1 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,760 Mark's Gospel, chapter 14, verse 43. 2 00:00:21,170 --> 00:00:24,630 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of 3 00:00:24,630 --> 00:00:25,550 the twelve, appeared. 4 00:00:26,430 --> 00:00:28,330 With him was a crowd armed with swords 5 00:00:28,330 --> 00:00:31,070 and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the 6 00:00:31,070 --> 00:00:32,490 teachers of the law, and the elders. 7 00:00:33,670 --> 00:00:35,770 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with 8 00:00:35,770 --> 00:00:37,770 them, the one I kiss is the man, 9 00:00:37,990 --> 00:00:40,310 arrest him and lead him away under guard. 10 00:00:41,290 --> 00:00:43,730 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Rabbi, 11 00:00:43,970 --> 00:00:44,650 and kissed him. 12 00:00:45,710 --> 00:00:47,930 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 13 00:00:48,830 --> 00:00:50,630 Then one of those standing near drew his 14 00:00:50,630 --> 00:00:52,430 sword and struck the servant of the high 15 00:00:52,430 --> 00:00:53,710 priest, cutting off his ear. 16 00:00:54,910 --> 00:00:57,330 Am I leading a rebellion, said Jesus, that 17 00:00:57,330 --> 00:00:58,930 you have come out with swords and clubs 18 00:00:58,930 --> 00:00:59,770 to capture me? 19 00:01:00,470 --> 00:01:02,010 Every day I was with you, teaching in 20 00:01:02,010 --> 00:01:03,629 the temple courts, and you did not arrest 21 00:01:03,629 --> 00:01:03,910 me. 22 00:01:04,530 --> 00:01:06,430 But the scriptures must be fulfilled. 23 00:01:07,430 --> 00:01:09,610 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 24 00:01:10,690 --> 00:01:12,470 A young man wearing nothing but a linen 25 00:01:12,470 --> 00:01:13,910 garment was following Jesus. 26 00:01:14,370 --> 00:01:17,650 When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving 27 00:01:17,650 --> 00:01:18,770 his garment behind. 28 00:01:20,330 --> 00:01:21,950 They took Jesus to the high priest, and 29 00:01:21,950 --> 00:01:24,850 all the chief priests, elders, and teachers of 30 00:01:24,850 --> 00:01:25,870 the law came together. 31 00:01:27,270 --> 00:01:29,290 Peter followed him at a distance, right into 32 00:01:29,290 --> 00:01:30,750 the courtyard of the high priest. 33 00:01:31,670 --> 00:01:33,290 There he sat with the guards and warned 34 00:01:33,290 --> 00:01:34,290 himself of the fire. 35 00:01:34,830 --> 00:01:37,390 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were 36 00:01:37,390 --> 00:01:39,310 looking for evidence against Jesus so they could 37 00:01:39,310 --> 00:01:41,090 put him to death, but they did not 38 00:01:41,090 --> 00:01:41,670 find any. 39 00:01:42,810 --> 00:01:45,550 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements 40 00:01:45,550 --> 00:01:46,370 did not agree. 41 00:01:47,670 --> 00:01:49,410 And some stood up and gave this false 42 00:01:49,410 --> 00:01:52,410 testimony against him, We have heard him say, 43 00:01:52,590 --> 00:01:54,470 I will destroy this man-made temple, and 44 00:01:54,470 --> 00:01:56,710 in three days we'll build another, not made 45 00:01:56,710 --> 00:01:57,330 by man. 46 00:01:58,230 --> 00:02:00,450 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 47 00:02:01,370 --> 00:02:03,370 Then the high priest stood up before them 48 00:02:03,370 --> 00:02:05,410 and asked Jesus, Are you not going to 49 00:02:05,410 --> 00:02:05,770 answer? 50 00:02:06,370 --> 00:02:08,270 What is this testimony that these men are 51 00:02:08,270 --> 00:02:09,229 bringing against you? 52 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:12,610 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. 53 00:02:13,410 --> 00:02:15,630 Again the high priest asked him, Are you 54 00:02:15,630 --> 00:02:17,950 the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? 55 00:02:18,790 --> 00:02:21,350 I am, said Jesus, and you will see 56 00:02:21,350 --> 00:02:23,170 the Son of Man standing at the right 57 00:02:23,170 --> 00:02:25,810 hand of the Mighty One and coming on 58 00:02:25,810 --> 00:02:26,890 the clouds of heaven. 59 00:02:26,890 --> 00:02:30,110 Then the high priest tore his clothes. 60 00:02:30,650 --> 00:02:32,310 Why do we need any more witnesses, he 61 00:02:32,310 --> 00:02:32,690 asked? 62 00:02:33,370 --> 00:02:34,850 You have heard the blasphemy. 63 00:02:35,070 --> 00:02:35,850 What do you think? 64 00:02:37,030 --> 00:02:39,590 They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 00:02:40,710 --> 00:02:42,570 And some began to spit at him. 66 00:02:43,090 --> 00:02:45,750 They blindfolded him, struck him with their fists 67 00:02:45,750 --> 00:02:46,650 and said, Prophesy. 68 00:02:47,770 --> 00:02:49,670 And the guards took him and beat him. 69 00:02:51,190 --> 00:02:53,610 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one 70 00:02:53,610 --> 00:02:55,290 of the servant girls of the high priest 71 00:02:55,290 --> 00:02:55,970 came by. 72 00:02:56,350 --> 00:02:59,070 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked 73 00:02:59,070 --> 00:02:59,950 closely at him. 74 00:03:00,470 --> 00:03:04,130 You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus, she 75 00:03:04,130 --> 00:03:06,110 said, but he denied it. 76 00:03:06,530 --> 00:03:08,390 I don't know or understand what you're talking 77 00:03:08,390 --> 00:03:09,930 about, he said, and went out into the 78 00:03:09,930 --> 00:03:10,970 entryway. 79 00:03:11,910 --> 00:03:14,090 When the servant girl saw him there, she 80 00:03:14,090 --> 00:03:16,170 said again to those standing around, This fellow 81 00:03:16,170 --> 00:03:16,830 is one of them. 82 00:03:17,470 --> 00:03:18,810 Again he denied it. 83 00:03:19,530 --> 00:03:21,410 After a little while, those standing near said 84 00:03:21,410 --> 00:03:23,670 to Peter, Surely you are one of them, 85 00:03:23,930 --> 00:03:25,030 for you are Galilean. 86 00:03:25,670 --> 00:03:27,890 He began to call down curses on himself 87 00:03:27,890 --> 00:03:29,890 and he swore to them, I don't know 88 00:03:29,890 --> 00:03:31,290 this man you're talking about. 89 00:03:32,330 --> 00:03:34,590 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. 90 00:03:35,410 --> 00:03:37,550 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken 91 00:03:37,550 --> 00:03:38,090 to him. 92 00:03:38,710 --> 00:03:42,030 Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown 93 00:03:42,030 --> 00:03:43,010 me three times. 94 00:03:43,970 --> 00:03:45,450 And he broke down and wept. 95 00:03:46,730 --> 00:03:48,050 This is the word of the Lord. 96 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,380 Now let me twin to that reading that 97 00:03:55,380 --> 00:04:00,240 you already had so feelingfully brought before you, 98 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:06,880 a few verses from Peter, 1 Peter in 99 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:14,700 chapter 1, in which Peter makes some reference 100 00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:18,860 to trials and difficulty, and I imagine he's 101 00:04:18,860 --> 00:04:21,800 speaking somewhat autobiographically because he himself has known 102 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:25,080 the same, and he's addressing his remarks, Peter 103 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,480 also being the man who's behind Mark's gospels, 104 00:04:27,580 --> 00:04:29,540 so you're really drawing from the inspiration under 105 00:04:29,540 --> 00:04:31,840 the Holy Spirit of the same man for 106 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:34,400 these epistles and also for the gospel. 