The Trial of Jesus and the Trial of Peter

Our testimony should reflect our lives as followers of Jesus

Intro

There’s something about humans that loves a courtroom drama. Whether it’s classics like To Kill a Mockingbird, or 12 Angry Men, or modern classics, like Legally Blond which my wife made me watch, these courtroom intrigues have appeared across books, TV, and film, for years.

And I think one of the reasons they are so popular is because we love to find out the truth. At the beginning we don’t know the full story, but as it unfolds we learn who has been lying, who has been telling the truth, the testimonies and witnesses eventually revealing people’s true characters, their identities. Some people are revealed to be consistent with how they are presented, and others as not.

This morning we’re picking up right in the middle of the drama where we left off last week, as Jesus, having been taken by the members of the Sanhedrin is led before the high priest to be put on trial. But this passage this morning is not just about Jesus’ trial. There are two trials in this passage, which mirror each other. As Jesus is put on trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, Peter is also on trial himself just outside. These two trials happen at the same time, and with some very key similarities and differences.

In each trial we see a false testimony, and a true testimony.

Look with me from verse 53: And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

Here’s our two scenes. We have Jesus on the one hand, who is brought into the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where he is put on trial before the Sanhedrin. And we have Peter on the other hand, who is out in the courtyard, and is put on trial before the guards and servants who are there.

1 - The Trial of Jesus (14:53-65)

Let’s begin where Mark begins, and look first at Jesus’ trial before the council.

A False Testimony (14:53-60)

Look with me from verse 55:

Mark 14:55–60 · ESV

⁵⁵Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. ⁵⁶For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. ⁵⁷And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, ⁵⁸“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. ⁶⁰And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”

Even before the trial begins we see how from the setting this was never intended to be a fair and just trial. Where usually the Sanhedrin would meet in the daytime, near the temple in the marketplace, this trial is held under the cover of darkness in the house of the high priest. And as the trial begins we see how this continues.

The council is looking for any testimony they can that they can use to justify giving Jesus the death penalty, but they can’t find any. Different people give false testimony against him, but this renders the testimony as invalid, as the law of Moses, as we read of in Deuteronomy, requires two or three witnesses to agree in order to pass a judgement.

And it shouldn’t be surprising that this is the case. Of course their testimony would not line up! Jesus was perfect and did not sin in his entire life. There could be no lie intricate enough that could catch Jesus, because he had no sin in him that could be latched on to. Even their witness regarding the temple was false.

Here’s what Jesus actually says in John Chapter 2:

John 2:19–21 · ESV

¹⁹Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ²⁰The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” ²¹But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

Compare that to what the false witnesses say in verse 58: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” Not only does Jesus not say that he would destroy the temple, rather that the Jews would, but Jesus also does not mention the temple being made with hands or not. Rather, as John remarks, he was not speaking about the physical temple in Jerusalem, but about his body, which he would raise up three days after his death.

But why does Mark mention this specific accusation that the false witnesses level against Jesus? I think Charles Spurgeon’s comments on this are very helpful:

We must not refrain from noticing the comfort which in some degree had been ministered to our Lord by the accusation which came most to the front. He stands there, and he knows they are about to put him to death, but they themselves remind him that their power over him has no longer lease than three days, and at the end of that short time he will be raised up again, no more to be at their disposal. His enemies witnessed the resurrection to him. I say not that his memory was weak, or that he would possibly have forgotten it amid his sorrows, but yet our Lord was human, and modes of comfort which are valuable to us were also useful to him. When the mind is tortured with malicious falsehood, and the whole man is tossed about by pains and griefs, it is good for us to be reminded of the consolations of God. We read of some who were “tortured, not accepting deliverance,” and it was the hope of resurrection which sustained them. Our Lord knew that his soul would not be left in the abodes of the dead, neither should his flesh see corruption, and the false witnesses brought this vividly before his mind. Now, indeed, could our Redeemer say, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Sustained by the joy that was set before him he despises the shame. Strange that out of the mouths of those who sought his blood there should come the memorial of one of his greatest glories.

Even as the council seeks to find something with which to condemn Jesus to the death that he knows is coming, God uses their evil for good, and provides comfort to his Son, by reminding him of the glory that is to come in his resurrection.

This trial, as we read in Mark’s gospel, is the height of sinfulness. It is pure evil. It is driven by hatred for God; the sinfulness of man, their pride and arrogance, and the devices of Satan. There has been, and will be, nothing in the history of the world as evil as what happened to Jesus in his trial and his execution.

