Two Rocks Between Hard Places-part 2-Mark 14:53-65

As we begin this morning, please turn in your copies of God’s Word to the Gospel of Mark. This morning we will be in chapter 14:53-65. We will read those verses shortly, so please have them marked and ready.

Last Sunday morning, in part 1 of Two Rocks Between Hard Places, we looked at the actions of Peter, on the night Jesus was betrayed. How Simon, whom Jesus named Peter, meaning Rock, crumbled when he was questioned about his relationship with Jesus. He was warming himself by the fire, in the courtyard of Caiaphas, the high priest. There to, hopefully, prove himself worthy of the love Jesus and given to him, time and time again over the last 3 1/2 years. Unfortunately, while his “spirit” sought to stand strong, his “flesh” was filled with fear, and he abandoned Jesus, just like the rest of the disciples. Thankfully, we didn’t end with his failure, but with the redemption he experienced, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We noted how similar most of us are to Simon Peter, in both our failures as well as the forgiveness Jesus lavishes on us.

This morning, we will look at Jesus, the Solid Rock, Who stood strong, when faced with the biggest Miscarriage of justice, in all of History. We find this account in Mark 14:53-65. Would you please stand, in honor of the reading of God’s Word? Next Slide

Mark 14:53–65 (ESV)

53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.

54 And Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they found none.

56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimony did not agree.

57 And some stood up and bore false witness against Him, saying,

58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ”

59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.

60 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?”

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.”

63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?

64 You have heard His blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned Him as deserving death.

65 And some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to strike Him, saying to Him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received Him with blows.

May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of His Word, please be seated.

In 1988, George HW Bush had just won the Republican primaries, which meant he was to be the Republican choice to run for President of the United States of America. He was now to name his choice as a running mate, the potential Vice President. It was common to name a high profile Republican, who would be helpful in drawing votes from the American people. The Republican party had all sorts of ideas of who he should select, Then came the time for the announcement: Dan Quayle was his selection, a virtual unknown from the state of Indiana. Many within the Republican Party were convinced that Bush had committed political suicide. Immediately, the liberal press begin to set out to look for ways to discredit Dan Quayle. George HW Bush was a veteran flying ace from wartimes, who had been shot down behind enemy lines. He was a hero from a good home, he had a good marriage and a good family. They knew it would be a waste of time to put much effort on him, so they turned their concentrated efforts onto Dan Quayle. Immediately they ran into a problem. While he wasn't a war hero like Bush, they really couldn't find anything else with which to discredit him. He came from a great family, he had a great marriage, he had a great family. He was a good and decent man, a man of integrity. As hard as they looked, they could find nothing with which to attack him. Finally, two men from the Washington Post at the time, begin to make up lies against him. I do not recall all that they said about him, but a few years later they admitted to what they had done, and printed retractions. The whole point of all this is, Dan Quayle was a man of integrity. As hard as they searched, and they searched hard, they couldn't find any grounds for accusations about him that would draw votes away.

As you can see, in this morning's passage, we see a similar thing taking place. Only on this occasion it takes place in the courtyard of the high priest of all of Israel, and they didn't just want to destroy Jesus politically, they wanted to destroy Him totally. They wanted Him dead! The problem was, they had certain laws and regulations that prevented them from killing Him outright. They had to have a verifiable accusation to bring against Him. And if you think it was hard to find anything on Dan Quayle, Jesus reputation was so good that he made Dan Quayle look like a mass murderer.

Next Slide

What’s Good for the Goose, Is Good for the Gander......Or Maybe Not! Deut. 16:18-20; 19:16-21

Going back to the days that Joshua was about to take over the leadership of Israel from Moses, they, as a Nation had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after they were freed from their 400 years of slavery in Egypt. They wandered because of their lack of faith, despite the daily reminders from God that He had them in the Palm of His Hand.