107 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,580 And he's addressing a readership that is going 108 00:04:37,580 --> 00:04:41,080 through great problems, great trials, like in Iran 109 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,340 today, we're asked to focus our attention worldwide 110 00:04:44,340 --> 00:04:46,700 on the situation in Iran where you've got 111 00:04:46,700 --> 00:04:51,620 50 million or so people tucked away, often 112 00:04:51,620 --> 00:04:55,080 unreached, often unheard of in terms of their 113 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:59,700 needs in the world, especially the tiny Christian 114 00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:04,220 minority that endures such suffering and hardship. 115 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,060 Well, speaking of hardship, this is what Peter 116 00:05:07,060 --> 00:05:08,880 says in the sixth verse, in this, this 117 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,200 is 1 Peter 1, in this you greatly 118 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,380 rejoice, though now for a little while you 119 00:05:15,380 --> 00:05:18,000 may have had to suffer grief in all 120 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,080 kinds of trials. 121 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,960 These have come so that your faith of 122 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:27,040 greater worth than gold which perishes, even though 123 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:32,280 refined by fire, may be proved genuine and 124 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:36,800 may result in praise, glory, and honor when 125 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,840 Jesus Christ is revealed. 126 00:05:39,740 --> 00:05:41,820 Though you have not seen him, you love 127 00:05:41,820 --> 00:05:44,420 him, and even though you do not see 128 00:05:44,420 --> 00:05:46,320 him now, you believe in him and are 129 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:51,400 filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 130 00:05:52,460 --> 00:05:56,400 And then still speaking somewhat biographically, Peter at 131 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,880 the end of this epistle says in the 132 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:04,540 fifth verse, fifth chapter, eighth verse, be self 133 00:06:04,540 --> 00:06:05,760 -controlled and alert. 134 00:06:07,020 --> 00:06:09,520 Your enemy the devil prowls around like a 135 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,600 roaring lion looking for someone to devour, but 136 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,860 you shall not resist him, standing firm in 137 00:06:14,860 --> 00:06:17,700 the faith, because you know that your brothers 138 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:20,880 throughout the world are undergoing the same kind 139 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,160 of sufferings, and the God of all grace, 140 00:06:23,980 --> 00:06:26,740 who called you to his eternal glory in 141 00:06:26,740 --> 00:06:29,000 Christ, after you have suffered a little while, 142 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,380 will himself restore you and make you strong, 143 00:06:34,220 --> 00:06:36,600 firm, and steadfast. 144 00:06:36,700 --> 00:06:39,660 To him be the power forever and ever. 145 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:41,020 Amen. 146 00:06:41,020 --> 00:06:45,020 Well, let's go back to Mark's gospel and 147 00:06:45,020 --> 00:06:48,800 to those very fascinating verses tucked away at 148 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,060 the end of the fourteenth chapter. 149 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:01,040 As always, I try, along with my colleague 150 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,700 Tim, in the grace of God, to explain 151 00:07:04,700 --> 00:07:06,600 to you what the word of the Lord, 152 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,960 the Bible actually says, that's the task of 153 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:11,860 the preacher and those of you who home 154 00:07:11,860 --> 00:07:14,300 in here regularly on a Sunday know that 155 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:16,460 we're working our way through and coming to 156 00:07:16,460 --> 00:07:19,460 the conclusion of the life of Jesus as 157 00:07:19,460 --> 00:07:22,520 told in this wonderful gospel. 158 00:07:23,500 --> 00:07:27,780 And from the fifty-third verse and onwards, 159 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,240 we come to a particular passage in this 160 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,440 fourteenth chapter which speaks, if you please, of 161 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:35,120 trials. 162 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:37,980 It is the way of faith to be 163 00:07:37,980 --> 00:07:38,480 tested. 164 00:07:39,460 --> 00:07:44,520 The testing of your discipleship will clarify what 165 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:49,120 you believe, it will focus it more clearly 166 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,860 and what's more, it will toughen you. 167 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,820 Somebody has said that the trials of life 168 00:07:55,820 --> 00:08:01,440 are sent to make us better and not 169 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:02,540 bitter. 170 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,960 Another Puritan preacher says that the rod that 171 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:14,840 strikes is often better for us than the 172 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,720 staff which comforts. 173 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,260 Well, let's consider this passage. 174 00:08:22,620 --> 00:08:24,460 You see, it has a lot to do 175 00:08:24,460 --> 00:08:27,340 about trials, but you can work that word 176 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:30,920 trial through with two particular connotations. 177 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,080 There is a sense in which your faith 178 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,440 is always being tried, you're always on display. 179 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,480 People, whether you recognize it or not, assuming 180 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,020 that you profess to be Christians are examining 181 00:08:45,020 --> 00:08:48,020 your life and therefore there is a sense 182 00:08:48,020 --> 00:08:50,480 in which you're always being tested. 183 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:53,320 And I want to suggest that in that 184 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,820 general sense of the word, it's helpful for 185 00:08:56,820 --> 00:08:59,100 you to come to the narrative between the 186 00:08:59,100 --> 00:09:04,220 fifty-third and the sixty-fifth verses of 187 00:09:04,220 --> 00:09:07,180 this chapter, because here is our beloved Lord, 188 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:08,860 if you please, on trial. 189 00:09:09,740 --> 00:09:12,520 They're testing His faith, they're testing His mettle. 190 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,980 So if you like, it's interpreting that word 191 00:09:17,980 --> 00:09:19,040 circumstantially. 192 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:21,660 I'll fill in the details in just a 193 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:21,820 moment. 194 00:09:22,680 --> 00:09:25,860 But then when you come to the, I 195 00:09:25,860 --> 00:09:32,920 said as far as the sixty-third verse 196 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,080 is concerned, I really meant to say that 197 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:40,460 our Lord is being tested, He's being tested 198 00:09:40,460 --> 00:09:44,280 as far as His circumstances are concerned from 199 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,740 the fifty-third verse. 