The Creator God of the world, the one who had no need, no outward compulsion to create anything, and yet created this world, created it good, and created us in order to experience his love and glory — This God, who though we sinned and hated him; though he was our greatest enemy; though we deserved nothing but death and judgement from him — took on the weakness of our flesh, becoming incarnate in order to die for us — This God is the one that is being put on trial now. The only ever righteous one. The only one who never sinned.

Jesus fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah which reads that:

Isaiah 53:7 · ESV

⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,yet he opened not his mouth;like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,so he opened not his mouth.

The council, which claims to love God, and love his word and his law, throws it all out the window in their hatred of him. They break the 9th commandment by bearing false witness, and as verse 60: the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” [Jesus] remained silent and made no answer.

Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah. And as we live as servants of Jesus, we shouldn’t expect that our own lives should be any different to his.

We are not greater than our master.

If Jesus was falsely accused, if he was put on trial though he was innocent, we should not expect any different. We should expect that if we identify ourselves with Jesus, that we are not only identifying ourselves with his resurrection and righteousness in his glory, but also in his suffering and his death. When your family mistreats you because you serve Jesus, when your colleagues or bosses don’t deal with you fairly or truthfully, when your friends deceive you or lie and gossip about you — do not despair!

Rather, we should, as James says, count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Not that we should rejoice in the evil being done, but in the good that God will produce from it. There is no evil that God permits to happen, except that which he ultimately purposes to use for our good and his glory.

A True Testimony (14:61-65)

Having seen the false testimony given concerning Jesus in his trial, let’s keep looking at our passage as we see Jesus give a true testimony concerning his identity.

Look with me from verse 61:

Mark 14:61–65 · ESV

⁶¹But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” ⁶²And 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.” ⁶³And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? ⁶⁴You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. ⁶⁵And 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.

As Jesus responds to the false testimony levelled against him, as well as the questions of the high priest, we see Jesus exemplify the wisdom as seen in the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs Chapter 26 we read:

Proverbs 26:4–5 · ESV

⁴HeDo not answer a fool according to his folly,or you yourself will be just like him.⁵HeAnswer a fool according to his folly,or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Jesus here does both, at first staying silent to the false testimony borne against him, as we have already seen, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, but then speaking, answering the folly of the high priest who can’t recognise the God he claims to serve standing in front of him. The proverbs, and Jesus’ actions, should be examples for us of how to conduct ourselves. As we will see later, Peter does not follow this example.

The best thing to do often, when surrounded by false accusations, by sin and hatred, is not to speak. To be patient, rather than speaking hastily.

Jesus doesn’t respond in kind to his accusers. He doesn’t speak with anger. When he does speak, he speaks boldly, he speaks clearly, and he speaks the truth — but he doesn’t let the sin outside him affect himself inwardly — something we are all too quick to do. That isn’t to say that we are to not speak out against evil, but rather to have wisdom in doing so, particularly when it is levelled unjustly against us. Jesus’ wisdom compared to the high priest’s foolishness and evilness is seen in the high priest’s last ditch attempt to get something out of Jesus.

“Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” He eventually asks.

You know things aren’t going great in your trial when you need to just come out and ask the defendant: “are you guilty?” And so Jesus answers the question that he himself asked the disciples earlier on in Mark’s gospel. Who do you say that I am?

Jesus answers Caiaphas’ question about his identity, verse 62: “I am.”

Jesus affirms the accusation levelled against him. He is the Christ. And yet, Jesus also goes on to say even more than that. Because Jesus’ admission of claiming to be the Messiah wouldn’t have warranted the death penalty by itself.

The council has been unable to get any charges to stick, even their false testimony was insufficient. But Jesus has come to Jerusalem to die. And so he reveals even more of his identity and purpose to the high priest, knowing that this would give them something more to work with. Even with all their wicked intent, their evil hearts and evil plans, the Jews could not find a way to condemn Jesus, such was his innocence. No, Jesus had to incriminate himself, by providing more than Caiaphas asked, by declaring himself to be divine, equal with God.

“You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the cloud of heaven.” It is this, Jesus’ claim to divinity which is blasphemous to the Jews and demands capital punishment. But this is all part of God’s plan. There was nothing that sinful man could do to accomplish this. It would only happen through God’s decree.

