The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:26:57-68

kjv@Matthew:26:57 @ And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

kjv@Matthew:26:58 @ But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

kjv@Matthew:26:59 @ Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

kjv@Matthew:26:60 @ But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

kjv@Matthew:26:61 @ And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

kjv@Matthew:26:62 @ And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

kjv@Matthew:26:63 @ But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

kjv@Matthew:26:64 @ Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

kjv@Matthew:26:65 @ Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

kjv@Matthew:26:66 @ What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

kjv@Matthew:26:67 @ Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

kjv@Matthew:26:68 @ Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Today's notes: Trial - Sanhedrin

Context:

Before - the betrayal of Judas
After - the denial of Peter

What is man believing/doing?:

assembling at the palace to try Jesus secretly
laying hold of Jesus to take Him to the palace
following behind at a distance

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

They have been after Jesus for some time. The opportunity has presented itself tonight, yet the Passover continues. They don't want this to happen on the Passover because of the possible reactions of the city.
Orders have been given. Orders must be followed.
to see (be witness to) the end

Notes:

blasphemy - death penalty kjv@Leviticus:24:10-16 giving occasion to enemy considered kjv@2Samuel:12:14

There are indications in the traditions that false witness and common rule of law could be thrown out in the case of a known enemy of the state; the good of the nation exceeds the good of the individual. Such principal has previously been stated by Caiaphas kjv@John:11:50

Is the motivation of the religious elite that they have been embarrassed and now is their pay back? Is it that they have been proven to be sinners or that despite every evidence given they believe Jesus the greater sinner? Is it that He is cutting in on them or they are cutting Him out? Is it that they know who He is and that they are attempting to take from Him His inheritance? The answer may not be as simple as any one particular thing and it may be different for different men within the group. Are not all the reasons strangely similar?

Peter's motivation to me is just as curious. Needing to see the end is given as the reasoning, however it is this reasoning that puts Him in a position to deny his master. At the same time there may not be a better place for him to be as much of the information we have of these events are a composite of Peter's and John's testimony. The fact is that this is Jesus' moment, without His Lord's support and direction there is not a right place for him to be. When put to the test, not even the bravery of being there is not going to keep him safe from denial. Denial however may not be as bad as not being in a position close by.

As much as we want to ride Peter for all of this, it would have been interesting had he asked the Lord where to be or do what would be the answer; to know what we would have done that would of been anything better.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

There is not the slightest perception nor caution of sin. It is known and agreed upon what course needs to be taken. Present national situation (punishment from God) is of no consideration, vast historical precedence/repeated poor judgment, the fact that it is not within it's own power/authority to carry out must extracted from one who does, prophetic coincidence, miraculous work, inability to openly debate on key issues without being utterly embarrassed, all have no bearing upon what consensus already has deemed and justified to be right.
Call it loyalty or inexplicable urge or searching anchoring points within crises, there is that which we instinctively do that we feel is our best option to serve that actually puts us in the best position to fall. It is us doing what we think rather than placing the Lord where He must need be. Unless for us the Lord be taken to the cross and be risen there is nothing keeping us from falling.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:26:57-68
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:26:57-68 rwp@Matthew:26:57-68 mhcc@Matthew:26:57-68
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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