A Mock Trial

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. 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 man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’ ” 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 Christ, 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.

Introduction: Setting the Scene (v. 53-54)

Jesus had just been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs.

That large crowd of people consisted not only of the Jewish temple police, but also of Roman soldiers with a commanding officer over them.

Based on the fact that even the Roman soldiers had been sent out to arrest this man Jesus, it’s evident that they were concerned that He was guilty of a serious crime indeed!

And so they march Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane towards Jerusalem, in the middle of the night.

We read in verse 53...

“They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together.” (Mark 14:53, NIV84)

Mark records that Jesus was taken to the “High Priest.”

Who was this High Priest?

In Luke 3:2, we read that just when the angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests.

Annas was actually the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and by the time of the trial of Jesus that is taking place here, he is no longer officially high priest, but Caiaphas is.

Annas is nonetheless held in very high esteem, and is still referred to as the high priest at times.

According to John 18:12-13, the soldiers bound Jesus...

...and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

Later on, Annas would then send Jesus to Caiaphas…

Mark however doesn’t record all those details for us.

But not only was the High Priest there, but we read that all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law gathered.

This entire group called the Sanhedrin had come out and gathered together in the dead of night in an attempt to find grounds for bringing judgment on Jesus.

We need to consider the dark irony of this scene.

Jesus is brought before the most powerful and trusted man in all of Israel.

The High Priest was the representative for the nation of Israel before God.

He was the one who would enforce the Covenant of Moses, and ensure that the duties and responsibilities in terms of the sacrificial law were being carried out.

Further to this, The High Priest stood as the mediator between God and Israel at that time.

The High Priest had to...

...handle sacrifices and offerings on a regular basis.

…go into the most holy place within the Temple in order to make atonement for the people.

It was this High Priest, with all these responsibilities, that was now presiding over the trial of Jesus, the sinless Saviour.

It was the one who was a representative for Israel before God, who was standing in judgment over the God-man himself.

It was the one who was a mediator between God and Israel, who was seeking to condemn the God-man himself.

We read further in verse 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.” (Mark 14:54, NIV84)

Peter was one who, after having deserted Jesus in the Garden, didn’t disappear completely.

Rather, he lingered in the distance, watching where they were taking Jesus, and then following the crowds, he went into the very courtyard of the High Priest.

According to John 18:15, Simon Peter went to the High Priest’s house with another disciple, and this other disciples (who was probably John) knew the High Priest, and that is how they gained access.

So this event actually unfolds in the Court Yard of the House of the High Priest.

As they enter the court yard, because it is night time, and it is cold at night, a fire is lit, and Peter goes to the fire and sits there with the guards, as they all warm themselves together.

Clearly these guards didn’t know Peter well, otherwise they would have arrested him also at this point.

But this is the scene, as Jesus begins to be tested and tried by the High Priest in particular, with all of the Sanhedrin watching.

1. False Witnesses Pour Out Lies (v. 55-61a)

This leads us to our first point for consideration this morning...

In verse 55 we read:

“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.” (Mark 14:55, NIV84)

Notice the order that Mark puts it in as he describes this so-called trial of Jesus.

These noble men of Israel were looking for evidence "SO THAT" they could put him to death.

They wanted him dead, but had to find some grounds to have Him put to death.

At this stage, there simply was nothing against Jesus.

All they knew was that they had an intense hatred towards this man Jesus, who they saw as one stirring up trouble.

And so they began to bring in people who would bring testimony against Jesus in order to find fault with Him, and have reason to put Him to death.

In verse 56 we read:

“Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.” (Mark 14:56, NIV84)

Notice the "many" here - there were a lot of people who were coming forward in order to bring false witness.

No doubt these were all arranged and brought in by the Jewish leaders in their attempts to find some grounds on which to find Jesus guilty.

The problem was that the statements being brought didn’t agree with one another.

The Jewish law was clear about the need for the testimony of multiple witnesses:

Deuteronomy 17:6 NIV84

6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15 NIV84

15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

As this mock trial unfolds, they make every effort to find something, anything, against Jesus!

And so the witnesses just keep being brought forward, all the while the Sanhedrin hope that some testimony will arise that will enable them to carry out their plan to kill this man Jesus.

They will not rest until they have the testimony that they seek.

These religious leaders would have argued that what they were doing was for noble purposes.

They would have argued that they were zealous for God, and for the defense of His honour.

But they allowed these false witnesses.

Did they not even have an ounce of guilty conscience, as all of these witnesses came forward, very clearly falsely accusing Jesus?

In their own law, was the command in Exodus 23:1...

Exodus 23:1 NIV84

1 “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.

In the Ten Commandments that were inscribed in stone for the Israelites as their foundational law, stood the 9th commandment which said:

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16)

Despite this, the Sanhedrin cared little of all those clearly false witnesses coming forward.

