(Mark 14:53-65 ESV)
Now before the high priest.
Peter followed first at a distance, but finally into the actual courtyard of the high priest. Peter, determined to see what happens to his Lord. Actually able to sit at the same fire with the guards and get himself warmed up.
Now the chief priests and the whole council was testimony against Jesus. Their end goal: Death.
Funny thing is though.. they could find no suitable testimony.
This is why
1. People born false witness but their stories didn't collaborate.
2. Hearsay evidence didn't agree.
Finally the high priest said to Jesus. "Have you no answer to make? What is that these men testify against you?"
Jesus made no reply. He stayed silent.
The high priest queried Jesus again "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"
Now Jesus answered him saying “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
That declaration caused the high priest to tear his garments. This was the blasphemy he was seeking. So he called to the council to make a decision and they agreed...this was worthy of death.
They started then, to deal with Jesus poorly, spitting on him, hitting him, handing him over to the guards for a beating, mocking him saying "prophesy, prophesy".
When Jesus called himself the "I am" he was declaring himself to be God and this was blasphemous. No witnesses were needed, false or not, against him at that point.
This morning I read these words and I just feel empty inside.
All this trouble they went through.
All these people telling lies about him.
And then Jesus said "I am".
and the world fell apart.
My Jesus.. beaten over two words.
Two words that showed his divinity. That openly declared that he was God.
The high priest couldn't stand it.
And I suppose in someways I can understand that.
As high priest he would need to be on guard against people declaring themselves to be something they were not. It was his job to teach the people the truth about who God was and lead them on their spiritual journey. Having someone declare themselves God was wrong.
He didn't have his eyes opened to the truth of who Jesus was.
At the same time though.. I really really wish he had seen Jesus for who he was. That he hadn't allowed Jesus to be beaten and mocked and spit upon. That Jesus never had to go through all that.
I know it was a necessary thing.
But sometimes, oh sometimes, I wish that my Lord had never had to go through that.
It wasn't good or right.
Even if it was necessary, even if it was part of God's long term plan for his whole family.
It wasn't good or right....