Christ Before the Court

Announcement

Diapers drive, casseroles, tax statements

Call to worship

Waw

Psalm 119:41–48 ESV

41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; 42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. 44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, 45 and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. 46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, 47 for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. 48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

Introduction

One crisp evening in September 1931, Clive Staples Lewis, a brilliant but skeptical Oxford don, found himself wrestling with the persistent nudge of something—or Someone—greater than his doubts. Raised in the church yet hardened by loss and war, he had long dismissed Christianity as mere myth, preferring the solace of books and reason. But that night, as he strolled along Addison’s Walk with his friends J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson, their conversation about myth, truth, and the story of Christ pierced his intellectual armor. Later, alone in his room, he felt the walls of his resistance crumble—not with thunder, but with a quiet, unrelenting grace. Days later, on a mundane motorcycle ride to the zoo with his brother Warnie, Lewis realized he had crossed an invisible threshold: he stepped off the bike a believer, having surrendered to the God he could no longer deny, a conversion as understated as it was profound.

Text

Mark 14:53–65 NKJV

53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. 54 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ” 59 But not even then did their testimony agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.

I. The Setting: A Corrupt Court (v. 53-55)

Explanation:

Jesus is taken to the high priest’s house, where the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council) gathers.

This is no fair trial—Mark notes they were "seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death" (v. 55). Their minds were made up before evidence was presented.

Key Observation:

The religious leaders, who should have upheld justice, twisted it to serve their own agenda.

Jesus’ trial at night, as depicted in Mark 14:53-65 and paralleled in other Gospels (e.g., Matthew 26:57-68, Luke 22:66-71), was considered wrong because it violated Jewish legal principles rooted in the Old Testament and later codified in the Mishnah, the authoritative compilation of Jewish oral law. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish council responsible for trying Jesus, was bound by strict procedural rules to ensure justice, especially in capital cases like this one, where the death penalty was sought. Conducting a trial at night undermined the transparency, fairness, and sanctity of the judicial process, revealing the leaders’ intent to rush to a predetermined guilty verdict.

One key scriptural principle comes from the Old Testament emphasis on justice and due process. Deuteronomy 16:19-20 states, “You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” This command underscores the need for impartial and upright proceedings, which a clandestine nighttime trial inherently jeopardizes. Additionally, Exodus 23:2 warns, “You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice,” pointing to the corruption of a mob-like, secretive gathering like the one Jesus faced.

The Mishnah (Sanhedrin 4:1), though compiled later, reflects traditions active in Jesus’ time and explicitly prohibits capital trials at night: “Civil suits are tried by day and may be concluded at night; capital cases are tried by day and must be concluded by day.” This rule ensured deliberation occurred in daylight, allowing public scrutiny and preventing hasty or hidden judgments. Jesus’ trial, beginning after His arrest in Gethsemane (likely late at night) and continuing into the early morning hours, flouted this standard. Mark 14:53 notes, “And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together,” implying an immediate, nocturnal session, followed by abuses (v. 65), all before the formal daytime affirmation in Luke 22:66: “When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together.”

The nighttime trial was wrong because it perverted justice, cloaking the proceedings in darkness—both literal and moral—to conceal the Sanhedrin’s bias and false witnesses (Mark 14:56-59). It stood in stark contrast to the biblical call for righteousness, as seen in Isaiah 1:17: “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Jesus, the innocent Lamb, was denied the justice Scripture demands, highlighting the depth of human sin and the extent of His willing sacrifice.

Application:

We live in a world where truth is often manipulated. How do we respond when we face unfairness or corruption? Do you act justly as our Lord, do you follow the set up methods of dealling with issues?

The Bible teaches to go to a brother you’ve wrong quickly and seek forgivness, The scripture teaches

Transition:

Despite their efforts, their case against Jesus falls apart.

II. The False Witnesses: Crumbling Case (v. 56-59)

Explanation -

Witnesses are brought forward, but their testimonies don’t align (v. 56). Some claim Jesus said He’d destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days (v. 58), a distortion of His words (cf. John 2:19).

Mark emphasizes their failure: "Yet even about this their testimony did not agree" (v. 59).

Dealing witt the Text

Liews and half truthscan’t stand up to who Jesus is

This brings me to another C.S. Lewis argument for the person of Jesus, what he called the Trillema, Liar, Lunatic, Lord. The New Testament without issue testifies that Jesus is God. So we have three options on how to deal with that.

