Mock Trial (Mark 14:53-65)
INTRODUCTION:
The Sanhedrin, or the Great Sanhedrin was the most powerful Jewish legislative and judicial body in Israel. When the Sanhedrin was first established it had been founded on the principles of the Mosaic law, but by the time of Christ it had become quite corrupt both religiously and politically. What took place in our passage this morning was illegal. Those who were accused of a crime had several protections based on Old Testament law and the Jewish legal system that had developed over the years. First, the accused had the right to a public trial during daylight hours. Second, they were to be given the opportunity to make a defense. Third, any charge was to be dismissed unless it was supported by the testimony of a least two witnesses. Fourth, if a witness was found to be a false witness, falsely accusing another person of a crime, the penalty for being a false witness was to be charged with the penalty for the crime which you falsely accused the other person to have committed. Fifth, in cases involving the death penalty, the witnesses who testified were to be involved in the execution, throwing the first stones if the penalty was stoning, doing so ensured they had a clear conscience and they stood behind their testimony. Sixth, in cases involving the death penalty, Jewish law stated that a full day must pass between the announcement of the guilty verdict and the execution. During that time, the members of the court were required to fast, taking time to reflect on the verdict they had delivered. This delay also allowed for further testimony or evidence to be found. Due to this law, trials were not held on the day before a feast day or on a feast day when fasting was not permitted. When a trial was conducted according to its rules and regulations, the Jewish judicial system was fair, merciful, and just. But at the trial of Jesus, the Sanhedrin ignored almost everyone of their rules and regulations. Let’s pray and then get into today’s passage.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Mark 14:53-65. Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word, and follow along as I read.
Mark 14:53-65,
“They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, ‘We heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.”’ Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, ‘Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?’ But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?’ And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, ‘Prophesy!’ And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.” (Mark 14:53–65, NASB95)[1]
GATHERING OF THE SANHEDRIN (Mark 14:53-54)
By comparing all four Gospel accounts we learn that the trial of Jesus had two phases, the Jewish phase and the Gentile phase. Within these phases there were three parts to each of them. When they first led Jesus from the garden they took Jesus to Annas, a former high priest and a man still holding great influence in the temple and the Sanhedrin. John tells us that Annas questioned Jesus concerning His teaching (John 18:13-24). Next Jesus appeared before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas and the current high priest. Jesus reappeared before the Sanhedrin a second time after dawn. From there He was taken to the Roman governor, and stood before Pilate, then Herod Antipas when Pilate learned Jesus was from Galilee, and then Pilate again after being examined by Herod.
Mark in his gospel focuses on the second part of the Jewish trial, when Jesus appeared before and was unjustly convicted by Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. Everything that happened that night was completely illegal. That evil men would falsely condemn the perfect Son of God is the ultimate injustice. They clearly ignored the Mosaic law and their own rules and regulations. Jesus’s trial took place at night in private, away from the temple, and just hours before the Passover. His enemies brought charges without credible witnesses, gave no opportunity for a proper defense, pronounced an unlawful verdict, and sought immediate execution the same day. Nothing about this trial was legal or just.
Jesus’ arrest took place hours before dawn, and Mark writes that He was led away in the darkness to be tried at the house of the high priest. They had already decided that Jesus was guilty long before the trial began, making the actual trial a mere formality. Once the arrest was made the word went out and all the chief priests, elders, and the scribes of the Sanhedrin were summoned, and they began to gather at the home of Caiaphas. They must have been alerted earlier to be ready for the news of His arrest and to be ready to gather so that they might condemn Him.
Only John records for us that Jesus was first taken to Annas, as I said he was a former high priest, but he had been removed from that position by Rome for unknown reasons, and his son-in-law Caiaphas had been made high priest. Even though Annas was no longer high priest he continued to have a lot of influence through his son-in-law. At one time or another, five of Annas’ sons held the office of high priest, in addition to his son-in-law. They were like a mafia family in the days before and after Jesus. Annas and his sons controlled the temple operations of money changing and the sale of sacrificial animals, this business was so closely associated with Annas that the area of the court of the Gentiles where this took place was call by the local people the Bazaar of Annas. Remember this was the merchants and animals that Jesus drove out of the temple courts, not once but twice. The first time at the beginning of His ministry, and the second time just a few days before His arrest.