They also wandered because of their constant disobedience to the Laws Moses delivered to them, some of which were literally written by the finger of God. Fast forward 40 years and by that time, all but 3 individuals who had left the Promised Land had perished. Shortly before entering the Promised Land, God instructed Moses to write, what is now the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy stands for “Second Law”. And it’s purpose was to reiterate much of what their parents had received in the Book of Exodus, and to prepare them for their entry into the Land. To let them know that if they responded to the Lord God in love and obedience, they would experience His blessing; but if they did not; they would receive His judgement.

By the first century, when Jesus ministered in Israel, the Jews had established a very sophisticated judicial system to govern the people. This system was based on the principles we see in the Mosaic Law. And they prided themselves in how fastidious they were in their obedience to this system.

Based on requirements set forth in the Old Testament, the Jewish legal system provided those accused of crimes several protections. For instance, the trial had to be public and had to take place during the daylight hours. The judicial system had to provide the accused with ample time to establish a defence, and no trial could take place if there were not at least 2 or 3 witnesses, and the witnesses testimony had to be in agreement. Additionally, if someone falsely accused someone else of a crime, and their testimony was proven to be a lie, the one who bore the false witness, was dealt the required punishment of the crime. Additionally, in capital cases, like the one Jesus was faced with, the law required one full day between the announcement of the verdict and the death sentence. And during that day, those who were a part of the court were required to fast and reflect on the magnitude of their verdict. This also provided one more day for new evidence to be brought forth. And since they were required to fast, a trial could not be held the day before Jewish feast, since fasting was never permitted during the required Jewish feasts.

To go against any of these requirements from the Law of Moses was unthinkable, absolutely unthinkable. But their hatred and fear of Jesus and His growing popularity, brought the Great Sanhedrin to the point where they completely disregarded all that they had followed fastidiously for as long as they had been a part of the judicial system. So, in this instance, what was good for the goose was definitely not good for the gander! Let’s look at just a few of the areas of the Mosaic Law they turned a blind eye to.

First, Jesus trial took place almost completely at night. Yes there was a brief trial before Caiaphas very early on Friday morning, but the only purpose for that was so that they could say the trial took place during the day. The verdict was delivered hours earlier. Second, the trial was held in private, at the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. Third, Jesus was not provided ample time to establish a defense. Fourth, the only witnesses they could find were witnesses they bribed to lie, which in an of itself was another violation of the Mosaic Law. And the witnesses they bribed couldn’t get their stories straight, which meant 2 things, 1. Their testimony should have been thrown out and 2. Once their testimony was proven to be false, the false witnesses should have been the ones crucified, rather than Jesus. The fifth area in which they disregarded the Mosaic Law was, since Jesus was being tried for a capital offense, the Law required one full day between the announcement of the guilty verdict and the death sentence. And, of course they were required to fast during that full day, which brings us to the sixth area of the Mosaic Law they disregarded, it was held the day before the Passover Feast, a day they were prohibited to fast on. Does anyone here believe they fasted that day? If you do, meet me this morning after church, I have a beautiful waterfront property to sell you a half mile off of the souther tip of Florida.

Next Slide

Sentence Delivered Before The Offense Was Determined and The Verdict Handed Down. Vs. 55; Mt. 26:59; Jn. 18:14

As is the case in the judicial system in the United States, judges in ancient Israel were not permitted to bring charges in cases in which they are also presiding over. Yet that is exactly what we see taking place in the case against Jesus. In fact, according to Jewish law, the Sanhedrin was never permitted to initiate charges at all. So, here we see yet 2 more instances, where the Great Sanhedrin disregarded the Mosaic Law to accommodate their own selfish desires. Which, by the way, is one more instance of them violating the Mosaic Law!

