Matthew 26:57-61 Night Trial
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 5, 2019 Matthew 26:57-61
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”
(Understanding the Text) In the preceding verse, it says that the disciples fled. They must not have fled far because Peter and John were able to follow at a distance. I think maybe the soldiers went to grab Peter, James, and John and the three men instinctively tried to escape by running away. However, the leader of the soldiers probably called his men back before they could chase the men too far and told them that they had only been ordered to detain Jesus, so they should just get Him back to the high priest. The group of soldiers had a while to walk from the Mount of Olives to the high priest’s house, so it gave Peter and John a chance to follow. I have a feeling that when the soldiers chased them, James went one way and Peter the other. John instinctively followed Peter like usual. Maybe, James’ soldier had chased him farther. Maybe James thought about telling the other disciples what had happened, but for some reason James did not follow.
(Revelation of God) Jesus is the Creator and Judge of the world, yet He submitted to the judgment of fallen humans. They found nothing against their laws to condemn Him because He had given them those laws and they were a reflection of His character. Even with the perversions that they had add with their traditions, they could not find a basis for condemnation. I think it is interesting that Sabbath breaking was not part of the testimony since they hated Him so much because He refused to keep Sabbath as they demanded. Of course, they knew that the Roman authorities would not execute anyone for Sabbath breaking, but I wonder if they also knew that their own council would not condemn someone to death for this reason because the scriptures would not support their traditions?
Peter expected to see the end when he went inside. He had no expectation of a grand rescue. He was defeated and that may have been why he was trying to hide his identity. For Peter, everything that he had hoped for was shattered. Nothing had worked out as he had thought. Seeing his Master bruised and beaten and not raising a hand brought his faith to the bottom and opened him up to sin.
(Application) Too often I am like Peter. I have experienced God’s work in the past, but when I cannot see it in the present, my faith is brought low. It seems that I am living on borrowed dreams that are not real because the present seems to contradict my past experience. That is when my faith is brought low and that is when I am open to sinning more.
The council was in session and trying to find something to make their decision look official. They were going through the form even though they were breaking their own rules. A lot of groups do the same thing nowadays. They claim that they are following the proper procedures when they have already undermined the procedures in some way. Humans attempt to limit harm by putting policies in place and then they circumvent the policies for convenience and for gain. I have to be careful not to think of God’s commands as policies to be circumvented.
(Prayer) Give me faith to trust You even when I do not see You acting in my present circumstances. Help me to always be true to You and Your law and never try to circumvent Your word to support my own opinions. Give me wisdom to interact with people who are twisting Your word.