Introduction
As much as we may uphold the judicial system, all of us have felt at times that injustice, rather than justice, was rendered in a courtroom. Perhaps it was due to incompetence by the defense or prosecution or even the judge. Perhaps the jury was deficient. Perhaps there was bribery or some other criminal conduct involved. Whatever the reason, it hits us hard. We have the feeling that more than a mistake was made; something sacred was violated. It is in court, more than anywhere else, that justice ought to prevail, and for it to fail, renders us …
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53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and 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.
Note Peter’s presence, but we will wait until the next passage to discuss him. Verse 54 lets us know that Jesus was taken to the palace of the high priest, Caiaphas. From John we learn that arrest party stopped on the way at the palace of Annas, the former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas, probably as a gesture of courtesy. I intentionally use the term “palace.” The high priest is not royalty, but he is undoubtedly wealthy. The Sadducees, from whom most of the high priests came, were the aristocracy of Israel.
The gathering of the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law is Mark’s way of saying that the Sanhedrin had been called to special session. This is the governing and judicial body of the Jews and is composed of seventy or seventy-one members. They are being called now to conduct a trial of Jesus, although Mark makes clear that they already know the verdict they are seeking.
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.
By “whole Sanhedrin” Mark does not mean every single member, or for that matter that every single member was even present. Later, he will speak of Joseph of Arimathea who was a member of the Council and clearly a sympathizer of Jesus. Mark is simply getting across that the Sanhedrin Council gathered with a quorum and acted as a whole against Jesus, notwithstanding that there may have been sympathizers or at least those neutral to his guilt. Obviously the Council is seeking his guilt. The leaders have been conspiring to have him arrested and killed. Now, finally they have him in their hands with no crowd around; they are not going to let him get away.
But they must follow the form of law. To act officially they must have an official conviction. The way that typically works is for two independent witnesses to give corresponding testimony and this is was presenting a problem. 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.
You would think that the conspirators would have been prepared with the appropriate “witnesses.” And yet, most of us know of a number of trials that have been bungled by government investigators and prosecutors. Incompetence is not a new development in the judicial system. It also could be that they had not completed their preparations. Remember, the conspirators originally intended to apprehend Jesus after the feast (most likely of Unleavened Bread) another week away. Judas’ entry into the conspiracy had moved things forward rapidly.
Whatever the reason, the “witnesses” could not present testimony that stood up under questioning, perhaps by the neutral members or sympathizers of Jesus. We don’t know the all the accusations, but one did appear promising.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
Their testimony did not agree for good reason. The accusation is that Jesus threatened the Temple. It is true on one occasion that he prophesied the destruction of the temple (13:2) and on another occasion used the Temple as an analogy to his own body (John 2:19-21); but he never stated that he would destroy the Temple nor that he would rebuild it.
You can understand the seriousness of the charge, especially today. If someone were to stand in front of the U.S. Capitol building and say that he was going to destroy it, surely the authorities would try to prosecute him to the fullest extent. But the Temple is not merely the symbol of a nation; it is literally the “house of God.” God dwells in the Holy of Holies. To threaten the Temple is to threaten God. It is blasphemy.
Caiaphas does what he can with the weak accusations. If only he can get a response from Jesus, it is possible to entrap him in some kind of confession.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
The high priest and his conspirators are in trouble now. They know full well, and Jesus knows full well, that they have no case. Of course Jesus is going to remain silent. His accusers have contradicted one another. There is still no official accusation on the floor.
It is then that Caiaphas plays his last card. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” It is time to get at the real subject – Who does Jesus think he is? But Caiaphas isn’t jabbing at Jesus. As high priest, he orders upon contempt of court a reply to what in essence is his official accusation: Do you proclaim yourself to be the Messiah, the Son of God? “Christ” is the Greek translation of Messiah. “Blessed One” is the term of respect to fill in for Yahweh or Jehovah, whose name was rarely actually uttered. Caiaphas does not invest in the phrase “Son of God” the same meaning we give it. He has no concept of the Trinity, nor would he be thinking of a Jesus being a divine offspring of God. What he is thinking about is the phrase ascribed to the Messiah, such as from Psalm 2 which is regarded as a “messianic” psalm.
But that is enough to get Jesus in trouble, if he confirms it. As far as his judges are concerned he has already proven that he cannot claim such a title and would be blaspheming God to do so. Why? He has failed to fulfill the expectations of the Messiah.
The Jews may have debated the details, but there were some non-negotiable requirements of the Messiah, number one being that he would come with power. The very fact that he stands before them as a meek captive shows he failed in that category. After more than thirty years, he has nothing to show for himself except admittedly doing some neat miracles. All that shows him to be is a neat miracle showman. He has not mobilized an army; he has not vanquished Israel’s enemies. Indeed, he has at times left the country to escape trouble.
Number two, the Messiah would be clearly proclaimed, either publicly by God himself or through his own proclamation accompanied with great signs of power. Jesus, by all accounts, has remained evasive, at least publicly, about his identity. If the Messiah, why keep it a secret?
Number three, the Messiah would clearly be the great defender of the Law. Instead, he has scandalized the Law in their eyes. He fraternizes with scandalous people, works on the Sabbath, ridicules and condemns the religious authorities, and preaches love, not hatred, for the enemies of Israel.
Finally, where is the throne and the crown? Long before now Jesus ought to have possessed his kingship, if indeed it was really his. It’s fine to talk about a kingdom coming; sooner or later, the kingdom needs to appear. Where is it? No, Jesus was clearly not the Messiah, and it would be blasphemy for him to claim that position which denotes him as anointed of God.
Well, what’s it going to be, Jesus?
62 “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.”
