Jesus Before Pontius Pilate

Continuing a Bible study of the gospel accounts:

(Matthew 27:1) When the morning had come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.

At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had just been betrayed by the kiss of Judas and apprehended and brought before Caiaphas the high priest.  He was found guilty of blasphemy in a mock trial and sentenced to death.  The next morning the chief priests and elders plotted on how they would put Jesus to death.

(2) And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

They bound Jesus again and took Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor appointed by the Romans over Judea.  It is written that the sanhedrin had the power of life and death themselves in everything that concerned religion.  Perhaps their case against Him was not strong enough, or more likely they wanted it taken out of their hands, perhaps because they feared the reaction of the people.  Whatever the reason, they put Him in the hands of a Gentile magistrate, fulfilling Jesus's prophecy in Matthew 20:19 that He would be delivered to the Gentiles.

(3) Then Judas who had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

When Judas saw that Christ was condemned to death, he began to feel remorse and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders.  Perhaps Judas thought Jesus would have freed Himself through some miracle, and he had just seen a chance to make some money.  Now Judas "repented himself."  It is important to note there is a difference in the original word used here, "metamellomai" and the word more commonly used for repent, "metanoia."  Judas's type of repenting was more of a changing of his mind, perhaps some remorse caused by fear of the consequences of his actions.  It was a self-centered repentance like when we say that a person was not really sorry, only sorry he got caught.  A true godly repentance, "metanoia," represents a changed heart and behavior, a turning from sin to God.

(4) Saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it."

In changing his mind about his actions, Judas took the money back to the chief priests and elders, telling them he had sinned and betrayed innocent blood.  Once again, there is no evidence that Judas truly repented before God, falling on his face before Almighty God, humbling himself, asking for forgiveness in the realization of what he had done to His Lord.  Remember that God sees the heart and He is always just and righteous, but under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew wrote that Judas was only sorry for himself.  The chief priests and elders declared that was of no concern of theirs.  If he felt he had sinned, he should go take care of that himself.  They had what they wanted, Jesus, and they had condemned Him for blasphemy; they didn't care about Judas's guilt or that he considered Jesus to be innocent of their charges.

(5) And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Judas then threw down the pieces of silver and went out and hanged himself.  There has been much discussion about how Judas actually died, because Peter later stated in Acts 1:18, that "falling headlong, he burst open in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."  Surely both statements are true.  If Judas had hung himself on a tree near a precipitous valley or something like that, the limb could have broken causing him to fall and tumble headfirst and his body dashed to pieces on the sharp rocks.  Matthew stated Judas hanged himself; he didn't say whether or not he actually died at that point.  He may have died, and then fallen; or a limb could have broken before he died and he died grotesquely upon the rocks.

(6) And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood."

The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver Judas had thrown down, but said it was not lawful to put them in the temple treasury because it was blood money.  It is remarkable that they were so scrupulous about the source of the money in their treasury, but not so when condemning innocent blood, as Judas had told them.

(7) And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field in which to bury strangers.

They consulted together and decided to use the pieces of silver to buy the potter's field, which was probably so called because the earth had been dug for pottery, and it was probably now used up and good for nothing.  They were able to buy it for just thirty pieces of silver and used it as a cemetery for strangers.

(8) Therefore that field was called the Field of Blood to this day.

Matthew declared that that potter's field had been called the Field of Blood, because it had been purchased by the price of blood, ever since then and up to the day he wrote that scripture.

(9) Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him who was valued by the people of Israel, (10) And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."

That prophecy was actually spoken by Zechariah:

And I said to them, "If you think it good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed out for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, "Cast it to the potter, a goodly price at which I was priced by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. (Zechariah 11:12-13)

It is believed by the older commentators I study that a subsequent copyist probably mistakenly added the name of the prophet, as Matthew's usual mode of writing was to say only, "by the prophet" (Matthew 1:22, Matthew 2:5, Matthew 2:15, Matthew 13:35, and Matthew 21:4).  Many early manuscripts omitted the name, and that is most likely how Matthew wrote it.  Matthew's point was not about who made the prophecy, but that prophecy had been fulfilled.

