Title: "The King's High Priestly Ministry Begins"

Text: Matthew 26 & 27

INTRO: 1. Matthew 26

2. The Scriptures Show Jesus as Having a Threefold Ministry

in the World :

a. He is a Prophet .

Matthew 21:11 c/f Acts 3:18-23

b. He is a Priest .

Hebrews 7:22-27 c/f Hebrews 4:14-16

c. He is a King .

Matthew 27:11 c/f John 18:33-37

3. The Overall Theme of the Book of Matthew is that

Jesus Christ is the King of Israel who was the One

Promised by the Prophets of the Old Testament.

4. The Next Two Chapters in Matthew's Gospel Present the

Beginning of the King's High Priestly Ministry .

5. These Chapters Only Relate the Beginning of His High

Priestly Ministry, because that Ministry is Still Continuing

Today as He Intercedes for the Christian Day by Day from

His Position Seated at the Right Hand of the Father.

Hebrews 5:1 c/f Hebrews 7:22-27 & Hebrews 1:3

I. The King's Reminder of His Suffering to Come

Matthew 26:1-2 c/f Matthew 16:21-27

A. Jesus Had Said Very Often that His Time Had Not Yet Come ,

but Now is was Only Two Days Away .

John 2:4 c/f John 7:6 & 8 , & Matthew 26:2

B. When the King's Time for Suffering had Come He Did Not Run

From It , but Set His Face Steadfastly to Go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51

C. He was the Good Shepherd , who Willingly Laid Down His

Life for His Own Sheep.

John 10:11, 14-18, & 27-28

II. A Conspiracy of Deceitful Murderers

Matthew 26:3-5

A. A Conspiracy of Evil Leaders

Verse 3 c/f Proverbs 29:2

1. Chief Priests

2. Scribes

3. Elders of the People

4. High Priest, Caiaphas

B. A Conspiracy of Murderers

Verse 4 c/f Proverbs 1:10-18

C. A Conspiracy of Deceit

Verse 4 - Take Jesus by Subtlety

c/f Mark 11:17-18 & Luke 20:19-20

D. A Conspiracy of Hypocrisy

Verse 5 -- But they said Not on the Feast Day lest there be

an Uproar ...

III. A Precious Sacrifice & Memorial

Matthew 26:6-13 c/f Mark 14:3-9 & John 12:1-8

A. The Setting of the Sacrifice

Verse 6 -- Bethany ... House of Simon the Leper

B. There Came Unto Him a Woman .

Verse 7 -- Mary, the Sister of Martha and Lazarus

1. What a Beautiful Picture we have here.

2. There is Nothing More Beautiful in this World than the

Sight of People Coming to Jesus .

a. People Coming to Be Saved

b. People Coming to Learn as Disciples

c. People Coming with Heartaches and Burdens

d. People Coming to Worship & Serve Him

C. The Woman Came to Jesus In Order to Give Him Something

Precious .

Verse 7 -- An Alabaster Box of Very Precious Ointment

1. The Most Precious Gift that You Can Give to Jesus is the

Gift of Your Very Own Life.

2. There is a Song that was Written about this Story Called :

"Broken & Spilled Out" that Talks About How the People

that Love Jesus Should be Like that Box of Ointment.

" Broken and Spilled Out

Just For Love of You Jesus

My Most Precious Treasure

Lavished On Thee

Broken and Spilled Out

And Poured At Your Feet

In Sweet Surrender

Let Me Be Spilled Out

And Used Up For Thee. "

D. The Value of the Gift the Woman Brought

Verse 7 -- Very Precious c/f Mark 14:5 & Matthew 20:1-2

** 300 Pence / Nearly an Entire Year's Wages

E. The Criticism of Mary's Sacrifice

Verses 8-9 -- What a Waste !!!

c/f John 12:4-6 -- Notice Who Started the Cirticism : Judas.

1. People Still Criticize Today the Person - Like Mary - that

Offers to Jesus a Very Costly Sacrifice.

2. I remember a Story about a Missionary that Took His Young

Bride to a Foreign Field to Serve the Lord, but She Soon Got

Sick & Died. --- People Said : " What a WASTE !"

3. There is Nothing Too Good to Give to Jesus My Friends !

4. If You Find Yourself Criticized for What You are Willing to

Sacrifice for Jesus, Count Yourself to Be Blessed Indeed.

F. The Lord's Defense of Mary & Her Sacrifice

Verses 10-12

1. Let Her Alone. -- Stop Criticizing Her.

Verse 10

2. She Did a Good Thing For Me & To Me.

Verse 10

3. You Can Always Help the Poor, but Your Opportunities to

Bless Me are Limited.

