Jesus Before the Jewish Leaders (Mk. 14:53-65; Lk. 22:54-55, 63-71; Jn. 18:13-14, 19-24)

⁵⁷The men that arrested Jesus led him to the house of Caiaphas the high priest.* The teachers of the law and the older Jewish leaders were gathered there. ⁵⁸Peter followed Jesus, but he did not come near Jesus. Peter followed Jesus to the yard of the high priest's house. He went in and sat with the guards. Peter wanted to see what would happen to Jesus. ⁵⁹The leading priests and the Jewish council tried to find something against Jesus so that they could kill him. They tried to find people to lie and say that Jesus had done wrong. ⁶⁰Many people came and told false things about Jesus. But the council could find no real reason to kill Jesus. Then two people came and said, ⁶¹"This man (Jesus) said, 'I can destroy the temple* of God and build it again in three days.'" ⁶²Then the high priest* stood and said to Jesus, "These people have said things against you. Do you have something to say about these charges against you? Are these people telling the truth?" ⁶³But Jesus said nothing. Again the high priest* said to Jesus, "You are now under oath. I command you by the power of the living God to tell us the truth. Tell us, are you the Christ,* the Son of God?" ⁶⁴Jesus answered, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man* sitting at the right side of God. And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven." ⁶⁵When the high priest* heard this, [he was very angry]. He tore his clothes and said, "This man has said things that are against God! We don't need any more witnesses. You all heard him say these things against God. ⁶⁶What do you think?" The Jews answered, "He is guilty, and he must die." ⁶⁷Then the people there spit in Jesus' face. And they hit him with their fists. Other people slapped Jesus. ⁶⁸They said, "Show us that you are a prophet,* Christ*! Tell us who hit you!"

Peter Is Afraid to Say He Knows Jesus (Mk. 14:66-72; Lk. 22:56-62; Jn. 18:15-18, 25-27)

⁶⁹At that time, Peter was sitting in the yard. A servant girl came to Peter. The girl said, "You were with Jesus, that man from Galilee." ⁷⁰But Peter said that he was never with Jesus. He said this to all the people there. Peter said, "I don't know what you are talking about." ⁷¹Then Peter left the yard. At the gate, another girl saw him. The girl said to the people there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." ⁷²Again, Peter said that he was never with Jesus. Peter said, "I promise to God that I don't know this man Jesus!" ⁷³A short time later, some people standing there went to Peter and said, "We know you are one of those men that followed Jesus. We know this because of the way you talk." ⁷⁴Then Peter began to curse. He said strongly, "I promise to God that I don't know this man Jesus!" After Peter said this, a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: "Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.

high priest The most important Jewish priest and leader. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of God. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. prophet Prophets could say things that most people could not know.