Friday, January 19, 2007
Afar Off
After seeing Jesus simply yield to the guards, it can be easy to understand how Simon would have been confused. He likely had a thousand things going through his fragile mind. He had to be questioning everything now?
Would Jesus break free? If put on trial, would Jesus be found not guilty? Would Jesus die or be imprisoned? Was He not really the Messiah? Why didn't Jesus fight?
How does all of this fit into what Jesus had predicted about His death and resurrection? Was resurrection even possible? Jesus had brought others back from the dead. Could He do it for Himself?
Simon may have felt somewhat betrayed. Jesus was always a mystery in some ways. But this was too much. Simon had been close to the man for about three years. Yet He never expected this.
Simon followed the crowd holding Jesus from afar off. They took Jesus into the high priest's palace. Simon went in the court yard and sat with the servants. He wanted to see the end.
Simon kept his distance because he did not want to be discovered. He certainly didn't want to be on trial with Jesus. Yet, he had to know what would happen. Not only for his own peace of mind, but for the sake of the others too. As a leader of the group, the other men would look to him for answers. And he probably didn't have many at that point.
It can be difficult to piece together exactly what happened next. The Gospels provide different details and are written to different audiences. One thing is sure, Simon was not the rock that Jesus was through the entire ordeal. Jesus responded in calm, spirit-led actions. Simon responded from his soul, doing whatever necessary to save his neck. Jesus acted from purpose. Simon reacted from confusion.
Simon may have made a number of denials that night. All of them may not have been recorded in Scripture. Terror-stricken and anxious to clear his name, Simon likely repeated his denial a number of times to different people.
The soldiers first took Jesus to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Annas was the previous high priest. He was removed from power by the Romans in A.D. 15. Many Jews still considered Annas the true high priest. It isn't clear why the soldiers took Jesus there first. But they did. Maybe it was an initial interrogation to see what Annas could get out of Jesus before the entire Sanhedrin heard the accusations.
The soldiers then take Jesus to Caiaphas' house. It appears the entire Sanhedrin, all the Jewish religious leaders, were gathered for the trial. The entire scene would have seemed out of place to the Jews. First, trials did not take place at night under the cover of darkness. Unless the leaders wanted to keep everything secret, a trial would not have taken place at the high priest's house.
The trial took place on the eve of a festival day - not the best time for a trial. Normally, verdicts were not rendered on the same day as the trial. And the way the trial was carried out went against the customs of that day. It would have seemed like a mockery of justice. The thing that tipped the scales was Jesus' own words.
The high priest, who presided as the judge, asked Jesus a question based on his authority as high priest. Caiaphas said, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
As a devout Jew, Jesus would have been legally required to answer the question since he was charged under a divine oath. Jesus affirmed that He is the Son of God. Caiaphas tore his priestly robes and declared that Jesus had spoken blasphemy. The other leaders called for Jesus' death.
According to the Gospel of John, Simon was not first allowed into the courtyard. Another disciple, who was known to the high priest, had to first go and make arrangement with the servant at the door. The attendant asked Simon if he was a disciple of Jesus. Simon replied, "I am not." This was the first denial.
Many scholars believe John was the other disciple with Jesus that night. Nobody knows for certain. He was certainly aware of what happened because his Gospel provides details missing from some of the other accounts. John also recorded it was cold that night. Servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Simon stood there too warming himself.
The high priest asked Jesus about His disciples and His teachings. This would have probably made Simon uncomfortable. Simon may have wondered even more if he would be discovered too. Jesus responded that He had always spoken openly and not in secret. He refused to defend himself or directly answer the charges. Instead, Jesus called on the high priest to question the witnesses and the people who heard what He had preached.
While getting warm around the fire, a servant girl asked Simon if he was one of Jesus' disciples. She claimed that she saw him with Jesus. Simon denied it again. He said, "I don't know Him." Others pointed out that Simon had a Galilean accent, which they claim signaled that He was likely a follower of Jesus.