Verse 11

4. She had a Good Reason for Doing what She Did, because

She Saw and Addressed a Need of Mine.

Verse 12

G. A Memorial to her Sacrifice is Established .

Verse 13

1. What an Honor it is to Mary to Have Her Sacrifice Remem-

bered in the Pages of God's Word.

2. God Will Also Remember You and Your Sacrifices of Love

Toward Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 6:10

IV. A Traitorous Pact

Matthew 26:14-16

A. Consider Two Amazing Contradictions

Verse 14

1. That One of the Twelve would Go Unto the Chief Priests in the

First Place

a. The Principle from the Scriptures is that when People are

Kept Back from Meeting with their Own Kind of People and

then Let Go that they will Purposely Return to their Own

Crowd to Meet & Fellowship with Them.

Acts 4:1-23 (Esp. Vs 23 - Key) c/f Psalm 26:1-12 ;

Amos 3:3 ; & II Corinthians 6:14-18

b. What a Contradiction that One of the Twelve would Seek

Out the Enemies of Jesus to Make a Traitorous Pact with

Them to Betray Him.

2. The Second Contradiction is that Judas should have Ever

Been Considered as One of the Twelve.

John 6:64 & 70-71

a. Jesus Knew from the Beginning that Judas would Betray

Him.

b. Jesus Chose a devil to be One of His Twelve Apostles.

B. Consider the Foolishness of the Bargain that Judas Sought

to Make.

Verse 15b -- "What will Ye Give Me & I will" ... Give Him Up.

c/f Matthew 16:26 - There is Nothing In this World that we

can Gain that is Worth the Consequences of Giving Up Jesus.

C. Consider the Insulting Value that they Placed Upon Jesus.

Verse 15b - ..."They Covenanted ... for 30 Pieces of Silver."

1. The Price of a Slave

2. Isaiah was Right when he said : "He was Despised, & we

Esteemed Him Not."

Isaiah 53:3

3. Nevertheless, the Songwriter was Right when he Declared

Jesus to Be : "The Lily of the Valley, the Bright & Morning

Star ; He's the Fairest of 10,000 to My Soul."

4. The Real Question for Us is How Much Value Do WE Place

Upon Jesus ???

5. The Real Truth is that It Doesn't Matter What Value that Man

Places Upon Jesus, because God the Father has Already

Proclaimed His Value as being Higher than the Heavens, &

He has Given Him a Name Above Every Name.

Hebrews 7:26 -- ..."Higher than the Heavens"

Philippians 2:9-11 -- ... " Name Above Every Name "

D. The Dark Hypocrisy of Evil

Verse 16

1. Consider the Poker Face of Evil .

Verses 21-25 -- "Master, Is it I ???"

2. Judas Never "Tipped his Hand" to his Murderous Intentions.

John 13:21-30

3. Judas had the Patience of a Predator .

Verse 16 -- "From that Time he Sought Opportunity..."

4. Consider the Hypocrisy of Evil Incarnate .

a. He Pretended to be a True Follower of the Lord, while All

the while he was Looking for an Opportunity to Betray Him.

b. I've Seen People like that in Positions of Prominence in

Churches in the Past.

c. Judas Provided Satan with an Open Soil to Enter in and

Produce his Hellish Fruit of Betrayal.

John 13:26-30

V. The Passover Preparation

Matthew 26:17-19

A. The Master's Will is Sought .

Verse 17 -- "... Where Wilt Thou ..."

B. The Disciples' Willingness to Serve

Verse 17 -- "... We Prepare for Thee ..."

c/f Luke 6:46 ; Romans 12:1-2 ; & Mark 14:8

C. The Master's Time at Hand

Verse 18 -- "My Time is at Hand."

D. The Lord's Authority Commands .

Verse 18

1. He Commands the Disciples Concerning Where & To Whom

They Should Go.

c/f Mark 14:12-16

2. He Commands the Householder Concerning the Use of his

House.

E. The Disciples' Obedience to the Lord's Command

Verse 19 -- "... the Disciples Did ..."

VI. A Pointed Prophecy of Betrayal and the Resulting

Sorrow & Inquiries

Matthew 26:20-25

A. The Setting of the Prophecy

Verses 20-21a -- "When the Even was Come ..."

B. The Substance of the Prophecy

Verse 21b -- "Verily ... One of You Shall Betray Me ..."