200 00:09:47,220 --> 00:09:51,660 And then after that, you will find that 201 00:09:51,660 --> 00:09:58,340 the Apostle Peter is also being tested and 202 00:09:58,340 --> 00:10:02,540 tried in a legal sense from the sixty 203 00:10:02,540 --> 00:10:05,260 -sixth verse and onwards. 204 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,180 But let's go back to the forty-third, 205 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,020 for here is our Lord and He's been 206 00:10:12,020 --> 00:10:15,660 arrested and He's been taken in front of 207 00:10:15,660 --> 00:10:18,160 the high priest, or at least He ultimately 208 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:18,940 will be. 209 00:10:19,620 --> 00:10:21,620 But at the point of His arrest, as 210 00:10:21,620 --> 00:10:24,600 I suggest that generally speaking, in understanding the 211 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,660 word generally, He's on trial, there are certain 212 00:10:27,660 --> 00:10:32,080 things that He brings to your attention by 213 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:34,560 the way that He reacts to the problems 214 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:35,940 that are in front of Him. 215 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:42,080 You see, what's happening here is our Lord 216 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,660 is coming towards the end of His human 217 00:10:45,660 --> 00:10:50,020 life in terms of leading up to the 218 00:10:50,020 --> 00:10:50,480 cross. 219 00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:53,780 And from the forty-third verse and onwards, 220 00:10:53,940 --> 00:10:57,100 you are introduced to what is called the 221 00:10:57,100 --> 00:10:58,160 passion narrative. 222 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:01,480 It was probably a narrative that circulated for 223 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:06,760 a while independently of the rest of Mark's 224 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,460 gospel, and when Mark was writing his gospel, 225 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:15,500 he drew this narrative into the main gospel 226 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:16,740 that he's writing. 227 00:11:17,260 --> 00:11:19,360 And therefore in the forty-third verse, you 228 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,180 see as he's quoting, an explanation is made 229 00:11:22,180 --> 00:11:23,540 about Judas, one of the twelve. 230 00:11:23,540 --> 00:11:24,800 We know that he's one of the twelve, 231 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,120 but well, this is an incorporation into the 232 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:28,620 narrative. 233 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:32,460 And Mark is showing you how our Lord 234 00:11:32,460 --> 00:11:36,700 Jesus, as He is arrested in these incidents 235 00:11:36,700 --> 00:11:39,700 that follow in the garden of Gethsemane, is 236 00:11:39,700 --> 00:11:41,740 in that general sense on trial. 237 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:43,900 He's going to be specifically on trial from 238 00:11:43,900 --> 00:11:44,820 the fifty-third verse. 239 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,860 But here I'm suggesting to you that the 240 00:11:47,860 --> 00:11:50,460 way in which things are happening to Him 241 00:11:50,460 --> 00:11:54,540 at that point is also a test as 242 00:11:54,540 --> 00:11:57,440 to who He is and how He will 243 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,000 cope with the problems that have come His 244 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:01,380 way. 245 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:03,820 You see, earlier on, you recall in the 246 00:12:03,820 --> 00:12:06,120 garden of Gethsemane, He's prayed, Father, let this 247 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:07,140 cup pass from me. 248 00:12:08,020 --> 00:12:09,380 And it doesn't pass. 249 00:12:10,260 --> 00:12:11,380 It can't pass. 250 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,260 It's within the purposes of God for the 251 00:12:14,260 --> 00:12:16,240 Son of Man, look at verse forty-one, 252 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,480 to be betrayed and handed into the hands 253 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:20,620 of sinners. 254 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,880 And so, from this forty-third verse through 255 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,840 to the fifty-second, what you get is 256 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,220 a picture of Jesus responding, I say, to 257 00:12:31,220 --> 00:12:35,460 the general trial, responding to His circumstances. 258 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,460 And you can start to analyze something of 259 00:12:39,460 --> 00:12:42,200 what He's going through in these words. 260 00:12:43,060 --> 00:12:44,660 First of all, He has to cope with 261 00:12:44,660 --> 00:12:45,700 the trial of treachery. 262 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:48,480 That's what it says in verse forty-three, 263 00:12:48,580 --> 00:12:50,580 Judas, one of the twelve, appeared. 264 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:54,960 Verse forty-four, now Judas, the betrayer, had 265 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,140 arranged a signal with those who've come to 266 00:12:58,140 --> 00:13:00,240 arrest Jesus. 267 00:13:01,420 --> 00:13:03,180 It must have been quite a temptation for 268 00:13:03,180 --> 00:13:03,880 our Lord, don't you think? 269 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,760 I mean, He knew all the time that 270 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,300 one of the twelve who was with Him 271 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:13,920 would ultimately deal treacherously. 272 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,820 But Jesus is human as well as divine. 273 00:13:19,820 --> 00:13:25,700 I mean, if David was hurt by the 274 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:31,760 treachery of his son Absalom, will not Jesus 275 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:35,500 also be hurt by the treachery of Judas? 276 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,780 So I'm putting to you that here you're 277 00:13:40,780 --> 00:13:44,300 beginning to get an example of a trial 278 00:13:44,300 --> 00:13:46,580 in its general sense. 279 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,860 Now, if the disciples of our Lord had 280 00:13:51,860 --> 00:13:56,620 obeyed His express instructions, they would have known 281 00:13:56,620 --> 00:14:00,620 that when He was arrested, there was going 282 00:14:00,620 --> 00:14:05,240 to be no forceful attempt whatsoever permitted to 283 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,920 be made to rescue Him from His predicament. 284 00:14:10,180 --> 00:14:12,540 But not only is our Lord tried in 285 00:14:12,540 --> 00:14:15,500 terms of treachery, He's tried in terms of 286 00:14:15,500 --> 00:14:16,400 immaturity. 287 00:14:18,490 --> 00:14:22,740 Look at the forty-seventh verse, and you'll 288 00:14:22,740 --> 00:14:26,400 find John's gospel will identify the person who's 289 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:26,980 involved. 290 00:14:27,860 --> 00:14:31,320 One of those standing near, Peter, draws his 291 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,200 sword and strikes the servant of the high 292 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:34,500 priest. 293 00:14:35,580 --> 00:14:39,460 And in so doing, he endangers the whole 294 00:14:39,460 --> 00:14:43,640 of our Lord's ministry, who has been teaching 295 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,460 His disciples that the kingdom that He's going 296 00:14:46,460 --> 00:14:49,440 to bring in is one that is not 297 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,500 to be taken by way of military might. 