(11) And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "You say."

Probably thinking their claim of blasphemy would not matter to Pilate, the chief priests and elders most likely had told him that Jesus professed to be king to incite anger and judgment by the government.  Therefore, Pilate asked Jesus point blank if He was the King of the Jews.  Jesus answered only, "You say," which was not really an admission or a denial.  The account in John 18:36 went on to say that Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world, so He admitted that He had a kingdom, but not a worldly kingdom that would have rivaled Caesar.

(12) And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

Evidently, the chief priests and elders then had their turn to spout all their accusations before Pilate and in front of Jesus, but He said nothing.  There was really no use.  They were false claims, but He knew they intended to kill Him regardless, so He did not try to answer.  This fulfilled another prophecy by Isaiah, in Isaiah 53:7, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He didn't open His mouth; He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth."

(13) Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they witness against You?" (14) And He answered him not a word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Pilate, pressing Jesus to defend Himself, asked Him if He had heard all the things of which the chief priests and scribes had accused Him.  Jesus did not answer him, and that amazed Pilate.  It was at this point that Luke added that Pilate asked Jesus if He was a Galilean.  Probably wanting an excuse to free Him, Pilate was likely relieved that being a Galilean made Jesus under Herod's jurisdiction.  He sent Him to Herod, who saw no cause for death in Him, and sent Him back to Pilate.

(15) Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the people a prisoner, whomever they wished.

It appears that at the Passover Feast the governor had a custom of releasing one prisoner of the people's choosing.  It was not law, but a custom that may have originated in an effort for the Romans to show some bit of respect for the Jews.

(16) And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.

At that time Pilate had an infamous prisoner named Barabbas imprisoned.  Being notable, he was a known criminal; he was either a repeat offender or had done a horrific thing to be so well known.  The account in Luke states that he had been guilty of sedition and murder.

(17) Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Who do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" (18) For he knew that out of envy they had delivered Him.

When the people were gathered together, Pilate asked them who they wanted released to them, Barabbas, the notable criminal, or Jesus whose only "crime" was that He was called the Christ.  The account in Luke states that Pilate found Jesus to be innocent and not worthy of death and had planned to release Him at the feast.  He was most likely certain the people would choose to release Jesus rather than the infamous Barabbas.  Pilate knew it could only be envy that made the chief priests and elders want to kill Jesus, for there was no fault in Him.

(19) When he was sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him."

While Pilate was on his judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him asking him not to involve himself with condemning whom she called a just Man.  She had had dreams about Him, and was convinced of His innocence or perhaps feared the judgment that might come upon her family if Pilate condemned Jesus.

(20) But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

Now that the decision to kill Jesus was out of their hands, the chief priests and elders urged the people to ask for Barabbas.  They probably incited a riot of excitement in the people, for how else could people who had so recently led a procession for Him, crying "Hosannah!" now be persuaded to call for His death?

(21) The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"

The governor responded to the crowd by asking which of the two prisoners they wanted released to them.  Unbelievably, the crowd answered Barabbas.  This was surely done because of the instigation of the chief priests and elders.  It shows the danger of wicked church elders who can easily persuade their flocks, and the danger of a mob mentality.

(22) Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" All said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"

Pilate, probably incredulous, asked the people what then would they have him do with Jesus, a Man he had judged as innocent.  The crowd shouted to crucify Jesus!  Pilate, if he had indeed found Jesus innocent and not worthy of death, should have released Him after his finding.  However, it was God's will that Jesus die on the cross.  

(23) And the governor said, "Why? What evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Let Him be crucified!"

Pilate asked the multitude why they should call for Jesus's crucifixion; what evil had He done?  Instead of answering his question, the crowd just shouted all the more to crucify Him.

(24) When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but rather a tumult had developed, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person; you see to it."

