Mark14d (vs53-72) Notes
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. |
1st to Annas. He & 5 sons priests since AD6. (Jn18.12ff) Plus Caiaphas, son-in-law. Note1 |
And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. |
2nd 'night court.' Council largely represented -- as grand jury indictment proceedings. |
54 And Peter had followed Him at a distance, |
1st mistake: not close enough to make a stand with his Friend. |
right into the courtyard of the high priest. |
2nd mistake: too close to avoid being pressured by the enemy into denying Jesus. |
And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. |
3rd mistake: poor company to keep if he intended to be loyal to his Lord. Blending in. |
55 Now the chief priest and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus |
Determined sentence 1st. Set out to build a case. Illegal procedure should nullify results. |
to put Him to death, but they found none. |
Their goal: eliminate Jesus. Why do Jews seem persecuted through history? |
56 For many bore false witness against Him, |
What motives behind this 'testimony?' |
but their testimony did not agree. |
First test of valid witness: agreement, |
57 And some stood up and bore false witness against Him, saying, |
Stood, taking the stand, declaring evidence in the case against Jesus. |
58 "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, |
A radical terrorist? He never so said. Jn2.19 -- "You destroy this temple (my body)..." |
and in three days I will build another, not made by hands.'" |
"...in 3 days I will raise it up." His res. Their ludicrous claim made by an imbecile. |
59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. |
Accounts varied & cancelled their credibility. So ends all witness for the prosecution. |
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, |
Desperate for a case, the chief prosecutor & judge presses the accused to self-incriminate. |
"Have you no answer to make? What is it these men testify against you?" |
As though this rambling false witness had weight - & to provide opportunity for rebuttal. |
61 But He remained silent and made no answer. |
The accused pleads silence. There is nothing to answer -- no case requiring response. Isa53.7 |
Again the high priest asked Him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" |
Desperate for a confession, he presses the pivotal claim: Messiah, Image of Holy One. |
62 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." |
Boldly agreeing with the accusation & declaring that HE would be the judge, in heavenly glory, coming upon Jerusalem. |
63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, |
Great show that his holiness is affronted by this blasphemy. Could not accept Jesus' Deity. |
"What further witnesses do we need? |
No previous witness produced any usable testimony. The accused confesses guilt. |
64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" |
Lord's word misconstrued through this court's false preconceptions. Invites jurors to join him. |
And they all condemned Him as deserving of death. |
Every leader here to dispose of this threat join to a man in the summary judgment. |
65 And some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to strike Him, saying to Him, "Prophesy!" |
Pitiful and bizarre scene as they vent their self-righteous indignation on this defenseless victim. |
And the guards received Him with blows. |
Men whose duty is rough work of security blindly caught up in agenda of their superiors. |
66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, |
Flashback: What happened with Peter while Jesus on trial. A simple servant girl came up... |
67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, |
and recognized a stranger in the court. She knew all the regulars. This one new. |
"You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." |
He must be associated with the new criminal brought in, from that despised Nazareth. |
68 But he denied it, saying "I neither know nor understand what you mean." |
Technically legal denial -- no knowledge or even comprehension. Yet empty, heartless. |
And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. |
Moving toward the entrance/exit to avoid further interrogation. 1st crowing. |
69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." |
Some milling about ensues... Later, the girl points him out to others: 'a member of Jesus' group' she identifies. |
70 But again he denied it. |
Peter overhears this comment and like the hit dog interjects his 2nd denial. |
And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." |
After further musing, they agree, having Peter's own manner as confirmation. It is hard to escape your past; it shows in every move. |
71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." |
To put an end to this speculation, Peter claims under oath to have never heard of Jesus. His key disciple says he never knew Him! |
72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. |
2nd crowing. Right on cue, as if the rooster heard Peter's oath and 'called him out.' |
And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, |
The bird's call brings the beleaguered disciple back to his senses. Yes, Jesus told me... |
"Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." |
Precisely what just transpired. And I filled the cowardly role of back-stabbing my Lord! |
And he broke down and wept. |
The clarity of Jesus' prediction, the fervency of his own claim to loyalty, and the truth of his present behavior collide in Peter's heart with bitter remorse. Godly sorrow works repentance. |
Note1:
- Annas was high priest from AD6-15 - appointed by Quirinius - begat a 'dynasty' of priests.
- Officially removed, yet powerful and influential - aged and respected by Jews, still considered HP -- even with His son-in-law Caiaphas (Lk3.2 / Jn18.13,14).
- His sons -- Eleazar (AD16-17), Jonathan (36/37), Theophilus (37-41), Matthias (43), Ananus after him appointed by Valerious Gratus / Ananus the Younger assassinated for promoting peace with Rome (AD63).
- Caiaphas seated from AD18-36/37.
- All these priests seated by Roman appointment, so considered puppet priests by the orthodox Jews (see Ax23.5).
- Persecuted the apostles also (Ax4.6,7)
notes by David Teel Saturday, November 08, 2014