They Fled Sept. 24
Mark 14:50 Then they all forsook Him and fled. 51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
It is easy to make rash promises in which we fully believe and yet find ourselves incapable of fulfilling
This has been the problem with the Law, as evidenced in every generation since the generation at Sinai promised, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Ex. 19:8). We should even go back to the Beginning and Adam’s unspoken agreement not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17).
Our promises are often beyond our abilities.
And so has been the disciples’ vow to die with Jesus rather than deny Him (Mark 14:31).
The reality of the armed men who have come to take them is the heavy stone of reality that crushes their vision. All that they see at the moment is the threat before them. The ideals and promises of their Teacher melt like snow in the desert sun.
And perhaps Mark is telling on himself in this mention of a young man, a spectator who delays fleeing and is grabbed by a guard. There is no proof for this conjecture. It appears a young man sleeping in a loose garment or wrapped with a sheet was disturbed by the passing troops and followed them. Whoever he is, he also fled from capture.
No one went into captivity with Jesus. All fled in acts of self-preservation.
Double Minded Sept. 25
Mark 14:53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. 54 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.
They bring Jesus to the trinity of chief priests, elders (members of the Sanhedrin), and scribes. This is hardly an unbiased tribunal, for all of these have been offended by Jesus’ teaching.
John records that Jesus was first taken to Annas, former high priest and apparently still viewed as the power behind the office (John 18:13). He then sends Jesus to his son-in-law, Caiaphas, the current high priest (John 18:24).
Peter is of two minds, a house divided. He has seen all flee from Jesus because of the armed men. Perhaps he saw the young man who was apprehended but shed his garment to escape.
Jesus’ most vocal disciple has not run far away, but neither has he stood by his Teacher. He hides among the servants around the fire, warming himself on this cool spring night.
Fear and loyalty fight within Peter and he stays at a distance, remaining on the fringe of events.
False Witnesses Sept. 26
Mark 14:55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ” 59 But not even then did their testimony agree.
The prohibition against bearing false witness – a lying testimony – is the ninth of the Ten Commandments at Sinai. Desiring to have Jesus condemned, His judges listened to many false testimonies. Only two witnesses were needed for conviction, but the untrue reports were conflicting and did not add together to make two consistent testimonies.
Lying has undermined God and maligned His righteousness since the serpent’s false testimony against God to Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:4-5). Jesus already has equated the scribes and the Pharisees with their father, the devil, “a liar and the father of it (lying)” (John 8:44).
A lie is the defense against an inconvenient truth.
At length they heard testimonies of Jesus’ prediction of the fall of the Temple built with human hands and that Jesus would build another in three days without human hands (John 2:19-22), but even these did not agree.
That serpent of old had to tell his perception of God in such a way as to justify his own actions.
So it is with lying. We also tell the perception that we want to be believed to spare ourselves the discomfort of conforming ourselves to the truth.
Remaining Silent Sept. 27
Mark 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing….
C. S. Lewis wrote, “If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair."
The show trial of Jesus is but one of the many examples we have of the truth of Lewis’ words. When we “hold court” – judge someone, run a clinical trial, do a scientific study – to prove a point already established in our minds, the outcome is little more than wishful thinking.
That the witnesses’ testimonies do not agree may be interpreted as they were not sufficient to support a charge for a capital crime. And that is the purpose of the trial, the death of Jesus, not some lesser charge.
Jesus is the victim of a rigged judicial proceeding. The only testimony sought is to prove His guilt. His innocence is irrelevant to the judges.
When faced with accusations, Jesus is silent. His testimony is but one testimony, and none are invited to testify who will be in agreement with Him. Only His enemies are welcome, and yet there is difficulty in their getting the story straight to meet the minimum requirements for conviction of a capital offense.
For Jesus to testify on His own behalf to prove His innocence is pointless when questions are not for information but only for condemnation. He will gain nothing by speaking to those who will not hear.
There is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7). Wisdom is discerning the time.
Who Are You? Sept. 28
Mark 14:61 … Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest resorts to the simplicity of a direct question: Are you the anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God?
We see the high priest equates the Messiah with the Son of God. Although the man is correct in one sense, his interpretation of the terms is incorrect in another sense. Jesus does not match his image of a King David, a man of force come to free captured Israel. Neither does Jesus appear in the image of God that resides in the priest’s mind.
Note how the chief priest is careful not to use the name, God, but uses another word, the Blessed. Rather than delight in the name of God, the Law banishes the name from a worshipper’s lips.
As with so much of his religion, the priest is legally perfect on inconsequential issues while being unable to see the essence of God at work in the world.