298 00:14:54,540 --> 00:14:57,600 And for Peter to blunder in such a 299 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,180 way as this is going to be a 300 00:14:59,180 --> 00:15:00,020 trial to Jesus. 301 00:15:00,020 --> 00:15:05,910 The last miracle that Jesus performed on earth 302 00:15:05,910 --> 00:15:13,070 before His crucifixion was to undo the mischief 303 00:15:13,070 --> 00:15:18,390 caused by an insensitive, overzealous act on the 304 00:15:18,390 --> 00:15:20,110 part of Peter. 305 00:15:21,350 --> 00:15:25,890 And our Lord has to cope, I say, 306 00:15:25,990 --> 00:15:30,270 with this particular burden or trial. 307 00:15:32,230 --> 00:15:35,410 And what is more, when He starts to 308 00:15:35,410 --> 00:15:38,470 look at those who've come to arrest Him, 309 00:15:39,610 --> 00:15:41,070 He finds that they're perverse. 310 00:15:42,610 --> 00:15:45,470 There's a crowd armed with swords and clubs. 311 00:15:45,470 --> 00:15:48,890 Look at verse 43, sent from the chief 312 00:15:48,890 --> 00:15:49,490 priests. 313 00:15:50,630 --> 00:15:55,350 Now this to our Savior was a perversion 314 00:15:55,350 --> 00:15:58,590 in terms of justice and human behavior. 315 00:16:00,630 --> 00:16:04,470 They come to Him at night, and yet 316 00:16:04,470 --> 00:16:07,610 He says as He responds to this arrest, 317 00:16:08,510 --> 00:16:10,490 am I leading a rebellion? 318 00:16:11,230 --> 00:16:14,390 Verse 48, that you've come out with swords 319 00:16:14,390 --> 00:16:16,250 and clubs to capture me? 320 00:16:17,330 --> 00:16:19,950 Every day I was with you teaching in 321 00:16:19,950 --> 00:16:20,370 the temple. 322 00:16:21,590 --> 00:16:23,290 You come at night, I've been with you 323 00:16:23,290 --> 00:16:23,850 in the day. 324 00:16:25,110 --> 00:16:27,570 And what's more, you're not representatives of the 325 00:16:27,570 --> 00:16:30,510 Roman occupying force, I've been with you in 326 00:16:30,510 --> 00:16:31,450 the temporal area. 327 00:16:31,810 --> 00:16:33,970 Therefore by pure logic our Lord is inserting 328 00:16:33,970 --> 00:16:36,910 thereof the stock of Abraham. 329 00:16:36,910 --> 00:16:43,910 Oh, the perversity of coming armed to the 330 00:16:43,910 --> 00:16:48,570 teeth to arrest a man who is unarmed. 331 00:16:50,390 --> 00:16:56,830 The insults which are directed towards our Lord 332 00:16:56,830 --> 00:17:03,930 Jesus, treachery on the part of Judas, immaturity 333 00:17:03,930 --> 00:17:08,710 on the part of Peter, perversity on the 334 00:17:08,710 --> 00:17:10,510 part of the arresting gang. 335 00:17:11,990 --> 00:17:15,290 And then there is the temerity of His 336 00:17:15,290 --> 00:17:15,750 disciples. 337 00:17:15,950 --> 00:17:17,530 Look at verse 51 as an example. 338 00:17:19,430 --> 00:17:21,750 Now admittedly when you come to verse 51 339 00:17:21,750 --> 00:17:25,710 you've got some interesting reasoning in which you 340 00:17:25,710 --> 00:17:26,369 can engage. 341 00:17:27,710 --> 00:17:30,810 The reference is to a young man, wearing 342 00:17:30,810 --> 00:17:33,810 nothing but a linen garment, who has been 343 00:17:33,810 --> 00:17:34,690 following Jesus. 344 00:17:36,090 --> 00:17:38,190 When they seized him this young man flees 345 00:17:38,190 --> 00:17:39,850 naked, leaving his garment behind. 346 00:17:41,410 --> 00:17:44,110 Who this young man is, is a tantalizing 347 00:17:44,110 --> 00:17:44,570 question. 348 00:17:45,530 --> 00:17:48,630 I think that all the evidence seems to 349 00:17:48,630 --> 00:17:50,930 indicate that this is John Mark, the one 350 00:17:50,930 --> 00:17:53,750 who actually wrote the gospel, who acted, if 351 00:17:53,750 --> 00:17:55,050 you please, as Peter's secretary. 352 00:17:57,410 --> 00:18:02,210 John Mark, he was living in Jerusalem. 353 00:18:02,590 --> 00:18:05,050 It seems that he came from a family 354 00:18:05,050 --> 00:18:08,890 that was quite wealthy, who probably allowed the 355 00:18:08,890 --> 00:18:11,230 Lord Jesus and the disciples the use of 356 00:18:11,230 --> 00:18:11,950 the upper room. 357 00:18:13,850 --> 00:18:16,910 With the curiosity of maybe someone not much 358 00:18:16,910 --> 00:18:20,290 more than a teenager, he has witnessed what 359 00:18:20,290 --> 00:18:23,570 happened in the garden of Gethsemane and he's 360 00:18:23,570 --> 00:18:26,210 actually stole into the inner part of the 361 00:18:26,210 --> 00:18:26,510 garden. 362 00:18:28,490 --> 00:18:31,350 But when all this happens in terms of 363 00:18:31,350 --> 00:18:33,750 the arrest of the Lord Jesus, terror strikes 364 00:18:33,750 --> 00:18:35,670 his heart as it struck the heart of 365 00:18:35,670 --> 00:18:37,670 the rest of the disciples and he flees 366 00:18:37,670 --> 00:18:38,910 away naked. 367 00:18:40,370 --> 00:18:42,350 Now Lord Jesus is left on His own. 368 00:18:43,290 --> 00:18:47,330 You see, He's being tried, not in terms 369 00:18:47,330 --> 00:18:53,490 of jurisprudence, but in terms of circumstances. 370 00:18:55,210 --> 00:18:58,870 And I repeat my argument that you are 371 00:18:58,870 --> 00:19:01,510 always being tried for your faith in terms 372 00:19:01,510 --> 00:19:04,810 of how you react to your present circumstances. 373 00:19:07,410 --> 00:19:11,230 Someone has said that God at times allows 374 00:19:11,230 --> 00:19:13,230 His children to go to bed in the 375 00:19:13,230 --> 00:19:13,690 dark. 376 00:19:15,130 --> 00:19:16,130 What did they mean? 377 00:19:17,510 --> 00:19:20,770 Well, you can't always understand what God allows 378 00:19:20,770 --> 00:19:22,250 at a particular point. 379 00:19:24,150 --> 00:19:26,330 He'll ask you to trust Him when you 380 00:19:26,330 --> 00:19:27,050 cannot trace Him. 381 00:19:28,250 --> 00:19:32,430 When you have worked out a certain course 382 00:19:32,430 --> 00:19:34,390 of events that are going to happen, you 383 00:19:34,390 --> 00:19:36,990 believe in the benevolence of God and they 384 00:19:36,990 --> 00:19:39,550 don't work through in that particular order. 385 00:19:41,590 --> 00:19:43,750 Then I put to you in the name 386 00:19:43,750 --> 00:19:45,910 of God, He's trying you. 387 00:19:47,230 --> 00:19:48,550 He's testing your faith. 388 00:19:49,870 --> 00:19:53,830 He wants to focus your faith more clearly. 389 00:19:54,650 --> 00:19:56,690 He wants to strengthen it. 390 00:19:58,010 --> 00:20:02,090 The trials of life are not, I repeat, 391 00:20:02,330 --> 00:20:05,390 directed to you by God, allowed by God 392 00:20:05,390 --> 00:20:07,530 to make you bitter but to make you 393 00:20:07,530 --> 00:20:07,870 better. 394 00:20:09,910 --> 00:20:13,790 And here is our beloved Lord in those 395 00:20:13,790 --> 00:20:16,550 opening verses of the narrative that commands our 396 00:20:16,550 --> 00:20:21,570 attention from the 43rd and down to the 397 00:20:21,570 --> 00:20:27,630 52nd, being, if you please, tried by the 398 00:20:27,630 --> 00:20:30,930 circumstances that befall Him. 399 00:20:31,750 --> 00:20:35,510 So I argue there is a general trial. 400 00:20:37,230 --> 00:20:39,590 But let's move to the 53rd verse and 401 00:20:39,590 --> 00:20:42,270 onwards, if I've cleared up having given you 402 00:20:42,270 --> 00:20:45,790 the wrong verses right at the very beginning, 403 00:20:45,990 --> 00:20:48,210 the configuration of my pulpit Bible is a 404 00:20:48,210 --> 00:20:51,330 little different from the personal Bible that I 405 00:20:51,330 --> 00:20:56,430 use, thus my mistake right at the outset. 406 00:20:57,350 --> 00:20:59,870 But when you come to the 53rd verse, 407 00:21:01,010 --> 00:21:05,170 then you get the introduction of our Lord 408 00:21:05,170 --> 00:21:08,090 Jesus Christ to the Jewish Sanhedrin. 409 00:21:08,670 --> 00:21:12,690 And if you like, there commences the legal 410 00:21:12,690 --> 00:21:13,150 trial. 