C. The Sorrow of the Disciples

Verse 22a -- " ... they were Exceeding Sorrowful ..."

D. The Questioning of the Disciples

Verse 22b -- " ... Lord, Is it I ??? "

1. The Disciples Realized that they Could Not Even Trust their

Own Hearts.

Proverbs 28:26 c/f Jeremiah 17:9

2. Many People Today are Foolishly Trusting in their Own Hearts

Instead of Trusting In the Lord with All their Hearts, and that is

Very Dangerous.

Proverbs 3:5-6 & Jeremiah 17:9

E. The King's Cryptic Response & Warning

Verses 23-24

1. He Does Not Answer them in Plain Language ; His Answer

Must be Deciphered like Breaking a Coded Message.

Verse 23 -- " He that Dippeth his Hand ... "

2. His Grave Warning to His Betrayer

Verse 24 -- " ... Good ... Not Been Born."

F. The Poker Face of Evil

Verse 25 -- " ... Judas ... Master, Is it I ???"

1. Though Judas had Already Made Plans to Betray Jesus, he

wasn't about to Tip his Hand in the Presence of the Real

Disciples.

2. His Hypocritical Question is a Mockery of Truth & Light &

Righteousness.

VII. The New Testament ( or Covenant ) Instituted and

Commemorated in the King's Last Supper

Matthew 26:26-30 c/f I Corinthians 11:23-26

*** Hebrews 7:19 - 10:39 & Jeremiah 31:31-34

A. The Two Elements in the Lord's Supper Memorial

Verses 26-29

1. Unleavened Bread

2. Unfermented Grape Juice

B. The Symbolism of the Bread

Verse 26 -- " ... This is My Body."

* The Bread Represents the Body of Jesus Christ.

C. The Symbolism of the Juice

Verses 27-28 -- " ... This is My Blood ..."

* The Juice Symbolizes the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Blood of

the New Testament.

D. The Reasons Why the Bread Had to Be Unleavened & the

Juice Had to Be Unfermented

1. Fermentation is Defined as the Chemical Decomposition of an

Organic Substance.

2. Decomposition is Defined as : To Break Down in Decay , to

Rot.

3. Leaven is Yeast.

4. Yeast Actually Causes the Fermentation Process to Take

Place in Bread Dough.

5. Leaven is Often Referred to in the Bible as Speaking of the

Sinful Element in Man that Brings About All Manner of Moral

and Spiritual Decay.

Luke 12:1 c/f I Corinthians 5:1-13

6. The Body of Jesus Christ was Totally Sinless in Every Way

and Never Experienced Corruption - Either Morally or Physic-

ally in the Grave.

I Peter 2:22 ; II Corinthians 5:21 ; John 3:5 ; Hebrews 7:26 ;

Psalms 16:10 ; & Acts 2:22-27

7. The Blood of Jesus Christ was Sinless and Incorruptible Blood.

I Peter 1:18-19 c/f Hebrews 9:6 - 10:29

a. In Human Genetics the Blood Type of the Baby is Deter-

mined by the Genes of the Father.

b. Jesus Christ Did Not Have a Human Father to Pass on the

Corrupted Bloodline to Him in His Incarnation ; He was the

Son of God, so His Blood was Pure & Incorruptible.

I Corinthians 15:21-22 c/f Romans 5:12-21

c. This is One of the Main Reasons Why the Doctrine of the

Virgin Birth is So Vital to Our Salvation.

Isaiah 7:14 c/f Genesis 3:15 & Matthew 1:22-23

E. The Significance of the Bread Being Broken

Verse 26 c/f Romans 6:23

1. The Bread Represented the Body of Jesus Christ which God

Provided Mankind to be an Offering for his Sins.

Hebrews 10:1-14 c/f Isaiah 53:4-12

2. The Life of the Flesh is IN THE BLOOD , so the Blood of

Jesus Christ Had to be Poured Out to Pay the Wage of Man's

Sin ( which is Death ).

Leviticus 17:11 c/f Romans 6:23

3. It is the Blood that Makes Atonement for the Soul (Eternally) by

the Eternal Spirit.

Leviticus 17:11 c/f Isaiah 53:11-12 ; Genesis 2:7 ;

Ezekiel 18:4 ; John 19:30 ; & Hebrews 9:11-15

4. In Order for the Blood to be Poured Out to Make an Atonement

for the Sins of Men, the Body, which Contained the Blood, Had

to be Broken.

5. This is Why Jesus Broke the Bread and Why We Do So as

Well when We Observe the Lord's Supper.

