Beloved congregation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, why are they bounding Jesus? He's right in front of them. He's not running away. He's just taken an ear that has been cut off by his servant, Peter, and put it back on the high priest's servant. All Jesus has shown is love and grace. He came to them. And when they asked Him, He said, here I am, I am He, I am. And even though they fall down and they cower in fear, He still doesn't run away. He still doesn't bring destruction upon them, but they feel like they need to bind Him, to humiliate Him, that He can no longer raise His hands. He's not gonna run away. Jesus Christ isn't going to inflict punishment or vengeance on anyone. Because Jesus Christ knows what he must do. Jesus Christ must submit to this humiliation. Jesus Christ must submit to this trial, first a pre-trial and trial that he knows is a joke. He knows that it's unlawful. He knows that this should not be going on at night. He knows that they're not allowed to impose sentence in the same 24-hour period that they make the charge and vindicate that charge. He knows all of that because He knows they know all of that. And still they bind Him. These people who think they can take the Son of God, who has become the Son of Man, and ridicule Him and mock Him. My God, My God, why have you forsaken Jesus like this? Ah, dearest Jesus, how have you offended? What have you done? And we see Jesus now. If we had the painting of last time, now we have the moving pictures of this time, of Jesus being led to Annas. Why did they lead him to Annas? Because Annas isn't the high priest. His son-in-law is the high priest. And back then, they would have known more than we do, so now when we read it, we have to go and study these things, and we have to find out about Annas and who Annas was. So in AD 6, Annas was appointed to be the high priest, not by God, not by the Sanhedrin, but by Rome. And the man who was the preliate just before Pontius Pilate had appointed him, then Pontius Pilate came and we're pretty sure there was a little graft, a little exchange of money, what we call simony, the buying of the office, and then Annas had his place. But not before Pilate's predecessor had let him go, laid him off. He had fallen into disrepute. He had fallen from grace. But because of his power and because of who he was, his sons and his son-in-law, and then even his grandson, over the next 30 to 40 years, were always in the seat of the high priest. Five of his sons followed him. Right now we have Caiaphas, his son-in-law. His birth name was Joseph. And then after that, one of his grandsons. Annis was a man of power. Annis is a man of social clout. He is a rabbi. He is a Levite. He is a high priest and he's named in a sense the high priest in the same way in the United States where you have presently serving President Biden and you also have the one who's running against him, President Trump. The title continues with him. And so now they bring him to Annas because Annas is going to speed everything up. Annas gets it. Annas understands what's going on. We need to have a pre-trial, get everything done, so by the time we get it to Caiaphas, we can move it on and take care of our Jesus problem. That's what's happened. Jesus Christ has become a problem. You see, when there's darkness, And you want to live in that darkness, light becomes a problem. Light hurts the eyes. Light hurts the head. Light makes you want a turn away. And what do we do then? Well, in our world, we just flip the switch. We blow out the candle. Unflick the lighter. And that's what they want to do with Jesus. He has become an annoyance. He has become a problem. I want you to think about Annas, because Annas is a very rich man. The Sadducees are very rich people. It's very interesting. Because if you look at the Levitical laws, and you think of what the Levites were supposed to be, they were not supposed to have land. Yet the Sadducees were landed. They were not supposed to be wealthy, but they were to live off the good gifts of the people of God. off the ties, off the meat from the offerings. They were to be taken care of. They were the representatives of Almighty God. By taking care of them, you were honoring God. Now, in the history of Israel, often they were neglected, often they weren't very well taken care of. They weren't honored. But in time, the Sadducees, and we remember, had changed their view of Scripture. They only accepted those first five books of the Bible. They were all about the Temple, and they were all about the economy that came with the Temple. We remember how angry Jesus was when He went to the Temple, and He kicked over all those tables. There was money there. Why? Because they were charging Temple taxes that were beyond what the Word of God asked. They were charging money to change over money and exchange that money, which the Word of God did not allow. You were supposed to bring your own animal for offering, your own lamb, your own bull, your own goat. They said, no, no, those aren't good enough. We'll provide that for you. You can buy that from us. Can you imagine now you have Jesus Christ talking about a righteousness that comes by faith? That there's no work that you can do? That he is the offering? That John the Baptist has said he's the Lamb of God? Remember what they did? John the Baptist was a Levite, born to two Levites, Zachariah and Elizabeth. And they handed him over to Herod and they cut his head off. You see, it's not simply that they hate Jesus, but they hate what Jesus is going to represent. They are in trouble because