(Study Outline sourced from “The System Bible Study” – “The Book of Life” [Zondervan])
4. Peter’s Three Denials Of His Lord
All four gospels record the account of Peter’s denial, and while Mark, Matthew and Luke gives the impression that the denials followed each other in short sequence, John’s record gives more detail to the time-frame. John writes: Peter and another disciple (most likely John himself) followed Jesus after He was arrested. Because this other disciple was known to the high priest he was allowed into the courtyard, while Peter had to wait outside the gate. After a request by this other disciple Peter was brought into the courtyard by a servant girl who asked him if he was a disciple of Jesus whereupon he said, “I am not”.
As Peter and others (possibly some of the soldiers) warmed themselves by the fire, he was again asked (Mark, Matthew and Luke record that it was by the servant girl) and again he denied he was a disciple.
On the third occasion he was challenged because his Galilean accent gave him away while John says it was one of the high priest’s servants who recognized Peter from the Garden incident. This time Mark and Matthew record that Peter “..began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”” ; “..at that moment a rooster began to crow.” and Peter remembered what his Lord had said to him earlier that night .
“Peter followed him at a distance…” is a warning to us that we should always walk closely with Christ otherwise we will be influenced by the ungodly, and we too will be guilty of denying our Lord Jesus Christ .
Remembering what his Lord had told him caused Peter to “weep bitterly” and so should we when we are convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit .
5. The Formal Ratification Of The Sanhedrin’s Condemnation Of Jesus (After Dawn On Friday)
“Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision….” , Luke records “At daybreak…” making the timeline after dawn on Friday. The NIV Study Bible notes comments that the Sanhedrin could pass the death sentence on the accused person only after daybreak, also due to the fact that the working day of a Roman official began at daybreak, delayed the council in their judgment.
Luke’s account states that while standing before the Sanhedrin Jesus was asked “If you are the Christ tell us.” Jesus responded, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” This then prompted the council to ask “Are you then the Son of God?” to which Jesus confirms that He is This then led the council to the conviction of blasphemy punishable by death, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.” . Our Lord Jesus not only declared that He is the Messiah, but also The Son Of God, which was to the Sanhedrin blasphemy, thus they bound Jesus and led Him away to Pilate .
6. The Remorse And Suicide Of Judas
“…he was seized with remorse…. I have betrayed innocent blood….. That’s your responsibility.” The betrayal of an innocent person is indeed the full responsibility of the betrayer, and here we find Judas apprehended with regret at the fact that he had betrayed his Lord, although the Lord Jesus had warned him that he would do so. This account is recorded only by Matthew, and is expanded upon in Acts 1:15-19. .
(Continued….)