We should consider here also the fact that even in the face of this trial leading to his death, that Jesus has his eyes fixed on the future. We need to be reminded again of Jesus’ return. A return in power and glory. Jesus will not be the one on trial then, he will not be subject to wicked men’s schemes, but he will be the one coming as the judge. He will judge the living and the dead, and no one will be able to lie before him — because he knows all things. He will judge justly, giving all those who have sinned death because of their sin against him, but receiving all those who have trusted in him for salvation as fellow heirs with him, and sons of God.

As we experience trials and sufferings we can cling to this hope that Jesus is returning to make all things right, that he is a just judge, and a high priest after a better priesthood — a priest after the order of Melchizedek. And so Jesus, being the only one who could bear true testimony about himself, brings the trial to a conclusion.

The high priest tears his clothes, declares Jesus to have committed blasphemy, and asks the rest of the council for a decision on what to do with him. And Caiaphas’ conclusion is almost right. In the sense that, were anyone else to say what Jesus had said, it would be blasphemy.

There are some people today who think that Jesus never claimed to be God, that this was a later addition made by Christians hundreds of years later. But it’s quite clear here that the Jews would disagree! As they themselves see what Jesus is saying to be blasphemous! Jesus, referencing the prophecy of Daniel, puts himself in the place of the son of man who is given all power, dominion, glory, and an eternal kingdom before the Ancient of Days.

And as the Jews place the charge of blasphemy on Jesus they continue to fulfil the words of Isaiah as we saw earlier:

Isaiah 53:6 · ESV

⁶All we like sheep have gone astray;we have turned — every one — to his own way;and the Lord has laid on himthe iniquity of us all.

Our sin, our blasphemy, our rejection of the one true Holy God, is laid on Jesus instead. Look with me from verse 65 at the response from the mob to this accusation:

Mark 14:65 · ESV

⁶⁵And 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.

As the Jews taunt Jesus to prophesy, they do so without realising that he already has. As they beat him they are fulfilling both the words of Isaiah, that the suffering servant declares:

Isaiah 50:6 · ESV

⁶I gave my back to those who strike,and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;I hid not my facefrom disgrace and spitting.

Jesus does not hide his own face, but it is covered by the mob. This is also a fulfilment of Jesus’ own words earlier in Mark where he declares that they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.

And as we have read, and will come to shortly, Peter denies Jesus three times, fulfilling his prophecy that Peter would do so. What is common in all of these prophecies, is that Jesus’ signs are of no use to those who hate him, but only to those who believe.

Peter would be rebuked and admonished through Jesus’ prophecy, as a means of bringing him back to repentance to follow Jesus. But Jesus’ words and prophecies have no effect on those who hate him. The Jews don’t even know their own scriptures and how they are fulfilling the prophecies they claim to know and have hope in.

No sign, no wonder, no prophecy, no word will have effect unless the Spirit works in the heart of those who will receive it.

This is true today. Jesus’ words that we hear — the word of God preached will not affect you unless the Spirit applies those words to your heart.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; the sacraments, are wonderful means of grace, means of confirming the believer, strengthening and encouraging them, applying the benefits of Christ’s death to them — but they are not effective in and of themselves. No, to those with hard hearts they are worthless — or worse, in fact, as they instead pronounce judgement upon those who receive them. But to those who love Jesus and have been given his Spirit to dwell in them, he will apply their benefits to them.

The rebuke of a brother or sister in Christ will, in time, eventually bear fruit in the life of a true believer. They will repent and be thankful for the rebuke they received. But to those who never truly knew Christ, it will have no effect, other than to drive them further into their hatred of him.

As you consider the words of Jesus in scripture, as you consider the signs he has given the church, the sacraments, as you consider the gifts he has given you, the church and its people — what is your response to them?

Do you love them? Cherish them? Cling to them even when it hurts, because you know that they are refining you like fire, to present you purified and mature before your God? Or do you turn away from them? You listen to the words — but have no understanding, no change of heart. You receive the sacraments, but have no love for them. You receive rebuke or correction from the church, but you instead have pride and separate yourself.

The sentence that was given to Jesus was death. Brothers and Sisters — this is the sentence that you deserve. And Jesus has taken it in your place. If true witnesses testified of everything you have done in your life, you would justly stand condemned, without excuse. But Jesus has taken that punishment which you should have.

What then can we say to this Blessed Saviour?

Revelation 5:12–13 · ESV

¹²Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing! ¹³To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!

We should be the ones in his place, being beaten and spit upon. This is what evil men did to our Saviour, this is what the world does to our Lord every day, and this is what we do to him, every time we sin against him.

We spit upon the Saviour who has died for us and brought us from death to life.

