Are You the Christ?: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 14:53-65)

It is startling to think that Jesus came into our world for the express purpose of ending up dead, a death that would be deemed a sacrifice to take the place of our having to die for our own sins.  Why would he do this?

Having been arrested, Jesus must now face a trial to make it look good before they execute him.

And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 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. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, “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.’” Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 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?” But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 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.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 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. (Mark 14:53-65, ESV) 

It is apparent that this trial is a mockery and that the leaders will take any excuse to condemn Jesus.  He remains silent until the direct question as to his identity is posed.  Then he clearly says that he is the Messiah.  He alludes to the Daniel prophecy (Daniel 7:13,14) and Psalm 110:1, which declare that he will receive the kingdom by God’s power and help.  The “son of man” in Daniel 7 is definitely divine, one whom all will bow the knee to or worship.  Jesus is claiming divinity, something he only hinted at in his interpretation of Psalm 110:1.

Though their charge against him is blasphemy (claiming for himself things only God could claim), this charge won’t work with the Roman authorities.  So later they will have to give Rome a reason to crucify him.

The wickedness of the people there and the guards is evident.  Even if someone is guilty there is no cause for mocking and brutality and humiliation.  They are definitely not following Jesus’ principle of doing to others what you would have them do to you.

Oh, our Savior!  He did not find any necessity to suffer what he did except love for us.  He chose to enter into this greatest of all evils in the world, death.  He chose to experience firsthand what all of us will have experienced.  When we ask why God allows suffering we ought to also ask why He allowed Himself to suffer.  This changes the whole question.  He is not some insulated, far off being who is unsympathetic to our pain.  He is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3).

There is no Savior like this in any of the other world religions.  He stands alone and unique.  Don’t ever say the other faiths are just like Christianity.  They are not.