If they truly loved God, would it not have been a priority that only true testimony be brought forward, and that they protect the innocent?

But no!! Those witnesses giving false testimony would be free to go, but they would find something against this man Jesus, the innocent party.

We read then in verses 57-58...

“Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’ ” (Mark 14:57-58, NIV84)

Eventually a further group / set of people gets up and brings this false accusation against Jesus concerning the temple.

You will recall the words of Christ to the Jews in John 2.

When Christ had been in the temple, clearing out the money-changers and those buying and selling, they asked him by what authority He was doing those things.

In fact, they ask him for a miraculous sign in order to prove His authority.

In response, we read in John 2:19...

John 2:19 NIV84

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

That is no doubt where these witnesses got the idea of Jesus speaking about destroying the temple.

But even then, they got the story so confused, that even their version is wrong.

Mark makes it very clear that this testimony that they brought was false testimony.

There were clear allusions in their accusations to things that had truly been said.

But ultimately, they were twisting Christ’s words to mean things that He had not said.

As Mark goes on to explain in verse 59...

“Yet even then their testimony did not agree.” (Mark 14:59, NIV84)

Even these men, who had some truth within what they were saying, were inconsistent in their accusation and thus could not find Jesus guilty.

What we have then is a string of false witnesses, pouring out lies!

We must ask if anything is different in the ways of man today.

If one looks at the world around us, it seems that expediency for ones own agenda is all that truly matters at the end of the day.

We look at today, and political figures trying to trump up charges against a rival politician - this is typical of the human heart in sin.

As we see this multiplication of evil unfolding, we must remember the very true words of Jesus the Christ that He spoke to the Jewish leaders when He said to them in John 8:44-47...

John 8:44–47 NIV84

44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Those words were spoken by Christ some time before this trial, but just as they were so applicable and pertinent when He spoke them, they were so much more so in this moment of his mock trial.

As this mock trial continues, and even these witnesses are unable to find fault with Jesus, we read in verse 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?”” (Mark 14:60, NIV84)

The High priest was clearly frustrated.

He can clearly see that they’re getting nowhere with finding fault with Jesus, and so he turns the tables now to Jesus, in a an attempt to get some kind of self-incrimination.

“Are you not going to answer?” - the question really should be, to what must Jesus answer.

Rightly, we read in verse 61...

“But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Jesus rightly said nothing.

He didn’t need to give an answer, because no valid accusation had been brought against him.

Here was certainly the fulfilment of the prophecies of Isaiah:

Isaiah 42:1–4 NIV84

1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”

Also...

Isaiah 53:7 NIV84

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.

2. True Testimony Leads to Condemnation (v. 61b-65)

But that leads us then to our final consideration this morning, and that is the true testimony that led to Christ’s condemnation.

Verse 61:

“Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”” (Mark 14:61)

What a question!

Why would Caiaphas ask such a thing?

This was not some impulsive question that suddenly popped into his mind.

Christ had been living the perfect life, and He had made it plain through His actions that He was indeed the Messiah.

His sinless conduct was evident for all to see as He ministered in Galilee.

The miracles that He performed were done so in full view of crowds and multitudes of people, such that the people were flocking to Him in order to get more of these miracles.

Even Jesus himself spoke out against the crowds, telling them that all they wanted was to see more miracles - they had little interest in actually knowing Jesus.

Mark’s Gospel particularly focused on the power and authority that Jesus had as He performed His miracles.

Through His life, there was one fulfilment of Scripture after the next, as we have clearly outlined in the New Testament Scriptures.

But not only had His life been lived in such a way that it was scarcely possible to deny that He was the Messiah, he had also made various allusions or references in His speaking to the fact that He was indeed the Messiah.

For example, in John 8:58-59, we read these words...

John 8:58–59 NIV84

58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

The reason those people sought to stone Jesus, was that He was claiming to have existence before Abraham.

Again in John 10:27-33 we read these words of Jesus...

John 10:27–33 NIV84

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Indeed, Christ’s entire life proved that He was the Messiah, and His words supported this fact.

Now the concern of Caiaphas was that he knew what people were believing this about Jesus.

And he knew that Jesus was making such claims, and not only this but was supporting such claims through His works, through his miracles.

And so what the high priest seeks to do in this instance is to seek to force Jesus to confess publicly in the Jewish “Court” that He was indeed the Messiah.

He was going to seek to have Jesus confess once again that He was the Son of the Blessed one - the Son of God, thus making Himself equal with God.

The response of Jesus is resolute:

““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.”” (Mark 14:62)

The time for Jesus to veil His identity, or to keep it at least somewhat under wraps was now past.

Jesus not only confirms that He is the Messiah (the Saviour / Christ) and the Son of the Blessed one, but He tells the High Priest (and all those present in that place) that they will see Jesus - the Son of Man - sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One, and coming on the clouds of heaven!