Pilate had lost control of the mob, and therefore took water and washed his hands before the crowd declaring his innocence of the blood of this just Jesus.  If the crowd wanted Him crucified, then it was up to them to have it done.

(25) Then all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and our children."

The people declared it would be their responsibility, and they even decided for their children!  They had no idea what they were asking for, nor what a prophetic statement they had made.

(26) Then he released Barabbas to them, and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Pilate did what the people asked and delivered free Barabbas to them.  He then scourged Jesus.  If he considered Him innocent, why did he have to do that?  He then delivered Jesus to be crucified.  Why?  Because he had no power over the people?  I have long pondered over Pilate's actions.  Was he innocent or not?  At the very least, he was a very weak ruler, letting the people rule over him.  It seems he found Jesus innocent from the beginning, but was happy to have someone else make the decision when he sent Jesus to Herod.  When it came time to release a prisoner, he again pushed off the decision to the people.  Since he was the governor, and he had found Him innocent, and even Herod had found no fault in Him, it seems it would have been his duty to release Him.  He apparently feared going against the chief priests and elders.  I'm sure he thought the people would call for Jesus's release opposite such a wicked prisoner as Barabbas, but he should have been man enough to make the decision himself.  He wanted to pass the decision to someone else and he would bear no responsibility to anyone.

Pilate had even received confirmation from his wife's dreams that he should not condemn Jesus, but he allowed the chief priests and elders to stir up the crowd against Jesus, even knowing that they did it out of envy.  He repeatedly put the question to the people (Luke states three times), indicating his desire to free Jesus, but being the weak ruler he was, he allowed the people to make the decision.  When the people asked that Barabbas be released, he could have released him and then dealt with Jesus as a just ruler should have, but he asked the people what he should do about Jesus!  When they said they wanted Him crucified, he asked why, what evil had He done to deserve crucifixion.  Weak and fearful as he surely was, he gave in to the people.  He said he washed his hands and declared his innocence from that decision, but he really was not innocent.  He failed miserably in his duty as a governor of the people, being so weak.  However, we know that it was God's will that Jesus be crucified.  I don't believe that God forced Pilate to make decisions against his will; I believe Pilate was chosen to allow this because he was a weak man.  Since he had washed his hands of it all, why then did he scourge Jesus?  Only God knows the heart of a man and he will judge Pilate righteously.  This incident proved to be a perfect illustration of what was taking place.  Jesus, judged as innocent, was condemned by the same judge, just the same.  Jesus, the perfect soul having no sin in Him, was nonetheless willed by God to be condemned to die on a cross.

(27) Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered to Him the whole band of soldiers.

The soldiers of the governor then took Jesus into the praetorium, which is actually the original word used.  It means the common judgment hall of the governor, or his court room.  They gathered an entire band of soldiers around Him, as if they really needed that!

(28) And they stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet robe.

The soldiers stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on Him.  They did it to mock Him, but by their actions, they were representing prophecy.  In Isaiah 1:18 it says, "...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..."  Jesus took on the world's scarlet sins to make them white as snow.

(29) And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail! King of the Jews!"

The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus's head to mock Him, but also to torture Him.  They put a reed in His hand to act as a staff and then bowed before Him in mockery, calling out, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  It gives me chills to think these men mocked God Himself!

(30) And they spit on Him and took the reed and struck Him on the head.

Again, it is chilling to think of these men spitting in the face of God and beating Him about the head!  Little did they know He could have struck them all dead with one word, but He allowed Himself to be mocked and tortured for all us lowly sinners, including those soldiers who did this, if we only accept His gift of salvation.

(31) And after they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

After the soldiers had had their vicious fun, they took the robe off Him and put His clothes back on Him.  They then led Him away to be crucified.

(32) And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; they compelled Him to bear His cross.

The account in John tells us that Jesus did bear His cross for a while until His tortured and beaten body could do it no more.  The soldiers then found a man of Cyrene, a city in Libya, Africa, named Simon, and forced him to carry Jesus's cross.