Throughout the night, Simon denied having ties to Jesus. He called down curses on himself and swore that he did not know Jesus. A relative of the man whose ear Simon had cut off recognized him and said, "Didn't I see you with Jesus in the olive grove?"
The events of the night must have kept on coming back to haunt Simon. He must have thought, 'What if people recognize me as the guy with the sword?' Maybe Simon recognized the servant who was the relative of the person he had attacked. The story about the attack and the healing must have circulated around the crowd.
Upon his final denial, the cock crowd again. Jesus had predicted, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times." A number of scholars have indicated that cocks were know to crow two times during the night. The first crowing occurs near midnight while the second take place hours later near daybreak. This interpretation means that Jesus was basically indicating Simon would deny Him before the next day begins.
The Gospel of Look paints a picture of how the moment must have broken Simon. Just as Simon was speaking his last denial, the rooster crowed. Jesus turned and looked at Simon. Then he remembered how Jesus had prophesied the denial. Simon left the courtyard and wept bitterly. Simon became aware of his own sin. While denying Jesus, Simon was focused on not getting caught. He was not aware of his sin. It appeared that he had forgotten the prophecy.
Simon became aware of his sin when Jesus looked at him. Something happens when our eyes catch those of the Lord. We see our failings how we fall short of His love. We don't feel worthy of His love. We can't look Him in the eye. Jesus' gaze of love breaks us. That is what happened at that moment. Simon had a rude awakening of his real self.
The Greek word used to describe how Jesus looked at Simon is "emblepo." This word means to look at with the mind, to consider. Jesus did not look at Simon with eyes of anger or even disappointment. His gaze broke Simon because it conveyed a sense of understanding. Jesus knew were Simon was in his heart and his actions. He had predicted what would happen. Even Jesus' gaze exuded a sense of love, mercy and forgiveness.
Maybe it was this look that let Simon knew everything would be Ok. Unlike Judas who had done the same sin as Simon, Simon eventually was restored. He did not hang himself and die in sin as Judas did. Simon was broken by his sin, but he was restored by Jesus' love and sacrifice on the cross.
Would Jesus break free? If put on trial, would Jesus be found not guilty? Would Jesus die or be imprisoned? Was He not really the Messiah? Why didn't Jesus fight?
How does all of this fit into what Jesus had predicted about His death and resurrection? Was resurrection even possible? Jesus had brought others back from the dead. Could He do it for Himself?
Simon may have felt somewhat betrayed. Jesus was always a mystery in some ways. But this was too much. Simon had been close to the man for about three years. Yet He never expected this.
Simon followed the crowd holding Jesus from afar off. They took Jesus into the high priest's palace. Simon went in the court yard and sat with the servants. He wanted to see the end.
Simon kept his distance because he did not want to be discovered. He certainly didn't want to be on trial with Jesus. Yet, he had to know what would happen. Not only for his own peace of mind, but for the sake of the others too. As a leader of the group, the other men would look to him for answers. And he probably didn't have many at that point.
It can be difficult to piece together exactly what happened next. The Gospels provide different details and are written to different audiences. One thing is sure, Simon was not the rock that Jesus was through the entire ordeal. Jesus responded in calm, spirit-led actions. Simon responded from his soul, doing whatever necessary to save his neck. Jesus acted from purpose. Simon reacted from confusion.
Simon may have made a number of denials that night. All of them may not have been recorded in Scripture. Terror-stricken and anxious to clear his name, Simon likely repeated his denial a number of times to different people.
The soldiers first took Jesus to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Annas was the previous high priest. He was removed from power by the Romans in A.D. 15. Many Jews still considered Annas the true high priest. It isn't clear why the soldiers took Jesus there first. But they did. Maybe it was an initial interrogation to see what Annas could get out of Jesus before the entire Sanhedrin heard the accusations.
