Tuesday in Holy Week The aim of this pilgrimage is not, in fact, to learn lots of things and see lots of sights. It’s not even quite the same as bringing the Bible to life, although that certainly is important. The ultimate aim, on this pilgrimage and during Holy Week, is to come close to the Lord Jesus.
Jesus is betrayed and arrested in Gethsemane (where we were yesterday). He was taken by his captors up these steps to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest.
We truly are walking in Jesus’ footsteps here!
The steps take us to the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. That strange word ‘Gallicantu’ is Latin for ‘cock-crow’, remembering of course the fact that Peter denied Christ three times before the cock crowed just as Jesus had predicted.
The church is built on the site of the high priest’s house. You might remember that Jesus is first arrested and tried by the religious leaders, before he is sent to Pilate, the political leader.
These chambers underneath the modern structure were used for storage in Jesus’ time, but it may well be that Jesus was detained in one of these rooms.
The man-made caves date to the Second Temple period, i.e. the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Here is the first part of the story, Jesus’ sham-trial. (This took place of course on the Thursday night before the crucifixion that Friday, but if we try to follow the events chronologically we’ll have too much to take in towards the end of this week).
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.
Mark 14: 53-65
And then, in the next part of the story, having been falsely convicted and wrongly sentenced in a travesty of justice, Jesus’ own friend betrays him:
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.[g]
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[h] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice[i] you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Mark 14: 66-72
This cell (or one very like it) is where Jesus was detained as he awaited transfer to Pilate. According to Roman law, Jewish religious leaders had no authority to impose the death penalty, and that is what Jesus’ opponents were pushing for.
And so, Jesus waited here for those few hours before dawn – betrayed and alone.
Greek this Week 