As this is another very long chapter, I will end the post here.  This first half of the chapter dealt with the events leading up to Jesus's crucifixion after His apprehension and mock trial in chapter 26.  The actual crucifixion takes place in the second half of this chapter.

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus and Peter's Three Denials of Him

Continuing a Bible study of the gospel accounts:

(Matthew 26:30) And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

In the last post, Jesus had just instituted Communion at the end of the Last Supper.  Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn at the end of the supper, and then went out to the Mount of Olives.

(31) Then Jesus said to them, "All of you shall be offended because of Me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.'"

Jesus spoke to His disciples, telling them they would all be offended because of Him that night.  The original word translated as "offended" was "skandalizo."  The similarity to our word "scandalize" is obvious.  The dictionary definition of scandalize is to "shock or horrify by something considered immoral or improper."  Just imagine that all of Jesus's disciples who had been side by side with Him through all His teachings and miracles, and had come to know Him as the Messiah, would that night be scandalized by Him because He was considered immoral or improper!  Jesus then quoted the prophecy from Zechariah 13:7 that said that the Shepherd would be struck and all the sheep scattered.

(32) "But after I am risen again, I will go before you to Galilee."

However, Jesus told His disciples that after He had risen again, He would once again go before them, as a shepherd leading his sheep, into Galilee.  Although they would forsake Him, He would not forsake them, but would be back to lead them again.  It should give them comfort to know that though they would be scattered sheep, they would be gathered together again.

(33) Peter answered and said to Him, "Though all shall be offended because of You, I will never be offended."

Peter said to Jesus that even if all others would be offended by Him, he would never be offended by His Lord.  Peter surely truly believed that in his heart.  As we've seen before, Peter was often rash and spoke or acted without thinking first.  He knew he loved his Lord, but as he often did, he relied on his own strength, having no idea of the trials to come.  We never know how truly feeble we are and how much we need the Lord until we are tried.  It can be a blessing to be shown our weaknesses so that we learn dependence on the Lord.  

(34) Jesus said to him, "Verily I say to you, that this night before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times."

Jesus told Peter that on the contrary, he would deny Jesus three times that night before the rooster crowed in the morning.

(35) Peter said to Him, "Though I should die with you, yet I will not deny You." Likewise also said all the disciples.

Indeed, Peter was so confident in himself, that He actually denied Jesus's statement that he would deny Him three times that night.  That clearly shows Peter's reliance on himself that he would actually deny what he should have known to be true because it had been prophesied by Jesus.  All the disciples agreed they would never deny their Lord.

(36) Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray yonder."

Jesus and His disciples came to a garden at the foot of Mount Olive, called Gethsemane, the name meaning "oil press," a lush place probably where the produce of Mount Olive was pressed and prepared for use.  Jesus asked His disciples to sit while He went to a yonder place to pray.

(37) And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very distressed.

Jesus took three of His disciples with Him, Peter, James, and John, to the yonder place He went to pray.  He began to be very sorrowful and deeply anguished.  We can somewhat understand all the physical torture Jesus went through for us, but we are not able to comprehend what it must have been like for a perfect soul, God in human flesh, to have to take on the entire sin of the world.  I'm sure that was the most distressing part, and probably a very hard thing to accomplish.  God, who could not be in the presence of sin, stooping to such a low level as to take upon Himself all the sin of the world!  That is something we humans cannot possibly understand.

(38) Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."

Jesus told the three disciples how anguished His soul was.  We've always been taught to understand that because Jesus was completely human, this showed His human weakness in that He was distressed by His coming torture and death.  We've been taught that as man, Jesus was tempted, but as God, He never sinned.  However, it was much larger than distress over physical abuse, again, I say something we cannot possibly understand.  Knowing what was soon coming, Jesus asked those three disciples to stay with Him and be watchful.  Whether this meant to watch for danger, be His eyes while He prayed, or be watchful for themselves, or probably a combination of all those things, Jesus exhorted His disciples to stay awake, be alert, and be vigilant while He prayed.