If then, this is how the world, and even how we, treat the one who should be most precious above all — shaming him and treating him as the lowest of the low — Then let us instead work to be those who glorify and honour his name many times more than those who dishonour it. If it is in wicked men’s nature to dishonour God, and our own sinful nature to do so, let us work hard to bring more honour and glory to him than all those who dishonour him.

2 - The Trial of Peter (14:66-72)

This is how Peter should have been.

Peter, the one who followed Jesus since the beginning.

Whose mother-in-law was healed by Jesus, who walked on water with Jesus, who saw Jesus raise people from the dead, who declared Jesus as the Christ, who saw Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain, who declared that if everyone else abandoned him, he alone would not, that he would die with Jesus.

This Peter surely then would be the one who would honour and glorify Jesus even more than the whole council of the Jews would shame him?

A False Testimony (14:66-71)

Well, look with me from verse 66 as we see how Peter instead acted in his own trial which took place at the same time as his master’s.

Mark 14:66–71 · ESV

⁶⁶And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, ⁶⁷and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” ⁶⁸But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the cock crowed. ⁶⁹And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” ⁷⁰But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” ⁷¹But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.”

The key question in Jesus’ trial came down to Jesus’ identity — his identity as the Christ and as the divine Son was his true testimony concerning himself. In Peter’s trial in the courtyard, the question is the same. It concerns Peter’s identity. The guards and servants declare Peter to be one of Jesus’ followers, while Peter denies it.

As the Sanhedrin go about searching for witnesses, we have Peter right outside who could testify about Jesus. Peter, who is one of Jesus’ closest friends, who knows his identity, who has seen his glory, and who now denies even knowing who Jesus is.

It is likely that Mark wrote his gospel following the testimony of Peter concerning Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. And Mark includes this record of Peter’s denial of Jesus as a warning to us as we follow him. What Peter does here in his denial of Jesus, is in some ways, worse than the evil of the council who are putting Jesus on trial mere meters away. The Jews deny Jesus and commit evil, wicked actions against him, but they do not know God. And so they act in accord with their sinful nature. Peter, on the other hand, does know God. He knows Jesus. And yet he acts according to his old, sinful self, instead of his new self.

There is much that we can learn about sin, and keeping ourselves from temptation from Peter.

First, we should remember the context of Peter falling into this great sin. Peter has deserted Jesus already. Verse 50, from last week: And they all left him and fled. This is a sinful and wrong thing to be sure. And Peter should have repented from this sin. And yet, though Peter should have known from this, the weakness of his flesh, and the temptation he had towards cowardice, he decides to put himself in a position where he would do the same again. Verse 54: And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

It was foolish for Peter to put himself in a position where he knew that he would be tempted to sin. And it is the same for us too. We should thank God for the means he has given us to resist temptation, including the gift of brains to know where we are most prone to temptation and to not put ourselves in those positions. Jesus himself warns us to cut off our hands if they cause us to sin, or pluck out our eyes if they do.

If you are tempted to laziness, don’t buy a Netflix subscription and spend all your time at home in front of your TV.

If you are tempted to lust, don’t place yourself in places where you have access to the internet, alone, away from other people.

If you are tempted to gluttony, don’t do your weekly shopping without a friend.

If you are tempted to neglect gathering with the Lord’s people, don’t live far away from your local church.

As John Owen wrote:

Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.

We need to fight sin in many ways to be sure, we will not always be able to place ourselves away from temptation, but it is foolish to willingly place ourselves in those positions, especially when we know that we are easily tempted in certain ways.

Peter no doubt wanted to keep the oath he made to Jesus when he said it. But as Jesus warned him in the garden, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. So, having foolishly put himself in a position to be tempted to sin, how does Peter fare? Well, once the servant girl accuses Peter of being a follower of Jesus, Peter denies it, verse 68: saying “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the cock crowed.

This is the very reason that Jesus had sought to prepare the disciples for what was going to come when he went to Jerusalem. Both his own death and resurrection, and of the disciples’ need to take up their cross to follow him. Peter’s denial of Jesus here is truly wicked. But what is even worse is that he not only denies Jesus once, but persists in his sinning. Jesus even provides Peter with an out. Mark’s gospel records that Peter would specifically deny Jesus before the cock crowed twice. After putting himself in a position of temptation, and then after acting on that temptation and sinning, denying his master, Peter heard the cock crow the first time.

He had an out. He heard the first sign. He should have remembered both his own oath as well as Jesus’ words and repented.

