Well! the blessed JESUS is now at the bar. Omnipotence suffers itself to be arraigned, and he who set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass, is content to be bound, and that as a criminal, by the work of his own hands. False witnesses rise up against him, and lay to his charge things that he knew not. “This fellow, say they, (verse 61.) said, I am able to destroy the temple of GOD, and to build it in three days.” And what reply doth the innocent JESUS make? None at all. Not only because they all knew that it was a malicious slander, but because he stood as our representative. He, therefore, held his peace, and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so this immaculate Lamb of GOD opened not his mouth. At length, being adjured thereto by the High priest in the name of the living GOD, he confesses himself to be the CHRIST, the son of the Blessed; and lets the imperious Sanhedrim know, that however contemptible his appearance might be now, yet they should hereafter see him sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. And does not this strike terror into his accusers and judges? By no means. The haughty High-Priest rises in disdain, hypocritically rends his cloaths, urging this as a reason, “He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?” Was ever indignity, like this indignity, put on thee, thou most adorable Mediator! Which shall I marvel at most, the High-Priest’s impudence, or thy patience? Both, doubtless, are unparalleled. And yet, alas! a further trial awaits our suffering LORD. For whilst the master is thus arraigned, insulted, and causelesly condemned at the bar within, _Satan_ is no less busy in wounding him through _Peter_’s side, who was sitting in the palace without. _Peter_, indeed, thinks to sit there undiscovered; but a damsel comes to him, (verse 69) saying, “Thou also wast with JESUS of Galilee.” And what then? Was that high treason? Or rather was it not the highest honour? _Peter_, what sayest thou? Alas, (verse 70) “He denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.” Know not what thou sayest, _Peter_? her words were plain enough, “Thou also was with JESUS of Nazareth.” Can any words be plainer? To deny this, in the least, was bad, but to deny this before them all, who could so easily confront thee, proves thee to be falling indeed. Call him now no longer _Peter_, but call him _Ichabod_: for the glory of the LORD is departing from him.
However, as yet there is hope concerning him. For, conscious, as it were, of his guilt (verse 71) “He went out into the porch.” _Satan_ pursues him. For when a saint begins to fall, his hellish language is, Down with him, down with him, even to the ground. Another damsel, therefore, is put in _Peter_’s way, who, upon seeing him, says, not unto _Peter_ himself, but to them that were there, (verse 71) “This fellow was also with JESUS of Nazareth.” She speaks the same language with her sister scoffer, and with those who accused the blessed JESUS at the bar. Doubtless, our modern scoffers are related to them, for they use the same dialect every day when speaking of CHRIST, or those that, through grace, dare to own and confess him before men. But here would I stop and feign be excused from relating to this great assembly _Peter_’s answer. Oh tell it not in _Gath_, publish it not in the streets of _Askelon_! But we must not be wise above what is written. The Holy Spirit hath left it upon record, and proclaimed it by four Evangelists upon the house-top, and, therefore, I am constrained to tell you, that again (verse 72.) “He denied with an oath, I do not know the man.” What! an Apostle swear? Was it not enough barely to deny the damsel’s assertion, but he must deny it with an oath? Perhaps, it was a crime he never was guilty of before. Surely, the way of sin is down-hill. One step leads to another. At first he only denied what was said to him, by a kind of equivocation, “I know not what thou sayest.” Now he grows bolder, and denies with an oath, “I know not the man.” What, _Peter_! Know not the man? That glorious God-man CHRIST JESUS thy LORD? What! not know Him, who called thee from the poor occupation of catching fish, to make thee an Apostle and a fisher of men? What! not know Him, who bad thee come to him upon the waters, and Him who with his own almighty arm saved thee from drowning, when thou wast answering thy name _Cephas_, and sinking like a stone? What! not know Him, with whom thou hast so intimately conversed for three years last past, who, so lately pronounced thee blessed, washed thy feet, gave thee a new name, and took thee to Mount _Tabor_, where he displayed before thee his excellent glory, which made thee cry out, It is good for us to be here? What! hast thou forgot all this, _Peter_?