Mark 14:53-65 (NASB)
⁵³They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together.
⁵⁴Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire.
⁵⁵Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any.
⁵⁶For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent.
⁵⁷Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying,
⁵⁸ “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'”
⁵⁹Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.
⁶⁰The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?”
⁶¹But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? “
⁶²And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
⁶³Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
⁶⁴You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
⁶⁵Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.
Devotional
The Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Council, was made up of Israel’s spiritual elite.
The chief priests, elders, and scribes (Mark 14:53) were very conscientious, dutiful people. This is also evident from the way they deal with the witnesses. If the charges against Jesus are not entirely correct, they will not be accepted (Mark 14:55,56). “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,” is one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16).
The Supreme Court takes this commandment seriously.
Of course, if there are those who claim that Jesus said He would tear down the temple, that must be investigated. Because such a thing is sacrilege in their eyes. The witnesses are individually questioned. Then there appear to be differences in what they bring forward and therefore their accusation is not accepted (Mark 14:57-59).
They work very seriously. All witnesses are rejected. Apparently Jesus is not to be accused of anything. He himself keeps silent (Mark 14:61) and therefore does not help the matter further. Or is it?
Yes, for this forces the high priest to ask the key question, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” (Mark 14:61).
With horror they hear Jesus say, “Yes, I am” (Mark 14:62).
They also immediately recognize the words from Daniel 7 that He quotes (Mark 14:62; Daniel 7:13; Compare Psalms 110:1).
With this the measure is full. Everyone now says that Jesus must die (Mark 14:64).
The best, the noblest, the most devout men of the people hold Jesus guilty of terrible blasphemy (Mark 14:64). They are also particularly hurt by this. They lose their dignity and, with their servants, express their contempt for Jesus (Mark 14:65).
If even spiritual leaders, the highest office bearers, reject God’s Son in God’s name, in whom can you still trust? Who can then be our guide?
Hear Jesus say, “I am” (Mark 14:62).
He steps into the full light here.
He leaves no doubts about Who He is.
We can rely on Him.
He it is in Whom we can put our trust (Compare Acts 16:30, 31).
Even the best of the people disappoint.
They turn out to be terribly mistaken.
There is only one left to build on:
Jesus, the Messiah. Yes, it is He!
Question
▪︎ What are you doing today with the promise of 1 Peter 2:6?
Prayer suggestion
▪︎ Worship the Lord Jesus because He is the Messiah, your Savior
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
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