Mark 14 Sermon on Blasphemy
Mark 14:53-65; Matt 26:57-68; Luke 22:66-71; John 18:19-25
v. 20
Background: They wanted to put him to death (v. 14:1-2) MK 14:1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 "But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot."
He was doing things that God alone could do or his vice regent, His Messiah, the prerogatives of God: things like offering the forgiveness of sins (healing of the paralytic Mark 2.5), claiming that the Son of Man was even Lord of the Sabbath (Mk2.28), healing of a man with evil spirits (Mk 5.1-20), and cleansing the temple (11:12-19).
Problem: Jews had no charge against Jesus, but needed one to go to Rome.
What we have here is a grand jury scene, since the Jewish Authorities did not posses legal authority to execute Jesus, Rome did (killing of Stephen Acts 6-more like a mob lynching). Jewish authority could only recommend a course of action.
Good for the leaders:
1. Foreigners (Rome) would be responsible for His d.
2. Judas-one of his own even was guilty (JC, a crucified Messiah?)
Only way that Jewish leadership get Jesus to Rome is with a political trail, not religious.
1. Temple was a flash point, if they could associate Jesus to temple turmoil, they could say that Jesus disrupted law and order—so to Pilot.
2. On a religious ground if Jesus claimed to be king then He was competing with Caesar!
POINT: If the Jewish Leadership is correct about who Jesus is, then they did the right thing by handing Him over to Rome. If they were wrong, they were also responsible for killing an innocent.
TRAIL SCENE
Problem: If this was a formal trial then the trail violated Jewish law. 1. Night 2. during Jewish Feast (Passover) 3. No defense witness.
NIV Mark 14:53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and 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.
-Peter serves to contrast the response of the believer in Jesus under persecution, a very necessary contrast in a time of persecution for believers.
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.
NAS Psalm 37:32 The wicked spies upon the righteous, And seeks to kill him.
NIV Mark 8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
-innocent
56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
-innocent
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'"
-Jesus did say : NIV John 2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." 20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
-NIV Mark 13:1 As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!" 2 "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
-For a capital trial had to have two witness.
Numbers 35:30 Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
NIV Mark 10:33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
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?"
-Jesus gave no room for the high priest to bully him
-NIV Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
-Son of the Blessed One: So that Jews would not have to say the Sacred Name of God. Means the same thing as ‘Son of God’
-Imbedded in Judaism is the idea that Messiah would bring reformation and rebuild the temple-
National prayer with Judaism: “And to Jerusalem, your city, return with mercy and dwell in its midst as you have spoken; and build it soon in our days to be an everlasting building; and raise up quickly in tits midst the throne of David. Blessed are you Lord, who builds Jerusalem”
- and in light of what Jesus did in the temple
NIV Mark 11:15-18 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
-Christ- the Messiah, Anointed vice regent of God who would establish God’s kingdom on earth.
NIV 2 Samuel 7:12-13 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (One after King David would come)
REMEMBER: IF THEY CAN GET A REGAL CLAIM, THEY CAN GO TO PILOT, BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE A COMPETITOR TO CEASAR.
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.
-Why was this statement so blasphemous that it was the turning point in all the Gospel narratives that lead to Jesus being presented to Rome (Pilot) and thus to his death on a Roman Cross?
1. Background of Daniel 7:13-14 and Psalm 110:1
NIV Psalm 110:1 Of David. A psalm. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."
-Right Hand:
1. A place of honor
2. A place of God’s Authority. To be at God’s right hand means to share his authority. Messiah’s authority.
-of Power: Used of God, especially in Exodus in leaving Egypt.
NIV Daniel 7:13-14 In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
-Son of Man: is a figure who shares end time judicial power! God’s vindicating Judgment authority.
-The Son of Man figure hangs out in God’s presence.
-coming in the clouds
1. It was God or god’s who rode on clouds
NIV Psalm 104:3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
2. To come with clouds indicates God’s judgment
NIV Isaiah 19:1 An oracle concerning Egypt: See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them
POINT: The Jewish leadership may be judging Jesus now, but Jesus will come back as Son of Man given the authority and power by the Ancient of Days, to render ultimate judgment.
Jesus says “We will do this again, only the tables will be turned!”
2. Sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One
A. Temple Background:
1. Alongside the home and the synagogue, in the 1st century the Temple was key.
2. Temple was the place where sacrifices were done (Lev 20-21).
3. Temple was viewed as Holy Ground the place where God resided in a special way. God’s presence.
NIV Exodus 40:34-38 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out-- until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.
4. Most importantly, in this scene the holiness.
**Restricted access was tightened as one cam closer to the Holy of Holies
| Court of the Gentiles | Court of Women | Priests | Only the High Priest Once a Year (Day of Atonement) |
Gentiles could only enter the outer court. Women only to the court of women.
Impure Jews were excluded from the entire temple complex (various diseases). Laymen could not enter the court of priests, priests alone. The high priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year, after considerable preparations (Lev 16).
Exodus 3:20-21 Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the LORD by fire, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come."
- NIV Leviticus 10:1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: "'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'" Aaron remained silent.
The High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year but not park there!
Only a selected individual could enter into God’s presence in the Holy of Holies - who is this man from Galilee claiming to be?
5. The temple was actually viewed as the model of the heavenly temple.
There was one and only one temple. The first century Jewish historian Josephus noted “In no other city let there be either altar or temple; for God is one and the Hebrew race is one” (Ant. 4.201).
POINT: The temple was the model of the heavenly temple and God’s very presence.
POINT: Jesus claim was worse than saying that he could walk right into God’s presence and live there.
This was more than the leadership could handle, this was Blasphemy
-This Galilean has gone too far!
-Blasphemy: The term was used to note speech that showed disrespect for God or His people. His character, His presence, His Name, His people, or acting against God.
One example: Josephus says that Goliath committed blasphemy when he insults God by saying Israel does not have a man to fight him.
NIV Isaiah 52:5 "And now what do I have here?" declares the LORD. "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock," declares the LORD. "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.
-Tear Garment: Demonstrates utter disgust:
NIV Numbers 14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes
Spies, 10 said no, 2 yes, Joshua and Caleb disgusted that there was a lack of belief in God’s promises.
POINT: Jesus, with His own lips, supplied the testimony that men (mankind) could not. Since Jesus was innocent, there was no way for Him to be sentenced. Jesus loved you and me enough that He supplied the very testimony that sent Him to His death, the death on the Cross.
Theme in Mark: Jesus is God’s Son and Servant
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 14:35-36 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
-Leadership could not even get it by false testimony.
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.
-Present tense, noting the repeated action
-Prophesy: For Marks readers and Jesus disciples, Jesus already prophesied who the culprits would be:
NIV Mark 10:33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
-There was a prophecy that Messiah would be able to judge simply by smell:
NIV Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
POINT: Either Jesus was who HE claimed to be (the Messiah) or the Jewish Leadership was right in their executing Jesus.
1. If a man’s testimony puts the nation at risk, he should be executed.
NIV Deuteronomy 13:1-5 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.
Review and Application:
- Jesus was innocent (55b, 56b, 59)
- Therefore He is qualified to go to the Cross and satisfy God’s righteous demands.
- God had to make a choice, to judge His perfect (innocent) Son, or to judge me (Scale)
- Jesus is the Judge (62)
- Because Jesus is judge I must give an account for how I live my life.
- Jesus loves me.
- Jesus was so committed to going to the cross that He supplied the testimony that purchased my salvation.
- This event leaves each of us with one of two choices:
- Either Jesus is Blasphemer or
- Jesus is Lord.
(Did not give a third option like prophet, good teacher etc).