411 00:21:15,410 --> 00:21:19,610 But if you've read very carefully what follows 412 00:21:19,610 --> 00:21:23,170 after the description of our Lord before the 413 00:21:23,170 --> 00:21:27,110 Sanhedrin and you focus your attention on Peter 414 00:21:27,110 --> 00:21:32,350 and the circumstances that fall out in his 415 00:21:32,350 --> 00:21:36,370 career at this stage, you will find that 416 00:21:36,370 --> 00:21:38,770 it's not just Jesus who is on trial 417 00:21:38,770 --> 00:21:40,990 but also Peter who is on trial. 418 00:21:42,910 --> 00:21:45,410 Now Mark is very interesting in the way 419 00:21:45,410 --> 00:21:46,630 that he writes this narrative. 420 00:21:47,950 --> 00:21:50,370 He engages in what I would call flashback. 421 00:21:51,530 --> 00:21:53,450 In other words, he has two cameras and 422 00:21:53,450 --> 00:21:55,610 they're both rolling at the same time because 423 00:21:55,610 --> 00:21:57,970 he wants you to see that there are 424 00:21:57,970 --> 00:22:01,390 concurrent incidents that have to be interpreted, the 425 00:22:01,390 --> 00:22:02,970 one stacked against the other. 426 00:22:03,970 --> 00:22:04,710 You say, what do you mean? 427 00:22:04,770 --> 00:22:08,230 Well, look at verse 53, our Lord having 428 00:22:08,230 --> 00:22:10,570 gone through what I've called this general trial 429 00:22:10,570 --> 00:22:14,090 in the garden of Gethsemane, starting to drink 430 00:22:14,090 --> 00:22:16,390 something of the contents of the cup which 431 00:22:16,390 --> 00:22:20,290 is so unacceptable to him, is then carted 432 00:22:20,290 --> 00:22:24,110 off into the high priest's lair. 433 00:22:24,110 --> 00:22:28,270 Ah yes, but the camera zooms in on 434 00:22:28,270 --> 00:22:28,550 Peter. 435 00:22:29,910 --> 00:22:34,410 Peter followed him at a distance right into 436 00:22:34,410 --> 00:22:37,170 the courtyard of the high priest. 437 00:22:37,910 --> 00:22:40,090 Look at verse 66. 438 00:22:41,070 --> 00:22:42,610 Again, you get the same idea of the 439 00:22:42,610 --> 00:22:43,230 flashback. 440 00:22:44,050 --> 00:22:45,970 You see, Mark goes on to describe Jesus 441 00:22:45,970 --> 00:22:50,010 in the courtroom of the high priest, but 442 00:22:50,010 --> 00:22:52,670 then he comes and at the same time 443 00:22:52,670 --> 00:22:55,190 shows you what is happening to Peter. 444 00:22:55,590 --> 00:22:57,830 Peter was below in the courtyard. 445 00:22:59,210 --> 00:23:01,710 So I'm arguing you've actually got two trials 446 00:23:01,710 --> 00:23:02,070 here. 447 00:23:03,270 --> 00:23:07,130 There is the trial of Jesus, the legal 448 00:23:07,130 --> 00:23:11,190 trial of Jesus in the upper room, one 449 00:23:11,190 --> 00:23:15,750 of the balcony rooms of the courthouse, and 450 00:23:15,750 --> 00:23:17,810 there's the trial of Peter in the courtyard. 451 00:23:19,350 --> 00:23:24,990 In the courtroom, lies of false witnesses will 452 00:23:24,990 --> 00:23:26,310 be directed towards Jesus. 453 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:32,250 In the courtyard, there will be the sarcastic 454 00:23:32,250 --> 00:23:38,610 laugh of a mocking servant girl directed towards 455 00:23:38,610 --> 00:23:40,090 Peter. 456 00:23:41,210 --> 00:23:44,570 Jesus will take an oath within. 457 00:23:45,590 --> 00:23:49,290 Peter will take an oath without. 458 00:23:50,990 --> 00:23:53,550 Jesus is on trial by the professionals. 459 00:23:54,710 --> 00:23:57,570 Peter is on trial by the amateurs. 460 00:23:59,850 --> 00:24:02,010 Jesus will be judged by the lawyers. 461 00:24:03,890 --> 00:24:06,790 Peter will be judged by the laity. 462 00:24:07,690 --> 00:24:12,330 But mark this, both Jesus and Peter have 463 00:24:12,330 --> 00:24:17,410 in common, they are under scrutiny. 464 00:24:18,770 --> 00:24:20,470 Now you see how the whole of this 465 00:24:20,470 --> 00:24:22,670 narrative remarkably links together. 466 00:24:23,270 --> 00:24:26,390 I repeat in the first part, here is 467 00:24:26,390 --> 00:24:28,930 the illustration of Jesus responding in the garden 468 00:24:28,930 --> 00:24:31,270 of Gethsemane to the testings and the trials 469 00:24:31,270 --> 00:24:32,090 of the arrest. 470 00:24:32,970 --> 00:24:35,650 Here in the 53rd verse, you get the 471 00:24:35,650 --> 00:24:38,850 story of Jesus responding to his so-called 472 00:24:38,850 --> 00:24:44,690 legal trial, and you get Peter described as 473 00:24:44,690 --> 00:24:51,150 coping with the trial that's his on the 474 00:24:51,150 --> 00:24:57,510 part of lay people putting questions to him. 475 00:24:59,390 --> 00:25:05,190 So, let's follow our beloved Lord into what 476 00:25:05,190 --> 00:25:07,870 I call the lair of the high priest. 477 00:25:09,050 --> 00:25:11,330 Actually, what has happened is there's been an 478 00:25:11,330 --> 00:25:13,990 unofficial calling together of the Sanhedrin. 479 00:25:14,990 --> 00:25:17,870 The Sanhedrin is the Jewish equivalent to the 480 00:25:17,870 --> 00:25:18,530 Old Bailey. 481 00:25:21,190 --> 00:25:24,790 The Sadducees will be there, referred to here 482 00:25:24,790 --> 00:25:26,890 in verse 53 in terms of the high 483 00:25:26,890 --> 00:25:28,310 priest and all the chief priests. 484 00:25:30,730 --> 00:25:35,110 The elders will be there, that is the 485 00:25:35,110 --> 00:25:39,030 Pharisees, and the teachers of the law, the 486 00:25:39,030 --> 00:25:39,710 scribes. 487 00:25:41,270 --> 00:25:45,490 Seventy men will come, and in a semicircle 488 00:25:45,490 --> 00:25:48,050 they will face the Lord Jesus, he being 489 00:25:48,050 --> 00:25:53,010 in the center, and they will ply him 490 00:25:53,010 --> 00:25:54,730 with questions. 491 00:25:57,550 --> 00:25:59,750 I refer to it as a legal trial, 492 00:25:59,910 --> 00:26:02,530 but actually it's an illustration of a flagrant 493 00:26:02,530 --> 00:26:03,850 miscarriage of justice. 494 00:26:06,670 --> 00:26:11,030 You see, these men who want to assess 495 00:26:11,030 --> 00:26:13,050 our Lord Jesus have actually made up their 496 00:26:13,050 --> 00:26:16,130 minds before the whole procedure of the trial 497 00:26:16,130 --> 00:26:18,510 begins, that's why I call it a farce. 498 00:26:20,410 --> 00:26:24,390 Look at verse 55, they were coming together 499 00:26:24,390 --> 00:26:27,150 looking for evidence against Jesus. 500 00:26:28,010 --> 00:26:30,210 In other words, they had prejudged the whole 501 00:26:30,210 --> 00:26:30,470 issue. 502 00:26:31,390 --> 00:26:35,310 Our Lord never had a fair trial. 503 00:26:36,830 --> 00:26:38,790 But it wasn't that easy for them to 504 00:26:38,790 --> 00:26:40,970 get witnesses that were all saying the same 505 00:26:40,970 --> 00:26:41,290 thing. 506 00:26:42,830 --> 00:26:46,190 The very pieces of silver which have bribed 507 00:26:46,190 --> 00:26:51,350 Judas no doubt were also being offered to 508 00:26:51,350 --> 00:26:54,350 people who were in the area of the 509 00:26:54,350 --> 00:26:56,770 palace of the high priest in order to 510 00:26:56,770 --> 00:27:00,770 come forward and to give testimony against Jesus. 511 00:27:02,650 --> 00:27:04,430 One of the things about trying to get 512 00:27:04,430 --> 00:27:06,250 people to lie is that you cannot get 513 00:27:06,250 --> 00:27:07,390 them to lie consistently. 514 00:27:09,770 --> 00:27:11,630 That's one of the reasons why if evidence 515 00:27:11,630 --> 00:27:13,290 is ever given at a law court and 516 00:27:13,290 --> 00:27:15,970 everyone is saying the same thing, any magistrate 517 00:27:15,970 --> 00:27:18,670 worthy of his name, her name, knows that 518 00:27:18,670 --> 00:27:24,010 there has been connivance because any reputable evidence 519 00:27:24,010 --> 00:27:28,830 about an incident given by one, two, three, 520 00:27:28,890 --> 00:27:30,850 or four people will always have their nuances 521 00:27:30,850 --> 00:27:33,770 of difference because everyone sees something from a 522 00:27:33,770 --> 00:27:34,470 different angle. 523 00:27:35,850 --> 00:27:37,910 And here the priests are in great difficulty, 524 00:27:38,050 --> 00:27:41,150 the evidence comes forward but they cancel one 525 00:27:41,150 --> 00:27:41,910 another out. 526 00:27:44,030 --> 00:27:47,250 Many testified falsely against him but their statements 527 00:27:47,250 --> 00:27:48,010 did not agree. 