Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.' " But not even then did their testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.

- Mark 14:53-65

On Saturday, we read that Jesus was seized in the garden at Gethsemane ("olive press"). A group of servants of the temple leadership, armed with clubs and swords, came with Judas to find Jesus. Judas gave Jesus a kiss -- the signal for this mob to know who Jesus was. Jesus said, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Then, we are told, they all forsook Him and fled.

And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.' " But not even then did their testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" But He kept silent and answered nothing. My study bible writes, "Those who oppose Jesus and testify against Him cannot agree on their testimony. They stand in perpetual self-contradiction." What we see is the great contradiction of those who cannot tell the truth -- that is not the purpose of this hearing. Jesus has been seized (see Saturday's reading) by those who do not know who He is, and clearly that is a symbol or sign for what is now going on in this trial. They don't know who He is, and neither are they after a clear picture of who He is. They are there for a different outcome. It seems to me that Jesus shows His opinion of this "trial" by the fact that He doesn't answer. It is a way of "shaking the dust off His feet," a form of rebuke, an acknowledgement that this is not a fair trial that truly seeks to discover the truth in true testimony or witnessing at all. We, the readers of the Gospel, understand the events to which the false witnesses are testifying, and how they are being misconstrued. Nevertheless, the testimony itself is contradictory (the witnesses contradict one another) -- and would not stand up in an honest courtroom.

Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." My study bible says that Jesus' answer is a revelation of the mystery of His Person. "I am is a direct answer given only in Mark. Power is a substitute for the name of God, which pious Jews would not pronounce. Jesus' bold declaration that He, the Son of Man coming in glory, will share the authority of God brings the charge of blasphemy and condemnation to death." A direct answer here is perhaps a form of respect for the position of the high priest. On the other hand, a witnessing and direct revelation from Christ as to His own identity then conveys responsibility on the high priest for his response.

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. My study bible notes that "by the symbolic act of tearing his mantle, the high priest shows his belief that Jesus is guilty of blasphemy. Thus, according to Jewish law (which, under Roman domination, the priests could not enforce), Jesus is sentenced to death (Lev. 24:16), though the charge of blasphemy will not be mentioned before Pilate." The conclusion is drawn by the high priest, and there is, quite obviously, no room for argument here. There is only an assumption of presumed guilt, and a charge worthy of death. This was the goal all along, of course. He has been a thorn in their side, a threat to their authority, especially in His popularity with the common people. He must be gotten rid of. We remember Jesus quoting from the Book of Zechariah: "I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." There is no deliberation here, no debate. There is only a pre-drawn conclusion and following.

Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands. Once Jesus is sentenced, the humiliation begins. He is a person of no stature in this courtroom! He is treated with ridicule and contempt, invited to "prophesy" as to who is beating Him with each blow.

What we have today is a study not simply in evil but of the corruption of witnessing. Jesus refuses to witness to those who do not want to hear, in a "trial" not meant to be an honest trial, with honest witnesses, at all. He doesn't bother to defend Himself where true testimony is not wanted. But out of respect for the position of the high priest, He does answer honestly as to His identity. His true testimony will serve as witness against the actions of the high priest, who is in turn condemned by his condemnation. We note the importance of judicial language to our faith: witness, trial, testimony, judgment, redemption, forgiveness. We understand the central importance of truth as inseparable from our faith. Where truth is not sought, we have a world upside-down, a world of cruelty where there is neither justice nor mercy. When Jesus taught that He is "the way, the truth, and the life," He wasn't just stating a simple declaration or description, but teaching us a central understanding about our faith. Without truth, there is no faith -- without respect for truth, an honest heart, a willingness to hear what we might not want to hear, to give up the things the truth would call us to give, and the humility an honest search for truth requires, we don't know the fullness of our faith. And we won't know the fullness of the Christ, the Person who is the Truth, whom we worship. So today, in prayer, remember this trial. What ways might we seek to delude ourselves? How can we open ourselves to His testimony within us? How does that opening then create our honest testimony? And how does this humility open up the way for His mercy in us? When we delve into ridicule, contempt, humiliation and bullying of others, are we really still searching honestly for the truth of that person?