23S21 Mark 14:53-72 (Part 36) Jesus Betrayed, Arrested and Trial
(written by Dr. Kip Wehrman 07/17/2023)
Hello everyone. I’m Kip and I want to thank you for joining me today @ the PUNLA Coffee Table. Today we are continuing our study of the gospel according to Mark with Mark 14:53-72 (Part 36) Jesus is betrayed, arrested and trial.
When we left off last time. Jesus and His disciples had just finished the Passover feast or last supper and went back to the Mount of Olives for the night. Jesus has been praying and the disciples are so exhausted they can’t keep watch with Him.
Let’s read it again from the New American Standard version (NAS).
Let’s read Mark 14:53-72 (NAS) 53They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes gathered together. 54And Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. 55Now the chief priests and the entire Council were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56For many people were giving false testimony against Him, and so their testimonies were not consistent. 57And then some stood up and began giving false testimony against Him, saying, 58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that was made by hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.’” 59And not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. 60And then the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not offer any answer for what these men are testifying against You?” 61But He kept silent and did not offer any answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and said to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death. 65And some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists and say to Him, “Prophesy!” Then the officers took custody of Him and slapped Him in the face. 66And while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the slave women of the high priest came, 67and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You were with Jesus the Nazarene as well.” 68But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. 69The slave woman saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them!” 70But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “You really are one of them, for you are a Galilean as well.” 71But he began to curse himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!” 72And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he hurried on and began to weep.
Now let’s look at these verse closer, Mark 14:53-54 (NAS) 53They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes gathered together. 54And Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire.
Jesus is arrested and lead away to the high priest. And Peter is following close behind. In case you don’t know, this was not the way Jewish law required a trail to be done. The High priest and the other members of the Sanhedrin were break every rule. This was the middle of the night. Not all members were invited. These were all false charges, fake proceedings.
Mark 14:55-59 (NAS) 55Now the chief priests and the entire Council were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56For many people were giving false testimony against Him, and so their testimonies were not consistent. 57And then some stood up and began giving false testimony against Him, saying, 58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that was made by hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.’” 59And not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.
Despite the efforts, the false claims are empty and pitiful. I can imagine the High priest is getting agitated. This is going to where.
Let’s continue with Mark 14:60-62 (NAS) . 60And then the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not offer any answer for what these men are testifying against You?” 61But He kept silent and did not offer any answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and said to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
“I am” Jesus answer the High Priest question honestly. I am. That is I am God in the flesh.
Let’s continue with Mark 14:63-65 (NAS) 63Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death. 65And some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists and say to Him, “Prophesy!” Then the officers took custody of Him and slapped Him in the face.
The high priest becomes enraged. I don’t know what he expected Jesus to say but Jesus claiming to be God and that is blasphemy. Except of course Jesus is God and it is the truth, not blasphemy at all. Then they start beating Jesus which is strictly against Jewish law. These mean hate Jesus even thought they had been waiting for Him. They knew the Messiah was supposed to be coming. The timing was right. The birth was right. The signs and wonders were right. But they refused to see it.
Let’s continue with Mark 14:66-72 (NAS) 66And while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the slave women of the high priest came, 67and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You were with Jesus the Nazarene as well.” 68But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. 69The slave woman saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them!” 70But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “You really are one of them, for you are a Galilean as well.” 71But he began to curse himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!” 72And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he hurried on and began to weep.
Poor Peter. The tough guy fisherman from Galilee has his heart and spirit completely broken and he weeps.
Let’s review a little today.
I am? Despite all the accusations. Despite the fact the high priest asked Him plainly. Jesus was in the end condemned for telling the truth. Jesus is the great “I am”.
Peter, Peter. I love Peter. But this was probably the lowest point of Peter’s life. A few hours ago he pledged to die with Jesus. He even tried to defend Jesus in the garden, then this. When we fail big, it stays with us. I know it has with me. But there is more to the story in a couple days, when Jesus restores Peter, just like he restored me and wants to restore you to Him. We just have to surrender to Jesus, then restoration is possible.
Let me leave you with this today. Doing right is always the best thing to do. Telling the truth is always the best thing to do. People will not always believe you. People will let you down in this life. Jesus understand He experienced it. You can learn on Jesus when you are faces doubt, disbelief, when other don’t believe you or betray you. Lean on Jesus. It will still hurt but if you can trust Jesus with the final outcome. Trust Jesus that He knows how you feel, and justice will be done. Trust Him, then you give Him your pain, your unbelief, your doubt. God will give you the strength to do what is right if you only trust that He will.
Thank you for joining me for our study of the gospel of Mark. Please email me comments or feedback. And if you liked the message, please share the link with your friends. Until next time @ the PUNLA Coffee Table. God bless.