528 00:27:50,350 --> 00:27:54,110 Then somebody stood up and gave this sort 529 00:27:54,110 --> 00:27:55,250 of comment. 530 00:27:55,670 --> 00:27:55,850 We. 531 00:27:56,790 --> 00:27:59,370 We heard him say, I will destroy this 532 00:27:59,370 --> 00:28:01,510 man-made temple and in three days we'll 533 00:28:01,510 --> 00:28:03,990 build another not made by man. 534 00:28:06,390 --> 00:28:08,930 And now the half truth is always worse 535 00:28:08,930 --> 00:28:09,490 than a lie. 536 00:28:12,170 --> 00:28:13,910 Half of the truth was that Jesus had 537 00:28:13,910 --> 00:28:15,070 made reference to the temple. 538 00:28:15,930 --> 00:28:17,890 Right at the very beginning of his ministry 539 00:28:17,890 --> 00:28:19,770 and towards the end of his ministry. 540 00:28:21,050 --> 00:28:23,110 But you didn't really need to have much 541 00:28:23,110 --> 00:28:25,010 common sense to appreciate that when he was 542 00:28:25,010 --> 00:28:27,470 talking about the temple he was referring to 543 00:28:27,470 --> 00:28:28,030 his body. 544 00:28:28,730 --> 00:28:31,730 He was in the temple area, but he 545 00:28:31,730 --> 00:28:34,290 was actually referring to the temple of his 546 00:28:34,290 --> 00:28:34,650 body. 547 00:28:35,650 --> 00:28:37,870 And when he made reference to the temple 548 00:28:37,870 --> 00:28:41,110 being destroyed, even if he had been referring 549 00:28:41,110 --> 00:28:44,690 specifically to the physical temple, he didn't do 550 00:28:44,690 --> 00:28:47,070 so in the language that is here used 551 00:28:47,070 --> 00:28:47,750 in this court. 552 00:28:48,850 --> 00:28:51,070 There is no occasion when Jesus right at 553 00:28:51,070 --> 00:28:53,110 the beginning of his ministry or at the 554 00:28:53,110 --> 00:28:56,030 end of his ministry spoke of himself destroying 555 00:28:56,030 --> 00:28:56,530 the temple. 556 00:28:57,890 --> 00:29:01,170 He spoke rather of finding the temple in 557 00:29:01,170 --> 00:29:02,310 a state of dissolution. 558 00:29:04,230 --> 00:29:06,350 And they would see what he would do 559 00:29:06,350 --> 00:29:11,750 when his body is handed over to the 560 00:29:11,750 --> 00:29:14,190 charge of those who will deal damnably with 561 00:29:14,190 --> 00:29:14,690 him. 562 00:29:15,830 --> 00:29:18,570 Though it is destroyed on the third day, 563 00:29:18,710 --> 00:29:21,190 it will be raised again. 564 00:29:22,110 --> 00:29:24,130 But as I say, the evidence is perverted. 565 00:29:25,730 --> 00:29:27,730 This is just another indication of the trial 566 00:29:27,730 --> 00:29:29,450 that our Lord had to go through. 567 00:29:30,850 --> 00:29:33,750 But not only that, you find that the 568 00:29:33,750 --> 00:29:35,490 high priest who by this time is getting 569 00:29:35,490 --> 00:29:38,290 a little bit miffed, he speaks to the 570 00:29:38,290 --> 00:29:38,850 Lord Jesus. 571 00:29:39,770 --> 00:29:42,110 He suggests that the case is watertight, knowing 572 00:29:42,110 --> 00:29:44,190 full well that it's riddled with illogicality. 573 00:29:44,990 --> 00:29:46,090 Are you not going to answer? 574 00:29:46,090 --> 00:29:48,830 What is this testimony that these men are 575 00:29:48,830 --> 00:29:49,810 bringing against you? 576 00:29:51,850 --> 00:29:53,730 Well, a downright lie does not have to 577 00:29:53,730 --> 00:29:55,970 be argued with by truth. 578 00:29:56,110 --> 00:29:59,150 Truth will always remain intact and stand on 579 00:29:59,150 --> 00:29:59,570 its own. 580 00:29:59,670 --> 00:30:01,250 So Jesus remains silent. 581 00:30:01,410 --> 00:30:02,450 There is no case to answer. 582 00:30:05,150 --> 00:30:07,590 Now the interesting thing about our beloved Lord 583 00:30:07,590 --> 00:30:08,970 is that one of the charges that were 584 00:30:08,970 --> 00:30:11,210 leveled against him, one of the trials that 585 00:30:11,210 --> 00:30:13,210 he had to cope with, is actually that 586 00:30:13,210 --> 00:30:15,770 his ministry was explained in terms of he's 587 00:30:15,770 --> 00:30:16,450 a demoniac. 588 00:30:17,530 --> 00:30:19,310 In other words, he's demon-possessed. 589 00:30:21,270 --> 00:30:22,810 Now the high priest has great authority. 590 00:30:24,210 --> 00:30:27,190 And according to Jewish culture and tradition, when 591 00:30:27,190 --> 00:30:35,170 the high priest actually uses his priestly authority 592 00:30:35,170 --> 00:30:38,050 and adheres someone to speak, they have to. 593 00:30:39,530 --> 00:30:41,850 And the interesting thing is that when the 594 00:30:41,850 --> 00:30:44,810 high priest here makes a challenge to our 595 00:30:44,810 --> 00:30:48,990 Lord Jesus, when it says he asks him 596 00:30:48,990 --> 00:30:52,970 the rather neutral, insipid language of the NIV, 597 00:30:54,090 --> 00:30:54,710 he doesn't. 598 00:30:55,830 --> 00:30:57,570 He adheres him. 599 00:30:59,030 --> 00:31:01,970 And it's the same verb which suggests the 600 00:31:01,970 --> 00:31:03,650 expulsion of a demon. 601 00:31:05,230 --> 00:31:08,170 Maybe the connotation is this, that Jesus is 602 00:31:08,170 --> 00:31:12,190 so possessed that it needs the high priest 603 00:31:12,190 --> 00:31:15,450 to use his authority to see if he 604 00:31:15,450 --> 00:31:19,330 can get this blasphemy out from the lips 605 00:31:19,330 --> 00:31:22,170 of Jesus once and for all. 606 00:31:22,890 --> 00:31:25,390 Tell us, are you the Christ? 607 00:31:27,490 --> 00:31:29,070 And now you see the charges shifted. 608 00:31:30,210 --> 00:31:32,410 It's not to do with some trumped up 609 00:31:32,410 --> 00:31:33,590 business about the temple. 610 00:31:34,690 --> 00:31:36,790 It is to do with the person of 611 00:31:36,790 --> 00:31:39,790 Jesus, who he is and what his authority 612 00:31:39,790 --> 00:31:40,330 is. 613 00:31:41,090 --> 00:31:43,330 And so our Lord significantly responds in verse 614 00:31:43,330 --> 00:31:48,070 62, I am, using the express name of 615 00:31:48,070 --> 00:31:48,390 God. 616 00:31:49,690 --> 00:31:53,690 And also affirming that the priests will one 617 00:31:53,690 --> 00:31:56,150 day see the Son of Man sitting at 618 00:31:56,150 --> 00:31:57,950 the right hand of the Mighty One. 619 00:31:57,950 --> 00:32:00,250 In other words, here is our Lord Jesus 620 00:32:00,250 --> 00:32:03,750 acknowledging that not only is he the representative 621 00:32:03,750 --> 00:32:06,250 of God, he has the authority of God 622 00:32:06,250 --> 00:32:06,750 himself. 623 00:32:09,150 --> 00:32:12,170 How the watchtower, the Jehovah's Witnesses can read 624 00:32:12,170 --> 00:32:15,370 this, not see the reaction of the high 625 00:32:15,370 --> 00:32:19,830 priest and appreciate that our Lord is claiming 626 00:32:19,830 --> 00:32:24,010 publicly and clearly to be divine, I do 627 00:32:24,010 --> 00:32:24,510 not know. 628 00:32:26,130 --> 00:32:28,490 As a result, the high priest tears his 629 00:32:28,490 --> 00:32:28,970 clothes. 630 00:32:30,250 --> 00:32:31,290 Game, set and match. 631 00:32:32,250 --> 00:32:34,650 He's got Jesus, or so it would seem, 632 00:32:34,750 --> 00:32:35,850 just where he wants him. 633 00:32:36,510 --> 00:32:38,610 He has got the Lord Jesus to come 634 00:32:38,610 --> 00:32:39,150 clean. 635 00:32:39,930 --> 00:32:40,930 Are you the Christ? 636 00:32:41,050 --> 00:32:41,870 Are you the Messiah? 637 00:32:42,150 --> 00:32:43,350 Yes, I am the Christ. 638 00:32:43,430 --> 00:32:44,370 I am the Messiah. 639 00:32:44,370 --> 00:32:52,570 And the place alongside Jehovah himself belongs by 640 00:32:52,570 --> 00:32:54,990 right to me. 641 00:32:56,130 --> 00:32:57,890 You've heard the blasphemy? 642 00:32:58,970 --> 00:33:00,170 What do you think? 643 00:33:01,170 --> 00:33:02,230 Says the priest. 