Jesus: The Only Truth on Trial (Mark 14:53-65)

Intro:

Outline:

Led to the High Priest: A Distant Disciple (vs. 53-54)

Seeking Testimony: Nothing Adds Up (vs. 55-59)

Have you No Answer: Ignoring the Facts (vs. 60-65)

Summary: Jesus knows what it feels like when trusted friends follow at a distance, accusations don’t add up, and the truth is ignored

Prayer: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Led to the High Priest: A Distant Disciple (vs. 53-54)

And they led Jesus

To the high priest

All the

Chief priests

Elders

Scribes- 3 constituencies that make up the Sanhedrine or the “Council”. The Jewish authorities

Came together- this word is actually at the beginning of the sentence

And Peter had followed Him

At a distance- far, there is a gap in his discipleship before there will be a denial.

right into the courtyard of the High Priest

He was sitting with the guards

Warming himself at the fire- “light”

Wait a minute, aren’t these the guys that just brought Jesus in? Would they not recognize the guy that took a swing at one of their own? I guess this shows that they are only interested in Jesus.

The Gospel according to Mark True versus False Witness (14:53–72)

Peter has forsaken a discipleship of costly following (8:34) for one of safe observation.

Application: Let’s engage our hearts with the text.

How would you describe your distance from Jesus these days? If you had to describe it in location language, how far do you feel Jesus is away from you these days? Is He on the couch next to you, in the other room, somewhere in the neighbourhood, in another province or country?

Would your wife give the same answer? your children, siblings, friends, co-workers?

Whose company is warming your heart these days? Where are they leading you? This may not be physically, as if you are with them because we can’t really be with anyone outside of our families. On-line, shows, social media? Maybe you are finding that a relationship with those that oppose Jesus is safer than a relationship with those that are called His disciples.

Notice that a distancing in Peter’s relationship happens before his denial. This is true spacially and spiritually.

We all need to be careful about this, especially when we cannot physically gather together. It is a whole lot easier to drift slowly when no one else knows if you have been participating in Worship on Sunday mornings.

Jesus knows what it feels like to have those He trusted stay at a distance

Seeking Testimony: Nothing Adds Up (vs.55-59)

Now the cheif priests and the whole council- all are working together for the same goal

Were seeking (look for, desire) testimony against Jesus- over and over again, imperfect. They are continually looking for evidence to support their desired outcome

This is what happens in betrayal, you are not seeking the truth, you are seeking what will fulfill your desires, what will get you what you want.

To put him to death- execution

But they found none- over and over again, imperfect

For many bore false witness against him- over and over again, imperfect

But their testimnony did not agree- they were not “equal”. They did not add up.

Some stood up and bore false witness (imperfect) agains him saying

We heard him say- They need something worthy enough to get the Romans involved because personal dislike and religious disagreement isn’t enough, they moved to insurrection.

“I will destroy this temple

That is made with hands- denoting something created by finite temporal humanity as opposed to the infinite and eternal God”- Word study

and in three days I will build another

not made with hands”-”denoting something created by the infinite and eternal God as opposed to finite and temporal humanity”.

Could this be a reference to 2 Sam. 7:12-14 when God is talking to David about his son building a temple?

Yet even about this their testimony did not agree- over and over again, imperfect.

Application: Let’s engage our hearts with the text

This whole scene is all wrong, what they are doing is illegal by their own documents recorded in the Mishnah

We are all masters at escalation. We all have the tendency to make things bigger than what they are. How many times has personal dislike or disagreement turned into something much worse

“I don’t really like how so and so did that, I also hear that so and so said this and I would never do that! That is wrong…I don’t know if they love Jesus...

NCAA coach, “I just want to give glory to God

When was the last time that people “bore false witness about you”? When was the last time people did not follow God’s commands in trying to prove that you did not follow God’s commands.

Sometimes it can be so easy to find people that will fight alongside of you even though they do not know the cause, they just like a fight.

That is just what happened here, they were seeking testimony against Jesus, but nothing was adding up

Jesus knows exactly what it feels like when others seek testimony against Him that doesn’t add up. The twisting of words, the misuse of God’s Word.

Have You No Answer: Ignoring the Facts (vs. 60-65)

And the High Priest

Stood up in the midst

And Asked Jesus

“Have you no answer to make?”

“What is it that these men testify against you?”

He remained silent- over and over again, imperfect

and made no answer-

This is strategic- anything he says will be twised and used to incriminate Him

This is thematic of Isa 53 that has already been referenced “numbered with the transgressors

It is always interesting to see what people fill the silence of conversation and conflict with.

Again the High Priest asked him

“Are you the Christ,

The Son of the Blessed?”- In the origional language this is actually a statement asked as a question “you are the Christ, the son of the bleesed?” The High priest actually calls him the Christ! He uses “Son of the Blessed” to say “song of God” without using the name for God. There very accuser confirms who Jesus is...

Jesus said

“I am- double emphasis “Ego eimi”

And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power,

and coming with the clouds of heaven

And the High priest

Tore his garments

Said

“What futher witnesses do we need?

You have heard his blasphemy

What is your decision?

They all condemned him- to pronounce guilt and a punitive sentence on someone in a legal context.

As deserving death- subject to legal action

Some began- this has to happen in order for Him to be the Messiah of Isa 53.

to spit on him

to cover his face and to strike (with a fist) him saying, “Prophesy”

And the guards received him with blows (slaps to the face, open hand)

Isa. 50:6 I gave my back to those who strike,

and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;

I hid not my face

from disgrace and spitting.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 50:6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Application: Let’s engage our hearts with the text

Why do we find it strange when others persecute us, or we suffer for righteousness sake? Isn’t this what we see from the NT writers? Just like Jesus was living out the OT why are we surprised as we live out the NT?

This section gives us hope, regardless of how people seek to get what they want by doing wrong Jesus has been and will always be the messiah. You may not receive a legal trial, you may have horrible things said against you that don’t add up, you may have to sit in silence without setting the record straight. But the hope is that Jesus always gets the record straight. Even when all the accusations are true about you or people only say that they are. You may be unfairly judged in this world, but Jesus is sitting at the right hand of Power and will be coming back on the clouds soon!

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Summary: Jesus knows what it feels like when trusted friends follow at a distance, accusations don’t add up, and the truth is ignored

Discussion Questions:

Worship- Renewing your mind in Scritpure, “What does the text say?”

Where were we looking in God’s Word? Summarize it in your own words.

Do you have any questions about certain words, the text, or what was said in the sermon?

What do you think God wants us to learn from this section of Scripture? How does it point us to Jesus?

Where is Peter as they led Jesus to the high priest?

What is the common denominator in all of the testimonies against Jesus in verses 55-59?

What causes the high priest to tear his garment? What does Jesus say?

Grow- Engaging your heart through conversation, “How is my heart responding?”

How would you describe your distance from Jesus these days? If you had to describe it in location language, how far do you feel Jesus is away from you these days?

When was the last time that people “bore false witness about you”? When was the last time people did not follow God’s commands in trying to prove that you did not follow God’s commands? How does Jesus response help you prepare for your response?

Why do we find it strange when others persecute us, or we suffer for righteousness sake? Isn’t this what we see from the NT writers? Just like Jesus was living out the OT why are we surprised as we live out the NT?

Serve- Enlisting the Body, “How does Jesus want to change me this week?”

What passages of Scripture help you when you are treated unjustly? Come prepared to discuss what passages and why they are helpful.

What would it look/sound like to draw near to God this week?

How would you share the hope of this passage with a friend or neighbour this week? What would you tell them about the hope of Jesus even in betrayal?