Perfect Peace In the Father’s Will (Matthew 26:57-68).Thursday March 12, 2026
Intro:
The disciples who left their nets to follow Jesus now leave Him to flee for safety.
The priest’s plot and Judas’ plot converge.
Psa 62:9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath.
We are all in that first line.
Jesus’ humanity, true humanity, is the means of changing any heart from low degree to the highest degree.
Mat 26:57-68 Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.
59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. 60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, 61 and said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'" 62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66 what do you think?" They answered, "He deserves death!"
67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, 68 and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?"
[Main idea] Because the Lord Jesus sets Himself to obey the will of the Father, grave injustice will not detract Him from His mission that will save mankind.
The first trial:
Peter: the rock is again a player in this scene and just as significantly. (Peter becomes a message to us)
Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. He is brave. But he is brave without prayer, meaning, he is not resting and finding courage in God’s will.
A sense of duty alone is not strength. Strength flows into our weakness by faith in God’s will and purpose.
Zec 4:6 [Zerubbabel tasked with building the second temple] Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts.
Isa 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength;
One might gather from this verse, in isolation, that all I have to be is weak. You must submit to the will of God by faith.
Unjust authority:
Deu 17:6 “On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.”
Note the reason for witness seeking: “so that they might put Him to death.” Not for the purpose of determining innocence or guilt. Ironically, Pilate will be much more just.
The main idea from the high priest and authorities in this scene is severe injustice.
When they finally do get two witnesses to agree they misrepresent what the Lord said - even when justice might seem to be working, it may be at its worst. “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come upon you for your testing …” (1Pe 4:12).
What the Lord had said (Joh 2:19) referred to His body which they were to destroy (and did) and which He (and the Father and Spirit) raise again in three days as He did. They offered a pitiful perversion of He said.
Evil pretends righteousness and justice: God has a plan for His glory and your strength if you endure under His will.
His glory and your strength - always a partnership is desired (see Paul in Phi 3:10 for desire on our end; and Rom 8:28-30 for desire on God’s end).
The Lord’s Perfect silence / peace:
Jesus refused to answer the bluster of Caiaphas.
This is not a silence from fear, but from peace. There is a peace in our hearts when we know we are in the will of God. There is no safer place in the universe.
Isa 26:3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.”
He speaks!
Why does Jesus now speak when He has been continually silent throughout?
If Jesus refuses to answer it may seem like a denial, which He will not do..
Because the Lord Jesus sets Himself to obey the will of the Father, grave injustice will not detract Him from His peace in the Father, nor His mission that will save mankind.
“You have said it yourself” - a Greek affirmative reply. [Robertson]
Mar 14:62 Jesus said, “I am”
This would have been enough, but that is not all that Jesus said to Caiaphas.
Dan 7:13 And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming,
Psa 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."
Every man in that room knows exactly what He is saying of Himself.
Say the truth no matter what comes back at you.
Victory has a perfect time:
At that time it would seem that the authorities got the last word and final victory.
Pronouncing death and resorting to violence and mockery.
We only need remember the Scripture He quoted. In the end He will be the King and judge and all will bow to Him, some voluntarily out of love, some by force and into judgment. |