(39) And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

Jesus went on a little further away from the three disciples, and fell down on His face and prayed to His Father in heaven.  Once again, we have been taught that this showed Jesus's human weakness in that He wished for "this cup" to pass from Him and not touch Him.  However, He quickly added that although His human body asked this, He would do according to God's will, not His own fleshly will.  That is all true, but what exactly is "this cup"?  We've always imagined it as the physical torture that was about to come, and I am sure that is true, but John Wesley, in his Notes on the Bible, had another thought.  He pointed out that the anguish in Jesus's human soul was the cup He asked to be passed from Him, and that God indeed took that anguish away quickly; and Jesus was willing to subject to the will of God.  Also, once again, we have to remember that what Jesus's fleshly soul anguished over was more than just physical torture, but the crushing sin of the world, and being completely separated from God and His place in heaven.  We cannot comprehend such anguish because we are sinners; sin abounds in us and around us.  However, the perfect God cannot be in the presence of sin.  He had to come to earth in a human form to be able to take our sin upon Him.  Jesus was man, but He was also God, and this perfect man who had no sin, this man who was actually God incarnate, had to endure the sin of the world and separation from His rightful place in heaven.

(40) And He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?"

After an hour of prayer, Jesus came back to the three disciples and found them asleep.  This shows their great human weakness in that they could not stand watch for one hour.  The account in Luke added that they were sleeping "for sorrow."  It's not that they didn't care; they cared deeply, and in their deep grief, sleep befell them.  Although all three were asleep, Jesus directed His question to Peter, because he was the one who stated confidently that he would never deny Jesus.  Yet he had denied one of Jesus's last requests to have him sit and watch with him.  Once again, it's not that Peter didn't care and that he meant to deny Jesus's request; it was human weakness and he should have known better than to trust in his own strength to dispute what Jesus had said about him denying Him three times.

(41) "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation; the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak."

This time Jesus asked that they not only stay with Him and watch, but that they pray so that they might not enter into temptation.  Jesus indeed said that He knew their spirit was willing to do what He asked, but their flesh was weak.  If they had stayed awake and prayed for their own strength and resistance to any temptation, they may have been better able to stand with and perhaps even defend their Lord.

(42) He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Your will be done."

Jesus went a distance away from His disciples again to pray.  Again He prayed that if there was no other way within God's will to follow through with God's current plan for salvation than for Him to go through this way of suffering and death on the cross, and separation from God because of the world's sin upon Him, then He wanted to do God's will.  Jesus, the man, dreaded what was to come and asked for a different way if it were possible.  One might think that because Jesus was also God, that He would know it was the only way, and that He would have the divine strength to follow through.  Indeed, He did, but as all scripture is for our learning so that we may be "perfect" (2 Timothy 3:16-17), Jesus came not only to save us all from our sin, but also to give us the perfect example of a holy man.  He demonstrated that He was tempted, that He anguished over the right thing to do, but relinquished His will to the will of His Father.

(43) And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

Jesus returned again to the three disciples and found them asleep again.  Scripture says it was because their eyes were heavy; they just couldn't seem to keep them open.  The account in Mark added that they didn't know how to answer Him.  They knew not what to do or say for Jesus, and they were sleepy with emotional stress, and had fallen asleep again.

(44) And He left them and went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

This time Jesus did not rebuke His disciples, but went to pray a third time, praying the same thing as before.  I don't think the pertinent part is that He again prayed that that cup depart from Him, but if it wouldn't, then He was resigned to His Father's will.  It's that He continued in prayer all the while He waited for the ultimate outcome.  He prayed consistently for strength for His human body to do what He must do.

(45) Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Sleep on now and take rest; behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."

When taking into context the other gospel accounts of this event, Jesus probably meant the fact that they were sleeping at that point didn't matter because there was no more need to watch; the time for Him to be betrayed into the hands of the Roman soldiers was at that moment.

(46) "Rise, let us be going; behold, he is at hand who betrays Me."