F. The Blood of Jesus Christ and the Remission of Sins

Verses 27-28 c/f Hebrews 9:15-28

1. Redemption & Remission of Sins are Basically Synonymous

and Deal with a Payment being Made with Regard to Mankind's

Sins.

2. Redemption has the Idea of Buying Back the Right of Owner-

ship like with a Pawnshop.

I Peter 1:18-19 c/f I Corinthians 6:19-20

3. Remission has the Idea of Paying Off a Debt that is Owed, as

in : "The Wages of Sin is Death."

Romans 6:23 c/f Romans 3:24-26

G. A TRADED CUP & the Salvation It Represents

Verses 27-29 c/f Psalms 116:12-14 ; Matthew 26:39 & 42 ;

& John 18:10-13

*** Jesus Took the Cup of Sorrow & Suffering & Judgment from His

Father's Hand to Redeem the Son's of Men, and He Gave to Man

the Cup of Salvation which He Himself Refused to Drink Until the

Proper Time.

Matthew 26:29 (Cup of Salv) John 18:11 (Cup of Suff & Judg) Matthew 27:42

H. A Hymn Sung & a Quiet Departure

Matthew 26:30 c/f Isaiah 30:29

1. A Song in the Night & a Holy Solemnity Kept

2. No Doubt the Disciples Left the Place of Feasting with Very

Heavy Hearts and a Sense of Dread & Uncertainty About them.

John 14:1 & 27

3. Nevertheless, in Spite of their Dread & Uncertainty of What

their Immediate Future Held, they Had the Promise of Jesus

Christ that they Had a Victory IN HIM that would Ultimately

Prevail & Reward them Richly In the End.

John 14:1-3 , 27 , & John 16:33

*** WE WIN !!! - Romans 8:37

VIII. A Prophecy of Stumbling & the Disciples' Fervent

Denials

Matthew 26:31-35

A. The Prophecy Included All the Lord's Disciples - NOT Just

Peter.

Verse 31

B. All the Disciples Denied the Prophecy -- NOT Just Peter.

Verse 35

C. To Deny the Truth of the Lord's Prophecy was to Deny the

Truth & Trustworthiness of the Scriptures.

Verse 31 c/f Zechariah 13:7 - " For It Is Written. "

D. How Easy it Can Be to Deny the Truth & Authority of the Word

of God When It Speaks Against Something WE Have Done or

Purpose to Do or Refuse to Do in Our Own Personal Lives.

Verse 33-35

E. The Disciples Meant Well, but they Violated a Scriptural

Principle About Self Confidence.

Verse 35 c/f I Corinthians 10:12 ; Jeremiah 17:9 ; &

Philippians 3:3

F. Our Society Today - at it's Very Core - Seeks to Not Only

Violate but Repudiate the Scriptural Principle Regarding Self

Confidence.

1. We Teach Children from their Earliest Days to BELIEVE IN

THEMSELVES.

2. American Culture has Deified ( or Made a god out of ) Self

Esteem.

3. We Trace Just About Every Problem in Our Society to a Lack

of Self Esteem.

4. We Have Focused So Much on Our "Need" for Self Esteem

that there is Practically No Room Left for Esteeming God !!!

5. The Bible Teaches GOD ESTEEM and that Man Finds his

Basis for Self Confidence WITHIN THE CONFIDENCE he has

in GOD.

II Corinthians 3:5-6

G. In the Face of this Dark Prophecy of the Smitten Shepherd &

the Scattered Sheep there is also a Promise of Victory & a

Future Plan for the Very Ones who would Forsake the Lord

that Evening.

Verse 32

IX. Gethsemane, the Garden of Sorrow & Surrender

Matthew 26:36-46

A. A Sovereign Limitation & Pecking Order

Verses 36-37 c/f Matthew 25:14-15

1. Eight of the Eleven Remaining Disciples were Allowed to Enter

the Garden But were Limited By the Lord in Regard to How Far

they were Allowed to Go With Him.

Verse 36

2. Only Peter, James, & John were Allowed to Proceed Beyond

the Boundaries of Sovereign Limitations Placed Upon the Other

Disciples.

Verse 37

3. It is None of Our Business if the Lord Seems to Choose a More

Favorable Path for Some of His Other Servants than for Us.

John 21:15-23

4. We Should Never Allow Ourselves to be Jealous Over the

Opportunities that the Lord may Sovereignly Choose to Give to

Another that He may Not Choose to Give to Us.