they're going to lose a lot of power. They're going to lose a lot of money. Jesus is a problem. Oh God. My God, why have you forsaken me? Jesus must look at all of this with contempt and disgust. As they lead our Lord and Savior bound away, Rome and the Jews, Romulus and Jacob, now join together. And they bring him to this man who thinks he's quite the man. The man whose name is Annas, Children, you remember what the priests are supposed to do? The priests are supposed to represent the people of God. So what do we mean by that? It means that they pray for the people. They bring the offerings for the people. They cry out to God for the people, forgive them, help them, make them holy. And they would ask on behalf of God and then teach on behalf of God. This is the way of life. This is the way to be good. This is the way to be right with Almighty God. Do you know what Annas was supposed to be? the representative of Jesus. That's sometimes what we miss. You know what Caiaphas is supposed to be? the representative of Jesus. Do you know what the temple is supposed to be? The representation of God on earth in Jesus. He is our temple. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is our great high priest. He has come to die for them. So you know what's happening now? The son of Moses is going to kill Melchizedek. What are you talking about, pastor? Well, if we go all the way back in time, Abraham, takes on the kings of his age and then he brings a tithe to the Lord and he brings it to Melchizedek the king of righteousness who serves as a priest as we read in Psalm 110 and then we read again about him in Hebrews 8 and 9 and we think about this Melchizedek and then we read in Hebrews that Levi was sanctified through Abraham's giving through Melchizedek who was an eternal priest the one who represented Jesus Christ, Christ is of the order of Melchizedek and now Moses son Levi represented by Annas and Caiaphas and those priests and those Sadducees together with the Pharisees want to put to death Melchizedek, the eternal one. He has come for their salvation. He has come to His own, and His own have not received Him. He is the light shining in the darkness, but the darkness would have nothing to do with them. The darkness wants to snuff out their light. The seed of Adam and Eve, the seed of the woman has come. He stands there now before who was supposed to be the seed of the woman, who said that they were the seed of the woman, and there they stand there. It's the darkness as the seed of the serpent. And we can hear Satan howling in the darkness, crying out, crucify him, condemn him, curse him, destroy him, and we will rule the world. And Jesus stands there. He stands there when he knows that this trial is mockery. Do you see what they did? For us, again, we have to study it, but the Jews would have immediately seen there's a problem here. And the problem is that they're asking Jesus questions. They're asking Jesus about what he did. The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples and his doctrine. If this was a real court case, if this was a real Jewish legal setting, if this was genuine, if it was right, if it was holy, you know what was supposed to happen? First two witnesses were to be called. Those two witnesses are to talk about Jesus' integrity, Jesus' character, who he was, why it would seem inconceivable that he had committed any crime. By the way, did you notice? There is no crime. They've charged him with nothing. What do you teach about? What are your disciples doing? Wrong. You may not. This is a kangaroo court. They got nothing on the innocent one, on the Lamb of God with no blemish and no broken bones. There's nothing, nothing wrong with him. Then they're supposed to bring the two other witnesses, the witnesses who bring the charges, who confirm the charges. We heard him saying this. We heard him saying that. But none of that's happening. That's why Jesus says to Annas, you know, You know what I did, I spoke the word openly in the synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Jesus, very quietly, and children, we need to learn this. In Jesus' argumentation, when Jesus pushes back, he does it respectfully, and what he's saying is, you're supposed to bring the charge. You're supposed to bring the witness. He's not raising his voice, he's just simply saying, you know. So I'm leaving my life in your hands. Do your job. Do it well. Do it right. Because that's what happens when light shines. When light shines, then things can be seen. And the wickedness of Annas can be seen. The wickedness of the people of God, who have turned against Melchizedek, who have turned against the Lamb of God, who have turned against our beloved Jesus, are forsaking him now, are evil. And they're wicked. and they're hypocritical, and it's paradoxical, these men who speak of holiness and treat our Lord with such disregard. All those who have heard me, what I said to them, indeed they know, bring your witnesses. I stand before you an innocent man. And what do they do? They slap him. This little man, who thinks he has a big position, opens his hand up, and he slaps Jesus across the face. The understanding of that kind of slap is to draw blood, to bruise, to hurt. How do you hit the Son of God? But this is what the darkness does, and it's ignorance, and it's arrogance. You're gonna talk to the high priest like that? Jesus is the high priest. Jesus is speaking in righteousness, and then he says quietly back to them, well, show me the evil. Bear witness. Why do you strike me? This man has a chance now to repent. Annas has a chance