MARK 14: 53-72
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.”’ 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’
62 ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’
63 The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked. 64 ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took him and beat him.
Peter disowns Jesus
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
‘You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,’ she said.
68 But he denied it. ‘I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,’ he said, and went out into the entrance.
69 When the servant-girl saw him there, she said again to those standing round them, ‘This fellow is one of them.’ 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, ‘Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’
72 Immediately the cock crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows twice you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.
The Answer that leads to the cross
So Jesus is arrested and taken to the high priest and religious hierarchy. They’ve got him. They took their opportunity when Judas betrayed Jesus and now, away from the crowds who they were afraid of, they can get Jesus on his own and put this matter to bed.
Under Roman Law, only the Romans can carry out the death penalty – and that would only be if they contravened Roman Law. Breaking Jewish religious law would not carry the death penalty. Nevertheless, they are looking for evidence so that they could put Jesus to death (verse 55). So this can in no way be considered a fair trial; and the fact they were meeting at night also contravened their own laws.
So they went through the formalities of the proceedings, confidently expecting to find a charge suitable to fit the death penalty; but nothing transpired. Testimonies and statements did not agree. And it looks as if the trial will run into the ground. You can almost sense the growing desperation.
But just when it seems the whole thing will peter out, the high priest asks this question: ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’
I wonder why the high priest asked this question? If Jesus answers “yes” – the high priest knew that this did not carry the death penalty under Roman Law. But it is as if all his inner frustration comes out at this point.
Just imagine what that would have been like. I imagine when he asks this question, the room falls quiet in anticipation. This is – again – a critical moment. Everything hinges on what Jesus says.
And so Jesus replies: ‘I am’.
Jesus would have known that what he would say next would anger the high priest even more when he adds: ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’
Had Jesus denied who He was, the road to the cross may have been avoided. Yet to do so would have meant denying who He was. For Jesus, the cross was essential (Mark 8: 31).
Hebrews 12: 2 says: “….keep our eyes on Jesus….who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.”
Place yourself in Jesus’s place in this account and consider what you would think and say.
What was this joy that awaited Jesus?
Then place yourself in Jesus’s place again in this account and consider how this joy would affect you?