Matthew 25:14-15

5. Remember, God is No Respecter of Persons, & He Doesn't

Love Other Christians More than He Loves Us.

Acts 10:34 c/f John 15:9

6. Remember Also, there were ( and Still are Today ) Multitudes

that weren't Even Privileged Enough to Walk with Him Into the

Garden.

Matthew 20:16 -- "Many be Called but Few Chosen."

B. The Sorrowing Savior

Verses 37-38 c/f Isaiah 53:3-12

1. The Quality & Quantity of Sorrow that Oppressed the Great

Heart of the Son of God that Evening is Far Beyond the Com-

prehension of Mortal Men.

a. The Sadness Over His Rejection by the People He had

Chosen as His Very Own

John 1:10-11 c/f Isaiah 53:3

b. The Sadness of Every Broken Heart of Every Sinner who has

Ever Lived

Isaiah 53:4

1.) Sadness & Broken Hearts are the Direct Result of Sin &

the Curse of God.

2.) Jesus Bore Our Griefs & Carried Our Sorrows.

c. The Sadness of the Broken Fellowship that Had Existed with

His Father from All Eternity Past & He Knew He would Soon

Experience

Matthew 27:45-46 c/f John 18:4

d. The Sadness of His Compassionate Heart as He Looked

Forward to the Heartache and Suffering of His Faithful

Followers, who would Bear His Message and be Partakers

of His Sufferings as well to All Future Generations

Philippians 3:7-10 c/f II Corinthians 11:23-28

e. The Sadness of Experiencing the Stench & Stain of Sin Upon

His Holy Person for the First & Only Time in All Eternity

II Corinthians 5:21 c/f I Peter 2:24

C. A Privileged Companionship

Verse 36-38 ; 40-41 ; & 43

1. It is a Privilege to be Allowed to be a Companion of Jesus Christ

-- Regardless of where that Companionship may Take Us.

2. Along with the Privilege there are Sovereign Boundaries.

Verse 36 -- " Sit Ye Here."

Verse 38 -- " Tarry Ye Here."

3. Along with the Privilege and Boundaries are Sacred Duties.

Verse 38 -- " Watch With Me."

Verse 41 -- " Watch & Pray."

4. A One-sided Companionship

Verse 40 -- " He Cometh to His Disciples, and Findeth them

Asleep."

*** c/f Verse 43 " He Came & Found them Asleep Again."

5. A Ringing Question

Verse 40 -- "What, Could Ye Not Watch with Me One Hour?"

a. There was a Kind of Shock & Disbelief on the Lord's Part

Revealed in this Statement.

b. According to this Statement : The Lord Considers One Hour

in Prayer to be Something Less than the Minimum that He

Should Be Able to Expect from His Disciples.

c. How Much Time Do WE SPEND in Prayer on a Regular

Basis ?

d. Perhaps, this Verse Should Inspire Our Hearts to Give More

Time to Prayer than Has Been Our Habit In the Past.

e. Do We Even Have a Set Regular Time Each Day that We

Have Allocated for Prayer & Communion with the Lord ?

D. A Solemn Charge & Explanation

Verse 41

1. "Watch & Pray that Ye Enter Not Into Temptation."

c/f Matthew 6:13 ; I Peter 5:8 ; & James 1:13-16

2. "The Spirit is Indeed is Willing, but the Flesh is Weak."

c/f Romans 7:18 ; John 6:63 ; & Philippians 3:3

E. A Bitter Sweet Surrender

Verses 39 ; 42 ; & 44 c/f Hebrews 12:2

1. The Surrender was Bitter because of the Bitter Cup of Judgment

that He would Have to Drink to Deliver Us From Judgment & the

Wrath of God Upon Our Sins.

2. The Surrender was Sweet because of the Joy that was Set

Before Him to Save Our Souls.

3. The Surrender is Also Bittersweet to Us , For It Both reminds Us

of Our Own Rebellion Yet Lovingly Calls Upon Us to Surrender

Our Lives to Him Who Laid Down His Life for Us.

F. A Sorrowful Sleep & a Rude Awakening

Verses 45-46 c/f Luke 22:45

1. A Momentary Rest

"Sleep On Now, and Take Your Rest."

"Rise, Let Us be Going."

2. A Time of Rest Interrupted by an Hour of Betrayal & Darkness

Verse 45 -- " The Hour is at Hand, and the Son of Man is

Betrayed Into the Hands of Sinners."

c/f Luke 22:52-53 -- " This is Your Hour & the Power of

Darkness."