to repent. You're right. We're wrong. We have nothing on you. I wash my hands of you. We need to let him go. We know what you taught. We know what you did. They need to bend the knee to Jesus. They need to repent and believe, because the kingdom of God is at hand. But Melchizedek, the king of righteousness, our Solomon, the prince of peace, has come and he must be destroyed. And Annas on that day is not given to repent. And Annas is going to lose his soul. for His power, and for His money, for His survival. And what of you? What of me? When we see Jesus, oh, we can get furious. Aren't you angry? I'm angry. I don't like it. I don't like what they're doing to my beloved Jesus. I don't like it, what they're doing to our Lord and Savior. I don't like what they're doing to the beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations. Truly, I'd love Thee. Truly, I'd serve Thee. Really? Are we not just like Peter? Lord you'll never have to suffer. Oh Lord. We'll take care of these things for you Oh Lord not that you would go through these things, but we will stand for you Because Peter's walking around there, too With a servant is it John early church tradition has said that it's John but it may be Nicodemus something something Joseph of Arimathea and We're pretty sure that John has a connection to the high priest, he knows who all these people are. Could be him, it doesn't really matter if we needed to know. The important thing is Peter can get in. See, John and Peter and the other disciples have fled. But now they're curious, see, they want to know what's going on. But they don't want to be known. Why is Peter? Denying Jesus walks in a young girl. She asked the question by the way in a very interesting way She asked the question in a way that begs the answer. No, are you one of them? Yeah, you're not one of them. Yeah. No. No. No, I'm not remember what Jesus did children when they said We're looking for Jesus of Nazareth. I am I'm he here I am Aren't you with Jesus of Nazareth Peter says? Yeah, no No, no I'm not with him. What's he doing? What is Peter doing? What is he so scared of? He's had the promises of Jesus Christ. Peter, I prayed for you. Satan is after you, we read in the Gospel of Luke. I have prayed that you will not lose your soul. Peter, I tell you before the rooster crows, you're going to deny me three times. Peter, do you know him? Yeah, I know. No, I don't really know him. I don't want to die. Some people try to put it in the best light. They're thinking that maybe Peter, wanting to help Jesus, lied so that the end justifies the means. Well, if I can keep myself alive, then maybe I can help him later on. I don't think so. That's not the sense of the text. I think when you read it, too, Peter has really fallen short. My God. My God, why have you forsaken me? Our fathers put their trust in you, from you salvation came. They begged you, you set them free. They were not put to shame. But as for me, I am a worm and not a man at all. To men I am despised, based. Their scornings on me fall. Slapped upside the head like a common criminal. His good friend, his leader. I don't even know him. Forsaken for you. Forsaken for me. It's one thing, you know, and we have lots of little children in here for VBS, and we feel confident, and we sing with them, and we talk with them, or a brother brings in a family from a neighborhood, and we feel confident, and we talk to them, but are we not engaged often in Peter's denial? Who are you? If I really write what I think, if I really write who I am, then I'm not gonna get that university degree. I'm not going to get the grade that I want. I may not get the job that I want. I may lose the job that I have. I may not get the girl that I want. Aren't we scared to really talk about Jesus? The joy that we have in the fellowship hall, does it spill over into the neighborhood? You know, for me, it's always Monday. Well, I can't talk to that guy and tell Jesus on Monday. It's my day off. There's always some reason to not talk about Jesus, isn't there? What are we scared of? Don't just look at Peter and get angry, but get angry and then see yourself in Peter. But let's see Peter in light of our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. For Annas now sends Jesus bound. You see how it keeps saying that? Then Enes sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. We've got nothing on this Jesus. He is going to be the lamb of God. We're now taking the lamb of God to the temple to be sacrificed. He is going to be the whole offering, the burnt offering, the guilt offering, the scapegoat, the Passover lamb. He is going to die. Jesus knows it you think Jesus you remember Samson children How strong he was and they wrapped them in this brand new cord made with fresh vines. It would have been impossible For any man no matter how strong he was to break those but the Holy Spirit came upon Samson and he burst those bonds you think Jesus can't burst those ropes in a second if he wants to but he won't and he doesn't because you need to get saved and We need to get saved. He will do what it takes and what it needs to be done. Look at Him and love Him and understand Him. He is so different than these religions that say, believe and you can be powerful. Believe and we will give you strength. Believe and you can have everything that you want. Look at the Savior said, I will give my life for you. Every other religion, every other God always says, you die for me. And God says, I will send my son to die for you. Look at this and change. This is what will change you. You're fighting a sin right now, read the story and read it again. