Mark 14:53-65
Before the Sanhedrin

A lot happens in this passage. Jesus has just been arrested, and most of his followers have fled, including a young man mentioned in Mark 14:51-52, who fled without his night shirt because he was so frightened. Some scholars believe that this was Mark, the writer of this gospel. In any case, Jesus was abandoned by those closest to him.

To Peter's credit, he does follow at a distance, to the courtyard of the high priest. The Sanhedrin (the ruling class of the Jews) sought to find some fault in Jesus, something worthy of death. Many people made up stories about him, and Jesus said nothing. Finally the high priest asked Jesus directly if he was the Christ. Jesus finally answered--for the first time in his ministry he gave a direct answer about his identity to these Jewish rulers. He replied in verse 62: 2"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."

This was sufficient evidence for the rulers, and they deemed Jesus worthy of death for what they considered blasphemy, which it would have been if it weren't true. The men could not see the truth of Jesus' statement, just as they had misunderstood his whole ministry. Rather than bowing down to worship the Lord, they spit on him, blindfolded him and struck him with their fists.

I hope the eyes of the world can be opened to the truth that Jesus is Lord. He submitted to humiliation and death for our sakes--shouldn't we be willing to devote our lives to him?

- posted by Suzi @ 6:28 AM