Honestly, I am loosing track of the number of serious violations these “so-called” unbiased judges had already perpetuated. And guess what, they’re not done yet! Because, as you can tell from the title of our current slide, they had yet to determine what it was Jesus had done wrong, additionally, no verdict had been handed down, yet they had already delivered the sentence of death. The task before them now was to come up with a crime worthy of the death penalty. But it was significantly more difficult than one offense, in this instance they had to come up with 2. First, they had to find Him guilty of a Jewish offense worthy of death. Second, they had to find Him guilty of a Roman offense worthy of death. You see, the Roman’s cared little about the violation of Jewish religious laws that carried with them the death penalty. They took great joy in thumbing their noses at Jewish religious Laws and customs.

It was already well past midnight, yet the Great Sanhedrin made its way to the home of Caiaphas by torchlight. The great hall was then lit up by more torchlights. By the way, this was also a violation of Jewish Law, you see judicial proceeding of this nature, were never permitted to take place any other place than the Temple courts.

Jesus then took His place in the middle of the great hall, surrounded by the great Sanhedrin, who were sitting in an elevated semi-circle around Him.

Try as they may, they were unable to find any charges against Him worthy of death, so they decided to pay false witnesses to lie about Him. I would imagine that they had reviewed the charges over and over again with the false witnesses they had bribed. Wanting them to repeat, verbatim the drummed up charges. Even in this area they failed. But rather than dismiss the charges based on insufficient evidence and no collaborating evidence, they proceeded with the illegal trial.

Then, Caiaphas, the high priest, stood up, approached Jesus, dramatically raised his voice and said “Have You no answer to make? What is it these men testify against You?”

Jesus sat silently before them. He knew the judicial system better than any of these judges, and He understood that no reply was necessary, because He was innocent. His silence resulted in taking away any appearance of legitimacy to the proceeding He was facing. But there was something else at play here. Jesus also understood prophecy. He knew what Isaiah wrote, some 700 years earlier, in Isaiah 53:7, that “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His Mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”

Could someone here refresh my memory for me? Have I mentioned yet, during our time in the Gospel of Mark, that our God is sovereign and in complete control of all things? Jesus fulfillment of the words of Isaiah give further evidence of the sovereignty of God, but Caiaphas adds even more evidence. Look at John 18:14; Next Slide

John 18:14 (ESV)

14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that One Man should die for the people.

John, in this verse, is referring to the words of Caiaphas as recorded in John 11:49-52. And we find out as we read on in those verses that “he (Caiaphas)did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation”.

Despite how dark things were that night, God was in complete control of all that was taking place. You know, this is a powerful lesson for us this morning. There are times we are faced with darkness that seems to completely envelop us. We desperately peer into the darkness, hoping to see a light at the end of the tunnel, but all we see is more darkness. But rest assured, just as we see that night, through the pages of Scripture, God is in control. We need to trust in Him, we need to lean on Him, oftentimes He brings us to the end of our rope, so we will come to Him, our only hope.

Jesus knew Who was in charge, which brings us to the next powerful truth from this mornings passage. We see this truth delivered in verse 62 of Mark 14, where we see; Next Slide

The Silence Broken and the Verdict Delivered. Vs. 62; Mt. 26:64; Lk. 22:69-70

Truth be told, it was not Jesus Who was on trial that night. The members of the great Sanhedrin were the ones on trial, and in verse 62, we not only see Jesus break His silence, we also see Him deliver His verdict. You see, unlike the Sanhedrin, Jesus had the authority to be the prosecutor, the judge and the jury.

Jesus silence to Caiaphas last questions, surely increased the anger Caiaphas was already displaying in this mock trial. He was at his wit’s end. None of the accusations they bought and paid for seemed to stick. Finally, this man who was supposed to be the high priest of God almighty, not realizing he was standing in the presence of God the Son, asks one more question; “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Matthew adds that he began that question by saying; “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” What incredible patience and self-control Jesus displayed in that moment! At His disposal was the power to completely incinerate Caiaphas. But Jesus was yielded completely to the will of the Father. He knew that He had to drink the cup God had placed before Him, the cup of God’s wrath for the sins of all mankind. Knowing that it was now God’s perfect timing, down to the very second, Jesus breaks His silence to deliver, not His defence, but His verdict; Next Slide

Mark 14:62 (ESV)

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.”

