An Unjust Trial & Peter's Denial

Good evening everyone. Tonight, as we approach Easter, we’re looking at Mark 14.43–72 which describes some of the most difficult moments in Jesus’s earthly life: his betrayal and arrest, an unjust trial, and Peter’s denial. These events all happen late on Thursday night and early Friday morning, just hours before Jesus was taken to the cross on that very first Easter weekend.

Before we jump in, let me remind you where we are in the larger story of Mark’s Gospel. For almost three years, Jesus has been teaching and doing amazing things such as healing the sick. Both pointed to who Jesus is and why he came, which was to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10.45). Jesus has gained followers and enemies. The religious leaders feel threatened by him and plan to kill him. But even more tragic is that one of Jesus’s own disciples, Judas, arranges his betrayal. As we walk through the text step by step, let’s keep asking what Mark wants us to see and how he wants us to respond. Let pray:

Heavenly Father, would you please help us now to see how amazing Jesus is, to grasp the depth of your love for us, and to turn to you for the help we need. Give us ears to hear and hearts ready to obey. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

1. Judas’s Betrayal and the Arrest of Jesus (Mark 14.43–52)

The story picks up after Jesus prays intensely in the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s late at night—possibly around midnight or just after. He knows the hour has finally come for his death and he is ready. Instead of praying, his disciples are asleep. They claim they’re ready. But they are not. They are weak. They have not prayed. Jesus has just warned them he’ll be handed over to his enemies. Suddenly, we read (Mark 14.43):

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

Mark stresses one of the twelve to show how shocking it is that a close friend betrays Jesus. You feel the heartbreak: the Messiah is betrayed by a close friend who travelled, ate, and working with him for years. Betrayal happens where we’d least expect it. It’s a challenge to complacency and pride. None of us is beyond failure or temptation. Not even Christian leaders. Mark 14.38:

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mark 14.44-45:

Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him.

A kiss in that culture was a common greeting—like a handshake or a hug, but this kiss becomes the symbol of ultimate betrayal. Judas approaches Jesus, calls him Rabbi, and kisses him. Jesus lets him do that. The armed crowd steps in and seizes Jesus. Don’t rush past this. Pause and feel the tension: the Prince of Peace is taken by force. Soldiers carry swords and clubs, but Jesus has never led a violent rebellion. Why all the weapons? The chief priests and elders want to ensure no one tries to rescue Jesus or cause a riot. Darkness and secrecy help them avoid the public eye, because during the day, many people admired Jesus’s teaching. But God’s plan is unfolding exactly as predicted in Scripture. Mark 14.47-49:

But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”

One disciple, as we read in Mark, pulls out a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant. We know from John’s Gospel it’s Peter who does this, but Mark’s account is shorter, calling him one of those who stood by. Jesus rebukes this violence. He asks them in Mrk 14.48 “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?” He reminds them that he taught publicly in the temple each day—why arrest him secretly now? The answer is fear. The leaders are afraid of public backlash, so they seize him in the dead of night. Yet, Jesus says “Let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” This entire event was never out of God’s control. It was all predicted in the Old Testament hundreds of years earlier. Even though it looks like chaos (betrayal, soldiers, confusion) Mark wants us to see that God is still in charge, allowing his Son to be arrested to save the world. This was his plan all along. Jesus doesn’t resist, showing his willingness to face the cross. Jesus gives himself to them. He lets them take him and tie him up. Mark 14.50 is heart-breaking:

And they all left him and fled.

Every disciple runs away. At this stage they hoped Jesus would become a great King. They were willing to stay with Jesus and fight. However, they were not willing to follow someone who failed. They were not willing to give up their lives for nothing. And so the “brave” disciples vanish. Mark gives one very dramatic detail, possibly about himself, to highlight the utter abandonment of Jesus. Mark 14.51-52:

And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Sometimes we fail Jesus, too. We might not flee physically, but we might hide our faith when it’s uncomfortable, or keep silent when someone mocks Christ. We see ourselves in these disciples—our fear can override our loyalty to Jesus. Yet, as we will see, Jesus doesn’t turn away from them. He moves forward in obedience to the Father’s plan. Maybe you’ve experienced betrayal in your own life. It hurts deeply. Jesus understands that pain. He can comfort us when friends let us down. He also warns us not to become betrayers. We want to be loyal to the Lord and to our friends, not letting greed or fear lead us astray.

2. Jesus Before The Jewish Council (Mark 14.53–65)

Mark 14.53:

And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.

Now Jesus is led before the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish ruling body. In normal circumstances, legal trials were not supposed to happen at night, but they rush to condemn Jesus before the population wakes up. This is a rigged, hasty proceeding. They have already decided the outcome before they have begun. Mark 14.54:

And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

Peter is still curious, maybe hoping to see what happens. But he’s no longer the bold man we saw in earlier chapters—he’s fearful, staying near a fire, anxious about being recognized. Mark 14.55–59 describe how the leaders want to kill Jesus. They seek testimony to justify putting him to death. They bring forward false witnesses who accuse Jesus wrongly, especially twisting Jesus’s words about the temple. Their stories contradict each other. The plan was to create a legal basis for execution, but their lies don’t line up. Mark wants us to see how innocent Jesus truly is. No honest charge sticks to him. Mark 14.55-59:

Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.

Perhaps you have seen or heard of someone being falsely accused. Maybe it has happened to you. It can be extremely painful. Yet, Jesus, the sinless one, stands silently as people lie about him. Mark 14.60:

And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”

The high priest is frustrated by the lack of evidence. He directly asks Jesus, “Have you no answer to make?” Jesus remains silent. One of the scriptures this fulfils is Isaiah 53.7:

Like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

The high priest questions him again (Mark 14.61-62):

But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

This is the climactic moment. Jesus confirms he is the promised King, the Messiah, the Son of God, and he will one day come in glory. He might look powerless now. He is being judged. But he is truly the King who will judge the world. Mark 14.63-64:

And the high priest tore his garments [an outward expression of rage but no doubt inwardly he is pleased to finally have the evidence he wanted] and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.