The priesthood uses the Law for its own self-aggrandizement. The Law is not for the glory of God but for the glory of the priesthood.
The trial is also for the priests’ benefit (and the scribes’ and the Sanhedrin’s) rather than God’s benefit. They will prove their version of obedience is above Jesus’ version of obedience. As they have so many times before, the priesthood will condemn Jesus for His righteous interpretation of the nature of the relationship between God and mankind.
Obedience to a false idea plunges its sword into the heart of love without remorse.
I AM Sept. 29
Mark 14:61 … Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Apparently, the question of Jesus’ identity had been asked earlier in the proceedings. Jesus had not answered, allowing them the opportunity to prove His identity. When their witnesses fail, Jesus gives the question’s repetition an answer.
And the answer He gives does not withhold anything that might lead to His condemnation by the tribunal. Indeed, He gives them more ammunition.
Jesus says the words, “I am.” This could be heard as the words, “I AM,” a declaration of being God (Ex. 3:14).
And Jesus states that He will sit at the right hand of the dunamis (G1411), the miraculous Power.
Jesus asserts His identity, essentially embracing, self-condemnation. He embraces all truth, for denial of truth is the destruction of one’s own character and Oneness with the Father.
Oneness is achieved when the truth of our identity, our character, and the Father are One.
Blasphemy Sept. 30
Mark 14:63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”
And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Blind and deaf to what he does not want to see and hear, the high priest renders the verdict of blasphemy by rending his garment.
The lesson of the Mercy Seat sitting above the Law in the Ark of the Covenant is lost on people without the eyes to see. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13) is a declaration from the Most Holy Place.
The high priest speaks the truth when he says there is no need of witnesses. Christ has hidden nothing, and He does not lie or dissemble about His identity.
Blasphemy is in the eye and ear of the beholder. The fact that power does not always reside with wisdom is a recurring truth of history.
The court strikes with the sword and divides Jesus from themselves, their religion, and their nation. Jesus is figuratively cast out of the camp. The pronouncement of the death sentence is given under the illusion that Jesus’ death will end the threat of His message.
The court that has been a mockery of justice transforms into a mob. They now physically mock Jesus, taunt Him and abuse Him before sending Him to His executioners.
We are fortunate that spiritual truth does not die with the physical body.
Next day
Mark 14:50 Then they all forsook Him and fled. 51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
It is easy to make rash promises in which we fully believe and yet find ourselves incapable of fulfilling
This has been the problem with the Law, as evidenced in every generation since the generation at Sinai promised, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Ex. 19:8). We should even go back to the Beginning and Adam’s unspoken agreement not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17).
Our promises are often beyond our abilities.
And so has been the disciples’ vow to die with Jesus rather than deny Him (Mark 14:31).
The reality of the armed men who have come to take them is the heavy stone of reality that crushes their vision. All that they see at the moment is the threat before them. The ideals and promises of their Teacher melt like snow in the desert sun.
And perhaps Mark is telling on himself in this mention of a young man, a spectator who delays fleeing and is grabbed by a guard. There is no proof for this conjecture. It appears a young man sleeping in a loose garment or wrapped with a sheet was disturbed by the passing troops and followed them. Whoever he is, he also fled from capture.
No one went into captivity with Jesus. All fled in acts of self-preservation.
Double Minded Sept. 25
Mark 14:53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. 54 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.
They bring Jesus to the trinity of chief priests, elders (members of the Sanhedrin), and scribes. This is hardly an unbiased tribunal, for all of these have been offended by Jesus’ teaching.
John records that Jesus was first taken to Annas, former high priest and apparently still viewed as the power behind the office (John 18:13). He then sends Jesus to his son-in-law, Caiaphas, the current high priest (John 18:24).
Peter is of two minds, a house divided. He has seen all flee from Jesus because of the armed men. Perhaps he saw the young man who was apprehended but shed his garment to escape.
Jesus’ most vocal disciple has not run far away, but neither has he stood by his Teacher. He hides among the servants around the fire, warming himself on this cool spring night.
Fear and loyalty fight within Peter and he stays at a distance, remaining on the fringe of events.
False Witnesses Sept. 26
Mark 14:55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ” 59 But not even then did their testimony agree.
The prohibition against bearing false witness – a lying testimony – is the ninth of the Ten Commandments at Sinai. Desiring to have Jesus condemned, His judges listened to many false testimonies. Only two witnesses were needed for conviction, but the untrue reports were conflicting and did not add together to make two consistent testimonies.