644 00:33:03,750 --> 00:33:08,970 And so, our Lord Jesus on trial is 645 00:33:08,970 --> 00:33:14,410 proven to be by this subtle questioning more 646 00:33:14,410 --> 00:33:15,810 than just an ordinary man. 647 00:33:16,970 --> 00:33:21,130 He claims he is the Son of God. 648 00:33:23,230 --> 00:33:25,290 Now, let's move because we have to. 649 00:33:25,430 --> 00:33:27,190 I know there is a couple more verses, 650 00:33:27,330 --> 00:33:28,890 but we'll return to those in a moment. 651 00:33:29,170 --> 00:33:30,110 Let's move to Peter. 652 00:33:31,130 --> 00:33:33,730 If Jesus is in the upper court, here 653 00:33:33,730 --> 00:33:35,390 is Peter in the lower court. 654 00:33:36,890 --> 00:33:39,370 And he too, I argue, is on trial. 655 00:33:39,590 --> 00:33:40,850 Not the lawyers, but the laity. 656 00:33:41,030 --> 00:33:42,470 Not the professionals, but the amateurs. 657 00:33:45,390 --> 00:33:47,350 You ask yourself, first of all, why are 658 00:33:47,350 --> 00:33:49,510 there people in the courtyard at that time 659 00:33:49,510 --> 00:33:49,850 of day? 660 00:33:49,950 --> 00:33:51,910 And the reason is, well, because of all 661 00:33:51,910 --> 00:33:53,750 the exciting things that have happened in Jerusalem. 662 00:33:53,930 --> 00:33:55,390 Here is this Nazarene. 663 00:33:55,490 --> 00:33:56,110 He's been arrested. 664 00:33:56,230 --> 00:33:56,750 There's a trial. 665 00:33:56,750 --> 00:33:58,910 And, you know, human curiosity being what it 666 00:33:58,910 --> 00:34:00,550 is, it causes people to hang around. 667 00:34:00,930 --> 00:34:02,070 It's Passover. 668 00:34:02,470 --> 00:34:02,930 It's night. 669 00:34:03,090 --> 00:34:04,330 It's dark and cold. 670 00:34:04,730 --> 00:34:05,870 And, therefore, there's a fire. 671 00:34:06,050 --> 00:34:09,250 And Peter, all credit to him because he 672 00:34:09,250 --> 00:34:10,790 shows some courage here. 673 00:34:11,449 --> 00:34:14,690 He makes his way into the area of 674 00:34:14,690 --> 00:34:16,090 the high priest's domain. 675 00:34:17,370 --> 00:34:21,429 And he starts to warm himself by the 676 00:34:21,429 --> 00:34:21,690 fire. 677 00:34:23,790 --> 00:34:25,850 And it seems as though he's got some 678 00:34:25,850 --> 00:34:31,449 sights as to what is happening to the 679 00:34:31,449 --> 00:34:33,449 Lord Jesus inasmuch as such a full narrative 680 00:34:33,449 --> 00:34:39,210 is given later on at Peter's dictation to 681 00:34:39,210 --> 00:34:39,870 John Mark. 682 00:34:41,389 --> 00:34:43,770 So, a woman comes along. 683 00:34:43,850 --> 00:34:45,190 Actually, she's a portraitress. 684 00:34:45,429 --> 00:34:47,670 The lady who looks after the gate through 685 00:34:47,670 --> 00:34:50,350 which Peter has passed into the palace garden 686 00:34:50,350 --> 00:34:51,389 of the high priest. 687 00:34:51,389 --> 00:34:54,010 And she says, you also were with that 688 00:34:54,010 --> 00:34:54,630 Nazarene. 689 00:34:57,150 --> 00:35:00,070 As Jesus has been assailed by false witnesses, 690 00:35:00,430 --> 00:35:03,790 here is the saucy comment of some damsel. 691 00:35:08,070 --> 00:35:13,910 I don't know or understand what you are 692 00:35:13,910 --> 00:35:15,550 talking about. 693 00:35:17,350 --> 00:35:19,230 That's a very interesting expression. 694 00:35:20,250 --> 00:35:24,230 What Peter is doing now is using legal 695 00:35:24,230 --> 00:35:24,890 jargon. 696 00:35:26,670 --> 00:35:30,070 He's using the language of a proper law 697 00:35:30,070 --> 00:35:33,550 court in which he is dismissing any possibility 698 00:35:33,550 --> 00:35:36,450 of the charge being leveled against him as 699 00:35:36,450 --> 00:35:37,190 being accurate. 700 00:35:40,770 --> 00:35:43,850 Isn't it interesting that sometimes men and women 701 00:35:43,850 --> 00:35:47,590 can cope with intense pressure? 702 00:35:48,930 --> 00:35:51,490 I mean, Peter may have been very foolish 703 00:35:51,490 --> 00:35:53,170 in the garden taking the sword and cutting 704 00:35:53,170 --> 00:35:56,410 off the ear of the high priest's servant. 705 00:35:57,410 --> 00:36:00,830 But there is a sense of courage involved 706 00:36:00,830 --> 00:36:01,550 in that action. 707 00:36:03,610 --> 00:36:05,250 Peter can do that. 708 00:36:06,230 --> 00:36:08,970 Peter can show the confidence and the courage 709 00:36:08,970 --> 00:36:11,370 of following the Lord Jesus into the very 710 00:36:11,370 --> 00:36:13,790 domain of the high priest where people presumably 711 00:36:13,790 --> 00:36:16,350 are looking out for him because of what 712 00:36:16,350 --> 00:36:17,710 he has done to the high priest's servant. 713 00:36:18,650 --> 00:36:20,810 He can cope with the greater. 714 00:36:22,390 --> 00:36:26,390 But the saucy comment of a servant girl 715 00:36:26,390 --> 00:36:28,770 pulverizes him. 716 00:36:31,110 --> 00:36:35,610 I don't know or understand what you are 717 00:36:35,610 --> 00:36:36,790 talking about. 718 00:36:38,070 --> 00:36:38,950 And he clears off. 719 00:36:39,930 --> 00:36:40,950 He went out. 720 00:36:41,110 --> 00:36:42,630 He went out into the entrance. 721 00:36:43,590 --> 00:36:46,450 Well, he comes back once more to a 722 00:36:46,450 --> 00:36:48,970 different part of the courtyard. 723 00:36:49,670 --> 00:36:54,330 And this annoying lady spots him again and 724 00:36:54,330 --> 00:36:56,090 publicly identifies him. 725 00:36:57,090 --> 00:36:58,890 This fellow is one of them. 726 00:37:00,590 --> 00:37:02,130 But he denies it. 727 00:37:03,950 --> 00:37:08,950 He doesn't just deny it with ordinary speech. 728 00:37:10,090 --> 00:37:14,790 He begins to call down curses on himself. 729 00:37:15,850 --> 00:37:18,210 And he goes under oath as well as 730 00:37:18,210 --> 00:37:19,370 using oaths. 731 00:37:20,850 --> 00:37:25,430 You remember how Jezebel said to her husband 732 00:37:25,430 --> 00:37:28,770 Ahab when he wanted but found it difficult 733 00:37:28,770 --> 00:37:33,730 to obtain the vineyard of Naboth, God do 734 00:37:33,730 --> 00:37:36,090 so to me and more also. 735 00:37:36,330 --> 00:37:38,770 In other words, bringing an oath upon herself 736 00:37:38,770 --> 00:37:43,850 if what she wanted wasn't delivered. 737 00:37:44,970 --> 00:37:48,090 And here is Peter bringing an oath on 738 00:37:48,090 --> 00:37:50,970 himself and with the foulest language he is 739 00:37:50,970 --> 00:37:54,490 dissenting from the accusation that he was an 740 00:37:54,490 --> 00:37:55,490 accomplice of Jesus. 741 00:37:56,550 --> 00:37:59,270 I don't know the man you are talking 742 00:37:59,270 --> 00:37:59,750 about. 743 00:38:01,190 --> 00:38:04,670 Peter, turn the clock back just a few 744 00:38:04,670 --> 00:38:05,050 months. 745 00:38:06,050 --> 00:38:08,850 The high priest has been saying in courtyard 746 00:38:08,850 --> 00:38:14,130 number one that Jesus is or asking him 747 00:38:14,130 --> 00:38:16,570 if he is the Christ, the son of 748 00:38:16,570 --> 00:38:17,390 the blessed God. 749 00:38:19,310 --> 00:38:22,150 Who do men say that I am? 750 00:38:23,050 --> 00:38:29,470 Peter, you remember the disciples suggested John Baptist 751 00:38:29,470 --> 00:38:33,730 or one of the prophets and you said 752 00:38:33,730 --> 00:38:37,310 you are the Christ, the son of the 753 00:38:37,310 --> 00:38:37,990 living God. 754 00:38:39,870 --> 00:38:45,510 Jesus is in trouble for affirming what you 755 00:38:45,510 --> 00:38:48,210 said five months ago. 756 00:38:49,570 --> 00:38:56,070 And in courtyard B you are denying what 757 00:38:56,070 --> 00:38:59,350 you said five months ago. 758 00:39:00,430 --> 00:39:01,710 You see the point? 759 00:39:02,870 --> 00:39:04,670 There is a double trial here. 760 00:39:06,450 --> 00:39:12,010 Not just Jesus on trial but Peter also 761 00:39:12,010 --> 00:39:14,090 on trial. 762 00:39:16,250 --> 00:39:17,990 And the cock starts to crow. 763 00:39:19,710 --> 00:39:21,970 It could be a literal cock and probably 764 00:39:21,970 --> 00:39:24,730 is but the Romans actually, they had a 765 00:39:24,730 --> 00:39:26,290 trumpet call at three o'clock in the 766 00:39:26,290 --> 00:39:28,270 morning which was known as the cock crow. 767 00:39:28,810 --> 00:39:30,710 Which would have been heard throughout the whole 768 00:39:30,710 --> 00:39:34,150 of Jerusalem as it sounded and disturbed the 769 00:39:34,150 --> 00:39:37,270 silence of the streets at that time in 770 00:39:37,270 --> 00:39:38,630 the early morning. 