Scripture
By Janice Hall
Scripture Lesson Text…John 18:15-27
Related Scriptures: Matthew 26: 59-75; Mark 14: 55-72; Luke 22:55-71
This week’s lesson continues in John 18:15-27, with Peter and John following Jesus to the house of the high priest. We also note in this passage, Peter’s denial of being Jesus’ disciple three times just as Jesus said he would .(John 13: 38)
In Matthew 26:59-75, there is a crowd of Jewish leaders gathered at the courtyard of the high priest. They have one motive to find out information that they can use to condemn Jesus to death. They actually did not care if the information was true. Jesus made it clear that He was not just the Messiah, but also the Son of God, and indeed God himself. Peter is approached three different times, as someone who was one of Jesus’ followers.
Here in the gospel of Mark 14:55-72, Jesus is presented as God’s Son who came to live, die, and rise again to save us from sin and death. As Jesus stands trial in the high priest’s house, Peter stands trial in the courtyard, all the while Jesus was silent about his identity. In Luke 22:55-71 , the focus was at the daylight meeting of the council(v.66), whereas the interrogation of Jesus began at His second trial before the council. It is noteworthy to state that when Peter denied Jesus the third time, the Lord looked at him.(v.61)
Synopsis
By Pam Jones
After Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was brought before the high priest to answer the charges against Him. They sought people out who would bring false witness against Jesus. Mark 14:56 tells us “For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.” But, when two other witnesses came forward, the high priest hear their accusations, then ask Jesus what does he have to say about what the people have said against Him. We find in Matt 26:63 it says “but Jesus held his peace.”
Eventually, Jesus did speak up and gives some answers to their questions, although, with different expectations. He got slapped and spit upon for how He responded. Peter, on the other hand, spoke up with lies of denying that he knew Jesus, three times! Jesus had forewarned Peter that before the cock crows that he (Peter) will deny him three times. And he did!
Peter stood in relatively close proximity to where Jesus was being held so that he could see what was being done to Jesus, even though he denied knowing Him. Peter was so adamant in his responses of not being in acquaintance with Jesus that once he denied with an oath, saying “I do not know the man.” But what Peter didn’t realize is that there were people around him now, who had seen him with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and at other times. As we read in Matt 26:74-75 “ Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Practical Application
By Raufu Spagnoletta
In our lesson, Jesus defends the truth while Peter denies the truth. “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
Jesus chose people who could be changed by His love, and then He sent them out to communicate that His acceptance was available to anyone, even to those who often fail. Peter went on to do great things for God, in spite of denying Christ three times. Are you willing to follow Jesus, even when you fail? (Life Application Study Bible) “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity” (RSV/Proverbs 24:16).
In love and obedience to the Father, Jesus endured the illegal interrogation by the high priest. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:19-20). Are you a bold witness for Christ?
