Introduction: The last half of the 26th chapter of
Matthew records the arrest and mock trial of Jesus before the “chief priests, and
elders, and all the council,” along with the desertion of his disciples and
Peter’s reaction.
1. Jesus predicted that all would be scattered v. 31. And just as they were denying that they would (v. 35) they came to the garden of Gethsemane (v. 36).
2. In the garden, He told some to sit while He went an
prayed, but took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful, telling them to “tarry” there and
“watch” while He went farther and fell on His face and prayed. His prayer was if
it be possible for the cup to pass from Him! He felt all the sorrow associated with death;
He did not’t want to die any more than any of us would. Yet, even though He prayed
the same prayer three times, He always ended with, “nevertheless not as I will, but
as thou wilt.” (Matt.26:39-44). Sad is
the fact that while He was praying with such earnestness, His disciples went to sleep (v.
45-46), manifesting the weakness of the flesh.
3. Judas comes to identify Jesus with a “kiss” (vs.47-56). One tried to defend Jesus by cutting off the “ear”of “a servant of the high priest (v. 51), yet Jesus told him to put away the “sword” saying that “they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (V. 52). He could have prayed to the Father and been given more than “twelve legions of angles”. Yet, He says “how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled (v. 54). His death was necessary for the salvation of mankind.
4. They laid hold on Jesus and took Him to the
“high priest’s’ palace. False witnesses were sought, but none were found,
yet finally two came forward. When Jesus answered and told them He was the Son of God they
counted it “blasphemy.” (Vs. 55-68).
5. Peter, as the Lord had predicted “denied”
that he knew Him (vs. 69-75). After the third denial, the “cock crew” and Peter
remembered the words of Jesus. How stricken he must have been, having been so bold, just a
few hours earlier, and now he sees that the
Lord knew him better then he knew himself. And how appropriately, “he went out, and
wept bitterly.” Sadness should fill the heart of the sinner!
We see the difference in this man (Peter) and the one
who sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. He too was saddened by what he had done. He
tried to return the money, but his evil deed had already been done. He could not’t
deal with it, and destroyed himself. Here is a powerful lesson: when we sin, we should
indeed be sorrowful, but to the point we repent and turn to the lord (accept His terms of
grace in obedience), rather than as Judas did.
Questions:
1. What did Jesus say would happen to the disciple
that night (Matt. 26:31)?
2. How did the disciples react to Jesus statement concerning them?
3. How many prayers did Jesus pray in Gethsemane?
4. Content of the prayer Jesus prayed, and the ending?
5. How did Judas identify Jesus (Matt.26:49-50)?
6. How did one of His disciples react to people who
came to take Jesus (vs 51-52), Jesus response?
7. What did Jesus say He could do, but then what would
result (v.53)?
8. Where was Jesus taken and what was
“sought” (vs. 51-61)?
9. What
was Jesus charged with, on what ground (vs.62-68)?
10. How many times did Peter deny Christ?
11. What happened that caused Peter to remember, his
reaction (vs. 69-75)?