Have a Blessed Christmas today, my Ethiopian Friends!
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.
Comment: God did not make us humans as automatons. What does it mean that He made us in His image? Not only this but, at the very least; it means that He gave us the ability to think and choose. He graciously gave us the ability to choose. Mark giving us this very brief account of the ‘kangaroo’ court appearance before the High Priest and his cronies, we are left to think deeply about a number of Questions. We do get a much clearer picture of the complex trial of Jesus if we consider the four gospels together – I will not do that today. Q1. They had apparently already decided the verdict (they were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death), so why didn’t they have a case prepared to present (were seeking testimony ……but they found none.)? Q2. According to John’s gospel Jesus said “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Why did they not accept what these people said that Jesus had said, which was something very similar? Q3. At any rate what did they think that Jesus had meant when said He ‘I will raise it up’? To us it means that Jesus had said that He would rise from the dead, having made the final and adequate sacrifice for sin! But what did it mean for them? Q4. Why did Jesus say nothing until He uttered what He must have known would sign His death warrant? And it did!
Isa 53: 5 – But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. – As many Jews say this had a present meaning for what was going to happen to Israel but it is fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus!
Prayer: Help me to wrestle with questions of my Faith guided by Your Spirit, Father.
As I read it! 