To teach the grief our indifference and luke-warmness causes the Saviour.

To teach that God protects His own.

To teach that we must be careful about our boastfulness.

To teach some of the things that can cause us to deny our Lord.

To teach that Jesus was and is God.

To inspire the pupils to live for Him and show Him, by their good lives, their appreciation to Him.

INTRODUCTION: It was far into the night and Jesus had just finished His agonizing experience in the Garden of Gethsemane where He had sweat great drops of blood during which an angel ministered to Him. Luke 22:43,44. Then, He had awakened His disciples. He knew what was coming during that eventful day. John 18:3. In our lesson, we see the Master Servant as He suffers and endures many sorrows. Let's observe those sorrows.

Judas who had so many opportunities to be saved and who had seen so many miraculous things done by the Lord, was the betrayer of Him who loved him. Later he would be sorrowful but he would never cry out to Him for salvation and mercy. Matthew 27:3-5. Think of it: Judas used a kiss, the beautiful symbol of love, to facilitate his dastardly betrayal.

Notice that Judas called Him, Master. He never called Him Lord. My, how this must have grieved the Saviour, to have one who had been so close to Him betray Him who had only gone about doing good. Jesus called Judas "Friend". Matthew 26:50. I wonder if we who profess to be His friends are pleasing Him or grieving Him. CF. Matthew 26:47-56; Luke 22:47-53.

Vs. 47-49 -- The one that drew the sword was Peter, but this is only recorded by John who wrote after Peter's death of the incident perhaps to prevent reprisal by Malchus or others. God protects His own. Romans 8:28. Jesus healed the ear of the man whose name was Malchus and rebuked Peter, Matthew 26:52. Jesus did not want to be defended at the time for He had come for this purpose and the plan of God had to be fulfilled.

Vs. 50 -- Not a disciple stood with Him though all had vowed to do so. 14:31. We must not boast of our strength but only of God's strength to work in us. God's work is by His Spirit and the power given by Him. Zechariah 4:6.

Vs. 51&52 -- This incident is only included in Mark's Gospel. Many believed it is so included because Mark was the young man.

Vs. 66-69 -- Peter, strong, robust, impetuous, denies the Lord in His hour of trial. Jesus had foretold he would . Vs. 30. Peter had been bold in the garden but now he failed. It is sometimes harder to meet the small things in life than the large ones. Note Peter's mistakes:

He disregarded warning -- Vs.30,31

He followed afar off -- Vs. 54. He wanted to "play it safe" but he got into trouble. Marginal living actually is dangerous living.

He sat down with the wrong crowd. Vs. 67. The person who goes with the wrong companions makes it easy for himself to deny his Lord.

Vs. 70-72 -- Finally, several accused Peter and Peter resorted to the vocabulary he had used before he was Saved. He began to curse. Surely those who are in fellowship with Christ don't curse or use profanity. The cock crowed the second time, Jesus turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61). The apostle flung himself out of the company and burst into bitter tears of repentance. Now he felt a godly sorrow which issued in genuine repentance. Are we guilty of denying our Lord and forsaking Him? We deny Him by not witnessing, not tithing, not visiting, and not attending church for all services. Such denial greatly grieves Him.

As we compare the four gospel accounts, we learn that Jesus went through six trials. Three ecclesiastical and three civil. First, He was taken before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the High Priest. Annas, though an old man, was very influential. After Annas', approval of His apprehension, Jesus was taken before Caiaphas all within the palace of the High Priest. Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, He was tried, though illegally, for they had no authority to meet during the night. But they did and they decided to demand that Pilate have Him killed. How sorrowful this no doubt made Him feel for these religious leaders should have recognized Him as the Messiah and proclaimed Him as such. But, with hardened hearts, they rejected Him and were the instigators of His arrest and mistreatment. Organized religion is often at fault and wrong in their concepts of Christ.

Vs. 55-59 -- Though many witnesses against Him were heard, they could not get any two to agree which was necessary, according to Mosaic law, for an accusation to have merit. Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15.

Vs. 60-62 -- "Art thou the Christ (Messiah) the Son of God?" "I am", Jesus said. Here is a clear affirmation of His deity. You must believe one of three things about Jesus. Either He thought He was God and He wasn't which means He was a deluded maniac, or He knew He was not God and claimed that He was which means He was a liar, or that He was God as He claimed. Certainly it is much easier to believe the latter. These religious rulers wouldn't believe Him, rather they sought false witness, to put Him to death. Matthew 26:59. The only reason anyone rejects Christ is because of a wicked heart, loving sin and so hating Christ. CF. Matthew 6:24; Luke 11:23; John 3:18-21.

How could these later see Jesus sitting at the right hand of God? The rich man could see Lazarus. Luke 16:19-31. Those in Hell are tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. Revelation 14:10. So it seems people in Hell see Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father.

Vs. 63-65 -- What a shame that those religious leaders would stoop so low as to condemn Him (who had done so much good) to death. And to think that they would permit such physical punishment to be heaped upon His body. But organized religion is often deluded and heartless in its attacks upon God's people and the truth as evidenced through church history. See "Trail of Blood".

CONCLUSION: Surely these things added to His sorrows. The Gethsemane experience and the civil trials and the crucifixion were enough sorrow without being subjected to these additional sorrows by his followers and the religious leaders of His day. But from it we learn many truths that, if we apply them to our lives, we will be better people for them. Also, these sorrows show us even to a greater degree the intensity of His love for us. Let's show Him our appreciation by living for Him better and by crowning Him King of our lives.