As the members of the Sanhedrin gathered at the home of Caiaphas, which was very likely located across the courtyard from the house of Annas, Jesus was brought before this former high priest. Annas questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching, not because he was looking for the truth, but in hopes that Jesus might say something to incriminate Himself. Annas had many reasons to hate Jesus, especially in regard to the temple marketplace, but in this short interview he could find nothing that could be used to charge Jesus. Nothing that would be a capital offense. Jesus should have been released but instead Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin for the next attempt to make up a crime worthy of death. By the time Jesus arrived at the home of Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin had gathered there also.
Mark interrupts his narrative with a side note about Peter. Peter, who had fled with the rest of the disciples into the night must have been struggling with mixed feelings of fear and loyalty. When the soldiers left the garden with Jesus, Peter crept back and followed them at a distance and when they had come to the houses of Annas and Caiaphas, Peter had followed the people into the courtyard of the high priest. Certainly, Peter did not want to be recognized, but he also wanted to know what was going to happen. He took a seat with the officers or the servants by a fire they had kindled in the courtyard. By doing this Peter had placed himself in not such a good position, his face illumined by the light of the fire was sure to cause someone to recognize him as one of Jesus’ disciples, and as the questions began to be asked, Peter’s courage would melt into denial.
GROUP OF FALSE WITNESSES (Mark 14:55-59)
No official charge had yet been made concerning Jesus, nor had there been any evidence of a violation shown. Knowing they needed to charge Him before they could convict Him, “…the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death.” (Mark 14:55a, NASB95)[2] The problem was they were not finding any. This in and of itself was illegal. According to Jewish law the Sanhedrin was not permitted to introduce charges. They could only investigate and judge the cases brought to them. But in Jesus’ trial the members of the Sanhedrin illegally acted as the prosecutors looking for grounds on which to condemn and convict Him. The problem was they were not finding any charges to bring against Jesus. There were many who were giving false testimony against Jesus, but their testimony did not agree. Instead of proving that Jesus was guilty of anything, the contradictory testimonies of the false witnesses only highlighted the stark contrast between His innocence and the obvious lies of all who spoke.
Finally, they found two who were willing to lie about the same thing. Mark writes, “Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, ‘We heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.”’ ” (Mark 14:57–58, NASB95)[3] Earlier in the beginning of His ministry Jesus had said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19, NASB95)[4] The Jews thought He was talking about Herod’s temple, when He was actually talking about His own body and His resurrection. This misinterpretation of what Jesus had said could earn Him the death penalty, many centuries before when Jeremiah had prophesied the destruction of the temple, he had been arrested and brought before the royal court as a criminal deserving death (Jeremiah 26:1-19). It seems that a mere threat against the temple was punishable by death. But even these witnesses concerning what Jesus had said about the temple were not consistent. Nothing spoken against Jesus could be made to stick, they could not find two witnesses that agreed and had the same consistent testimony.
That night in the house of Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin sought to build a case against Jesus based entirely on lies. This was contrary to the law of Moses in Deuteronomy 19 which clearly speaks of false witnesses and needing two or more witnesses in agreement to convict someone. Because the Lord Jesus was sinless, no true testimony could have ever been brought that would have justly convicted Him. But even when resorting to the evil testimony of liars, Jesus’ enemies still could not build a case against Him.
GUILTY OF BLASPHEMY (Mark 14:60-65)
Hearing the testimony of the liars who claimed Jesus threatened to destroy the temple, the high priest, Caiaphas, stood up and strode toward Jesus. He was the one who presided over the Sanhedrin, he was the seventy-first member, he was the tie breaker. Seeing this as his chance he began to question Jesus. Mark writes, “The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, ‘Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?’ ” (Mark 14:60, NASB95)[5] Jesus knew what they said was incorrect, He knew He was innocent. Jesus knew that no reply was necessary. Mark writes, “But He kept silent and did not answer.” (Mark 14:61a, NASB95)[6] Jesus’ silence filled the room that had moments before echoed with the lies being told about Him. In His silence we see Jesus’ innocence and we se His resolve to do the Father’s will and He is at peace with what He must do. His silence was also fulfilling prophecy. Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7, NASB95)[7]
Jesus’ silence seemed to enrage Caiaphas even more than he already was, and he continued to question Jesus. Mark writes, “Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ” (Mark 14:61, NASB95)[8] Matthew writes that Caiaphas put Jesus under oath before asking this question. Matthew 26:63 says, “And the high priest said to Him, ‘I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.’ ” (Matthew 26:63, NASB95)[9] Mark uses the term Blessed One for God. This was a term used by the Jews so that they would not use God’s personal name, which they thought was to holy to utter. Caiaphas in his arrogance ordered Jesus under oath to tell him the truth while all night they had been listening to lies.
