We commonly forget that the amount of time recorded of Jesus’ earthly ministry really isn’t that much. In all, it’s only about 50 days of ministry that are recorded in John’s gospel. To think that so many events are compacted in 50 or so days and recorded in only 21 chapters means that the action is taking place at a pretty fast pace. Add to that the fact that John’s gospel doesn’t just record the events of Jesus’ life during this time, but it records the actions of his disciples as well. Sometimes, like our text today, it’s necessary for the text to jump back and forth in order to follow all of the action as its taking place. Much like a movie or television show that’s following multiple characters at one time, jumping around to different people helps to give a more precise idea as to the chronology of events and to where things are taking place within the scope of the greater narrative. In our text today, we have an account of Jesus being tried sandwiched in between a couple of accounts of Peter’s denial of Christ. As Peter is denying that he even knows Jesus, or Savior is standing trial before the Sanhedrin, the religious officials of Jerusalem.
Now, we know that Peter’s denial of Jesus is a fulfillment of the words that Christ spoke to him back in John 13. In that account, Peter stated vehemently that even if everyone else fell away, that he would never fall away from Christ. He was so confident in his devotion to Jesus that he felt that there was nothing that could separate him from his zeal for the Lord. Christ told him that indeed he would deny knowing him, and he would do so three times before the rooster crowed. In our current text, Peter and another disciple (most commonly thought to be John) follow Jesus as he is taken away to his trial after being arrested. The other disciple is allowed to enter into the trial (indicating that this particular disciple had some privileges within Jerusalem) while Peter remains outside. After this other disciple gets permission from within, Peter is allowed to join him in the courtyard while Jesus tried. Once inside the courtyard, a servant girl identifies Peter as one of those commonly with Jesus. When asked about it, Peter denies being one of Jesus’ disciples, his first denial.
Our story takes a quick look away from Peter and the other disciple on the outside of this trial and looks in on the actual events of the trial. Now, it’s important to note that verse 18 speaks about a “fire of coals” being present to light up the area. This tells us that this trial took place at night. Why is this important you may be asking? Well, typically a trial would have been held during the daylight. Holding the trial at night shows the deceitfulness in which the Sanhedrin persecuted Jesus. It was virtually unthinkable to hold such a trial at any time other than the daylight hours. Obviously there wasn’t any laws completely forbidding it or else it wouldn’t have even been a possibility, but it just wasn’t the norm. It’s kind of like how most golf courses don’t technically have any rules against playing at night, but practically speaking it just is never done. You would never think of holding a regular golf tournament while the sky is pitch black.
We’re told that Jesus was tried on his “disciples and doctrine.” We’re not told many details about the trial and the specific proceedings of it, but we know from some Jewish resources outside of Scripture how these sorts of trials typically went. Usually the defendant (in this case Jesus) was never required to testify or answer questions. Typically witnesses were called to speak at the trial both on behalf of and against the accused. The order was typically a witness on behalf of and then a witness against. In many regards, it resembles many aspects of our modern judicial proceedings. However, much of the usual format for a trial seems to be dispensed with as Jesus is interrogated before the Sanhedrin.
Even though we aren’t given much detail about the trial, we are given Jesus’ response to the questions of Annas. Verses 20-21 read, “Jesus answered him, ‘I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.’” I love what Jesus did with those words. He gives a very subtle insult to those who only operate in secret and not out in the open (which is exactly what Annas and the Sanhedrin were doing with this trial). He’s challenging them to follow the proper protocol for a trial. He makes no attempt to hide anything that he has taught. He makes no apologies for any part of his teaching. He firmly and fully stands behind the message that he has been teaching and knows that at no point has he ever taught anything that was not the truth. He was hoping that witnesses would be called as they ought to because there was no one who could really speak anything truthful that was against Jesus.
His “defiance” upsets the members of the Sanhedrin. One of them even strikes Jesus with his palm, slapping him. He rebukes Jesus and tells him that that is not the way in which the high priest, Annas, should be answered. Once again, Jesus challenges the Sanhedrin to hold a proper Jewish trial and says, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” In other words, “if I have done anything wrong, then bring someone forth who can speak of my wrongdoings.” Both Jesus and the members of the Sanhedrin knew he had done nothing wrong. They all knew that this was a farce of a trial and was done only to give lip service to what they wanted to have done. With the formalities and protocol dispensed, they were past the point of proper conduct and proper procedure. Annas has no evidence and no witnesses, yet he sends Christ to Caiaphas so that he could then be turned over to the Romans. Annas cared not for following tradition and proper procedures, but only wanted Jesus destroyed.
After looking in briefly on the somewhat secret trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin, John once again turns to Peter and what is taking place with him outside in the courtyard on the periphery of the trial. What we find is continued accusations by those around him that he is one of the disciples of Jesus. As Peter is questioned, we see that both times he denies having a personal relationship with Jesus. In all, he denies knowing Christ three different times. We’re told that immediately after the third denial that a rooster crows, no doubt sending shockwaves through Peter’s core as to his falling away from Christ. Now, Peter is commonly thought of as being somewhat the leader of the disciples. He’s seen as Jesus’ right-hand man with regards to his leading the disciples. This fulfillment of Peter’s foretold denial illustrates the point that there is no one who is above not giving Jesus his proper praise. The Bible miniseries that came out a few months ago did a fabulous job of capturing the shame and disgust that Peter felt within himself for having denied his Savior, a shame that very much tortured him until Christ appeared before the disciples after his resurrection.
But I don’t want us to focus solely on the denial made by Peter, but I want us to focus on what Jesus is in the process of accomplishing even with Peter’s faltering faith. Jesus is in the process of dying to save all of mankind. Not only is he dying to save mankind, but he’s dying to save sinful mankind. There’s not one of us that are not covered in sin. Peter, as the leader of the disciples, is no different than anyone else when it comes to sin. Christ died still for Peter and all mankind. He died for those who run from him, for those who betray him, for those who deny him. He knows the hideous things that we are capable of and that we are prone to do, yet he still died for us. Yes, we may stray and we may fall and fail at times, but Christ will never betray us. He will never betray those on whom he has set his love. He will love us and do so faithfully for all time. Rest easy in the love and promises of our Creator. Glory be to God; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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