25 Lessons of Jesus’ Trials in the Bible

A trial occurs when a person or a thing is tested to see how well he or she performs or how fit he or she is. Many people experience trials in the Bible. Jesus Christ will be selected as a case study. Jesus faced trials and temptations. Jesus’ agony in the garden stands His trial before the priests

Before The High Priest (Matthew26:36-75)

1. Jesus and His disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. When they go to a place, He tells His disciples to sit while He goes to another place to pray.
2. He took with Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (JamesandJohn) He began to be. Sorrowful and troubled told them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death, remain here and watch with me’.
3. Jesus did not die calmly as martyrs have. He was no mere martyr. He was the Lamb of God bearing the penalty for the sins of the entire human race. Indeed, the wrath of God was turned loose on Jesus. Only this can adequately explain what took place at Gethsemane.
4. Going a little further, He fell on His face and prayed, ‘My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou will’.The ‘is a symbol of deep sorrow and suffering. Here it refers to his father’s face being turned away from Him when He wept.
5. Jesus came back to His disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter,’ So, could you not watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temp-thin, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh ishealed.
6. The temptation here is to be unfaithful in the face of the threatening circumstances confronting them. ‘The spirit is willing’ – when that part of man that is spirit is under God’s control, it struggles against human weakness.
7. Again, for the second time, Jesus went away and prayed, ‘My father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done’ He came back again and found his disciples sleeping for their eyes were heavy.
8. So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time saying the same words, then he came to his disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
9. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; so my betrayer is at hand.
10. As he was speaking, Judas-one of the twelve came and there was a great crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Judas had told the arresters of Jesus that he would give a sign of a kiss to identify Jesus, So, straightaway, Judas walked to Jesus and kissed Him after saying, ‘Hail Master’ Jesus asked Judas why he was there when he said “Friend why are you here?”
11. Then, the arresters came upon Jesus and arrested him. The arresters were fully armed with swords and clubs. The fact that some carried clubs suggests that they were conscripted at the last moment. When Judas greeted Jesus ‘Hail Master’ he greeted. Jesus as a student or disciple would greet a rabbi.
12. One of the disciples of Jesus (Peter) stretched out his hand drew his sword and cut the ear of the slave of the high priest. The slave’s name has been known to be Malchus. His ear was cut off. Jesus told him to put his sword back in its place all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Jesus told them that He could appeal to
13. His father and He would at once send him more than twelve legions of angels. At that hour, Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?
14. Day after day, I sat in the temple and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. After Jesus said this, his disciples forsook him and fled.
15. Those who arrested Jesus led Him to Caiaphas the high priest. There, the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest. Going inside, he sat with the guards to see the end.
16. The Chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might kill him. But they found none although many false witnesses came forward. At last, two people came out and charged Jesus with blasphemy against the temple of God; He said He would destroy the Jerusalem temple and build it in three days.
17. The high priest stood up because He was enraged. He asked Jesus whether or not He had any answer to the testimony against him. Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him,’ I adjure you by the living God tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God’. By this,
18. Jesus was under oath to speak. When the high priest spoke like this, He was loyally bound to speak and give a reply. Jesus said to the high priest that he had said so. Jesus went further to tell the high priest;’ hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven’.
19. When the night priest heard this, he tore his robes and said, ‘Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. Ordinarily, the high priest was forbidden by law to tear his robes but this was considered a highly unusual circumstance.
20. The high priest interpreted Jesus’ answers as blasphemy. The sin of blasphemy not only involved cursing any affront to this majesty or authority. Jesus’ claim to be the Christ(Messiah)and in fact, to have majesty and authority belonging only to God was therefore regarded by Caiaphas as blasphemy, for the Law of Moses pre-scribes death by stoning Lev. 24:16.
21. When the high priest interpreted Jesus’ answers as blasphemy he asked for the people’s judgment knowing fully well what it was. The people answered, ‘He deserves death’ Then, they spat in his face, and struck him. Some slapped Him saying ‘Prophesy to us, you Christ.
22. Peter, one of the disciples who had been following, was sitting outside in the high priest’s courtyard. A maid came up to him and said,’ You also were with Jesus the Galilean? But Peter denied it before everybody when he said; do not know what you mean.’ When he went out to the porch, another maid saw and she said to the bystanders,
23. ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth’ Again and this time, Peter denied it with an oath,’ I do not know the man’. After some, while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Certainly, you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you’.
24. Then, Peter began to invoke a curse on him and to swear,’ I do not know the man. Immediately he said this, the cock crowed Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him that ‘Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.
25. ‘Peter then went out and wept bitterly. The experiences of Peter would have been valuable reassurances to Christians in times of persecution, temptation, and faithlessness.

Conclusion

Irrespective of any trials and temptations you are going through, you will overcome them. Jesus confronted trials and temptations and eventually overcame them all. That is why He did not promise that we shall be free from trials and temptations, but we shall overcome them. None of the trials and temptations will overcome us. Take the time to read and meditate on the following Bible verses. You will have a safe landing.

Bible Search

Romans 12: 12, John 16: 33, Proverbs 3: 5-6, Philippians 4: 6-7, James 1; 2, 1: 12, 1 Corinthians 10: 10: 13, 1 Peter 5: 10, Romans 5: 3, Exodus 14: 13, Luke 6; 22, 2 Corinthians 12: 10,  Mathew 5: 44, 2 1 Timothy 3: 12, John 15; 18, 1 Peter 4; 12-14, James 1; 13-18, Luke 22: 40, John 8: 6, Mathew 6; 13, Luke 11: 4, Luke 4; 13, Mark 8: 11a,  Proverbs 7: 25-26, 2 Peter 2:9, Galatians 4: 14, 1 Thessalonians 3: 5.