From their perspective, Jesus just claimed equality with God. But from God’s perspective, he merely spoke the truth: He is the Son of God. See how they treat him (Mark 14.65):

And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

They strike Him and mock him. It’s shocking cruelty. The Messiah who came in love is slapped and ridiculed. Yet this too fulfils scripture, such as Isaiah 50.6:

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

We see here Jesus’s innocence and the cruelty of those who reject him. Around the world, many believers face harsh treatment for following Jesus. Mark’s Gospel reminds us that our Lord himself was unjustly arrested and condemned. He knows what it’s like. He is close to the persecuted. We can pray for them, that they remain faithful like Jesus, trusting God’s plan even in suffering.

3. Peter Denies Jesus (Mark 14.66–72)

Mark then switches scenes to the courtyard where Peter is warming himself. The faithfulness of Jesus will be contrasted by the unfaithfulness of Peter. Mark 14.66-68:

And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the cock crowed.

Peter steps away to the entrance, trying to distance himself from her. He’s afraid of being arrested and facing the same punishment as Jesus. Fear can make even the strongest people crumble. Mark 14.69-72:

And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

It’s a heartbreaking picture: the disciple who boasted he would never leave Jesus ends up denying even knowing him. We may wonder “How could Peter do this?” But remember, all the disciples ran away. Peter at least followed from a distance. Fear is powerful. He fails publicly. If we’re honest, we might see ourselves in Peter. We all fail too—whether in big, dramatic ways or small hidden moments. The good news is Jesus will later restore Peter, showing that no failure is beyond God’s mercy if we turn back to him. Peter’s story is both a warning and a hope. It’s a warning that any of us, if we rely on our own strength, can deny Jesus under pressure. But it’s also a message of hope: Peter may not be able to avoid blowing it, but God can fix even this. That after is all, is why he is going to the cross. After the resurrection, Jesus forgives and restores him. So even if you’ve messed up, repent and receive God’s grace. He is ready to restore you.

If you’ve never trusted Jesus before, please hear this good news: no matter how distant you feel from God, he welcomes anyone who turns to him. He died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve, and he rose again so we can live a new life with him. All you need to do is to pray honestly to God, admitting your need, and ask for his forgiveness. If this is new to you, speak to me or someone afterward; we’d love to help you begin your relationship with Jesus or answer any questions. Mark 14.43–72 describes the darkest night of Jesus’s earthly ministry: betrayal by Judas, desertion by the disciples, a false trial by religious leaders, and the devastating denial by Peter. Yet amid these failures and sins, we see Jesus’s unstoppable faithfulness. While Judas betrays for money, Peter denies out of fear, and the other disciples run away, Jesus stands firm for our sake. This passage reveals how weak and sinful we can be without God’s help—how easily any one of us might fail under pressure. It points us to our desperate need for a Savior who never fails.

Jesus Understands Betrayal

If you feel betrayed, remember Jesus knows and he understand that pain firsthand. Betrayal cuts deep, but he is ready to comfort you when others let you down. He invites you not to be hardened or to betray others yourself, but rather to trust him as the faithful Friend who will never leave you.

Will we stand by Jesus?

Will we stay loyal to Jesus even when it’s costly or scary—when a crowd mocks, or our reputation is on the line? The disciples fled in fear. We might face fear of rejection, fear of losing popularity, or fear of persecution. Mark calls us to stand by Jesus no matter the cost, believing that he’s worth everything.

If You’ve Denied Him, Come Back

Peter’s denial shows that none of us is beyond failure and sin. Yet Jesus later forgives and restores him. If you’ve turned away or denied Jesus in some way, his grace is bigger than your failures. There is always hope, always a way back. Repent, receive God’s mercy and he will restore you.

Remember his Example When You Fear

Facing arrest, false accusations, and brutal treatment, Jesus never wavered from God’s plan to save us and he was without anger or revenge. He sets us an example to follow when we too have to suffer for him.

Worship Him as the True King

Mark wants us to see Jesus not as a suffering victim but the majestic Messiah who freely chooses to walk this road for our salvation. Why? So that we love Jesus for what he did. Jesus seems powerless and rejected, but this is the Christ, the Son of God, using his divine authority to serve and save. We see false charges, a rushed trial, beatings—yet he willingly ensures all this to break sin’s power and make forgiveness possible for us. He is calm, in control, and obedient to the Father. He’s the real King, about to accomplish the greatest salvation in history.

These verses set the stage for the crucifixion. We need to see how unfairly Jesus was treated, how quickly loyalty turned to betrayal—so that we understand the depth of his sacrifice for us. Even in the face of betrayal and denial, Jesus stays committed to saving us. Next week, we’ll see Jesus taken to Pilate, leading to the crucifixion. In all the injustice, God’s plan of redemption is being worked out. As we see this we are to respond with awe, gratitude, and a deeper commitment to follow him—even if it costs us dearly. Because no one has loved us more faithfully than Jesus, who walked into betrayal and denial so we could be saved. Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us Jesus’s unshakable faithfulness amid betrayal and denial. Help us see our own weakness and turn to him for strength. If we feel betrayed, remind us Jesus understands. If we have denied him, help us to turn back to him and have is the assurance of his never-failing grace. And if we fear standing firm, fill us with his courage. Above all, help us worship him as the true King who offers his life for our salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.