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? He loved you so much. He trusts so much in the power of God. He believes so much in the wonder of the power of the faith of Christianity that you can be changed by this grace. That's how we get out of our addictions. That's how we get out of our brokenness. That's how we get out of all the trials and the struggles. Look at this Jesus who is going bound to death for you. And then follow him. Are you going through a tough time? Yeah, we can complain, we can be bitter, or we can say, but look what Jesus did. Pick up your cross and follow Him and walk with Him. Because if all this isn't enough, that He's going to go to these priests who do not represent Him, but have turned against Him and are going to destroy Him and slaughter Him, Peter is still standing there warming himself. It's interesting that all four Gospels make a note that Peter was with those servants warming himself by the fire. So there's a couple things we need to understand. First of all, that servant girl is kind of annoyed. We're gonna have to stay up all night because of this Jesus and you're with him too? And now these servants are standing by the fire and going, it's going to be a long night. You don't build a fire. By the way, it's two or three in the morning now, and it's cold. But these men have to be ready. These servants have to be ready because I might need a cup of coffee. I might need a glass of water. I might need a glass of wine. They have to be ready at the beck and call. Why? Because Jesus has to be destroyed. Now Jesus is another kind of irritation and annoyance. This is what Jesus is doing for you, submitting himself to this nonsense. What wondrous love is this, O my soul? God so loved the world that he gave his only son, Peter. We were there in the garden. You were there, right? We saw you with them. And Peter again says, well, no. I am not. Isn't it interesting to see the language? Before it was I am, Jesus, and again, I am not. So John is making this interesting juxtaposition here for us. One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him, whose ear Peter cut off, so a relative of Malchus, said, did I not see you in the garden with him? It was a little bit dark. We couldn't see everything. But I'm sure I saw you with him, Peter immediately denied again, and the rooster crows. Now what are we to make of that? What do you hear and what do you see in that? So we've been talking this week among us about legalism, and seeing sin, or Christianity, and seeing grace. When you deal with a sinner, do you see law being violated and then sin in the life? Or do you see in one, especially who's repented, who's been changed, do you see grace in their life? Do you see the grace of God in their life? Because this story is really interesting. How do you feel about Peter now? We're angry with him, we're disgusted with him. What was Peter doing three times? He was even warned, three times you will deny me. Three times he denies him. Oh, maybe it's impetuous and maybe it's self-serving. It doesn't really matter. He did it. The sin is there, but don't miss the grace, beloved, because the rooster crowed. Why did the rooster crowed? So he knew he did it. Did the rooster crow for Annas? Did a rooster crow for Caiaphas? Did a rooster crow for Judas? No, because God came and got Peter. Why? Because Jesus was praying for Peter. Satan is sifting. Satan's come after you, Peter. Peter, you're not strong enough to stand up to Satan. You're not strong enough to stand up to the temptation. But I will save you and the rooster crows. And Peter is hit like he's been hit by a truck. And he realizes now what he has done. and he will be restored. And in godly sorrow that leads to repentance, he will say, my God, I long to be perfectly whole. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Remember Peter? Oh, then wash all of me. No, Peter. What I have done is sufficient. What I will do is sufficient. The rooster crowed, and Peter will be saved. Just all things are working together for the good of those who love him. I will not lose one, Jesus says, whom I give me. In that diabolical moment, when Jesus has just been struck and hit and bound and maltreated, the rooster crows by the power of Almighty God. Peter, you're a sinner. but you will be saved by grace. Do you see sin or do you see grace? We need to see both. But never lose grace at the expense of sin because then we'll go into legalism and then Christianity becomes a bitter nightmare. You end up with the Pharisees and the Sadducees with Annas and Caiaphas. Or you can stand with Peter with the acknowledgement of our sin and who we are. Saved by grace. Saved by the power of all Mighty God. Hallelujah. What a Savior. See the light shining there in the darkness? We're moving towards dawn. The darkness will dispel there at Golgotha and there in the Garden Cemetery. And He will rise again from the dead. The sun will rise again. But even in that dark moment, The sun shines, and even in the darkness of this cold, brutal, ugly world, God has set you, beloved, who believe, as so many lights, as so many stars. So behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Repent and believe the kingdom of God is at hand. Confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and that he is risen from the dead, and you will be saved, and you will never be put to shame. For this is our story, and this is our song. And the rooster crowed, and a man got saved. Isn't that a story? What's your story? Let's share it together today. Amen, let's pray.