Monday – Third Week of Lent
Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
Peter was following him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, and going inside he sat down with the servants to see the outcome. (Mt. 26:57:58)
It’s about a half-mile walk from Gethsemane to where the high priest’s house is thought to have been located.
Jesus is in the clutches of the arresting party. The disciples have run off – we don’t know where.
On the way to Gethsemane Jesus had said to his disciples, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken.” Peter confidently replied, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.”
Well, Peter was wrong. His faith is shaken and he moves back a few hundred yards from Jesus.
What’s my yardage? During my day, am I close to the Lord? Or do I put the Lord in the background, a hundred yards away? Or is the Lord totally removed from the scene?
What’s my yardage?
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
March 13, 2007
The Sanhedrin
The word “Sanhedrin” comes from a Greek word that means “sitting together.” The term was used for the supreme council of the Jews which first appeared some 200 years before Christ.
As best one can tell, at the time of Chris this council had 71 members from three classes: The elders, the present and former high priests and the scribes.
In effect, the Sanhedrin was the “supreme court” of Jewish people, with competence in both religious and secular matters. It had the power of arrest and its own police.
After the Temple was destroyed in 70 A, D, the Sanhedrin moved from place to place in Israel, and finally went out of existence.
* * * * * *
In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin, and Gamaliel, one of its leaders, stood up and made a famous speech:
Have nothing to do with these men . . .
For it this endeavor or this activity is
of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if
it comes from God, you will not be able to
destroy it.
The rest is history.
