53   And they led Jesus to the high priest.

1^st  to Annas. He & 5 sons priests since AD6.

(Jn18.12ff)   Plus Caiaphas, son-in-law.    Note1

And   all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.

2^nd  'night court.' Council largely represented -- as grand jury indictment   proceedings.

54   And Peter had followed Him at a distance,

1^st  mistake: not close enough to make a stand with his Friend.

right   into the courtyard of the high priest.

2^nd  mistake: too close to avoid being pressured by the enemy into denying Jesus.

And   he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

3^rd  mistake: poor company to keep if he intended to be loyal to his Lord.   Blending in.

55   Now the chief priest and the whole Council were seeking testimony against   Jesus

Determined   sentence 1^st. Set out to build a case.

Illegal   procedure should nullify results.

to   put Him to death, but they found none.

Their   goal: eliminate Jesus. Why do Jews seem persecuted through history?

56   For many bore false witness against Him,

What   motives behind this 'testimony?'

but   their testimony did not agree.

First   test of valid witness: agreement,

57   And some stood up and bore false witness against Him, saying,

Stood,   taking the stand, declaring evidence in the case against Jesus.

58   "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands,

A   radical terrorist? He never so said. Jn2.19 -- "You destroy this temple (my   body)..."

and   in three days I will build another, not made by hands.'"

"...in   3 days I will raise it up." His res.

Their   ludicrous claim made by an imbecile.

59   Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.

Accounts   varied & cancelled their credibility. So ends all witness for the   prosecution.

60   And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus,

Desperate   for a case, the chief prosecutor & judge presses the accused to   self-incriminate.

"Have   you no answer to make? What is it these men testify against you?"

As   though this rambling false witness had weight - & to provide opportunity   for rebuttal.

61   But He remained silent and made no answer.

The   accused pleads silence. There is nothing to answer -- no case requiring   response. Isa53.7

Again   the high priest asked Him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"

Desperate   for a confession, he presses the pivotal claim: Messiah, Image of Holy One.

62   And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right   hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."

Boldly   agreeing with the accusation & declaring that HE would be the judge, in   heavenly glory, coming upon Jerusalem.

63   And the high priest tore his garments and said,

Great   show that his holiness is affronted by this blasphemy. Could not accept   Jesus' Deity.

"What   further witnesses do we need?

No   previous witness produced any usable testimony. The accused confesses guilt.

64   You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?"

Lord's   word misconstrued through this court's false preconceptions. Invites jurors   to join him.

And   they all condemned Him as deserving of death.

Every   leader here to dispose of this threat join to a man in the summary judgment.

65   And some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to strike Him, saying   to Him, "Prophesy!"

Pitiful   and bizarre scene as they vent their self-righteous indignation on this   defenseless victim.

And   the guards received Him with blows.

Men   whose duty is rough work of security blindly caught up in agenda of their   superiors.

66   And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high   priest came,

Flashback:   What happened with Peter while Jesus on trial. A simple servant girl came up...

67   and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said,

and   recognized a stranger in the court. She knew all the regulars. This one new.

"You   also were with the Nazarene, Jesus."

He   must be associated with the new criminal brought in, from that despised Nazareth.

68   But he denied it, saying "I neither know nor understand what you mean."

Technically   legal denial -- no knowledge or even comprehension. Yet empty, heartless.

And   he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed.

Moving   toward the entrance/exit to avoid further interrogation. 1^st  crowing.

69   And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This   man is one of them."

Some   milling about ensues... Later, the girl points him out to others: 'a member of   Jesus' group' she identifies.

70   But again he denied it.

Peter   overhears this comment and like the hit dog interjects his 2^nd  denial.

And   after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are   one of them, for you are a Galilean."

After   further musing, they agree, having Peter's own manner as confirmation. It is   hard to escape your past; it shows in every move.

71   But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this   man of whom you speak."

To   put an end to this speculation, Peter claims under oath to have never heard   of Jesus. His key disciple says he never knew Him!

72   And immediately the rooster crowed a second time.

2^nd  crowing. Right on cue, as if the rooster heard Peter's oath and 'called him   out.'

And   Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him,

The   bird's call brings the beleaguered disciple back to his senses. Yes, Jesus told   me...

"Before   the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."

Precisely   what just transpired. And I filled the cowardly role of back-stabbing my   Lord!

And   he broke down and wept.

The   clarity of Jesus' prediction, the fervency of his own claim to loyalty, and   the truth of his present behavior collide in Peter's heart with bitter remorse.   Godly sorrow works repentance.