Matthew 26:57-75
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
57 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.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 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?” 63 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.”
64 “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.”[a]
65 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.
67 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?”
Peter Disowns Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Other Readings
Mark 14: 53-72
- Luke 22: 54-71
- John 18: 13-27
Bitter was the night,
thought the cock would crow for ever.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
before the break of day.
Saw you passing by,
told them all I didn't know you.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
told them all I didn't know you.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
Told them all a lie,
and I told it three times over.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
and I told it three times over.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
What did Judas do?
Sold him for a bag of silver.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
What did Judas do?Sold him for a bag of silver.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
Hanged himself upon an alder.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
Bitter was the night,
thought there'd never be a morning.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
Bitter was the night,
thought the cock would crow for ever.
Bitter was the night
before the break of day.
Sydney Carter
The prayer of Jesus in the garden
by Victor Hoagland, C.P.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples,
“Sit here while I pray.” Mark 14, 32
“Sit here while I pray.” Mark 14, 32
Our blessed Lord prostrates himself upon the rocky soil clutching at the very ground for support. He groans in distress and writhes in physical agony. His usual calmness deserts him as he keeps repeating the same prayer over and over again: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Great beads of sweat appear on the face of Jesus as a shattering storm engulfs his soul. Gradually, the sweat turned in crimson as his prayer increased in its intensity. Soon, his entire body perspires...a sweat of blood.
What are the causes of this internal martyrdom of our Lord? What is this “cup” which he pleads with his Father to remove? He has just witnessed a “Preview of his Passion.” Picture after picture, the various sufferings of the Passion flashed through his mind. The crucifixion, stark and terrifying, loomed up before him and caused his sensitive soul to recoil in terror. Once again he pleads with his Father, “If it is possible...”
Yet Christ did not run away from the Cross and the suffering that he knew awaited. Nor did he take the easy way out. He suffered this incredible agony in reparation for our sins. The conclusion is obvious. We cannot live a “comfort-at -all-costs” philosophy of life. To follow Christ calls for an unrelenting struggle with the tendencies to sin found in the make-up of each of us.
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