Jesus then told the disciples to wake up and rise and go forth.  It was time for Him to go forth and meet His betrayer, Judas, and face what must happen.

(47) And while He yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came with a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Just as Jesus was speaking those last words, indeed, there came Judas Iscariot, one of His own disciples, with a great many men with swords and clubs who had been sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.

(48) Now he who betrayed Him gave them a sign saying, "Whomever I kiss, that one is He; hold Him fast."

Judas had planned with the multitude with him a signal that would signify who it was they should seize.  He told them that the One he kissed was the One they were after, and they should immediately seize Him and hold Him.

(49) And immediately he came to Jesus and said, "Hail, Master," and kissed Him.

Judas went immediately to Jesus.  The account in Luke says that he went before the multitude.  He probably ran ahead to separate himself from the mob so it didn't look as though he came with them.  He greeted Jesus with "Hail, Master."  "Hail" was a common greeting wishing one to rejoice and be of good cheer, and he also called Him Master.  How hypocritical and diabolical was Judas in exhorting his Master to be of good cheer while he followed through with his plan that would lead to His destruction.

(50) And Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

Jesus spoke to Judas.  He called him "hetairos," which more accurately means "comrade, companion," rather than "friend."  Knowing full well why he had come, Jesus posed the question to Judas.  Rather than asking why he had come, the phrase that was originally translated as "wherefore," which NKJV translated as "why," meant more accurately "whom or what have you come for."  Surely, Jesus was letting Judas know that He knew he came for someone, and He knew that someone was Him.  Those who were with Judas came and took hold of Jesus.

The account in John greatly expounded on this.  Jesus asked for whom had the multitude come, and they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth."  Jesus answered, "I am," and they immediately fell backward to the ground.  Jesus said, "I AM," and that in itself made them fall to the ground!  In that statement, He said He was God, the Great I Am, and that fact knocked them to the ground!  

There are two parenthetical points I'd like to make here.  First, is to say why I think the King James Version of the Bible is the best translation.  This is one of the best examples.  Every translation of the Bible I have seen says that Jesus said, "I am He," meaning He was the one they sought.  Even the KJV says that.  However, what the KJV did that not all other translations did, was to italicize any word that they added to the original to make the statement clearer, or so they thought in this case.  They thought Jesus had answered that He was the one they sought.  But thanks to their method of italicizing any word they added, we know that Jesus actually said, "I AM."  That is the reason they all fell down.  It's been over eleven years since I wrote about different versions of the Bible and how some actually diminish the divinity of Christ.  For many examples of this and for links to those who have studied the issue more in-depth, please read:  Which Version of the Truth Will You Use?

The second point I wish to make is how much I'd like to encourage folks to at least once read a chronologically ordered Bible.  By reading all events recorded in the Bible in the order in which they occurred, one would get the entire picture of what happened when Judas and his band came to seize Jesus, for example.  I admit, right now I am not studying that version that I prefer.  I was challenged by someone to read the gospels to see what Jesus said.  I was at that time moving slowly through the Old Testament with my chronological study, and I was challenged by someone who suggested that the Old Testament was not relevant in our current culture, and that I needed to see what Jesus said.  I took the challenge, knowing that any part of the Bible, in any order, would provide me with spiritual insight, and I couldn't go wrong doing that.  I admit, I have learned some insight on judging others, BUT that doesn't mean all they do in this culture is right by God's moral law.  Jesus said He didn't come to do away with the law; that moral law still exists.  However, we are to act in love and live our lives as Christians with Jesus as the Lord of our lives, answering those who question how it is that we have such hope (1 Peter 3:15), especially during these troubled times.  Peter said we were to do that with meekness and fear.  And that is because we recognize that we are also sinners, and were once lost, but only through the grace of God and the remission of our sins through Jesus Christ are we saved.

Continuing the study of the 26th chapter of Matthew:  

(51) And behold, one of them who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and cut off his ear.

