“MARVEL AT THE LAMB”
Saint Matthew 26.69 - 27.14
Midweek Lenten Homily III: 2 March Anno Domini 2005
Fr Watson
More time is spent on Peter's betrayal and perfidy than on Judas' treason. Judas was not one of us, he was apostate. Peter is you. There but for the Grace of God go I. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me.
Peter was sadly mistaken if he thought he could observe Salvation events without being a part of them. All of you who imagine that there is safety on the "side-lines" or by hanging back for a moment to see how things will "sort themselves out" will be equally alarmed and discomforted when confronted by today's "Temple Guards"
The very maid that had admitted Peter declared his identity. Did she shatter his desired anonymity for her own self importance? No doubt all cocked their ears when she made her assertion. Peter upset and filled with panic tried to lie his way out. The devil loves to sweep boasters off their feet. It took only a menial maid to fell the chief of the Twelve. Gone was the puffed up man of courage, the "rock," there quivered an arrant coward. To be sure, Peter was in real danger. So.
Welcome to the realities of the Cross; it's not in the "fine print," rather, being in danger is the routine job-description of a Christian. He who does not confess Me, neither will I confess his name before My Father and His angels.
"He denied in front of them all...I do not know what you are saying."
Simon Peter waited long enough to have attention safely withdrawn from him before he quietly withdrew to the long entryway that led from the courtyard to the street. But another maid saw him. The first maid and now another man confront him. They're all sure that he's a disciple of Christ. Would that the fisherman would have remembered it as well. It was now beyond midnight and Peter was more desperate than before. "And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man." "The man?" oh Peter... your Rabbi, Lord, friend, and you resort to the same language as the murderers of Jesus?</.p>
Twice he had been positively identified; the courtyard is crowded and his escape route was cut off. After an interval of about an hour a relative of Malchus (the one who had his ear cut off by Peter) and other men confronted him. Not just his Galilean accent (all of the 12 were from Galilee except Judas) gave him away, but now there was an eye-witness to his actions in the Garden. When in the hour of utmost need....when in the valley of the shadow of death...when confronted by dangerous times, timid souls and un-confessional surroundings, Peter... Peter called down all manner of evil on himself, and with oaths called God to witness that he did not know Him. Peter had given up even his manhood. He was acting much like Adam in the presence of Eve and the serpent. This is how you act when you sin.
The rooster began to crow again, just before the dense morning dark began to lighten. Jesus had spoken the word about the cock crowing because He had foreseen Peter's situation and intended that Peter should recall that Word to his great benefit. The crowing released the tension of fear, recalled Jesus' love and warning, and thus opened the door to genuine repentance. It all worked together for good. Remember that in your own tears, depressions and fallings. The crowing and the "look" did the Lord's work. The "look." The Temple Police were leading Jesus from the hall of His trial to a place of temporary "safe-keeping." With His face all contused and black and blue from the blows already received, with spit still defiling His countenance, Jesus looked upon poor Peter as He passed through the courtyard. The "look"... Peter's exit into the street...the fisherman wept bitterly; loud, audible sobbing. Peter cried the bitterness of contrition, the realization that he had sinned and a consequent genuine sorrow. Brethren, you too are called to the pardon which Jesus has ready for you.
After day-break a larger group of the Sanhedrin met a second time. They had to rush Jesus to death before an uprising of the people might cause a delay and re-assessment. Pilate had to be asked to confirm the death penalty they had pronounced. The Roman government had reserved the right of inflicting the death penalty.
Judas had remained near the high priest Caiphas during all the preceding hours. Judas repented the consequence of his betrayal but not the sin itself. He at that point did not want Jesus to die. The betrayer then publicly offered the blood money of silver back to the Sanhedrin. His remorse was evident. His true sin Judas did not confess. To him, Jesus was no more than "innocent blood," a guiltless man. Hindus, Bahai and Sikhs can make the same claim. Judas wanted his own actions, to then, reverse his complicity in the execution. The Sanhedrists wasted no time on the thief. The High Council was done with him. Cold, hard as stone were these "men" who were the called spiritual leaders of the Jews. A soul in travail meant nothing to them And what a mistake to place one's hope in the hands of men who have abandoned their vows, their symbols, their place in the stead and by the command of Christ, for power, prestige, politics and pleasure. In remorse and despair the man named Judas hanged himself; still not believing in the One Who was about to "hang" Himself on behalf of all men's sins. All of your "fields of blood," the blood you shed by your thoughts and deeds, and the blood of your own daily sins, all our bloody ground is made pure and white by His Blood poured out in the true "field" upon the Cross. Even as the wicked priests bought a "potter's field" in which to bury criminals, gentiles, and other unclean, so too, your heavenly Father purchased His own "potter's field" to bury all of your sin. His field, Golgotha; His purchase price was not silver or gold but holy precious and innocent blood.
Christ before Governor Pilate. St. Matthew is brief in his account. In the series of charges the Jews pressed against Jesus, the last of them was that He claimed to be a "king." After hearing the charges Pilate brought Jesus into the Praetorium and examined Him privately. "You're a king of the Jews" Pilate asked. The beaten man didn't look the role. While Pilate was thinking a "political" king, Christ simply answered: "You say it." Jesus affirmed the contents of the Governor's question. But the Lord told Pilate that His kingship was spiritual and not political. Pilate believed Jesus' explanation.
After Pilate's examination, and his declaration to the Sanhedrin that the Galilean was guiltless, the Jews leveled a flood of vicious accusations. Again the Lamb would not answer the wolves. During the angry shouting He simply looked at the governor who was seated on the judicial seat on the platform before the Praetorium. Every ear was straining to hear, the silence became only more intense. Not a word from the Word. Pilate's astonished question: "don't You hear how many things they're witnessing against You?" shows his own weakness and evil. He was the governor; he had just examined Jesus and found Him innocent. If he then was being swayed with indecision it was his job to examine further into the case. It is Pilate's cowardice that attempts to shift the responsibility onto Jesus. It was his duty as judge to either silence and disperse the bully boys, or to examine some of them. Historical excuses for Pilate, listing all of the political and social and extenuating circumstances are affronts to truth, justice and God. Likewise when you make excuses for not doing the right thing; when you hide behind someone else's skirts and attempt to wait it out while an "other" mob makes the decision, you sin against the Savior. The silence of Jesus expressed His righteous contempt for the accusations of the Jews; they were not worthy of a word on His part. "He who does not confess Me, neither will I confess him before My Father and His angels." No man can judge your own heart, only God can do that. But as for the Roman governor, the silence of Christ struck him deeply; the point went home. He knew it was no ordinary prisoner he had in front of him. Not for a moment did Pilate deem Jesus guilty. The governor marveled. The astounding patience of your Lord, not turning on you with the long endless list of your transgressions, but rather letting them be placed upon His flesh; the gentle longsuffering of your Lord, not freeing Himself of your guilt with Words of Innocence, but rather remaining mute. How do you feel when you see this Lamb about to pay your price? Marvel indeed.