In each instance recorded here, there is a challenge to truth and as people defy truth only misery can follow.
Luke 22:54 – 71
Peter disowns Jesus
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant-girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with him.’
57 But he denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know him,’ he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, ‘You also are one of them.’
‘Man, I am not!’ Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, ‘Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.’
60 Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ Just as he was speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times.’ 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
The guards mock Jesus
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, ‘Prophesy! Who hit you?’ 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
Jesus before Pilate and Herod
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 ‘If you are the Messiah,’ they said, ‘tell us.’
Jesus answered, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.’
70 They all asked, ‘Are you then the Son of God?’
He replied, ‘You say that I am.’
71 Then they said, ‘Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.’
This section is interesting in many ways, but the big picture shows that there was a real attack on truth throughout. That makes it very relevant to our world where each day we see the concept of truth under attack at every turn. The recently popular term of “fake news” is an obvious case in point. If it is news that is not true, then it genuinely is fake news. On the other hand, we must ask how much truth is dismissed as fake news. What are we to believe? The easy refuge is to believe whatever suits us. Here in these events we see people taking precisely that easy option; but it is evil!
In the first part, verses 54 to 62, we see people speaking precise truth to Peter, “this one was with him,” “you are from them,” and “truly this one was with them, for he is a Galilean.” Peter, on the other hand, chose to deny each of these statements of truth about himself. Why? Because it suited him best for that moment to do so. We should take careful note that Peter ends up weeping bitterly because what suited him was a gross display of disloyalty to Jesus.
Next (vss62 to 65), guards were making fun of Jesus and beating him. They mocked because they thought the truth about Jesus was so ridiculous, they could turn it into a joke. We are told in verse 65 they were speaking, “many other insulting (or slanderous) things to Jesus.” That is, they were uttering unspeakable lies about Jesus because it suited their desire to enjoy themselves at his expense.
Finally, as Jesus faced the Sanhedrin, they were asking him questions. They became angry when he chose not to answer them. The extraordinary situation was exposed by Jesus when he said, that if he spoke to them, “you will not believe.” In other words, the truth about Jesus did not suit them. When he did speak the truth about himself, instead of believing him, that he is the Son of God sent to save his people, they chose to silence him by having him killed. As so often happened during the life of Jesus (and beyond), people who sought security in life from their status in the community or their religious zeal or knowledge, were threatened by him. Rather than accept the truth that they had no security at all before God and desperately needed Jesus to save them through his life, death and resurrection, they chose to reject the truth in general and the One who is The Truth.
All this poses a challenge to us all. How important is truth in your life? Does it, sometimes at least, suit you to deny the truth of Jesus? Remember, Peter wept, when he acted to suit himself. Unless they had a great change of heart later, the guards and members of the Sanhedrin are still weeping. Truth is important!!
Head: Be clear about truth.
Heart: Learn to delight in truth.
Hands: Work hard to find truth, especially about Jesus.
Prayer: Father, forgive me that I can so easily accept deceptions because it is the easy path to follow. Help me to become zealous for truth in all areas of life but especially regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
A song to listen to: This I Believe
David Johnston
Living Church – Creek Road
