John 18:14

John 18:14 says, Now Caiaphas was he, which gave council to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.  I think we can conclude from this that Jesus was never going to get a fair trial from the religious leaders.  The high priest, Caiaphas, had already determined it was better for Jesus to die.  Caiaphas did not understand that he was stating what Jesus was to do.  He wanted Jesus to die to keep things as they were.  Jesus was challenging the religious leaders actions and power, so He needed to be silenced.  If Jesus challenges some of our religious ideas or power today, it is the beliefs and power that need to die.  Verse fifteen adds, And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.  Of course, we might ask why the high priest had a castle, but we know that at times today religious leaders want or have their own castles. This other disciple is not named, but Matthew Henry believes he was not one of the twelve disciples.  He was known to Caiaphas and accepted into his palace.  Peter, who said he would follow Jesus anywhere, did not go in.  We need to be careful when we tell God how faithful we are going to be when we are basing it on our own strength.  Peter, I am sure believed, what he said. He was a man of action who believed in his own abilities.  Verse sixteen continues, But Peter stood at the door without.  Then went out that other disciple, that was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.  We see that the other disciple did not stay with Jesus but came back out.  Peter was at the door, but did not go in.  We may at times go where Jesus wants us, then falter if things go wrong.  Also, we may allow things going wrong to keep us from where Jesus wants us to be.  Neither the other disciple or Peter ended up where Jesus was.  Verse seventeen concludes, Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art thou not also one of this Man's disciples?  He saith, I am not.  Peter was confronted not by soldiers or religious leaders but by a damsel, and he faltered in his faith.  If we cannot stand in the face of the smallest threat, how will we stand at the greatest?  Peter failed Jesus then, and we may often do the same.