As we’ve seen before in our study of Mark’s Gospel, Christ was proclaiming that the fulfilment of Daniels prophecy in Daniel 7 was immanent, and that He, Jesus, was the one who would fulfill this prophecy.

He was claiming none other than divinity!!

At this...

“The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked.” (Mark 14:63)

The tearing of clothes in that culture was a typical way to express either mourning or repentance, or great shock or indignation.

In this case, the high priest intended to show indignation at the so-called blasphemy that was spoken by Jesus.

But was he really indignant and shocked?

Or was he rather filled with glee that he had now found what he was looking for - apparent grounds for murdering Jesus.

And so he asks, what need is there of any more witnesses?!

That whole exercise of bringing in witness after witness to pour out lies in order to convict Jesus had proved futile.

In fact, the high priest knew that there was no evidence and testimony to bring against Jesus.

““You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death.” (Mark 14:64)

The entire council here (except for one person) condemns Jesus of being worthy of death.

The one person who didn’t agree is recorded in Luke 23:50-51, and that was Joseph of Arimathea, who eventually would take Jesus’ body and prepare it for burial.

But apart from that one man, and as Mark records it here, the entire council condemns Jesus as worthy of death.

In Leviticus 24:16, in the law of Moses we read...

Leviticus 24:16 NIV84

16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.

It was thus fitting and appropriate, based on their own law, that Jesus would be worthy of death.

This verdict that was pronounced by them was not yet a formal sentence.

It was simply a matter of them having found Jesus guilty.

They would still need to reconvene the Sanhedrin in order to hand down sentencing, and then they would even need to get the approval of Pilot, the governor, before they could actually carry out this sentence.

But at this point, Jesus is declared guilty!

At this point, we read in verse 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.” (Mark 14:65)

In full view of this council of the Sanhedrin, the mockery of Jesus is carried out as they spit on Jesus, blindfold him, and begin to strike Him with their fists.

As they do this, they shout out to him: “Prophesy” - meaning: since you’re such a great prophet, and are equal with God, surely you can tell us who it is that’s punching you, even while blindfolded.

The irony here is that three of Jesus’ prophecies have been fulfilled or are being fulfilled at this very moment...

Mark 10:33–34 NIV84

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, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Then the guards take Jesus away, and they beat Him.

We must take note of the stark contrast that exists between Jesus, the light of the world - the truth - and the ways of those who seek to have Him condemned.

Here we have the false judgments passed by the world upon Him who is absolute truth and righteousness.

We have the false disciple, who betrays Jesus into the hands of the leaders;

We have false judges, who seek to condemn Him at all costs.

We have the false witnesses who pour out lies against Jesus

We have the false judgment being handed down on Christ, claiming that Christ’s words are blasphemous.

But the truth of who Christ was stood firm, and we are His servants today because the truth of God will always pierce the veil of the works of darkness.

Application and Conclusion

As we begin to close, I want to encourage each person here today to give careful consideration to this man Jesus.

He stood on trial before those who the religious elites.

He was condemned as worthy of death, although no deceit was on His lips, and His life was the perfect example of obedience and righteousness.

What must stand out to us is that nothing was outside of His control, even here.

He was simply living in obedience and submission to the will of the Father, and carrying out these plans of the salvation of all men.

The question that I want to ask you this morning is how are you responding to this man Jesus?

When Christ acknowledged before Caiaphas that He was indeed the Son of the Blessed One, He went on to say to all of those present there that they would see the Son of Man coming in power and seated at the right hand of God.

The truth is that each and every person in all the world is going to see the glory and power and splendor of this man Jesus who gave up His life for us.

In Philippians 2, Paul says that one day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

That truth leads us to the essential question that we must ask ourselves.

A.1. Have I submitted to Christ?

Christ was the perfect love offering from the Father in heaven.

He endured all the suffering that He now faces because He chose demonstrate a deep love for His people.

1 John 4:9–10 NIV84

9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Elaborate Further

A.2 Live Your Life for Christ

The life that Christ lived was like no other.

He was perfect in holiness and righteousness, and lived a life of service to people around Him.

His life was marked by humility and genuine care and concern for others.

He also lived a life confronting people with the truth of God, although it was mostly the self-righteous elites that were confronted!

But the fact is, it was this combination of living according to the truth of God, and yet with such love and care shown to others, that He was so despised!

Let us be challenged and encouraged today to live in such a manner.

That letter that has such application in life to the passion narrative of Christ - 1 Peter - speaks directly to this.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:12...

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:12, NIV84)

“There is necessary offense when you walk in the truth amongst a people who love a lie.” James White

The exhortation there from Peter is that in light of the amazing mercies of Christ towards us, let us as believers in Christ live lives that are a profound demonstration of love and charitableness, even towards those who hate us.

Elaborate Further...

Bibliography

MacFarlane, M. B. (2016). High Priest. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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