X. The King's Betrayal & Arrest

Matthew 26:47-56

A. The Betrayer Comes with his Own Crowd.

Verse 47 c/f I John 2:9 & Acts 4:23

1. Judas may have been Numbered with the Twelve for awhile,

but his True Loyalties were Manifested Over Time.

2. We are First Known by the Company we Keep, but we are

Fully Known by the Company we Seek and Keep to the End.

B. A Contradictory Kiss

Verses 48-49

1. Contradictory as a Sign of Betrayal

2. Contradictory as a Kiss of Death

C. A Haunting Question

Verse 50 -- " Friend, wherefore art thou Come ???"

1. A Real Friend Never Comes with Betrayal on his Mind

2. It is Amazing that Jesus Treated Judas Like a Friend - Instead

of Thrusting him Away because of his Betrayal.

3. Jesus Never Thrusts Anyone Away from Himself in this Life ;

Men Thrust Jesus Away from themselves, and then they Suffer

the Eternal Consequences of their Decision.

D. A Well Intentioned Defense

Verse 51

1. The Defender's Name was Peter.

John 18:10

2. Peter Really Was Willing to Fight & Die for the Savior.

Verse 51 c/f Matthew 26:35

3. Peter was Not Aware At That Time that the Weapons & Battles

of the Savior's Kingdom were Spiritual - Rather than Carnal

( or in the Realm of Flesh & Blood ).

II Corinthians 10:3-5 & Ephesians 6:10-18

E. The Master's Intercession, Interrogation, & Explanation

Verses 52-56

1. First, the Lord Intercedes for the Multitudes that Peter is

Ready to Fight, and He Heals the Man whom Peter has Hurt.

Verse 52 c/f Luke 22:50-51

2. Next, the Lord Interrogates His Disciples & the Multitudes.

Verses 53-55

a. The Questioning of Peter & His Disciples

Verses 53-54

1.) Thinkest thou ... ?

Verse 53

2.) But How Then ... ?

Verse 54

b. The Questioning of the Multitude

Verse 55 -- "Are Ye Come Out as Against a Thief ..."

3. The Lord's Explanation for the Events of that Hour

Verse 56a

F. The Scattering of the Sheep

Verse 56b -- "Then All the Disciples Forsook Him & Fled."

c/f Matthew 26:31

XI. The Lion of Judah Becomes the Lamb of God

Matthew 26:57a

c/f John 1:29 ; Revelation 5 ; Isaiah 53 -- Especially Isaiah 53:7

A. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ as the Almighty God in

Human Flesh is Full of Majesty !

I Timothy 3:16

B. The Mystery of His Nature as the Lion of Judah & the Lamb

of God is Equally Wondrous .

C. Ray Boltz has Written a Song Entitled : " Lion of Judah " which

Captures Some of that Wonder.

*** Play Song or Read Words.

V-1 "Messiah would Come ..."

Chorus : "Lion of Judah ..."

V-2 "No Elegant Robes ..."

XII. The Lamb's Trial & Afflictions Before Caiaphas, the High

Priest of the Jews.

Matthew 26:57b - 68

A. An Assembly of Wicked Religious Leaders

Verse 57b

B. A Distant Disciple

Verse 58

1. A Disciple is a Follower.

2. Peter was Following Jesus.

3. He Followed Jesus at a Guilty Distance -- Afar Off !

4. How Many Times Do We Find Ourselves Following Jesus -- but

at a Guilty Distance from Him ?

C. A Contradictory Communion

Verse 58 c/f II Corinthians 6:14-17

1. Peter was In the Right Place -- where Jesus was -- but

Under the Wrong Conditions.

a. He was Not Standing By Jesus in the Palace.

b. He was Seated With the Servants of the Enemies of God in

the Palace.

2. How Often Do We Find Ourselves Seated with the Wrong

Crowd , when We Ought to Be Standing Up For and Along-

side of Jesus ?

D. A Jesuit Court

Verse 59

1. The Jesuit Order of Catholic Priests had a Simple Motto that

they Operated by ; "The End Justifies the Means."

2. In Other Words : The Goal that is Sought Justifies ( or Makes

Right ) the Means ( or the Method ) Used to Reach it.

3. The Religious Leaders Wanted Jesus Dead, and they were

Perfectly Willing to Use the Testimony of False Witnesses to

Accomplish their Goal.

Verse 59

*** They Even Sought them Out !!!

E. A Multitude of Liars

Verse 60

1. There were Many False Witnesses who were Willing to Speak

Against Jesus.

