Mark: Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

Read: Mark 14:53-65

Betrayal complete, now the leaders have their work cut out for them as they prepare their case against Jesus. Meanwhile, Peter is doing his very best not to be the one Jesus called out a few hours earlier:

Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. Mark 14:54

We’ll cover the rest of Peter’s story tomorrow.

Testimony after testimony was brought before them as they did their very best to convict Jesus.

Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Mark 14:56

There’s no indication of how long the parade of witnesses continued, nor is there any indication that someone provided any defense for Jesus, but in just a few short verses we get to the crux of the matter:

But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “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.” Mark 14:61-62

The direct question with an absolute response, plus a qualifier. Yes, earthly council of men, Jesus is the Messiah, the One you’ve been waiting for, preaching about, teaching others to get excited about. Yes, He is right before your eyes, right in front of you. You’ve heard the stories, but chose not to believe. You know people who have been healed, touched, felt, heard, and seen; yet you chose to turn away.

It’s about choice, isn’t it? If there is a God above others, why is there so much pain and suffering? If this is the Messiah, why not end all of this? Why are we in such a hurry? There are so many opportunities to serve and make disciples of Jesus, I’m no longer in a hurry to see it end so quickly. Instead of gloom and doom, perhaps the question should be: why are we allowed to feel true joy? What makes a person laugh? Even in the hardest of times, in the darkest of places, we see images of children playing. Sure, we can focus on the suffering, but there is another side to the story. This doesn’t erase difficulties in the world, but it’s there to remind us that there is suffering, but there is joy as well.

Yes, Jesus is the Messiah, but more than that, you will see Him again! Jesus doesn’t just break the silences with a short answer the question, He expands it to include His future Second Coming. He knows where this will lead. No doubt.

One day, we will see the Son returning in all His glory. For now, we wait, but that doesn’t imply sitting around and watching the sky light up.