The soldiers then take Jesus to Caiaphas' house. It appears the entire Sanhedrin, all the Jewish religious leaders, were gathered for the trial. The entire scene would have seemed out of place to the Jews. First, trials did not take place at night under the cover of darkness. Unless the leaders wanted to keep everything secret, a trial would not have taken place at the high priest's house.
The trial took place on the eve of a festival day - not the best time for a trial. Normally, verdicts were not rendered on the same day as the trial. And the way the trial was carried out went against the customs of that day. It would have seemed like a mockery of justice. The thing that tipped the scales was Jesus' own words.
The high priest, who presided as the judge, asked Jesus a question based on his authority as high priest. Caiaphas said, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
As a devout Jew, Jesus would have been legally required to answer the question since he was charged under a divine oath. Jesus affirmed that He is the Son of God. Caiaphas tore his priestly robes and declared that Jesus had spoken blasphemy. The other leaders called for Jesus' death.
According to the Gospel of John, Simon was not first allowed into the courtyard. Another disciple, who was known to the high priest, had to first go and make arrangement with the servant at the door. The attendant asked Simon if he was a disciple of Jesus. Simon replied, "I am not." This was the first denial.
Many scholars believe John was the other disciple with Jesus that night. Nobody knows for certain. He was certainly aware of what happened because his Gospel provides details missing from some of the other accounts. John also recorded it was cold that night. Servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Simon stood there too warming himself.
The high priest asked Jesus about His disciples and His teachings. This would have probably made Simon uncomfortable. Simon may have wondered even more if he would be discovered too. Jesus responded that He had always spoken openly and not in secret. He refused to defend himself or directly answer the charges. Instead, Jesus called on the high priest to question the witnesses and the people who heard what He had preached.
While getting warm around the fire, a servant girl asked Simon if he was one of Jesus' disciples. She claimed that she saw him with Jesus. Simon denied it again. He said, "I don't know Him." Others pointed out that Simon had a Galilean accent, which they claim signaled that He was likely a follower of Jesus.
Throughout the night, Simon denied having ties to Jesus. He called down curses on himself and swore that he did not know Jesus. A relative of the man whose ear Simon had cut off recognized him and said, "Didn't I see you with Jesus in the olive grove?"
The events of the night must have kept on coming back to haunt Simon. He must have thought, 'What if people recognize me as the guy with the sword?' Maybe Simon recognized the servant who was the relative of the person he had attacked. The story about the attack and the healing must have circulated around the crowd.
Upon his final denial, the cock crowd again. Jesus had predicted, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times." A number of scholars have indicated that cocks were know to crow two times during the night. The first crowing occurs near midnight while the second take place hours later near daybreak. This interpretation means that Jesus was basically indicating Simon would deny Him before the next day begins.
The Gospel of Look paints a picture of how the moment must have broken Simon. Just as Simon was speaking his last denial, the rooster crowed. Jesus turned and looked at Simon. Then he remembered how Jesus had prophesied the denial. Simon left the courtyard and wept bitterly. Simon became aware of his own sin. While denying Jesus, Simon was focused on not getting caught. He was not aware of his sin. It appeared that he had forgotten the prophecy.
Simon became aware of his sin when Jesus looked at him. Something happens when our eyes catch those of the Lord. We see our failings how we fall short of His love. We don't feel worthy of His love. We can't look Him in the eye. Jesus' gaze of love breaks us. That is what happened at that moment. Simon had a rude awakening of his real self.
The Greek word used to describe how Jesus looked at Simon is "emblepo." This word means to look at with the mind, to consider. Jesus did not look at Simon with eyes of anger or even disappointment. His gaze broke Simon because it conveyed a sense of understanding. Jesus knew were Simon was in his heart and his actions. He had predicted what would happen. Even Jesus' gaze exuded a sense of love, mercy and forgiveness.
Maybe it was this look that let Simon knew everything would be Ok. Unlike Judas who had done the same sin as Simon, Simon eventually was restored. He did not hang himself and die in sin as Judas did. Simon was broken by his sin, but he was restored by Jesus' love and sacrifice on the cross.
