reality was not a true high priest under the laws of Moses which said that he had to be a descendant of Aaron.
Exo 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Exo 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
Exo 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
The robe of the high priest was so made that it could "not be ripped" or "rent".
Exo 28:31 And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Exo 28:32 And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, "that it be not rent".
Caiaphas was the false high priests and had a false robe.
The true robe of the Great High Priest was being worn by the One who he was judging and sat before him and had just said He was truly the Messiah and was also wearing the true robe of the high priest!
Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: "now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout".
Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
Jesus Christ was not only the Messiah to Israel, but the true High Priest of Christianity!
But what else had the prophets written?
*****Mar 14:65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
Isa 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Isa 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Peter had made his way into the palace at this time.
*****Mar 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
Mar 14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mar 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
This palace was the mansion of the high priest.
This fire would have been in the court yard just outside the chamber where the Lord Jesus was placed on trial and maybe on a higher level.
Peter had been arrogant enough to tell the Lord Jesus that he could never stumble which is impossible.
Peter had bravely raised a sword to defend the Lord when he was taken, when he had said he would die with Him.
Peter had fled for his own safety, leaving Jesus in the hands of the enemy.
Peter had followed from "afar off", when we need to snuggle up as close as we can get to Him.
But, Peter had regained enough courage to see what was happening with the Lord.
And, Peter was about to stumble again.
Our lesson here is that Our Lord knows that we will stumble, but we can never stumble to far from His "Grace"!
Peter needed this lesson he was about to learn!
What the Word of God says, will be what will actually take place!
Peter's pride would be destroyed but his "faith" would take a great leap forward!
AND, we know that Peter learned these lessons well!
Peter denied the Lord the first time and the cock crowed loudly.
*****Mar 14:69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
Peter was a loving, brave and loyal man but he was alone in the midst of his enemies and the enemy noticed!
Peter had come to see the end of what the Lord had been saying, and what Peter saw was a miserable sight.
Most everyone else was caught up in this unjust trial but this little maid kept pointing Peter out.
In the brightness of the flames of this fire this maid kept seeing the face of Peter and he could not pass as one of the crowd.
Peter denied the Lord a second time!
*****Mar 14:70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
Mar 14:71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
I am from the south and if I go up north, the way I speak makes me stick out and noticeable.
Peter found himself in this same situation.
That little maid had gotten busy doing what she was paid to do but Peter's own words had given him away.
He was not local to Jerusalem and in was fact that those from Galilee had their own distinct use of the language. Their own brogue.
It is said that men from Jerusalem carefully choose each word that they say and most of them are truly rude.
But men from Galilee were not so careful in what they said and could be vulgar.
SO, Peter denied the Lord for the third time.
And the cock crowed loudly.
*****Mar 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
At this very moment Jesus was being led away from the palace of the high priest and to judgment hall of Pilate, having been sentenced to death for blasphemy.
But only Rome could cause this death to take place.
The darkness of night was over and the Sun was dawning.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Luke wrote these words:
Luk 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
These things also brought a new day for Peter:
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
It was a sad and miserable day for Peter.
Peter had been broken and humbled and He went to find the other disciples and gather them together.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