2. There are Always Many Liars that the Devil has Available to

Speak Against the People of God.

3. Satan is Called the Father of Lies AND the Accuser of the

Brethren.

John 8:44 c/f Revelation 12:9-10

F. The Twisters of God's Word

Verses 60-61 c/f II Peter 3:15-16 & John 2:18-22

1. When Men Take the Word of God Out of It's Context & Twist It

Around & Change It's Meaning, they are Headed for Disaster.

2. The "Jehovah's Witnesses" Twist the Scriptures & One Day

will End Up Going to the Hell they Refuse to Believe In.

3. We Too Must be Very Careful Not to Twist the Scriptures

Around to Make Them Say what We Want Them to Say , but

as Paul Says in Romans 3:4 - (We Should) : " Let God Be

True but Every Man a Liar."

G. The Silence of the Lamb

Verses 62-63a c/f Isaiah 53:7

1. As a Lamb in the Midst of a Pack of Ravenous Lions, the

Lord Did Not Attempt to Defend Himself Against His False

Accusers.

Psalm 22:13 c/f Matthew 27:42

2. As Man's Representative Sacrifice Standing Before the Bar

of God's Judgment, Jesus Stood with Mouth Stopped as

though He were Himself Guilty Before God as Our Sin

Bearer.

a. The Sacrificial Lamb

1.) Our Representative Sacrifice

John 1:29 & Isaiah 53:10-12

2.) Our Sin Bearer

I Peter 2:24 & II Corinthians 5:19-21

b. The Stopped Mouth

1.) The Mouth of Every Guilty Sinner will be Stopped from

Making Excuses or Pleadings of Self Righteousness

By the Law of God in the Day of Man's Judgment.

Romans 3:19

a.) No Excuses Will be Made.

b.) No Pleadings of Self Righteousness Will be Made.

2.) As Jesus was Being Smitten for the Sins of Men

Before the Judgment of God, His Mouth Made No

Plea & No Excuse but was Silent as though He were

Himself as Guilty as We Before God.

Isaiah 53:4-7

3. As Our Example Jesus Did Not Defend Himself Against

those that Falsely Accused Him, & Neither Should We

Feel Compelled to.

Verses 62-63a -- "Answerest Thou Nothing ? ..."

c/f Revelation 12:10 ; I Peter 2:11-2, 15, & 19-23

*** Both Answering & Silencing Our Ciritics with Well Doing

H. An Insincere & Close-minded Question

Verse 63b -- "I Adjure Thee .. Tell Us ..."

1. The Man Did Not Want the Truth !!!

2. He wasn't Really Interested in Considering the Lord's

Answer.

3. His Attitude was : Don't Confuse Me with the Facts ; My

Mind is Already Made Up.

4. He had a Brain Like Concrete : All Mixed Up and Perma-

nently Set.

5. He is Like a Lot of People Today : Not Looking for the Truth

- Just Asking Questions they Don't Really Care About

Hearing the Answers to.

a. If God is Love , How Can He Send a Man to Hell ?

b. How Can God be Just, if He Condemns to Hell People

who have Never Heard About Jesus Christ ?

c. If All of Mankind Came from Adam & Eve, then Where

Did Cain Get His Wife ?

d. What Difference Does it Make What a Man Believes as

Long as he is Sincere About it ?

I. The King's Response

Verse 64

1. A Simple Confirmation

" Thou Hast Said."

a. You Have Spoken the Truth.

b. Today in Common Speech People Say : " You've Got

that Right. "

2. A Royal Proclamation

" Hereafter, Shall Ye See ... "

a. You Will See Me Enthroned in Heaven.

b. You Will See Me Returning in Glory.

J. The Council's Reaction

Verses 65-68

1. A Charge Declared

Verse 65 -- "He Hath Spoken Blasphemy."

2. A Verdict Sought

Verse 66a -- "What Think Ye ?"

3. A Judgment Declared

Verse 66b -- "He is Guilty of Death."

4. A Shameful Treatment

Verses 67-68 c/f Isaiah 50:6 ; Isaiah 52:14 ; &

Luke 22:63-65

a. They Spit in His Face.

b. They Buffeted Him ( or Punched Him & Pushed Him

Around ) .

c. They Blindfolded Him & Slapped His Face.

d. They Mocked Him & Asked Him to Prophesy who had

Hit Him.

e. They Blasphemed Jesus , whom they Accused of

Blasphemy.

Matthew 26:65 c/f Luke 22:65

f. Consider the Contradictions

Matthew 26:66-68 c/f Hebrews 12:2-3

1.) The Contradiction of a Death Sentence Upon the

One who IS Life.

