Will You Deny Jesus?

 N.T.#295 "Will You Deny Jesus?"

May 1, 2024 

Matthew 26-Part 18

LET IT GLOW 

Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times, yet Jesus never denied He is the Son of God. (Luke 22:70) Earlier, Peter told Jesus he would lay down his life for His sake. (John 13:37) What happened to Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends, the inner circle? Can we point a finger at Peter to shame him? Probably not.

How is your standing with Jesus? Have you denied He is the Son of God? Have you denied Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord, or have you proclaimed it?

But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:9)

Denied in Luke 26:72, means contradict; reject; refuse.

Peter refused to admit to a girl that he knew Jesus and was one of His followers. Have you refused to accept that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, Jesus? What about others in your inner circle-family, friends, coworkers? Have you refused to declare who Jesus is to you?

...The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice. (Luke 13:38)

Used in this verse, denied means to deny utterly; disown.

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.  (1 John 2:23-24)

I write this again because there are many unbelievers who come to read this blog, so it is important to me that folks know the truth. Believer, will you share with others who Jesus is ?

LET IT GROW 

Shall we return to the trials of Jesus? First He was taken before Anna, the former high priest; then Jesus appeared before Caiaphas, the high priest; the final Jews who tried Jesus was the Sanhedrin council. Blasphemy was the charge-they denied Jesus to be the Son of God. They sentenced Jesus to be turned over to Romans for execution. 

Jewish trials were to be public, not secret, and were held in the Hall of Judgment in the Temple area. Capital cases required a quorum of 23 judges and were to follow a strict order of arguments from both the defense and the prosecution. Two or three independent witnesses were examined and cross-examined individually. This was not allowed in Jesus' trial. His trial was private and at night during the Passover festival. (Earlier, Jesus appealed to Annas for witnesses, yet was refused in John 18:20-24.

The false witnesses testified they heard Jesus threaten to destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and rebuild it in 3 days. (verse 61) It was true, for Jesus referred to His body. (John 2:21)

Jesus confessed the truth that He was the rightful King, their long-awaited Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God in 26:63. 

There was no dismissal for deliberation of the Sanhedrin, no one standing as a witness for defense, no request for the production of evidence. Just abuse and humiliation for Jesus.

Peter observed the whole thing from outside. He was unwilling to stick his neck out to come to his Master's aid as a witness for the defense. Yet, it was not Peter's time to die, which would have happened. I think Peter would have hung on a cross next to Jesus had he done so. 

LET IT GO

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

He is my Savior, Redeemer, and King.

Who is Jesus to you?