Publicly Testifying that We Know Jesus

Texts: Isaiah 50:4-11; Matthew 26:62-27:11

I. THE TRIALS

A. Jesus on trial before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68).

1. It wasn’t only Jesus Who was on trial, but His accusers and His judges.

2. It was not Jesus Who was guilty of blasphemy but the High Priest and Sanhedrin.

3. Jesus did not deserve to die, but you, me and all mankind.

B. Peter was on trial in the courtyard (Matthew 26:69-75).

1. As Jesus was in the court of the high priest (cf. Matt.26:3,57), Peter was in the courtyard (Matt.26:69).

2. Peter is “interrogated” by two servant-girls and some bystanders. Three times Peter denied Jesus.

a. “I do not know what you are talking about” (v.70).

b. Peter denied knowing Jesus with an oath, “I do not know the man” (v.72).

c. Peter cursed and swore, “I do not know the man!” (v.74)

i. to swear is to call God as witness.

ii. to curse is to call down God’s damnation and wrath.

d. “The Lord turned and looked at Peter” (Luke 22:61)

e. When the Lord turns and looks at you what does He see?

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:15-16; NIV)

II. THE TESTIMONY OF JUDAS: “I HAVE SINNED BY BETRAYING INNOCENT BLOOD” (Matthew 27:1-10)

A. The remorse of Judas (v.3; see 2 Corinthians 7).

B. Judas the “devil” and “son of perdition” (John 6:70; 17:12).

“The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Matthew 26:24 (NASB95)

1. After Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” (Matthew 26:50).

2. Does the Greek word for “friend” imply some kind of affection or love like it does in the English? The answer is no.

a. “Friend” (hetairos) occurs two other times in the NT, both of which are in Matthew:

i. It is used by the landowner when addressing the disgruntled workers, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?” (Matthew 20:13).

ii. It is used by the king who subsequently throws his “friend” (hetairos) into outer darkness, “Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?” (Matthew 22:12-13)

Psalm 41:9
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.

b. The word has the sense of associate, companion, colleague, but personal affection is not necessarily implied by it.

C. The sin of betrayal and the sin of denying Jesus with curses and oaths are both deserving of death. And yet Peter is forgiven and not Judas (Exodus 33:19; Psalm 130:3; Romans 9:18; 11:33).

The verb elect means to select, or choose out. The biblical doctrine of election is that before the Creation God selected out of the human race, foreseen as fallen, those whom he would redeem, bring to faith, justify and glorify in and through Jesus Christ. This divine choice is an expression of free and sovereign grace, for it is unconstrained and unconditional, not merited by anything in those who are its subjects. God owes sinners no mercy of any kind, only condemnation; so it is a wonder, and matter of endless praise, that he should choose to save any of us; and doubly so when his choice involved the giving of his own Son to suffer as sin-bearer for the elect. — J.I. Packer

III. JESUS BEFORE PILATE (Matthew 27:11-26)

A. The confession Jesus makes about Himself is to be the confession we make in every area of our lives (1 Timothy 6:11-14).

1. Timothy made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses just as Jesus testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate (1 Timothy 6:12,13).

2. Christian profession goes beyond something we only say with our lips, it is something we live with our lives (1 Timothy 6:11,12,14).

John 18:37 (NASB95)
Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

B. Are you making the good confession of faith that Jesus made before Pilate and before the Sanhedrin?

QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION

Pray that God would enable you and give you the desire to be conformed to His Word as read and preached today.

Compare and contrast the testimony of Jesus with the testimony of Peter.

What does it mean that Peter swore and cursed?

Why does it seem that it is easier to find false witnesses who will eagerly testify against Jesus than faithful witnesses?

What is the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow? (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Is suicide the unpardonable sin?

Was Judas repentant?

Memorize Matthew 26:63-68

NOTES

“Jesus Christ Superstar” a 1970’s musical traced the last week of Christ’s life through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. It gave a sympathetic view of Judas which has affected some Christians in more liberal churches.

In a many dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this
That Jesus Christ
Was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for you
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.

Bob Dylan, “With God on Our Side”

In his book The Passover Plot, the British theologian Hugh J. Schonfield argued that the crucifixion of Christ was a conscious re-enactment of Biblical prophecy and Judas acted with Jesus' full knowledge and consent in "betraying" his master to the authorities. Schonfield's hypothesis recognizes the fulfillment of prophecy in Judas' recorded actions without acknowledging that the prophecies were really fulfilled in history. This interpretation became well known in the general population by the controversial film The Last Temptation of Christ. http://www.peacehall.com/forum/misc/56.shtml; accessed on 1/11/06