On Trial:

Context:

• Jesus was led to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Matthew 26:59-60 “...Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward...”

Mark 14:55-57 “...Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree...”

What were the chief priests and whole council trying to accomplish?

• The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Him to death?

Why?

How far were they willing to go to accomplish their agenda?

• They didn’t even care if the testimony they used was false.
• They weren’t seeking truth.
• They were seeking to validate the position they had adopted, regardless of whether it was right or wrong.

How far are people in our culture willing to go to remove Jesus from their presence?

• They have no trouble discarding truth to accomplish their preferences.

What happens to truth when people are intent upon validating their preferred position?

• Isaiah 59:14-15 “...Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice...”

• Truth stumbles in public places.
• The LORD, who sees all, is displeased.

Jesus remained silent while a witness testified that He intended to destroy the temple of God. Finally Jesus is asked, whether he is the Christ, the Son of God.

Matthew 26:64 “...Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven...”

Mark 14:62 “...And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven...”

What information was Jesus relaying to the council?

• Talk is easy. People can say Jesus is or isn’t the Son of God.
• Reality is reality. Being the Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus will be seen for who He is.

Matthew 26:65-68 “...Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?...”

Mark 14:63-65 “...And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows...”

How well did the high priest receive the Real Truth?

• Religious people are prone to judging, and Jesus was quickly judged.

Then, beyond the inaccurate accusation of blasphemy, they proceeded to abuse the Son of God, spitting in His face and slapping Him.

Does anyone spit in the face of Jesus now?

Did Jesus get a fair trial at the hands of man?

Will you get a fair trial at the hands of man?

Will you get a fair trial at the hands of God?

Betrayal:

Context:

• While Jesus was still speaking, Judas came, with a crowd with swords and clubs.
• He greeted Jesus and gave Him a kiss.
• The “kiss of death” was later used by Mafia Dons to signal someone’s upcoming death.

Matthew 26:50 “...Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him...”

Luke 22:48 “...but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?...”

John 18:4-9 “...Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one...”

What response did Jesus have to the kiss of death?

• He called Judas friend.
• He knew what was happened.
• He questioned, or at least made a comment, about betraying with a kiss.
• He asked the crowd “Whom do you seek?” and then said “I am He”.

What was the crowds response “I Am He”?

• They drew back and fell to the ground.

What happens to people who come face to face with Jesus?

• They are facing the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
• Is it mandatory to bow down in His presence?
• Those belong to Him are taken care of.

Matthew 26:51-54 “...And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?...”

Mark 14:47 “...But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear...”

Luke 22:50-51 “...And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him...”

John 18:10-11 “...Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?...”

Who cut of the servant’s ear?

• Peter.

What was Jesus response?

• Jesus healed the servant.
• Jesus said He could defend Himself with twelve legions of angels.
• Jesus said He was prepared to do His Father’s will (drink the cup).

Who was the servant?

• Malchus, the servant of the High Priest.

What story do you think was later relayed to the home of the High Priest?

• The servant had his ear cut off, then healed.
• He likely had quite a testimony about his encounter with Jesus.

What type of story do people who mean you harm have about you?

Matthew 26:55-56 “...At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled...”

Mark 14:48-50 “...And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled...”

Why did this event take place?

• To fulfill scripture.

How did the disciples respond?

• They all fled.

Gethsemane Prayer:

Matthew 26:36-38 “...Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me...”

Mark 14:32-34 “...And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch...”

Luke 22:39-40 “...And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation...”

Why was Jesus on the Mount of Olives in the garden of Gethsemane?

• It was a customary place for Him to go to pray.
• He was sorrowful, greatly distressed, and troubled.

What do you do when you’re distressed and troubled?

• John 14:1 “...Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me...”
• John 14:27 “...Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid...”

Can you avoid being troubled, given that Jesus was troubled?

• John 16:33 “...I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world...”

What instructions did Jesus give His disciples?

• Most were asked to sit while Jesus went off to pray.
• Peter, James, and John were taken further, then asked to remain and watch.
• The Luke account reveals Jesus advising them to pray that they wouldn’t enter into temptation.

Matthew 26:39 “...And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will...”

Mark 14:35-36 “...And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will...”

Luke 22:41-44 “...And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground...”

Did Jesus have a preference?

• He wanted the cup removed.

Why didn’t Jesus push more aggressively for His preference?

• He wanted the will of the Father more than He wanted His own preference.
• Do we?

What additional things did the Luke account reveal about the garden event?

• An angel from heaven strengthened Him.
• He then prayed more earnestly.
• His sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Do you ever get help to pray more earnestly?

• Romans 8:26 “...Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words...”

Matthew 26:40-41 “...And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak...”

Mark 14:37-38 “...And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak...”

Luke 22:45-46 “...And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation...”

How well did the disciples follow the instructions of Jesus?

• They fell asleep on the job.
• They couldn’t last one hour in prayer.

How often do you spend just an hour in prayer?

Why is it important to watch and pray?

• The flesh is weak.
• Temptation is much to easily entered into.

Matthew 26:42-46 “...Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand...”

Mark 14:39-42 “...And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand...”

Why was the prayer in the garden important?

• Jesus was about to face a terrible ordeal.
• Jesus prepared for the ordeal by talking with His Father, and being strengthened from heaven.

Unified in Love:

John 17:20-21 “...I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me...”

What does Jesus ask for believers?

• Unity.
• A oneness that matches the unity of Father and Son.

Why does Jesus want this unity?

• It’s the oneness of believers that allows the world to believe that Jesus was sent by the Father.

John 17:22-23 “...The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me...”

What does Jesus give to believers?

• He shares His glory.

Why does Jesus give believers the glory that the Father gave Him?

• So they can achieve oneness.
• So that the world may know of the Father’s love.

John 17:24 “...Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world...”

What does Jesus desire for believers?

• To be with Him and see His glory.

How long has Jesus been loved by the Father?

• From the foundation of the world.

John 17:25-26 “...O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them...”

What does Jesus know that the world doesn’t know?

• The Father.

What will Jesus continue to do? Why?

• Make the Father known.
• That there will be a unification in love.

Summary:

• Jesus asks for unity.
• Jesus gives glory.
• Jesus desires for oneness with believers.
• Jesus shares the love of the Father.