Jesus' Judgement

   Peter followed Jesus from a distance until he got to the priest's residence. Going inside, he sat down with the guards to see the outcome. The chief priests, with the whole Sanhedrin, were busy trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. They discovered none, despite many false witnesses who took the stand. Finally two came forward and stated, "This man declared that he could destroy God's sanctuary and rebuild it in three days."
     Caiaphas rose and addressed Jesus, "Have you no answer to this testimony?"
     Jesus remained silent, the Caiaphas said to him, "I order you to tell us under oath before the living God whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
     "It is you who say it. But I tell you this: Soon you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven," Jesus replied.
     "He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? Remember, you heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?"
     The people shouted, "He deserves death!"
     Then the people began to hit him and spit on him.
     "Play the prophet for us, Messiah!" they teased, "Who struck you?"
     Peter was sitting in the courtyard when one of the serving girls came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean."
     He denied it in front of everyone, "I do not know what you are talking about!"
     When he went out to the gate another girl saw him and said to those nearby, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean."
     Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!"
     A little while later some bystanders came over to Peter and said, "You are certainly one of them! Even your accent gives you away!"
     At that he began cursing and swore, "I do not even know the man!"
     Just then the cock began to crow and Peter remembered Jesus' prediction. He went out and cried bitterly.