False Witnesses November 19
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 listen to many testimonies. Only two witnesses are needed for conviction, but the reports are conflicting and do 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 hear 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 do not agree.
That serpent of old must tell his perception of God in such a way as to justify his own actions. We sometimes also tell the perception that we want to be believed to spare ourselves the discomfort of conforming ourselves to the truth.
Remaining Silent November 20
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? November 21
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 priests use the Law for their 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 November 22
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. The right hand has significance throughout the Old Testament. For example, through Isaiah, God says, “’Fear not, for I am with you….I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”
As God’s right hand, Jesus does His Father’s work using His Father’s dunamis power. And He continues to do His Father’s work, from one moment to the next.
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 November 23
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 wisdom does not always reside with power 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 tribunal that has been a mockery of justice transforms into a mob. The spectators 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.
Denial November 24
Mark 14:66 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”
68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.
Peter is still in the courtyard near where Jesus is being tried. The night has moved into the predawn hours. As he warms himself with others around a fire, a servant girl of the high priest comes near. Thinking she recognizes Peter as a disciple of Jesus, she states, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”
Fear strikes like a dagger at his heart. Without thought, he speaks in self-defense and denies her charge. He is clear in his denial.
The sound of his voice has just died as the first call of the morning emanates from the Temple crier. It is the call to the young priests, the men who prepare and butcher the sacrifices, to come to their posts.
The servant girl continues her errand. The dark sky is yielding to the coming of the light, but the walls of the courtyard are holding the darkness near. The cold of the night lingers and Peter turns his thoughts to the fire.
What can he do? Peter rationalizes. Force is not an option, for there are many armed guards. And his testimony of Jesus would only confirm the charges against Him.
Peter lingers near the warmth of the fire but avoids its full light.
More Denials November 25
Mark 14:69 And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70 But he denied it again.
And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”
71 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”
A while later, the servant girl speaks within Peter’s hearing to some men. She gestures toward Peter saying that he was one of those with the accused man.
Hearing her accusation, Peter is quick to inject himself into the conversation and deny her charge, deny his association with the accused.
The sky is becoming lighter. Torches still burn in the courtyard, but their weak light is being overtaken by the coming dawn. The cold remains, however.
One of the men nearby to whom the girl has spoken calls out to Peter that he must be one of Jesus’ followers, for Peter’s speech betrays him as a Galilean.
The group of men is not that large, but there are many in the courtyard and Peter has no easy route of escape.
Peter stands tall, raising himself to his full height. His mouth speaks before his brain engages. He curses and denies knowing Jesus in the strongest terms.
The men turn away, unconvinced of anything except that the Galilean is probably harmless.
Next day
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 listen to many testimonies. Only two witnesses are needed for conviction, but the reports are conflicting and do 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 hear 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 do not agree.
That serpent of old must tell his perception of God in such a way as to justify his own actions. We sometimes also tell the perception that we want to be believed to spare ourselves the discomfort of conforming ourselves to the truth.
Remaining Silent November 20
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? November 21
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 priests use the Law for their 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 November 22
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. The right hand has significance throughout the Old Testament. For example, through Isaiah, God says, “’Fear not, for I am with you….I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”
As God’s right hand, Jesus does His Father’s work using His Father’s dunamis power. And He continues to do His Father’s work, from one moment to the next.
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 November 23
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 wisdom does not always reside with power 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 tribunal that has been a mockery of justice transforms into a mob. The spectators 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.
Denial November 24
Mark 14:66 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”
68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.
Peter is still in the courtyard near where Jesus is being tried. The night has moved into the predawn hours. As he warms himself with others around a fire, a servant girl of the high priest comes near. Thinking she recognizes Peter as a disciple of Jesus, she states, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”
Fear strikes like a dagger at his heart. Without thought, he speaks in self-defense and denies her charge. He is clear in his denial.
The sound of his voice has just died as the first call of the morning emanates from the Temple crier. It is the call to the young priests, the men who prepare and butcher the sacrifices, to come to their posts.
The servant girl continues her errand. The dark sky is yielding to the coming of the light, but the walls of the courtyard are holding the darkness near. The cold of the night lingers and Peter turns his thoughts to the fire.
What can he do? Peter rationalizes. Force is not an option, for there are many armed guards. And his testimony of Jesus would only confirm the charges against Him.
Peter lingers near the warmth of the fire but avoids its full light.
More Denials November 25
Mark 14:69 And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70 But he denied it again.
And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”
71 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”
A while later, the servant girl speaks within Peter’s hearing to some men. She gestures toward Peter saying that he was one of those with the accused man.
Hearing her accusation, Peter is quick to inject himself into the conversation and deny her charge, deny his association with the accused.
The sky is becoming lighter. Torches still burn in the courtyard, but their weak light is being overtaken by the coming dawn. The cold remains, however.
One of the men nearby to whom the girl has spoken calls out to Peter that he must be one of Jesus’ followers, for Peter’s speech betrays him as a Galilean.
The group of men is not that large, but there are many in the courtyard and Peter has no easy route of escape.
Peter stands tall, raising himself to his full height. His mouth speaks before his brain engages. He curses and denies knowing Jesus in the strongest terms.
The men turn away, unconvinced of anything except that the Galilean is probably harmless.
Next day