He should have remembered Jesus’ words, that whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Luke’s gospel account even specifies that there were hours between Peter’s denials. Because, as we’ve read, Peter keeps denying Jesus.

And how often is it the same with our own sin. We sin, we know that we have sinned, and yet we keep on sinning.

Have you ever seen those videos online, or if you have children maybe in person too, where a child is carrying a glass of water? And they spill a bit out of the glass as they’re carrying it, and so instead of just continuing on with carrying the water they decide instead to just dump the whole rest of the glass out on the floor. Apparently it’s some developmental thing that happens as children grow up where they decide that because they’ve failed in the task of carrying the water and spilling some, that they may as well just get rid of it all, and either start again, or more likely, just give up altogether. And we look at them and we think to ourselves: “They’re so stupid! Just because they’ve spilled a few drops doesn’t mean they need to pour out the whole glass!?”

But that’s exactly how we are. We sin, and then we think to ourselves, well I’ve already sinned, may as well go all the way. We think, oh I’ve been lazy and spent too much time watching this show, well I’ve already sinned so may as well binge the whole thing. Or I’ve cheated on one test, so may as well keep on cheating. Or I’ve gotten unjustly angry, but instead of backing down and apologising you keep on going and double down.

We say to ourselves, with noble intentions like Peter, we make oaths like I’m going to have a 30 minute quiet time every morning before work. But then we oversleep and only have 5 minutes instead of thirty. But instead of honouring our Lord and offering those 5 minutes to him, though we had promised thirty, instead we throw out the whole glass of water and say to ourselves, well if I don’t have 30 minutes I may as well not do anything, and we stare at our phones instead.

We’re so quick to call out Peter for his denial of Jesus, and we think we’d be like the great martyrs of church history, like Peter when he died, when each day we act the same as he did. We slap Jesus in the face, and then rather than repenting with weeping at what we have done to our Saviour and King, we instead keep beating and beating, spitting on him who died for us.

This habit of sin is true both in the short term, as well as the long term. Our sin snowballs, beginning maybe with a small sin, but growing larger and larger, and rolling down the hill faster and faster, becoming an avalanche. And the longer you wait to bring it to a halt, the harder it is to do so.

Peter begins with cowardice, fleeing from Jesus. Then foolishly enters temptation. Then denies Jesus once, who graciously provides a reminder and means for repentance, before denying him a second time, and then verse 71: he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” This isn’t Peter merely pretending he didn’t hear or understand, but would be like him saying something like: “I swear to God that I don’t know who this person Jesus is, and may God strike me dead where I stand if I’m a liar.”

Where Jesus stays silent under false accusations, and confirms his identity when asked, Peter denies his identity again and again as a follower of Christ, descending further and further into sin each time. If we are to live as followers of Jesus, as those who claim to love and serve him, then the testimonies of our lips, and the testimonies of our lives must reflect that reality. Because, we have the capacity to be like Peter. To fall into sin and temptation, and to give a false testimony of who we are.

A True Testimony (14:72)

But, as with us, there is a true testimony about Peter. Look with me at verse 72:

Mark 14:72 · ESV

⁷²And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Jesus’ testimony about Peter was true. He said that Peter would deny him three times, and he did.

I am Peter. I have said that I will follow Jesus, that I will die with him. I have declared that in my baptism.

And yet I deny him.

I say I don’t know that man when I sin.

You are Peter!

You have done the same.

You have declared that you will follow Jesus. You have declared in your baptism that you will die with him. And yet with your sin in your lives you deny him. Maybe even sometimes by your words too.

You are like the Jews who beat and spit upon Jesus. When you do these things, when you sin against the Lord whom you follow — do you go on sinning like Peter did? The apostle Paul is emphatic that we must not go on sinning, that to do so is living according to our old, dead self, not our new self, a self that has new life in Christ.

You sin like Peter, but do you also repent like Peter? When Peter realises finally what he has done, he breaks down and weeps bitterly. This is true belief, true repentance. This is not a mere outward show, or self-pity, or a temporary regret — but is true grief over sin. Do you have this grief over your sin? Do you weep because of what it means to sin against a perfect, Holy, God — who has loved you and died for you?

If our testimony is sin like Peter without repentance like Peter then we have no hope. Do you instead distract yourself with the myriad distractions of this world? Do you avoid spending time thinking and meditating upon your sin, and how serious it is to sin against our God, before the throne of your Father? Satan does not only want us to sin, but to mope and wallow in our own self-pity, and to feel the weight and burden of that sin. Not in a way which drives us to the cross as it should, that is true repentance, but a guilt which makes us draw away from God, so that we no longer feel the light of his love and the comfort of his presence.

