Mark 14:53-65
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A few years back something interesting happened to me, I had just been trough a very good training that helps you see and pin point red flags that others may show or give off to reveal that they are a sexual abuser.
As I’m picking Mckinlee up from her day care, I see some red flags that I had been trained on in a person there at the day care.
This leads me to have to report what I have seen which then leads me down this whole road. I’m not going to tell you the whole story,
but eventually this story leads me into this witness stand at the Taylor County Court office.
I can tell you many things about that experience. I can tell you how nervous I was with a room full of people. A judge right beside you with a jury listening to your testimony, all while the person you’re testifying against is looking right at you. The sweat forming in my palm, my leg shaking…
I can tell you the anger I felt when the lawyer working for the defendant begins to try and twist my story into something it isn’t. As he tries to twist your words against you to make it seem like you’re the one who might not have done enough, who was in the wrong, or who has no business testifying you’re side of the story.
I can tell you the relief I felt when I was off of that stand. It was one of the more intense feelings I have had in my life.
All because I witnessed a red flag that I saw fit I needed to report.
It put me into a peculiar situation.
There’s nothing more dramatic than being on trial, especially in the case of Jesus… being on trial for your life.
And there is no more dramatic moment in a trial than when the defendant is called to testify on the witness stand. And perhaps there’s never been a more dramatic and shocking testimony given on a witness stand than the one Jesus Christ gave during His trial....
Read Mark 14:53-65
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 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. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “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.’ ” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 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?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 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.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 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.
Jesus Before the Council (Vv. 53-65)
Jesus Before the Council (Vv. 53-65)
Both Jewish and Roman trials were in three stages:
Opened by Annas, the former high priest (John 18:13-24).
It then moved to to the full council to hear witnesses (Mark 14:53-65).
And then an early morning session for the final vote of condemnation (Mark 15:1).
Jesus was then sent to Pilate (Mark 15:1-5, John 18:28-38), who sent him to Herod (Luke 23:6-12), who returned him to Pilate (Mark 15:6-15; John 18:39-19:6). Pilate yielded to the cry of the mob and delivered Jesus to be crucified.
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After questioning Jesus, Annas sends Jesus to his son-in-law Caiaphas, the high priest. Here the Sanhedrin was assembled and the witnesses were ready.
(It was necessary to have at least two witnesses before the accused could be declared guilty and worthy of death. (Deut. 17:6)
During this whole scene we see Peter following at a distance (warming himself at the fire), we’ll get to talk more about that next week.
We see this evidence of a very informal trial as the chief priest and council SEEKING evidence. (Vv. 55), but finding NONE!
Jesus, the son of God. God in flesh! Is in a situation where He has people not only talking behind His back, but getting Him into trouble for lies that they have came up with, with rumors. All because they don’t like who He is and who He stands for.
Many witnesses testified against Jesus, but since they did not agree, their testimony was invalid.
Vv. 57: Some of the false witness against said that they hear him say “ I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with human hands.”
Mark doesn’t record anything that Jesus made a public statement about the destruction of the temple. He does record in Marek 13:1-2 a private prediction of the destruction of the temple, and the cursing of the fig tree and clearing of the temple.
In John 2:19, it’s recorded that Jesus did say this...
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Jews took this to mean the Jerusalem temple (John 2:20).
But even John indicates and understands that Jesus was talking about HIs body in v. 21!
In this there was an element of truth but also an element of untruth in the charge.
Jesus never claimed that He would destroy the Jerusalem temple. He did indicate that the “temple” of His body and the literal temple would be destroyed by others.
Jesus never says that He will rebuild the actual temple in three days… but He did make known that the new temple of His resurrected body would raise in three days.
A theological truth here to note and be thankful....
Jesus’ death made the temple irrelevant and to that extent “destroyed” it.
38 Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
The early church came to look upon the individual Christian and the whole church also as the new temple.
16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.
Through salvation in Jesus, we have the privilege of joining Jesus in becoming the New Temple!
Getting back to the story...
Throughout these accusations… our Lord says nothing.
Silence indicated innocence.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
But when the high priest puts Him under oath, Jesus has to reply.
62 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 time Jesus answers the central question of the Gospel of Mark head on - positively and fully. “I Am”, says Jesus.
He testify’s clearly that He was indeed the Son of God that will sit at the right hand of God.
The title “Son of Man” coming from Dan. 7:13
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
The “Son of Man” comes from the throne of God to earth in the clouds of heaven to judge the world.
The clouds of heaven aren’t the same clouds of earth, just water vapor. No, these clouds are the shekinah glory, the very presence of God.
In other words, Jesus is saying that I will come to the earth in the very glory of God and judge the entire world.
THIS IS A CLAIM TO DEITY.
And the members of the council knew exactly what Jesus was saying.
By this choice of text, Jesus is deliberately forcing us to see the paradox. There’s been an enormous reversal. He is the judge over the entire world, being judged by the world. He should be in the judgement seat, and we should be in the dock, in chains. Everything is turned upside down.”
Let this passage this evening push us into an understanding that we are not people who will evade the same treatment of our Savior.
Let this passage also push us into a thankful posture toward our Lord. One that by our lives we will worship Him and praise Him!