771 00:39:38,630 --> 00:39:42,090 And we read, then Peter remembered the word 772 00:39:42,090 --> 00:39:43,970 Jesus had spoken to him. 773 00:39:47,390 --> 00:39:53,190 Peter has been knocked off course by the 774 00:39:53,190 --> 00:39:55,330 amateur interrogation. 775 00:39:57,110 --> 00:39:59,710 Our folk are only concerned to establish his 776 00:39:59,710 --> 00:40:03,250 relationship with Jesus who he refers to now 777 00:40:03,250 --> 00:40:05,830 as that man. 778 00:40:08,730 --> 00:40:11,230 You see what happens is that our Lord 779 00:40:11,230 --> 00:40:12,770 is able to cope, is he not? 780 00:40:12,850 --> 00:40:14,270 I mean he copes with the general trial, 781 00:40:14,470 --> 00:40:16,010 he copes in the garden, he copes with 782 00:40:16,010 --> 00:40:18,210 the treachery, he copes with the perversity, he 783 00:40:18,210 --> 00:40:21,830 copes with the temerity of the disciples and 784 00:40:21,830 --> 00:40:22,370 so on and so forth. 785 00:40:22,390 --> 00:40:23,610 He copes there admirably. 786 00:40:24,830 --> 00:40:27,510 And he also copes in the legal trial. 787 00:40:29,150 --> 00:40:32,670 But Peter, Peter goes to pieces. 788 00:40:34,830 --> 00:40:40,010 And you can't criticize Peter unless you yourself 789 00:40:40,010 --> 00:40:41,990 have lived an impeccable life of discipleship. 790 00:40:43,570 --> 00:40:45,250 But you probably haven't. 791 00:40:46,250 --> 00:40:48,710 And therefore you're glad of the honesty of 792 00:40:48,710 --> 00:40:52,150 Peter that when he talked to Mark about 793 00:40:52,150 --> 00:40:55,530 these incidents, he who alone had the intelligence 794 00:40:55,530 --> 00:40:58,610 as to what happened in the high priest's 795 00:40:58,610 --> 00:41:03,070 courtyard, he allowed Mark to write it down. 796 00:41:04,890 --> 00:41:09,770 And Peter goes out and he weeps. 797 00:41:10,910 --> 00:41:13,590 O ye tears, O ye tears, I am 798 00:41:13,590 --> 00:41:14,910 thankful that you run. 799 00:41:15,910 --> 00:41:17,750 Though you trickle in the darkness, you shall 800 00:41:17,750 --> 00:41:18,870 glitter in the sun. 801 00:41:19,670 --> 00:41:22,810 The rainbow cannot shine if the rain refused 802 00:41:22,810 --> 00:41:23,610 to fall. 803 00:41:24,630 --> 00:41:27,990 And the eyes that cannot weep are the 804 00:41:27,990 --> 00:41:31,010 saddest eyes of all. 805 00:41:32,090 --> 00:41:33,210 Peter remembers. 806 00:41:34,190 --> 00:41:36,950 He remembers that Jesus has said, when you 807 00:41:36,950 --> 00:41:37,550 deny me. 808 00:41:38,490 --> 00:41:39,810 Recall this. 809 00:41:40,930 --> 00:41:42,870 I prayed for you. 810 00:41:44,570 --> 00:41:48,290 You see, Peter's love for Jesus never failed. 811 00:41:49,730 --> 00:41:53,390 Peter's faith in Jesus did not fail. 812 00:41:54,630 --> 00:41:59,470 Peter's hope about the current circumstances, that failed. 813 00:42:00,270 --> 00:42:01,550 And he panicked. 814 00:42:02,870 --> 00:42:04,210 He knee-jerked. 815 00:42:06,290 --> 00:42:08,610 I was at one of the most incredible 816 00:42:08,610 --> 00:42:11,370 services I've ever attended in my life, yesterday. 817 00:42:12,590 --> 00:42:16,050 I went up to Westminster Chapel, not because 818 00:42:16,050 --> 00:42:18,590 of my past association with Westminster, but because 819 00:42:18,590 --> 00:42:25,910 Bishop Huyck, Hobespian Meyer's wife, was present. 820 00:42:27,610 --> 00:42:31,130 Bishop Huyck was martyred for his faith in 821 00:42:31,130 --> 00:42:31,590 Iran. 822 00:42:32,590 --> 00:42:35,190 In the early months of this year. 823 00:42:36,210 --> 00:42:40,170 He is one of three Christian leaders who 824 00:42:40,170 --> 00:42:45,690 have been butchered in the opening period of 825 00:42:45,690 --> 00:42:47,630 1994. 826 00:42:49,530 --> 00:42:53,490 His wife, Takush, was present. 827 00:42:55,110 --> 00:42:56,790 And she came to the microphone. 828 00:42:56,790 --> 00:43:00,210 There were not many people there, mainly Iranians 829 00:43:00,210 --> 00:43:02,450 and just one or two Brits like myself. 830 00:43:03,810 --> 00:43:06,450 And she started to talk about Bishop Huyck. 831 00:43:08,050 --> 00:43:09,270 An elegant lady. 832 00:43:10,890 --> 00:43:16,170 When she had finished, people not only clapped, 833 00:43:16,970 --> 00:43:18,230 they stood up. 834 00:43:19,150 --> 00:43:22,770 And the clapping went on and on and 835 00:43:22,770 --> 00:43:23,050 on. 836 00:43:23,950 --> 00:43:26,930 Not the clapping that you might associate with 837 00:43:26,930 --> 00:43:28,910 the jingoism of, shall we say, the last 838 00:43:28,910 --> 00:43:29,950 night of the proms. 839 00:43:30,970 --> 00:43:34,410 It was the clapping of people who realized 840 00:43:34,410 --> 00:43:36,670 that they were standing in the presence of 841 00:43:36,670 --> 00:43:40,310 someone who had been almost to hell and 842 00:43:40,310 --> 00:43:43,310 back in terms of what her family had 843 00:43:43,310 --> 00:43:43,650 endured. 844 00:43:45,090 --> 00:43:48,690 And she talked about Bishop Huyck, her husband. 845 00:43:49,690 --> 00:43:52,430 And the way that he had faced persecution 846 00:43:52,430 --> 00:43:54,390 in its face. 847 00:43:55,650 --> 00:44:00,410 And told the Muslim authorities that there was 848 00:44:00,410 --> 00:44:04,470 no way in which he was prepared to 849 00:44:04,470 --> 00:44:09,850 agree not to spread the gospel amongst Islamic 850 00:44:09,850 --> 00:44:10,350 people. 851 00:44:11,390 --> 00:44:14,130 She told of the problems that she has 852 00:44:14,130 --> 00:44:18,290 now as a woman whose partner has paid 853 00:44:18,290 --> 00:44:22,850 the supreme price and was knifed to death 854 00:44:22,850 --> 00:44:28,630 in Tehran just in the early parts of 855 00:44:28,630 --> 00:44:29,070 this year. 856 00:44:30,330 --> 00:44:31,650 And when I tell you that there was 857 00:44:31,650 --> 00:44:33,950 hardly an eye that wasn't filled with tears, 858 00:44:34,890 --> 00:44:36,450 I'm not exaggerating. 859 00:44:37,390 --> 00:44:41,790 Because so against the consistency of Bishop Huyck, 860 00:44:42,570 --> 00:44:45,410 one felt one's own inconsistency. 861 00:44:46,570 --> 00:44:48,030 You thought of what he had gone through 862 00:44:48,030 --> 00:44:50,710 and you related it to the way that 863 00:44:50,710 --> 00:44:51,130 you buckle. 864 00:44:51,130 --> 00:44:54,210 And the fact of the matter is that 865 00:44:54,210 --> 00:44:58,330 when you buckle, as Peter did, only he 866 00:44:58,330 --> 00:45:02,150 with the Lord Jesus as his example, Jesus 867 00:45:02,150 --> 00:45:06,350 does not turn you aside and refuse to 868 00:45:06,350 --> 00:45:07,070 take you back. 869 00:45:07,950 --> 00:45:11,090 When the trials of life come in, when 870 00:45:11,090 --> 00:45:15,610 the testings come and you fail, he'll take 871 00:45:15,610 --> 00:45:19,870 you back and give you another start. 872 00:45:20,790 --> 00:45:22,270 That's what happened for Peter. 873 00:45:23,450 --> 00:45:28,570 In Galilee, by the seashore where Jesus first 874 00:45:28,570 --> 00:45:32,790 met Peter, he met him once more and 875 00:45:32,790 --> 00:45:35,710 brought him back into the ministry. 876 00:46:10,790 --> 00:46:13,190 Father, there are those of us who need 877 00:46:13,190 --> 00:46:16,590 to reaffirm our trust and confidence in you. 878 00:46:17,490 --> 00:46:19,930 There are some of us who have been 879 00:46:19,930 --> 00:46:26,630 reeling this past week through circumstances, sometimes beyond 880 00:46:26,630 --> 00:46:30,710 our control, sometimes as a result of things 881 00:46:30,710 --> 00:46:33,550 that we've set in motion through our foolishness. 882 00:46:34,630 --> 00:46:37,190 We ask that whatever state of life we 883 00:46:37,190 --> 00:46:39,250 find ourselves in right now, that your word 884 00:46:39,250 --> 00:46:42,230 may come and minister to all our hearts. 885 00:46:42,230 --> 00:46:44,850 In the name of Jesus our Saviour, Amen.