What further need do we have of witnesses?

 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 begin 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 about Jesus' betrayal in the garden called Gethsemane (which means oil press).  He had just told His apostles, "The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us be going.  See, My betrayer is at hand."  And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.  Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely."  As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, "Rabbi, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.  Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.  And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "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 they all forsook Him and fled.  Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body.  And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

  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.  My study bible tells us that "those who oppose Jesus and testify against Him cannot agree on their testimony.  They stand in perpetual self-contradiction."   Let us note that He is being questioned at a night session, in contradiction to Jewish law -- yet another self-contradiction, characteristic of that which does not respect truth.

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."  My study bible notes here:  "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."

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 begin 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.  A note here tells us:  "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."

My study bible points out for us clearly the self-contradiction of the witnesses in this trial that happens by night in contradiction to the law of the council.  Self-contradiction therefore piles upon self-contradiction here, and there is no respect for truth at all in these proceedings.  Indeed, for us moderns at this time it may be quite interesting to hear that someone testified in any capacity declaring themselves to be the Son of God, and is not viewed as a person with mental or emotional problems, thereby teaching us something else:  that clearly, Jesus is viewed here as a threat to those in power, as someone whose credibility is not questioned in terms of His capacity, His presence of authority, His commanding preaching skills.  Jesus is precisely a threat because of His credibility, His believability, His compelling teaching and ministry that has gained Him so many devoted followers among the Jews.  And there lies one more contradiction in this trial.  Why are His teachings not examined?  His healings?  His ministry?  There is no complete search for the truth here at all.  There is only the desire to condemn and to punish through death.  When we, too, witness a rush to judgment, a rush to condemn, avoidance of due process, and desperate self-contradiction, let us be aware of what we are being led into.  This world will offer us many opportunities for witnessing the evil of injustice at work, the denial of those who cannot live in truth of all forms of due process, of the desire only to condemn and to oppress, to kill or to eliminate in one way or another.  Let us remember Jesus' words to "Watch and pray!"  In the Revelation, the apostle John has written for us about the true judgment, that among those who will not enter the holy city of God are "whoever loves and practices a lie."  Let us be wakeful.  Let us watch and pray, as He has taught, for the things He has warned us against, for those who do not respect the truth and would condemn.  Let us remember to follow His commandments instead.