- A Look at Three Trials
- The Personalities of the Trials
- Trial #1: Before Annas (John 18:13-24)
- Trial #2: Before Caiaphas (Matt. 26:57-68)
- Trial #3: Before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71)
- The Illegalities of the Trials
- Some have counted over 20 violations of Jewish laws in these trials
- They willingly and repeatedly violated their own laws to kill Jesus!
- The trials lasted all night (Mark 14:68, 72; 15:1; cf. 13:35)
- The Criminalities of the Trials
- They plotted against Jesus to put Him to death (Matt. 27:1)
- They kept trying to obtain false testimony (Matt. 26:59)
- They kept Him bound through the night (John 18:24; Mark 15:1)
- They struck Jesus with the palm of their hands (John 18:22)
- They spat in His face (Matt. 26:67)
- They beat Him with their fists (Matt. 26:67)
- They slapped Him (Matt. 26:67)
- They repeatedly mocked Him (Luke 22:63)
- They repeatedly beat Him (Luke 22:63)
- They blindfolded Him (Luke 22:64; Mark 14:65)
- They kept asking Him to prophesy who had struck Him (Luke 22:64)
- The officers received Him with slaps and blows to the face (Mark 14:65)
- They kept blaspheming Him and saying many things against Him (Luke 22:65)
- The Finalities of the Trials
- The words of Jesus were final
- Jesus declared Himself the Son of God (Matt. 26:63-64; Luke 22:70)
- Jesus declared that He would be enthroned in heaven (Matt. 26:64; Luke 22:69)
- Jesus declared that He would come in authoritative judgment (Matt. 26:64)
- The verdict of the Jewish leaders was final
- The Jews accused Jesus of blasphemy (Matt. 26:65)
- The Jews “all condemned Him to be deserving of death” (Mark 14:64)
- The words of Jesus were final
- The Personalities of the Trials
- A Look at Three Denials
- Three steps toward denial
- Peter followed Jesus at a distance (Matt. 26:58; Mark 14:54)
- Peter fraternized with the enemy (Matt. 26:58; John 18:18)
- Peter lingered in a place of temptation (Luke 22:58-59; cf. Mark 13:35)
- Three stages of denials
- Peter denied knowing Jesus “before them all” (Matt. 26:70)
- Peter denied knowing Jesus with a solemn oath (Matt. 26:72)
- Peter denied knowing Jesus by calling curses down on himself (Matt. 26:74)
- Three responses after denials
- Jesus looked penetratingly and intensely at Peter (Luke 22:61)
- Peter remembered the precise prediction of Jesus (Mark 14:72)
- Peter wept loudly and bitterly for what he had done (Matt. 26:75)
- But, this would not be the end of Peter (Luke 22:31-32; John 21:15-17)
- Three steps toward denial
- A Look at Three Decisions
- I must decide: Will I confess Jesus for who He truly is?
- I must decide: Will I stand with Jesus when others stand against Him?
- I must decide: How will I respond when Jesus’ Word confronts me with my sin?
- A Look at His Salvation
- Believe Jesus is the Son of God – John 3:16
- Repent of your sins and turn toward God – Luke 13:3
- Confess your faith in Jesus Christ – Matthew 10:32
- Be baptized into Christ – Mark 16:16
- God will forgive all of your sins – Acts 2:38
- God will add you to His church – Acts 2:47
- God will enroll you in heaven – Hebrews 12:23
- Live faithfully to the Lord – Revelation 2:10

