Mark 14:53-65, Jesus On Trial
Introduction:
Jesus has just been arrested by the large crowd led by Judas the betrayer. In the face of the prospect of being arrested with Jesus, all the disciples have forsaken Jesus and fled. In this lesson we are going to look at the first trial of Jesus. None of the gospel accounts contain the full trial scene. Therefore, though our primary text will continue to be the gospel of Mark, we will also note the information from the other gospel accounts.
The Trial
Annas and Caiaphas
Before we begin our reading, the Mark account does not record that Jesus was first taken to the house of Annas. However, John 18 tells us about Jesus’ first stop in His trial sequence. Annas was the father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas. Annas also used to be the high priest of Israel until the Roman emperor deposed him from his position in 15 A.D. and appointed Caiaphas. Jesus’ being taken to Annas by the chief priests and Jewish leaders enables us to see that Annas still maintained great influence and power in Israel . Further, it seems likely that the people still recognized Annas as the true high priest since he had been removed by the Romans. Annas was also the deputy or president over the Sanhedrin, and therefore enjoyed that power as well. John 18:19-24 contains Annas’ inquisition of Jesus. Jesus does not give Annas any information, therefore Annas sends Jesus, bound, to Caiaphas. This brings us back to our primary text in the gospel of Mark. We see Peter, after fleeing with the rest of the disciples, catching back up to Jesus and following Jesus to the house of Caiaphas. The whole Sanhedrin convenes with the chief priests in the middle of the night at the house of Caiaphas. The purpose is clear in verse 55 that they “were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death.” But there was no evidence against Jesus, which will lead the Sanhedrin to become frustrated.
Illegal trial
We must see the desperation that the Sanhedrin and chief priests have in trying to condemn Jesus. Jesus has been arrested and therefore it is time to bring charges against Him. If no charges can be made against Jesus, they have no right to keep Him under arrest, and certainly have no case to condemn Jesus. Therefore, the Jewish leaders are desperate to find something against Jesus with which they can charge Him. So desperate are these Jewish leaders that they are violating their laws.
Consider all of their violations of Jewish law:
- Trial at night: No trials were to be held in the secrecy of night.
- No night convictions were allowed. However, the Sanhedrin will convict Him this very night.
- Sentences could not be decreed until the next day. This was to give a chance for mercy to be extended to the convicted.
- The defendant could not be asked to incriminate himself. This is the same as our fifth amendment.
- The trial was required to be held in the hall of stones in the temple complex, not in the members of the Sanhedrin’s homes.
- Trials could not be held during the feast days.
- All witnesses had to agree at the trial. Remember that it is the middle of the night. Where would the Sanhedrin get reasonable witnesses at this hour?
- The judge could not act as the prosecutor. That is exactly what the high priest did--act as prosecutor instead of judge.
- The condemned was to have someone testify on his behalf. This right was not afforded to Jesus.
This trial would have been thrown out of any of the courts today for all the illegalities that took place in it. This was a mock trial and a legal farce. This was not an attempt to see if Jesus was guilty. The conviction had already been determined. Jesus had already been convicted before He had been tried, which is exactly what Mark 14:55 says.
False testimony
Mark reveals for us some of the difficulties that the Sanhedrin was encountering. They are ready to make charges against Jesus. The Sanhedrin, however, can find no testimony against Jesus that would be worthy of putting Him to death. This can be seen in the testimonies that are given. Verse 56 tells us that many were giving false testimonies against Jesus, but the testimonies did not agree. This would be expected when lies are being told. When comparing the testimonies, false testimonies can be easily weeded out. But some stood up to give more false testimony. Some said, “We heard Him say, ‘I will demolish this sanctuary made by hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’”
Is this what Jesus said? A look at the gospel record will show that this was also false testimony. John 2:18-21 tells us that Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” But Jesus was speaking of His body, though some standing their understood Jesus to be speaking about the physical temple. So this is not at all what Jesus had said, and what Jesus had said had been misunderstood by some of the Jews. But this is something that could have been easily cleared up. If Jesus had a lawyer for Himself, he would have had to simply point out that this is not at all what Jesus was talking about, and that would have been the end to that charge. But verse 59 shows us that even this false testimony did not agree, therefore it was to be thrown out.
Caiaphas and Jesus
The case against Jesus has quickly gone bad and we need to see that this is the problem before the Sanhedrin. They are going to have to let Jesus go if they do not come up with some sort of charge. In verse 60 we see the high priest commits another illegal act. He stands up and begins to question Jesus himself. This would be to the same level as if in our justice system the judge began to be the prosecutor and start asking condemning questions. This is completely out of line, but something has to be done if they are going to charge Jesus with any crime. The high priest said, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying to against You?” But Jesus keeps silent and does not answer Caiaphas. There was no need for Jesus to answer because the witnesses had said enough. The testimony did not agree, and the Sanhedrin had nothing against Jesus. In any other courtroom, Jesus would have walked free from this scene because there was no basis for His arrest, much less any charges to put Him to death.
But this also calls to mind the words of Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied of these events concerning the Messiah and they are beginning to be fulfilled. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away” (Isaiah 53:7-8). By oppression and injustice, our Lord was judged. In the face of all the false witnesses, Jesus has remained silent before them all.
Again, the trial is slipping away from the Jewish leaders who so desperately want to put Jesus to death. This is the point of the whole trial. The high priest is not going to let things go. The high priest does his most devious questioning yet. Remember it was not lawful for him to be questioning Jesus. The high priest is to be the impartial judge. Caiaphas’ actions were a far cry from the character that God demanded from His high priests. Therefore, Caiaphas asks, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” The wording of Caiaphas’ words was brilliant in regard to what he was trying to accomplish. First, his words were very precise. If Caiaphas had asked only if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus could have answered yes without jeopardy, for it was not a capital offense to make such a claim. Many had already claimed to be the Messiah, many in the future would claim to be Messiahs. Time would prove if they were or were not the Messiah.