Verse 66 c/f John 14:6

2.) The Contradiction of the Shame of the Cross Upon

the One who Knew No Sin.

Hebrews 12:2 c/f II Corinthians 5:21

3.) The Contradiction of Sinners being Against the One

who Came to Bear their Sins In His Own Body.

Hebrews 12:3 c/f I Peter 2:24

XIII. The Sifting, Denial, and Bitter Weeping of Peter

Matthew 26:69-75 c/f Matthew 26:31-35, 51-54, 58 ; &

Luke 22:31-34

A. The Sifting Foretold

Luke 22:31-34

1. The Sifting is to Break Down Our Pride & Humble Our Hearts,

so we Recognize Our Need to Have God as Our Helper.

Matthew 26:31-35 & 75 c/f John 15:4-5 ; Psalm 46:1 ; &

Philippians 4:13

2. The Pressure that Satan Uses to Sift Us is a Pressure which is

Brought to Bear Upon Our Faith in Jesus Christ & His Will for

Our Life.

Luke 22:31-32 c/f I Peter 4:12-13 ; I Peter 1:3-8 ;

I Peter 5:6-10 ; & Jeremiah 29:11

3. The Sifting is Limited By God, so It Cannot Exceed the

Resources of His Grace.

I Corinthians 10:13 & II Corinthians 12:7-10

4. The Sifting is Accompanied by a Rejoicing In Hope through the

Grace of God By Faith In Jesus Christ.

I Peter 1:3-8

a. It is Within the Context of Trials & Heaviness that this

Rejoicing is Found.

I Peter 1:3-6

b. The Means of Our Rejoicing In Trials is Our Faith In and

Love Toward the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Peter 1:6-8 c/f John 10:10-11

c. Our Rejoicing in Trials Also Finds It's Source in the Hope

that we Have in the Purpose that God Has for Our Lives.

*** Hope of the Glory of God

Jeremiah 29:11 ; Romans 5:1-5 ( Especially Verse 2 ) ;

Ephesians 1:3-12 ( Especially Verses 12 & 6 ) ; &

Ephesians 2:1-10 ( Especially Verses 7 & 10 )

B. The Denial Foretold

Matthew 26:34

1. Peter was a Believer in Jesus , but he was More of a Believer

In Himself.

Verses 31-35

2. The Denial was Preceded by a Failure to Take the Word of

God Seriously.

Verses 34-35 & 40-43 c/f Matthew 26:69-70

3. The Denial was Preceded by a Departure from the Place of a

Disciple : Following Jesus Closely & Standing Alongside of

Him.

Verses 56-58 c/f Verses 69-70

4. The First Denial Led to Further Departure & Further Denial.

Verses 69-74

a. He Departed Further in his Guilty Distance from the Lord.

Verse 58 c/f Verse 71

b. He Departed Further in the Coarse Language he Used In

his Denial.

Verse 70 c/f Verse 74

c. His Denials Became More Fervent as a Snowball Picking

Up Momentum Rolling Downhill.

1.) A Simple Denial

Verse 70

2.) A Sworn Oath Denial

Verse 72

3.) A Cursing Oath Denial

Verse 74

C. A Look of Disappointed Love & a Brokenhearted Weeping

Matthew 26:75 c/f Luke 22:61-62

1. The Lord May have been Disappointed with Peter, but He

Never Stopped Loving him.

2. No Words Can Accurately Describe the Shepherd's Heart that

that Look No Doubt Conveyed.

a. A Deep Sorrow for the Sadness & the Sense of Failure

that Peter was Feeling

Isaiah 53:4

b. A Longing Desire to Reach Out & Lift Up His Fallen Sheep

Out of his Sin & Feelings of Worthlessness

Luke 14:1-6

c. A Patient Waiting for the Hour of Peter's Restoration and

Reassignment to the Ministry

John 21:15-19 -- Ecclesiastes 3:10-11

d. A Rejoicing in Hope of the Future Fruitfulness of His Fallen

Follower

Acts 2:37-47

3. The Response of Peter was a Torrent of Tears & Bitter Self-

loathing.

4. With Tears of Repentance Flows the Father's Forgiveness as a

Mighty Cleansing River to Wash the Sin Stained Soul

I John 1:6-9

*** When we Too have Sinned Before Our God, the Father's

Forgiveness, Cleansing, & Renewed Fellowship are Only a

Brokenhearted Prayer Away.

Psalm 34:18