53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 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. 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. ~ Mark 14:53-59
Today, we return to our study of Mark 14 where the stage has been set for the Lord Jesus to be put on trial. This sham trial will have six different parts: three in from of the Jewish religious leaders and three in from of the Roman political leaders.
In v.53 of today's passage we read, "They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together."
The leaders of Israel gathered, not to God, they gathered in opposition to the Son of God. Perhaps the worst place one can be is where these "leaders" were: thinking that they were in the light, they were in the darkness. In Matthew 7:23 is recorded the most horrifying words that will ever be heard, "Depart from me for I never knew you." And, sadly those who resist the wooing of the Holy Spirit to believe on the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sin will hear those words.
The Lord Jesus did not say, "Depart from me for you never knew me." No, He said, "Depart from me for I never knew you."
That which makes it possible for anyone to know that our sin is forgiven us is by simply believing in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. And inviting Him into our lives. This is what starts the relationship which will grow with time. This is what enables us to be known by God, having a personal relationship with Him through His Son.
In v.54 of today's passage we read, "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."
Earlier, Peter, who said he would rather die than deny that He knew the Lord Jesus, abandoned the Lord. Peter not only abandoned the Lord, he continued to follow Him at a distance. This led Peter to deny that He knew the Lord three separate times, something the Lord had predicted. When we follow Jesus from a distance, we will deny Him every time.
During that cold night of betrayal and confusion, the heat of the fire was Peter’s friend, but the light of the fire was his enemy. The heat temporarily warmed Peter, but the light that night revealed his identity. And Peter didn't want to be found out. Underscored in all of this were the words of the Lord Jesus: "Depart from me for I never knew you." It will never be our performance that garners God's acceptance of us. It is always His performance on our behalf that puts us in the right place with Him.
In v.55 of today's passage we read, "The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any."
The religious leaders of Israel were determined to prove that the Lord Jesus was a false prophet who was leading Israel astray. They searched feverishly for this evidence that did not exist. This is why they turned to Pilate, the Roman governor of the region of Judea to have Him put to death.
In v.56 of today's passage we read, "Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree."
There could not be found two people who could corroborate the accusation that the Lord Jesus deserved death. Deuteronomy 19:15 states: "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." The testimony needed to be given individually and needed to agree in order to be valid.
The Mosaic law includes certain crimes that may be punished by execution, but known of them could be hung on the Lord Jesus. This was part of the terrible irony of the Lord Jesus' sham trials. While witnesses against Him committed the last of these crimes, the Lord Jesus could not have even been accused of breaking even the Sabbath. Every time He worked on the Sabbath, He only violated manmade traditions that defined "work." He didn't break the commandment as written or as intended by God.
In v.57-58 of today's passage we read, "57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 'We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'"
Instead of seeking God and finding Him, these so called "leaders" were literally “seeking” evidence against the Son of God. The best the witnesses before the Ruling Council could do was to report that the Lord Jesus predicted that He would destroy the temple and three days later build another one apart from human effort. Of course, in that prophecy He spoke of His body not the Temple.
In v.59 of today's passage we read, "Yet even then their testimony did not agree."
Ironically, in a court of law, an accusation is thrown out when it does not hold up to scrutiny. The Lord Jesus was convicted by an inconsistent accusation. Thus, it was unjust. But, according to 2 Corinthians 5:21, it had to be unjust. For there we read, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