The account in John tells us it was Peter who drew his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.  In his zealous love for his Lord, he sought to protect Him and to prevent the multitude from taking Him.  Commentators suggest, and probably likely so, that Peter was aiming to cut off the head of the one seizing Jesus, but perhaps divine intervention made him miss and merely cut his ear.

(52) Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

However, Jesus told Peter to put away his sword.  His reason was that all who fought by the sword would die by the sword.  There are times when God might make a call to fight, but in this instance in particular, Peter's action would have brought on a battle between His disciples and those taking Jesus, and men would have died.  That was not God's will.  The account in Luke states that Jesus touched and healed the man's ear.

(53) "Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He would immediately give Me more than twelve legions of angels?"

Jesus's point to Peter was that it was completely unnecessary for him to take up a sword to defend Jesus, for didn't he realize that if Jesus had wanted to be defended from this multitude, He could have prayed to His Father in heaven and He would have provided more than twelve legions of angels to defend Him.

(54) "But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?"

Jesus continued His point to Peter that if He had called for legions of angels to defend Himself, how would scripture be fulfilled that prophesied it must be that way, that the Messiah would be apprehended, made to suffer, and would die.

(55) In that same hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a thief, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you laid no hold on Me."

Jesus's point to His captors was to ask why they felt the need to hunt Him down like a robber or thief with swords and clubs.  They had been with Him daily in the temple and never saw Him as a thief.  Why now was all this necessary?  It certainly added to the humiliation to which Jesus consented, to be hunted down as a criminal.

(56) "But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

After He asked why they came unnecessarily with swords, Jesus answered the question Himself that it was done to fulfill a prophecy in the scriptures of the prophets.  This appears to be the prophecy of Zechariah in 13:7, in which the Lord called for a sword to be awakened against His shepherd.  Then at that point, sadly, all of His disciples fled.

(57) And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Those who laid hold of Jesus first led Him away to Annas, so says the account in John.  Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas.  Jesus may have been led to him first out of honor and respect, but it seems He was very shortly led to Caiaphas where the scribes and elders were gathered together.

(58) But Peter followed Him afar off to the high priest's palace and went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

Although his fear had sent him fleeing, his love for his Lord sent him following Jesus into the high priest's palace where he sat among the servants of the palace to watch what was to become of Jesus.

(59) Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false witness against Jesus to put Him to death.

This council, the sanhedrin, first had Jesus seized, and then they looked for something of which they could accuse Him!  They had already determined to put Him to death, and willingly sought even false witnesses to do it.

(60) But found none; yea, though many false witnesses came, yet they found none.  At last two false witnesses came.

It appears many false witnesses came before the sanhedrin, but none were able to say anything incriminating against Jesus.  However, in the end, two false witnesses came before them.

(61) And said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"

The best those two false witnesses could come up with was that Jesus had said He was able to destroy the temple of God and could build it up again in three days.  That may be the way they interpreted it, or maybe they purposely tried to make it sound worse, but what Jesus had actually said in John 2:19 was, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," and in that, He was referring to His own body, the human temple of God on earth.

(62) And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men witness against You?"

The high priest then arose and addressed Jesus, asking if He had anything to say about what these men had said about Him.

(63) But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God."

Up to this point, Jesus said nothing.  There was really nothing that merited an answer.  He knew that they were determined to put Him to death and that His hour had come.  Now the high priest asked Him point blank, putting Him under oath, if He was the Christ, the Son of God.  The false witnesses had proved useless.  The high priest went straight to the point which he felt was sure to entrap Jesus.  If Jesus said He was the Christ, he would condemn Him for blasphemy.  If He said He was not the Christ, then he could condemn Him for lying and being an imposter.

(64) Jesus said to him, "You have said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Jesus then answered the high priest that it was as he had said.  Additionally, He added that they would afterward have full proof of it when they all saw the Messiah sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven, and coming in the clouds of heaven to exact judgment.

(65) Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy!"