If the Father has chosen you from before the foundation of the world, called you to be his son, and co-heir with Christ, freed you from bondage to sin, brought you from death to life, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, blessed you every spiritual blessing in Christ, filled you with his Holy Spirit to do the good works prepared before you, then how great a sin is it to then deny our Lord and Saviour by our lives, and when we do so to not weep with grief over our shaming of him.

Let us instead run to Christ, run to the one who knows our sin and shame, run to the one who though we beat him a thousand times, will welcome us with open arms again and again. It is a grievous thing to sin against this Christ, but how much worse is it to not turn to him in repentance when we have done so.

Let us take a brief moment, even now, to examine ourselves before our God, and truly consider our sin, how we have denied Jesus by our actions, our words, and our thoughts. This is something we do each week as we have a time of corporate confession, as it is something that we must do regularly and be reminded of. But let us now, once again, truly reflect upon how we have dishonoured God, how we have spit upon him, how we have piled our sins upon him, instead of glorifying him as we should. And let us turn to him once again in repentance for these sins.

Matthew 6:9; 12; 13 · ESV

⁹Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.…¹²Forgive us our debts,…¹³lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.

What is the answer to our continual sin? It is true belief, and true repentance. Not just feeling sorry for yourself, not a repentance that is mere regret, but true sorrow over our sin. Truly understanding what our sin is. That it is deathly serious. That it grieves our God. And that it is our sin that drove Jesus to the cross.

We are in a battle against our flesh. Against our sinful nature which remains in us. But thanks be to God that he did not leave us on our own. Indeed, it is only by the work of the Spirit which he sent to dwell in us that we can repent of our sins. He has given us many gifts and blessings to aid us as we live as his followers.

He has given us his word, because we need it.

He has given us the sacraments, because we need them.

He has given us prayer, because we need it.

He has given us the church, because we need it.

Take hold of all the weapons and gifts that God has given you in this battle. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Should then we live each day in fear that we may fall away from God, deny him altogether, and be like those whom Jesus says will stand before him and say Lord, Lord, but whom Jesus will say never knew him? No, rather we should instead be encouraged by what scripture teaches, and which is summarised in the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Hear these words from Chapter 11, paragraph 5 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession:

God continues to forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure; and in that condition they usually do not have the light of his countenance restored to them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.

1689 London Baptist Confession · 11.5

And these words from chapter 17, paragraph 3:

And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God’s displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.

1689 London Baptist Confession · 17.3

True believers will heed these warnings, will repent, and will be persevered to the end, not by their own strength, but by the grace of God, through faith in Christ. They will grieve their sin, they will repent, and that will be to them a sign of their perseverance. But while this should encourage us, it should also be a warning to us. Jeremy Walker writes that:

While there is encouragement for the believer who truly repents over sin, there is a fearful warning for those who simply become dull to sin, or who sin and resist all the means that God has provided for their restoration. This is not preservation of the saints regardless of their activity; it is preservation by means of perseverance. A man who goes on in sin without repentance calls into question his profession.

Peter’s repentance is genuine, and the Lord restores him three times, just as Peter denied him three times, after his resurrection. We see from scripture how Peter still struggled with cowardice, being rebuked by Paul for his fear of the Jewish Christians. But we also see how in Acts he boldly proclaimed the gospel to all Jerusalem, three thousand repenting and being baptised upon hearing him preach. And we know from church history how Peter would not deny his Lord again, refusing even to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus was, and instead requesting to be crucified upside-down, dying for his Lord as he had once sworn to.

Conclusion

In the two trials in this passage, Jesus lives according to his identity, and gives a true testimony, while Peter does not. But, in reality, of all the people in this passage, Jesus and Peter alone are righteous.

Jesus, as being the only one who was righteous before the law, having lived a perfect, sinless, life, and Peter, being found in Jesus through true faith and true repentance, and having his righteousness imputed to him, given to him so that he may be counted before the true judge, God the Father. While the Sanhedrin declares Jesus guilty, and the servants and guards, and even Peter himself declare Peter guilty, God declares them righteous.

Does your life give a true testimony about your identity? And when it does not, do you repent before the King you sin against? Let me finish with these words from Peter himself:

1 Peter 2:21–25 · ESV

²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²²He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.