But consider this: If Caiaphas only asks if Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus could have also answered yes and not been guilty of death. Jesus had done so earlier in John 10:34-36 by showing that many Jews were called sons of God, according to Psalm 82:6. Therefore, if Caiaphas only asks a part of this question, then there is nothing to condemn Jesus with. But Caiaphas combined the two parts, not asking if He were merely the Messiah, or a son of God in some general sense, but whether He was the Messiah who was God. This was the thrust of the question. If Jesus answered yes, then He could be convicted of the capital crime of blasphemy. Second, Caiaphas’ words were shrewd because though Jesus was not obliged to give evidence against Himself, as He had already done with Annas and Caiaphas to this point, Jesus would not refuse this label. When directly asked this question, Jesus was not going to be coy, but would answer Caiaphas directly, and it appears that Caiaphas knew this. Therefore, in the evil of his heart, Caiaphas asks, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
Jesus’ Response
In verse 62 Jesus said, “I am….” Jesus accepts these words, for that is exactly who He is. He is the Messiah sent from God, who is God in the flesh. Jesus was not going to deny who He was. He was not going to deny the role that He had to accomplish. We could rationalize and say that if He simply refuses this title, He could have lived a long life on the earth and think about all the good works and teachings He could have done. But He was not going to resort to deceit. Jesus was not going to deny who He was and the mission He had to accomplish. But Jesus does not simply give a two-word answer. Jesus has more to say. “I am and all of you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Jesus not only answered Caiaphas, but went a whole lot further in His declaration.
First, Jesus seems to draw an allusion from Psalm 110:1-2. For Him to be seated at the right hand of the Power is to say that He will sit at the right hand of God. This means that He has authority, rule, and power of God. This is the point of Psalm 110:1-2. “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion ; you will rule in the midst of your enemies.” Jesus further establishes His Messianic claim by alluding to Daniel 7:13-14. “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” The Son of Man is not simply a Messianic reference, but carries the power of the office. He is God and has rule and authority from God.
When would this happen? We need to consider the information given to us. There is no doubt that Jesus received this glory and power when He arose from the dead and ascended back into heaven. This is certainly the reference in Daniel 7:13-14 as we see the Son of Man returning to the Ancient of Days. But there is more to this reference. Jesus said that the Jewish leaders would see this event. Clearly Jesus is not speaking about His ascension since that was only witnesses by His disciples. What event would the Jewish leaders see that would show the Son of Man at the right hand of God and coming in the clouds? Jesus has already told us in Mark 13:26, “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Recall the context of Mark 13 being about the destruction of the temple, ending the Jewish system. Since Jesus will be given all authority and power as He sits at the right hand of God, He will judge all the rebellious nations. The Jewish nation would be judged for their rejection of the Messiah. This would be the event that the Jewish leaders would see to show the power of God. “Coming in the clouds” has always been an Old Testament image to speaking of a national judgment.
Jewish leaders’ reaction
The Jewish leaders did not misunderstand Jesus’ words in the same way they did His words about the temple. They understand exactly the power of these words. At the hearing of these words, Caiaphas tore his robes. The tearing of clothes was a symbol of mourning and of repentance, and it is the latter reason that Caiaphas tears his clothes. In their minds, Jesus has blasphemed the name of God and Caiaphas is tearing his clothes to symbolize this violation. Thus, Caiaphas says, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What is your decision?” Caiaphas now wraps up the trial. Forget the false witnesses and the lack of charges against Jesus. They will charge Jesus on the basis of His words. Caiaphas again violates Jewish law by casting his vote and demanding that the others vote. The high priest was only to vote after the rest of the members of the council had voted. Instead, Caiaphas declares the condemnation for blasphemy and demands the rest of the Sanhedrin make their decision. In a unanimous decision, the council answered, “He is worthy of death” under the charge of blasphemy.
Then some began to spit in the face of Jesus. Jesus was blindfolded and beaten. Some struck Him with their fists. Others slapped Him in the face and began to mock Him saying, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit You?” Once the temple police took Jesus, they also joined in and slapped Jesus. The humiliation and public suffering of Jesus begins. This also fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6). This reminds us that we are to be like Christ when we are going through suffering. Turn to 1 Peter 2:21-25 as Peter reminds us about Christ’s conduct and how we are to follow that example.
Conclusion
Jesus suffered for us
Peter points out in 1 Peter 2:25 that just as Jesus said His closest disciples would leave Him, so we have done the same. All of us were like sheep who have gone astray. This reminds us of Jesus’ words in Mark 14:27. The Shepherd was struck on our behalf. He endured the insults, the mockings, and the beatings for each of us. He did this so that He could carry our sins away from us, so that we can die to sin and live in righteousness. By His wounds we have been healed.
What will you do with Jesus? There is only one question that we need to consider for ourselves this morning: What will you do with Jesus? Jesus is on trial in each of our lives and the evidence has been presented. Will we treat Him as the Messiah, the Son of God, and Ruler of all things or will we treat Him with contempt and regard His actions as nothing? Jesus has proven through His miracles and through His teachings that He is God. He has said that eternal life and forgiveness of sins can only be found through Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father but through Him. Did Jesus do all these things for you in vain? Are you wasting the opportunity that God has given so that you could be returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls? We must live with our Lord’s sacrifice as a perpetual reminder in our hearts. We must remember that He has bought us with a price, that price being Jesus’ blood. An innocent man was found guilty for us. We must do all we can to serve the One who has saved us.