Lying has undermined God and maligned His righteousness since the serpent’s false testimony against God to Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:4-5). Jesus already has equated the scribes and the Pharisees with their father, the devil, “a liar and the father of it (lying)” (John 8:44).
A lie is the defense against an inconvenient truth.
At length they heard testimonies of Jesus’ prediction of the fall of the Temple built with human hands and that Jesus would build another in three days without human hands (John 2:19-22), but even these did not agree.
That serpent of old had to tell his perception of God in such a way as to justify his own actions.
So it is with lying. We also tell the perception that we want to be believed to spare ourselves the discomfort of conforming ourselves to the truth.
Remaining Silent Sept. 27
Mark 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing….
C. S. Lewis wrote, “If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair."
The show trial of Jesus is but one of the many examples we have of the truth of Lewis’ words. When we “hold court” – judge someone, run a clinical trial, do a scientific study – to prove a point already established in our minds, the outcome is little more than wishful thinking.
That the witnesses’ testimonies do not agree may be interpreted as they were not sufficient to support a charge for a capital crime. And that is the purpose of the trial, the death of Jesus, not some lesser charge.
Jesus is the victim of a rigged judicial proceeding. The only testimony sought is to prove His guilt. His innocence is irrelevant to the judges.
When faced with accusations, Jesus is silent. His testimony is but one testimony, and none are invited to testify who will be in agreement with Him. Only His enemies are welcome, and yet there is difficulty in their getting the story straight to meet the minimum requirements for conviction of a capital offense.
For Jesus to testify on His own behalf to prove His innocence is pointless when questions are not for information but only for condemnation. He will gain nothing by speaking to those who will not hear.
There is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7). Wisdom is discerning the time.
Who Are You? Sept. 28
Mark 14:61 … Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest resorts to the simplicity of a direct question: Are you the anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God?
We see the high priest equates the Messiah with the Son of God. Although the man is correct in one sense, his interpretation of the terms is incorrect in another sense. Jesus does not match his image of a King David, a man of force come to free captured Israel. Neither does Jesus appear in the image of God that resides in the priest’s mind.
Note how the chief priest is careful not to use the name, God, but uses another word, the Blessed. Rather than delight in the name of God, the Law banishes the name from a worshipper’s lips.
As with so much of his religion, the priest is legally perfect on inconsequential issues while being unable to see the essence of God at work in the world.
The priesthood uses the Law for its own self-aggrandizement. The Law is not for the glory of God but for the glory of the priesthood.
The trial is also for the priests’ benefit (and the scribes’ and the Sanhedrin’s) rather than God’s benefit. They will prove their version of obedience is above Jesus’ version of obedience. As they have so many times before, the priesthood will condemn Jesus for His righteous interpretation of the nature of the relationship between God and mankind.
Obedience to a false idea plunges its sword into the heart of love without remorse.
I AM Sept. 29
Mark 14:61 … Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Apparently, the question of Jesus’ identity had been asked earlier in the proceedings. Jesus had not answered, allowing them the opportunity to prove His identity. When their witnesses fail, Jesus gives the question’s repetition an answer.
And the answer He gives does not withhold anything that might lead to His condemnation by the tribunal. Indeed, He gives them more ammunition.
Jesus says the words, “I am.” This could be heard as the words, “I AM,” a declaration of being God (Ex. 3:14).
And Jesus states that He will sit at the right hand of the dunamis (G1411), the miraculous Power.
Jesus asserts His identity, essentially embracing, self-condemnation. He embraces all truth, for denial of truth is the destruction of one’s own character and Oneness with the Father.
Oneness is achieved when the truth of our identity, our character, and the Father are One.
Blasphemy Sept. 30
Mark 14:63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”
And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Blind and deaf to what he does not want to see and hear, the high priest renders the verdict of blasphemy by rending his garment.
The lesson of the Mercy Seat sitting above the Law in the Ark of the Covenant is lost on people without the eyes to see. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13) is a declaration from the Most Holy Place.
The high priest speaks the truth when he says there is no need of witnesses. Christ has hidden nothing, and He does not lie or dissemble about His identity.
Blasphemy is in the eye and ear of the beholder. The fact that power does not always reside with wisdom is a recurring truth of history.
The court strikes with the sword and divides Jesus from themselves, their religion, and their nation. Jesus is figuratively cast out of the camp. The pronouncement of the death sentence is given under the illusion that Jesus’ death will end the threat of His message.
The court that has been a mockery of justice transforms into a mob. They now physically mock Jesus, taunt Him and abuse Him before sending Him to His executioners.
We are fortunate that spiritual truth does not die with the physical body.
Next day
