Who’s On Trial?

Resurrection Road
March 16, 2025

Do you remember where you were on October 5, 1995?

⁵⁴Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
⁵⁷But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
⁵⁸A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
⁵⁹About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
⁶⁰Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ⁶²And he went outside and wept bitterly.
⁶³The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵And they said many other insulting things to him.
⁶⁶At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. ⁶⁷“If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, ⁶⁸and if I asked you, you would not answer. ⁶⁹But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
⁷⁰They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He replied, “You say that I am.”
⁷¹Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.” —Luke 22:54-71

¹³“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” —Daniel 7:13-14

In every heart there is a throne and a cross: if self is on the throne, Jesus must be on the cross; if Jesus is on the throne, self must be on the cross.

I imagine the look was what grace and truth look like… Christ’s words warned Peter of his impending denial, but they also prepared Peter for his impending forgiveness and restoration.
“I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:32).” Christ’s future work on the cross would pay the penalty for Peter’s pride, fear, shame, and condemnation. While Peter had been ashamed of the truth, Jesus would bear shame in the name of truth. While Peter was unfaithful, Jesus was uncompromisingly faithful.—Jackie Hill Perry

Jesus is the Witness

How will you respond to the Son of Man, who is now seated at the right hand of the Father?