When Jesus finally speaks, he does not hold back! Ergo eimi – “I am.” The other gospel writers record responses that indicate he sidesteps such a direct statement. Perhaps more is said, but at some point he states clearly that he is the Messiah. Indeed, as if to say, “You want power and authority? You will see it for sure! You will see the Son of Man (another title for the Messiah) – i.e. you will see me sitting on my throne on the right hand of Yahweh, and you will see me come in power on the clouds of heaven.” Jesus uses the term “Mighty One” in place of Yahweh in the same way Caiaphas had done using “Blessed One.” The term “Mighty One” signifies the power and authority of God that Jesus possesses.
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death.
Jesus gives them all the fuel they need to condemn him in their eyes. The high priest performs the ritual that signals a horrible blasphemy has take place – renting his garments. He then appeals to the court who confirm that no more witnesses are needed since the accused has confessed to them his criminal mind, and they confirm him as worthy to receive the death penalty. This is not the actual rendering of judgment. That will take place later; but they are making clear their repulsion at what they hear.
65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.
As horrible as what is done next to Jesus may seem, it actually fits the crime for which he is accused. Spitting in the face of another is a formal act of condemnation as recorded in the Bible (cf. Job 30:10; Numbers 12:14; Deuteronomy 25:9: Isaiah 50:6). Unlike our culture in which a sentence is to be rendered without emotion, the judges are expected to show their contempt, especially on a blasphemer. Even the blindfolding had a reason. It was said that the Messiah would be able to judge with neither eyes nor ears ( cf. Isaiah 11:2-4); they are giving him a mock test. “Judge who strikes you now!” The guards also took their turn with him.
Lessons
What can we take away from this episode? First of all, Jesus does clearly own up to the charge that he believes himself to be the Messiah. He is more than a rabbi, i.e. a teacher. He is more than a prophet. He is more than any image or title we have for him that bounds him to being a really good or holy man. Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God who has come to save his people. To this Jesus confesses, and if we are to claim to believe in him and to be his disciples, we must take him for what he confesses for himself.
Secondly, we learn something about the mystery of power displayed in weakness. Granted, Jesus did not fulfill the expectations of a powerful Messiah. His miracles, notwithstanding, he seemed little more than an itinerant preacher from a lower class family. He certainly did not seem powerful in front of his judges. The reason, of course, is that he came not to judge but to save, and he came to save through service and sacrifice. Jesus’ “lack” of power was not due to mistakes: if only he had selected better followers with brains and courage; if only he had not rankled the establishment so much; if he had cashed in on his miracles at the opportune time, he could have been a contender! No, Jesus knew exactly what he was doing all the time, which was to fulfill his destiny to be our Savior.
When Peter struck out with his sword back in Gethsemane, Jesus rebuked him and the disciples with this response: Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53-54).
This is the man before whom legions of demons cringed begging for mercy from him (cf. Mark 5:1-13). This is the man who orders a raging storm to stop and it immediately obeys (cf. Mark 4:35-41). No, Jesus lacked neither power nor the wisdom to use his power. He hid his power to fulfill his mission.
And that is a good lesson for us to learn. Where is the power? we want so badly to know. Why is God not wiping out the bad guys and protecting all us good guys? Why does the church seem so powerless? Why does my life seem so powerless? There may be many reasons why – our sin is a biggie! But Scripture also reveals God’s delight in displaying his power through our weakness. Through what seemed to be Jesus’ weakness, the great act of salvation was accomplished. Through what seems to be a weak church, the power of the gospel has gone throughout the world.
For whatever reason, God likes to display his power through what seems to be weakness in our eyes. Thus, Jesus teaches how God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed, the smallest seed of the garden, but which grows to be the largest plant in the garden (4:30-32). Thus Paul teaches that it is through our very weakness that God humbles the proud (1 Corinthians 1:26ff).
The danger of many Christian churches and movements today is that they covet and strive for worldly power. They are aghast that the church is being pushed to the fringes of society and losing her influence on the world. What they fail to understand is that the church loses its influence precisely because of seeking the same kind of power that the world prizes. It is ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty (Zechariah 4:6). It is not by creating political power blocs that the kingdom of God goes forth. It is not by sophisticated marketing strategies that the Word of God penetrates individuals and societies. The very things that appear to be weak in the eyes of the world – preaching the gospel, humble service, administering the sacraments, prayer – through such means God’s kingdom goes forth. And the very people who appear weak and foolish – you and I – are the mighty soldiers and servants who carry on the work. Yes, we with our sore backs, our forgetfulness, our bad habits – create your own list – we are God’s mighty army.
Does it seem silly? It seemed silly to Jesus’ judges that he was the mighty Son of God anointed to be the great Savior of God’s people. But we are not Jesus. No, but we possess the same Spirit that anointed him and that he has sent to dwell in us. Look, I’m not telling you to go forth in great power; I’m telling you that God has already sent you forth in his great power. You are already recruited and empowered. Does the world scoff at us? Perhaps. What matters though is not what the world sees, but what is real, and God’s power at work in his church is very real.
Another lesson we should learn is that we can take Jesus at his word that he will come again in unmistakable power. This is what he was telling his judges when he added, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. When he returns, he will be the judge who looks into men’s hearts, and yes, judges not by what he sees or hears, but by righteousness.
He will judge the hearts of men, and our hearts will be revealed for what they are according to our response to him. You know what those judges ought to have done when Jesus declared who he was? They ought to have fallen on their knees before him. When the day of judgment comes, they might protest that Jesus had not given enough evidence, just as so many today make the same claim. But here already is the verdict of Scripture:
Whoever believes in [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil (John 3:18-19).
Injustice was rendered at Jesus’ trial, but true justice will be rendered when he returns in power as Judge. Do not let what seems to be a weak church of flawed people hide from you the very real power of God. For it is in that very weakness that the power of God’s grace is so clearly displayed.
