2019-10-02 Mark 14

Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 13 views
Notes
Transcript
Mark 14:53–65 CSB
53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes assembled. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants, warming himself by the fire. 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death. 65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.

I. Jesus was not condemned for wrong that He had done.

Mark 14:53–59 CSB
53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes assembled. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants, warming himself by the fire. 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.

A. Even a kangaroo court could not condemn Jesus.

Mark 14:55–59 CSB
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.
mk 14:
Illus: There are a few things I want you to see in the early trial of Jesus.
1. The chief priests were looking for witnesses. They had the court assembled and coordinated with the arrest. This was a well choreographed trial.
2. They sought to twist Jesus’ words against him to send him to death.
- In biblical times blasphemy was not just claiming to be God. In Jesus’ time if you detracted from the glory of God in any way, you could be tried and convicted of blasphemy. If the Sanhedrien could prove that Jesus took away from the glory of God by encouraging saying that “HE would destroy the temple” they could convict and kill him.
3. The problem that the Sanhedrin ran into was that their carefully curated witnesses could not agree on their testimonies. THey couldn’t get a straight story on the twisting of Jesus words.
4. Jesus needed to die, not for false accusations about the temple, but for being tried and convicted for being God.
5. The trial fell apart because the witnesses could not agree. Jesus was proven innocent on the defamation of the temple.
Mark 13:1–2 CSB
1 As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!” 2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”
Mk 13:1
Mark 13:9–11 CSB
9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. 10 And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
mk 13:

B. Jesus did not defend himself, but embraced the cross.

Mark 14:55–61 CSB
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
Illus: Looking at context up to this point, Jesus had already predicted that Judas would betray him at the the Last Supper.
He then told his disciples that they would scatter like sheep, which they did.
Jesus had wrestled with the coming physical and spiritual pain headed his way in the garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus had embraced the next steps forward know that his death was coming.
Here, Jesus could have proven his accusers wrong, and made his case for innocence. He was innocent. But he chose to keep his mouth shut.
It was a remarkable statement of faith in God and his plan. Come what may, In the garden, Jesus placed his faith in the Father and his plan… and allowed God’s orchestration of people and events to drive his next moments.
For me there is not tougher time to trust than when you are being falsely accused. You want to defend yourself, and frankly show the fools who are accusing you for what they are.
Jesus kept his mouth shut. In keeping his mouth shut, the false witnesses proved themselves wrong, AND the chief priest escalated the case to the real reason Jesus needed to die… because He was God.
Isaiah 53:6–7 CSB
6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.
Is 53:

II. Jesus was condemned for claiming to be God.

Mark 14:60–63 CSB
60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?

Jesus was falsely convicted for blasphemy.

Mark 14:60–63 CSB
60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?
Illus: You can’t be convicted of claiming to be God if you are God. That is what Jesus was sent to the cross for. But watch the progression in this passage.
Caiaphas (the high priest) tried and failed to convict Jesus of blasphemy for claiming to destroy the temple… but that was not the charge that Jesus needed to be convicted of, so Jesus remained silent and let the false witnesses contradict themselves.
Upon the failure of the false witnesses, Caiaphas took it upon himself to question Jesus. He asked him are you the messiah, which in the their minds was not God but a political/military ruler from the line of David, Jesus remained silent so that he would not be condemned for claiming to be a political messiah. Even though this claim would not have been as bad in the Sanhedrin, it would have given the religious rulers the evidence necessary to hand him to the Romans to kill. Jesus needed to be condemned and die for more than this. He remained silent.
In Anger Caiaphas finally brought the charge which Jesus needed to be tried with “Are you the messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” BINGO! There was the accusation Jesus needed to falsely condemned for, being Himself, God. Not the temple, nor a political messiah, but for being God himself.
When Caiaphas leveled this question towards Jesus, Jesus willingly embraced the charge by quoting from scripture. Look at what Jesus said about himself...
Mark 14:62 CSB
62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
mk 14:
Daniel 7:13–14 CSB
13 I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. 14 He was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
Psalm 110:1–4 CSB
1 This is the declaration of the Lord to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion. Rule over your surrounding enemies. 3 Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you. 4 The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: “You are a priest forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek.”
Daniel 7:13–14 CSB
13 I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. 14 He was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
Dan 7:13-14
With Jesus claiming and , The Sanhedrin had to make a decision.
Leviticus 24:16 CSB
16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death; the whole community is to stone him. If he blasphemes the Name, he is to be put to death, whether the resident alien or the native.
But under Roman law, they could not they could not execute the death penalty, SO they had to try him under a roman court.
Mark 15:1–5 CSB
1 As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” 5 But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.
Mk 15

Jesus died for the blasphemy of the Sanhedrin.

Mark 14:60–63 CSB
60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?
Illus: Catch the irony of the moment. God, Jesus Christ, was mocked by the religious rulers of this day. In Jesus’ very trial for blasphemy, the Sanhedrin commited blasphemy.
Yet, Jesus walked willing into their trip, did not fall for the wrong accusations keeping silent, but willingly let them sentence him to death for claiming to be himself, God, in order that he would be crucified to forgive them of their blasphemy.
Jesus let the Sanhedrin crucify him so that he could die for them.
Jesus gave his life as the crucified God, so that he could offer forgiveness to Caiaphas who crucified God.
This is the fullness of the Gospel, that God willingly gave his life to give life to the very people who crucified him.
Acts 2:22–24 CSB
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. 24 God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.
Acts 2:
Acts 2:32–38 CSB
32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:32-

III. The question which condemned Jesus is the same question we all must wrestle with.

Mark 14:60–64 CSB
60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.

The eternal question every person will be judged by is, “is Jesus who he says He is?”.

Illus: Even though we were not in the crow the night Jesus was betrayed, we still face the question… who is Jesus.
Is he a man, or is he God.
If he was just a man, then rightly died for a blasphemy he committed.
If he is God, and died on the cross, then we know the fullness of God forgiveness and grace. Our God died in our place.
1 John 5:12–13 CSB
12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more