Middle of the Night: Questioning Jesus

Mark alone tells of a young man following, who when confronted, ends up running away naked (Mark 14:51-52). Many suggest it was Mark.

In John, they take Jesus first to Annas, Caiaphas' father-in-law, who questions him about his teaching and followers. The Beloved Disciple, who knows the high priest, enters with Jesus. Meanwhile Peter denies Jesus the first time in John to a maid, after the Beloved Disciple gets Peter into the courtyard.

Jesus reminds Annas that he has spoken openly about such things and tells him to ask those who have heard him. A nearby officer has him slapped. Meanwhile Peter denies Jesus a second and a third time by a fire. The third time a relative of Malchus, whose ear Peter cut off, confronts Peter and Peter denies Jesus the third time. They then take Jesus to the praetorium of Pilate, but do not enter because they want to be able to eat the Passover meal, which in John has not yet taken place (18:28).

In Matthew and Mark, they take Jesus to Caiaphas from the garden. Instead of the private questioning in John, this seems to be a full blown meeting of the Sanhedrin (in Luke this takes place when day comes; Luke 22:66). Peter follows Jesus right into the courtyard of the high priest and warms himself, as in John. The council seeks out testimony against Jesus.

What is interesting is the "false" witnessing, which includes things like, "Destroy this temple made with hands and in three days I will build another not made with hands." But this is very similar to what Jesus himself says in John 2:19: "Destroy this temple and in three days I will build it up." Of course in John Jesus is speaking of his body.

But Jesus does confess that he is the Christ before the high priest: "I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). Here Jesus equates himself with the figure of Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1. This they consider enough evidence to kill him.

Meanwhile Peter denies Jesus three times in the courtyard (Luke does tell of this at this point). Twice to a maid and a third time to another bystander. Then the cock crows (for a second time in Mark). In Luke, Jesus then looks at Peter (Luke 22:61).