THE TRIAL OF JESUS

Join your Calvary Chapel family tomorrow (Sunday, 3/16, 10:00 a.m.) in the main sanctuary or on our website (www.calvaryinv.com), Facebook, and YouTube (Calvary Inverness) as we continue our study in Matthew’s Gospel (26:57-75).

Jesus was already exhausted from the constant pressure from the religious leaders, the betrayal of one of His disciples, Judas, and the satanic warfare in the garden of Gethsemane as He communed with His Father. Knowing there would be no rest until the time arrived for His crucifixion, He arose and prepared the disciples for His arrest.

Judas, possessed by Satan, led a mob to the garden and approached Jesus to kiss Him. When asked why he had come, Judas swiftly stepped aside and allowed the Temple police to arrest Jesus for the sin of blasphemy. He would face six trials, three before the Jews and three before the Romans, and then be led away to be crucified alongside two criminals.

In the dead of night, Jesus was first led to Anna’s house, the High Priest that the Romans had deposed in favor of his son-in-law Caiaphas. While there, Jesus was subjected to ridicule, mockery, and physical abuse. He was blindfolded and repeatedly punched in the face, all the while His attackers demanded Him to prophesy who hit HIm.

Next, Jesus was quickly taken to Caiaphas’s palace, where He once again was interrogated (thought illegally due to the trial being at night and in a residential home). Caiaphas had spent the evening before Jesus’ arrival frustrated that he couldn’t conjure up false witnesses to claim that Jesus had said or done something that would bring a death sentence.

Finally, in exasperation, the High Priest put Jesus under oath, demanding to know whether or not He claimed to be the Son of God. Jesus knew it was time for Him to yield to His adversaries and become the sacrificial Lamb He said He was.

The response was immediate. The High Priest tore his clothing while screaming at the top of his lungs that Jesus had blasphemed and must be put to death. Those standing next to Him spat in His face, mocking and ridiculing Him with their vitriol and disgust.

While Jesus endured what no man should, one of His first, most vocal, and loyal disciples, Peter, stood at a distance to watch and hear what was happening. When approached three different times, he declared that he wasn’t with Jesus and swore an oath that he didn’t know Him.

Peter’s cowardice when his Friend, Mentor, Teacher, and Master needed him was a low point in his life. When he declared that he didn’t know Jesus for the third time, a roster crowed immediately, an ugly reminder that Jesus had prophesied Peter’s failure. Peter quickly ran, found a place, and cried vehemently at what he had done to Jesus. At that time, he repented and saw that God was there to forgive and strengthen him.

Jesus declared earlier in his ministry that you are either for or against Him. There is no in-between. So, you'll have to decide. And understand that when you choose to be for Him, He graciously gives you His Holy Spirit, who empowers you with His peace and courage to stand firm in the faith. In these last days, you will need to stand firm in the power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

May Jesus’ teaching fill our hearts with the knowledge of His word, prepare us to receive Him, equip us to share the gospel with anyone who will listen, and keep our eyes and hearts open to His imminent return.

In His Strong Love,

Pastor