Hello everyone, it's Aunt Frenita.
Today's story is called:
Judging Jesus.
The memory verse is from Isaiah, Chapter 53, verse 5.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions
...and by his wounds, we are healed."
The message is: I praise Jesus
for saving me.
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane,
all the disciples ran away.
The mob followed the soldiers down the hill.
They made an evil parade
with torches lighting the way.
John watched as the parade moved across the brook.
"What am I doing?" John asked himself.
"I should follow the mob
to find out what will happen to Jesus."
He and Peter followed the mob toward the home of Annas
toward the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest.
When they arrived at Caiaphas' palace,
the priests let John in because they knew him.
John turned and saw Peter walking near the gate.
Peter was hiding in the dark outside.
He did not want people to see him there.
John went back to the woman at the gate.
"Please let my friend in." He said.
And she did.
She kept watching Peter as he moved to the fire in the courtyard.
Finally she asked him.
"Aren't you one of Jesus' disciples?"
"Oh!...No..."
said Peter as he turned to warm himself.
Just then Jesus was led onto the big
porch beside the courtyard.
John pushed as close as he could.
There were bruises on Jesus' face.
He walked slowly,
painfully,
as if His whole body ached.
Caiaphas began to ask Jesus what He believed,
even though he already knew.
Jesus said
"I have always talked openly.
Your people know me."
A big muscular guard frowned,
he swung at Jesus' face and hit Him hard.
Jesus was in pain.
Yet He stood firm, like a king.
At the gate,
the servant girl said
"This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth!"
And Peter strongly denied it.
There was more questioning back near the fire.
"Aren't you one of his disciples?"
Again, Peter strongly denied knowing Jesus.
Then a rooster crowed.
Peter had denied knowing Jesus,
three times!
Peter looked up and saw Jesus looking at him.
There was no anger in the look,
just love.
Then Peter rushed out the gate of the courtyard.
The trial went on.
Caiaphas asked Jesus another question.
Jesus calmly said,
"You have said it right, I am the Son of God."
Caiaphas leaped from his golden throne,
"THAT'S IT!" He screamed.
"Jesus says he is like God!"
He was so angry that he ripped
his beautiful priestly robe from top to bottom.
Some who saw it thought:
"This is against the law.
The high priest is to die if he tears his robe
They will kill Caiaphas!"
But the mob didn't notice Caiaphas
they were too busy shouting:
"Death!"
"Death to Jesus!
Take him to Pilate, put him to death!"
People were pushing at Jesus
poking Him and hitting Him.
Soldiers ran in and grabbed Jesus,
pulling Him away.
Roman soldiers formed a circle around Him,
and hurried him towards Pilates' palace.
Within a few hours,
Jesus would go to Pilate,
to Herod,
and back to Pilate.
Jesus would be beaten and mocked through it all.
What suffering!
He willingly suffered
that you and I may know God's love.
This podcast is read by Frenita Buddy
for Gracelink.net
Created and produced by Falvo Fowler
Post produced by Faith Toh at Studio Elpizo
The theme music is by Clayton Kinney
Animation and artwork by Diogo Godoy
The audio engineer was Karel Holness
For more information please visit, Gracelink.net.
Close captioning and subtitles by Wyman Loke