Jesus said to Peter, James and John, Get up, the one who betrays me is near, and while He spoke, one of His 12 Apostles ... Judas, came there with a crowd of officers from the chief priests, elders and Pharisees, carrying lanterns, torches, swords and spears.

Judas alerted the officers beforehand, telling them, The one that I’ll greet with a kiss is Jesus, He is the one you want. As Judas went ahead of them and came near, Jesus said, Judas, you betray the Son of man with a kiss? Jesus had predicted this earlier ...

Then Jesus said to His persecutors, Have you come out as if I were a thief, with swords and spears to take me? I sat every day with you, teaching in the Temple and you didn’t lay a hand on me, but this is your hour, and the power of darkness, and all this was done to fulfill the scriptures of the prophets. Then all the Apostles forsook Jesus and fled, just as He said they would.

They took Jesus and tied Him, and struck Him repeatedly. When they blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face, and asked Him, mocking, Prophecy, and tell us which one of us it was that hit you? They spoke many blasphemies against Him and then led Him to Annas, the father-in-law to Caiaphas, the high priest. With Annas, all the chief priests, the elders and the scribes were assembled (all the wanna be religious leaders of Israel).

Caiaphas was the one who advised the Jewish people that it was advantageous for one man to die for the people. Annas asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered, I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue, and in the Temple, where the Jewish people always go. I’ve said nothing in secret. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me, what I said to them, they know what I said. One of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand saying, You dare answer the high priest in such a manner? Jesus said, If I’ve spoken evil, testify of the evil, but if I’ve spoken TRUTH, why do you hit me?

In the meanwhile, Peter and John had followed at a distance to the palace of the high priest. John was an acquaintance of the high priest so he was allowed into the court with Jesus, while Peter stayed outside. John came out and spoke to the woman who kept the door and brought Peter in. She said to Peter, Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples too? Peter said, I don’t know what you’re talking about. This was Peter’s first denial of Jesus. It was cold, so the servants and officers kindled a fire in the middle of the hall and Peter sat among them and warmed himself by the fire.

Now, Annas sent Jesus, bound, over to the council of the elders of the people, the chief priests and the scribes. They searched for evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but couldn’t find any. Many people told lies about Him but their stories didn’t match or agree with one another. They spoke against Him saying, We heard Him say, I’ll destroy this Temple made with hands, and within three days I’ll build another made without hands. (Now obviously Jesus was referring to His own Temple, His body, and He would restore His Temple within 3 days when He resurrected.)

Caiaphas tore his clothes saying, He’s spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? You’ve heard it from His own mouth! What do you think? They all condemned Him to be guilty of death. They spit in His face and buffeted Him. Others hit Him with the palms of their hands.

As Peter sat by the fire in the palace, one of the maids of the high priest saw him and looked carefully at him. She said, You were with Jesus of Nazareth too. Peter promised in front of everyone, Woman, I don’t know the man. This was the second time Peter denied Jesus.

After a while, Malchus, who’s ear Peter cut off, came up to Peter with others that stood by when Jesus was arrested, and said, Didn’t I see you in the garden with Him? Surely you’re one of them, your accent gives you away. Peter began to curse and swear, saying, Man, I am not! This was his third denial. And while Peter was still speaking, the rooster crowed. Jesus turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the words of Jesus and how He said to him, Before the rooster crows, you’ll deny me three times. Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Imagine the nightmare this was for Peter. Earlier that evening he was assuring, promising, even insisting to the point of anger that he would never deny his Lord, and would even die the death for Him. Now just a few short hours later, he just as adamantly claims to have never known Him. Then he hears the crow and he comes to his senses and his whole world has crashed in on him in three sentences. Just as Jesus had predicted.

All of Jesus' Apostles abandoned Him. They cowardly ran away when Jesus was arrested, none of them volunteering to testify on His behalf. But, remember Jesus told the men that came to get Him to let them go. So even the Apostles were unknowingly fulfilling scripture.

God is in control.
We’ve seen some other character traits among the Apostles as well, including fear, pride, and jealousy. They were a lot like . . . You and I. And as you just learned, they also knew regret and repentance. Peter is still the rock that Jesus said He would be and would continue on to build His Church (Christianity). But as you just learned once again, God had a purpose for him. Had he rushed in to Jesus’ rescue and did anything different than he did, scripture wouldn’t have been fulfilled and you’d be reading a whole different story.

Our Lord, Jesus suffered utter humiliation. He was innocently accused of blasphemy and now He faces death.