KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE || Lesson 28 

KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE

[With Reference to the Events Concerning Jesus’ “Passion,” note how Jesus’ love is amazingly displayed throughout and therefore ‘stand in awe of God, the Most High.’]

Lesson Twenty-eight

Journey to the High Priests’ House – Matthew 26:57-58a (Mark 14:51-52; John 18:15a)

Matthew 26:57-58a – Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

V.57 – Mark adds: Mark 14:51-52 – ⁵¹A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, ⁵²he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

(NASB) 51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

The Matthew Henry’s Commentary states: “…he was frightened out of his bed, to be a spectator of Christ’s sufferings.  Such a multitude, so armed, could not but produce a great stir; this alarmed our young man, who had the curiosity to go, and see what the matter was, and was in such haste to inform himself, that he could not stay to dress himself, but threw a sheet about him.”

Refer to the mode of dress in New Testament time.  See John 21:1-7 [V.7 – Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

(AMP) Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Simon Peter, hearing him say that it was the Lord, put (girded) on his upper garment (his fisherman’s coat, his outer tunic)–for he was stripped [for work]–and sprang into the sea.]

Application: Revelation 16:15 – “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Colossians 3:12-14 – ¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Romans 13:14 – Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

V.58 – But Peter followed him at a distance – John adds: John 18:15 – Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,

(a) At the High Priest’s House (Annas) – John 18:12b-13, 19-23

John 18:12-13 – ¹²Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him ¹³and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

Annas – The Halley’s Bible Handbook states: “Annas, who had been deposed a.d.16, still retained the influence of the office.”  Note:   Luke 3:2 – during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

Acts 4:6 – Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family.

John 18:19-23 – ¹⁹Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

²²When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

(b) At the High Priest’s House (Caiaphas) – John 18:24; Matthew 26:59-61; Mark 14:55-59

John 18:24 – Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Still bound – The unjust treatment continued. Note John 18:12 – Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him

They bound him – The Matthew Henry’s Commentary states: “… tied his hands behind him, as they usually do with convicted criminals.”  Note: He had not yet been convicted.

Caiaphas the high priest – John 18:14 – Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.  See John 11:45-52. (V.51-52 – Note:  Isaiah 53:8 – By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

Isaiah 49:6 – he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”)

Matthew 26:59-61 – ⁵⁹The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward ⁶¹and declared, “This fellow said, `I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'”

Mark’s account:  Mark 14:55-59 – ⁵⁵The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. ⁵⁶Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

⁵⁷Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ⁵⁸“We heard him say, `I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'” ⁵⁹Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

Compare John 2:18-22 – ¹⁸Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

¹⁹Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

²⁰The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²²After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

General Application: Let us ask the GOD OF LOVE to help us to heed Hebrews 12:3 – Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.