The Way
Silence at the Trial
A silent king, and a denial spoken three times
Story
With his hands bound, Jesus was taken first to Annas, and then to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. Late into the night witnesses stood up, but their stories did not agree. The high priest pressed him, but he stayed silent. The high priest asked again. Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? Jesus answered. I am. The high priest tore his clothes, and the council cried out that he deserved to die.
At that same hour, down in the courtyard, Peter sat warming himself by a charcoal fire. A servant girl stared at him and said, this man was with him too. Peter denied it. I do not know the man. At the very moment he denied it for the third time, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter went outside and wept bitterly.
At daybreak the council bound Jesus and handed him over to Pilate the governor. Pilate said, I find no guilt in this man. Sending him to Herod changed nothing. The crowd shouted all the louder. Crucify him! In the end Pilate took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He released Barabbas, and after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
Yes, I am he. And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One, coming with the clouds of heaven.
My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my people would fight to keep me from being handed over.
I was born and came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Mt 26:57–27:26 · Mk 14:53–15:15 · Lk 22:54–23:25 · Jn 18:12–19:16
Background
Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea from AD 26 to 36. In 1961 a stone inscription bearing his name was found at Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast.
Pause and Reflect
Are there times I act as if I don't know Jesus because I fear what people think?