The high priest had what he had wanted and that which he had plotted all along to get, his excuse to condemn Jesus.  To demonstrate his zeal for the honor of God, he tore his clothes in grief and abhorrence to what he called a blasphemy of God.  He declared to the members of the sanhedrin that there was no further need for any witnesses, that they had all witnessed what he called Jesus's blasphemy.

(66) "What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is guilty of death."

The high priest asked the members of the sanhedrin what they thought about what they heard, and they answered that they found Jesus to be guilty and deserving of death.

(67) Then they spit in His face, and struck Him with their fists, and others struck Him with the palms of their hands.

It is painful to think of these men spitting in the face of God, and beating and slapping Him.  It is even more painful to think that I myself cursed God when my father died way too young.  How could God ever forgive me for the awful things I said to Him?  But He does forgive; Jesus even asked the Father to forgive what the people did to Him in crucifying Him, "for they know not what they do."  What unfathomable love and mercy!  Indeed, I did not know, and these lost people did not know either.  It's so hard to compare oneself to these wicked men spitting in the face of God, but, there but by the grace of God, go I.  God's saving grace has saved me from the fate I deserve!

(68) Saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is he who struck you?"

They also taunted Jesus.  The account in Mark tells us that they first blindfolded Him and then asked Him to tell who it was who struck Him, ridiculing His claim to be the Messiah.

(69) Now Peter sat outside the palace; and a damsel came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee."

The word that was translated as "palace" means more of an open air area of the palace.  Peter probably sat in the courtyard of the palace, where a young maidservant approached him, and declared that he had been with Jesus of Galilee.

(70) But he denied before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying."

Peter then denied in front of all those among them, probably other servants, and said that he did not know what she was talking about.

(71) And when he had gone out to the porch, another saw him and said to them who were there, "This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth."

Peter then moved to a porch, and another, probably another servant, saw him and told all who were among them that he had been with Jesus of Nazareth.

(72) And again he denied, with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"

A second time Peter denied Jesus, this time more forcefully and more directly denying knowing Jesus at all.  The first time might have been overlooked if it had been the only denial.  He had just said he didn't know what she was talking about and moved away.  He first denied knowing what she was talking about; this time he actually denied even knowing Jesus Himself.

(73) And after a while those who stood by came to him, and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you."

The other servants and/or anyone else among them probably discussed among themselves what the first two servants had said.  After a while they came to Peter declaring to him that he surely was "one of them," one of Jesus's disciples who always traveled with Him.  They said his speech betrayed him.  This did not mean his spiritual speech as he was definitely not being spiritual in his denials of knowing Christ.  In Mark we learn that it was his Galilean accent that betrayed him and convinced them he was "one of them."

(74) Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" And immediately the cock crowed.

Perhaps in an effort to convince them he was one of them, Peter began cursing and swore again that he did not know Jesus, his most forceful denial yet.  Immediately a rooster crowed, fulfilling Jesus's prophecy that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed.

(75) And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who said to him, "Before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

When he heard the rooster crow immediately after his last denial, he remembered the words of Jesus that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.  In his account, Luke added a touching detail.  Jesus, who from the upper end of the hall elevated for a tribunal, could look down and see Peter on the porch or in the lower hall if he had once again moved.  Luke added that when the rooster crowed, Jesus turned and looked at Peter, surely adding immensely to the guilt Peter felt for denying His Lord three times.  He went out from the palace and wept bitterly.  Just a little time before, Peter had been so self-confident that he would never deny Jesus.  The relevant point is that Peter was confident in himself.  The confidence must be in God, in His strength, and in His ability to keep us from temptation.  

There are more lessons we can learn from Peter's fall.  No matter how highly exalted a Christian, no matter how apparently favored by God, every one of us is perfectly capable of falling into sin; it is our nature.  It is only by the grace of God and His protection that we don't constantly fall.  God allows Christians to sin to show us our weaknesses, to show us our need for Him, and to increase our dependence on Him.  This means that even if we fail so miserably as to deny Christ (or curse God), we can come back to God with a contrite and repentant heart, and trust in the loving mercy, compassion, and forgiveness of Him.