You have to admit that the Bible consideres Jesus as God.

Liar:

in our very text today Mark 14:61-62

Mark 14:61–62 ESV

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.”

Now Jesus didn’t seek wealth or money or power in his ministry. He didn’t demonstrate being a liar in his actions, he teaches us in Matt 5:37

Matthew 5:37 ESV

37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

By application: If you think that he was a really great teacher, but not God his actions and words don’t give you that out.

Lunatic

Is Jesus crazy?

His insights like the prodigal Son like in Luke, his wit and sompusure when dealling with the Pharisees, His constant compassion, his claim of authority Mark 4:39

Mark 4:39 ESV

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Again these actions don’t add up to a mad man.

Lord

Lewis points to the Resurrection as the ultimate validation: a liar wouldn’t rise from the dead, nor would a lunatic’s death spark a movement that transformed history. The Gospels portray Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Isaiah 53), performing miracles, and demonstrating power over nature, sin, and death—acts consistent with divinity. Moreover, His moral teaching, such as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), carries an authority and depth that transcends human wisdom, suggesting a source beyond mere mortality.

Practical Application

When we face slander or misrepresentation, we can trust God to ultimately reveal the truth. You can trust your God, you can trust in his person and words.

III. The Question and Confession: Jesus Speaks (v. 60-62)

Explanation:

The high priest, frustrated, asks Jesus directly, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" (v. 61).

Jesus breaks His silence: "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (v. 62).

This is a bold claim of divinity, echoing Daniel 7:13-14 and Psalm 110:1.

Key Observation:

Jesus doesn’t defend Himself against lies but affirms His identity as the Messiah and Judge.

Some OT proofs and commentary.

You can use the OT to prove the deity of Christ

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This is Christmas

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

These titles are given to Jssus

Micah 5:2 ESV

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

JEsus is the ancient of Days and born of bethlehem

Psalm 2:7 ESV

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

being begotten son he shares with the Lord

David says that God says to God

Psalm 110:1 ESV

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

From our text today

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

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. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

The Son of man is the ancient of Days

Application:

The chief priest should have known this, we know that they knew the scripture from the birth of Jesus

Matthew 2:3–6 ESV

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

They knew the word, but rejected him

When you read the OT read it through the lens of the NT, it’s a flashlight to knowing what God is doing.

Transition:

Jesus’ truth enrages the council, leading to their verdict.

IV. The Verdict and Violence: Rejection of the King (v. 63-65)

Explanation:

The high priest tears his robes, declaring Jesus’ words blasphemy (v. 63-64). The council unanimously condemns Him to death.

They mock, spit, blindfold, and strike Him, saying, "Prophesy!" (v. 65)—ironic, since His every step fulfills prophecy (e.g., Isaiah 50:6).

Key Observation:

The world rejects Jesus because His truth threatens its power and pride.

Illustration:

Think of how people today mock faith when it challenges their worldview.

Application:

Are we willing to stand with Jesus, even when it costs us acceptance or comfort?

Transition:

This suffering is not the end—it’s the path to the cross.

V. The Silence of the Savior: A Purposeful Submission (Entire Passage)

Explanation:

Jesus remains silent through most of the trial (v. 61a), fulfilling Isaiah 53:7: "As a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth."

His silence isn’t weakness—it’s strength under control, submission to God’s will for our salvation.

Key Observation:

Jesus endured this injustice not for His own sake, but for ours, taking the punishment we deserve.

Application:

When we face trials, we can trust Jesus understands and walks with us—His silence was for our redemption.

Illustration:

Contrast Jesus’ silence with Peter’s impulsive denial (v. 66-72, next section)—Jesus models perfect trust in God.

Conclusion

Summary

: In Mark 14:53-65, we see Jesus unjustly accused, boldly confessing His identity, and silently suffering for us. This trial reveals both human sinfulness and divine love.

Challenge:

Where do you need to trust Jesus’ silence and strength this week? Are you willing to follow the One who endured this for you?

Closing Prayer

"Lord, thank You for Jesus, who faced injustice so we could be justified. Help us to trust You in our trials and live boldly for Your glory. Amen."

GIVE THE GOSPEL

Benediction

Say: As we close our service of worship dear brother and sister please stand for our benediction and receive by faith this blessing from God