Matthew 26:57-67
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
I remember on my first visit to Israel in 1990 going to the church St Peter in Gallicantu on Mount Zion. It was the place of Jesus' trial and where he was held before being led to Pilate early in the morning.
Our guide informed us, as we looked down into a dark hole: "That's where the prisoners were literally thrown into jail"!
My heart was grieved as I imagined my Saviour spending the night in a cold, dark jail, probably injured by being cast down into the dark dungeon onto a stone hard floor. No bed to lay on, no food or water, no chance of sleep.
It was truly His dark night of the soul.
What were His feelings as He awaited the dawn, knowing that the cross was ahead of Him. His closest disciple's words of denial were still fresh in His memory - tearing at His tender heart.
Surely, it has to be something to cling to when we go through our own depressions or desertions? Jesus has walked this way too.
Someone asked to me only today: "why do all the nice people have to suffer, when the nasty ones seem to swan through life without a care?" [Actually, the words used have been watered down slightly to spare your blushes]!
Psalm 73:2-9 says it right:
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
their evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Jesus knows how you feel - He's been there. That's why He can be a practical High Priest.
Someone you can ALWAYS turn to - no matter what.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus the Great High Priest
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
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