Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Mark 14:53-56, 66-68 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying." And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.
"I AM THE TRUTH"
Jesus is on trial before the Sanhedrin. Peter warms himself by the fire in the courtyard below. As these two scenes unfold we see they have much in common, too much. Finally, we cry out in frustration: "Won't anyone seek the truth around here?! Won't anyone speak the truth around here?! Won't anyone speak the truth in love ... all the time, no matter what the personal cost?"
JESUS DID. Before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin He honestly and openly stated the truth about His person -- even trying to steer His enemies away from their Messianic misconceptions. He did it for the sake of those unfaithful Jewish elders -- and for our sake. He did it though Jesus knew that speaking truth would seal His condemnation.
With Peter, Jesus spoke the words of warning and admonition earlier that night and then caused them to ring anew in Peter's ears -- by means of a meaningful look across the courtyard of the High Priest.
Those words then led Peter to look square at his lies and to repent, to put aside all excuses and pour His heart out to God, placing His faith then not in His own strength but in His Lord.
It was faith well-placed. Jesus is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. Ever He speaks the truth: the truth about the Father's love, the truth about the Son's sacrifice, the truth about the Spirit's power. The truth about the forgiveness for dishonesty -- and every other sin, purchased and won for us on the cross.