Jesus begins with another of His great “I Am” statements. Don’t forget, this was a very clear declaration from Jesus that He is God in the flesh! And who can forget His utterance of these 2 powerful words in the Garden of Gethsemane, when standing face to face with an army of as much as a thousand! No sooner did these words proceed from His mouth than the entire army fell on their backs in fear and trembling. Clearly, in this instance, Jesus used some divine self control, because as we pointed out a moment ago, just these two words could have brought about the instant destruction of the entire Sanhedrin.

Then, to add to the power of these two words, Jesus doubles down; “and you will see the Son of Man (yet another declaration that He was God in the flesh) seated at the right hand (a declaration that He would be enthroned on high), of Power, (notice the capital P, this was a figurative title for God, Who is All Powerful) and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Understand this truth, in making this statement, Jesus knew full well that He was sealing His fate, this statement meant certain death. It meant that the Sanhedrin would soon deliver their judgement. I love what John MacArthur writes regarding Jesus declaration to the Sanhedrin. He writes;

“With undaunted majesty, Jesus faced His accusers and announced to them that He was their Messiah and their divine Judge. Though they might kill Him that day, He would rise again and ascend to the right hand of His Father. And though they might judge Him unjustly, He would judge them eternally with perfect justice.” MacArthur, J. (2015). Mark 9–16 (p. 328). Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.

Next Slide

Feigned Outrage & Injustice Delivered. Vs. 63-64; Mt. 26:65-66; Lk. 22:71; Lev. 21:10

Directly after Jesus declaration, Caiaphas, the high priest, tore his garments. He was attempting to signal his righteous indignation at what Jesus had just declared, but there was nothing even remotely righteous about Caiaphas. This was all a ruse. Generally, Jews would tear their clothes as a sign of deep grief, such as the death of a loved one. The problem for Caiaphas was that the high priest was specifically forbidden from tearing his garments. This was written by Moses in Lev. 21:10. But by now, the Sanhedrin had disregarded so many areas of the Mosaic Law, what’s one more! Next Slide

Blindfolded But Seeing Clearly. Vs. 65; Mt. 26:67-68

The Sanhedrin was known for the orderly delivery of verdicts and then displaying great decor after the delivery. They were charged with judgements that were to be unbiased, and unemotional. Yet look at what we read in verse 65;

“And some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to strike Him, saying to Him, ‘Prophecy!’ And the guards received Him with many blows.”

Can you imagine this taking place in our Supreme Court?

This gives a pretty clear picture of the intense hatred these men had for Jesus.

Of course, blindfolded or not, Jesus knew the name of every individual who struck Him, yet remained silent.

I mentioned a short time ago that Jesus was attentive to both the will of the Father, but also the fulfillment of prophecies. Well this was the fulfillment of one of His own prophecies. We looked at this a few weeks ago when we were in Mark 10:33-34, where Jesus said “The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”

This ended Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin. Next week we will look at His trial before Pilate.

The bottom line for us as we close out our time this morning, is to understand the sovereignty of God in all that took place on this, the darkest night in all of history. And while Caiaphas and his cronies thought they were in charge, God the Father was orchestrating every last detail to accomplish His perfect plan.

Let’s close our time this morning in prayer.

Oh Sovereign Father, it is so reassuring to know that You are in control. Father, we are in the midst of such dark times right now. It seems that chaos reigns everywhere we look. But Your Word is clear, You have a plan, and it is perfect plan. Your plan does not always protect us from the fire, but it does guarantee us that even in the midst of the fire, You are with us each step of the way. We rejoice in Your presence, just as we rejoice in the price Jesus paid for us on the cross. We praise You this morning. In the matchless Name of Jesus, Amen.