This was truly the first legitimate question that had been asked all night. It was a straightforward inquiry that demanded a truthful response. The Lord Jesus knew that His answer would seal His fate, He knew that Caiaphas was setting a trap for Him, hoping that Jesus would say something in the hearing of the Sanhedrin that they would consider to be blasphemous.
The Lord Jesus knew exactly what was happening. But rather then try to sidestep the question or remain silent, He responded with a bold and clear declaration of fact that He was their Messiah and that He was the God, the Son. Referencing Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13-14, “And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ ” (Mark 14:62, NASB95)[10] “I am” is a title for God, “Son of Man” was a well-known title for the Messiah. And “Power” was a figurative title for God the Father. Without fear and with great boldness Jesus stood before those who wanted Him dead and announced that He was their Messiah and that He was God and their divine Judge. Though they might kill Him on this day, He will rise from the dead and ascend to the right hand of His Father. And though they might judge Him unjustly, He would judge them eternally in perfect righteousness and with perfect justice.
Jesus knew that His declaration would seal His death, but He was ready to do the will of His Father and carry out the redemptive purposes of God. In an act of outrage, Caiaphas responded to Jesus words by tearing his clothes, a symbol of righteous indignation. Jews typically tore their clothes as an expression of immense grief. According to Leviticus 21:10, the high priest was forbidden to tear his clothes. The Talmud, which is a compilation of civil and ceremonial law and legend, it is not the Law of Moses, it is not inspired. The Talmud allowed the high priest to tear his clothes in cases when God was blasphemed. On the outside, Caiaphas pretended to honor God by tearing his garments in supposed horror and shock over the blasphemy by Jesus. But inwardly, the hypocritical high priest cared nothing about honoring God. He was overjoyed to have finally found a means by which to condemn to death the incarnate God. Caiaphas did not stop at tearing his clothes but triumphantly declared, “What further need do we have of witnesses?” (Mark 14:63b, NASB95)[11] His question is a rhetorical one that indicates that the case is closed, and the verdict set. The Sanhedrin had what they needed to pass the judgment they had predetermined to pass, a judgment of guilty. Finding witnesses who could agree on an accusation against Jesus were no longer needed. Caiaphas then called for an immediate verdict, he said, “You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” (Mark 14:64a, NASB95)[12] The Old Testament defines blasphemy as defiant irreverence of God, and the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. For a mere man to claim equality with God was rightly regarded as blasphemy. But the sentence that Caiaphas called for was illegal because Jesus had not guilty of blasphemy. What He had said about Himself was absolutely true. He was the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who had come from heaven. In reality, the high priest and the other members of the Sanhedrin were the blasphemers.
When the Sanhedrin would pass judgment it was normally very formal, each member would give his vote one by one, starting with the younger members and preceding to the oldest and their votes would be carefully tabulated by a scribe. But that was not the case during this illegal night trial, the members of the Sanhedrin put forth a mob mentality in which Mark writes,
“…they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.” (Mark 14:64b, NASB95)[13]
The Sanhedrin knew that they could give a verdict of death, but only Rome had the power to carry out the death penalty. The crime for which they had condemned Jesus to die, was not a crime the Romans deemed worthy of death. The Jewish leaders would need to invent new charges about which Rome would be concerned. Luke tells us that when they brought Jesus to Pilate, they told him, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” (Luke 23:2, NASB95)[14] Once again, they invented a lie in order to see Jesus condemned and executed. But that is still hours away.
The members of the Sanhedrin in the house of Caiaphas responded to Jesus’ so-called blasphemy by loudly declaring Him worthy of death. In their anger and hatred, Mark writes, “Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, ‘Prophesy!’” (Mark 14:65a, NASB95)[15] Revealing their true depravity, the members of the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of Israel descended into chaos and turned to shameful and wicked physical abuse. For Jews, the act of spitting on someone was considered the most detestable form of personal insult anyone could ever do. Then going one step further, they blindfolded Jesus and began striking with their fists, all the while jeering “Prophesy!” In the parallel passage in Matthew 26:68 the author provides a fuller statement of their scornful jeering, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” (Matthew 26:68, NASB95)[16] Jesus knew exactly who was hitting Him, yet He said nothing. Finally growing tired of their abuse, they turned Him over to the custody of the temple police. And following the example of the chief priests, elders and scribes, Mark writes, “And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.” (Mark 14:65b, NASB95)[17]
This abusive treatment that Jesus received was prophesied centuries before by the prophet Isaiah. He wrote in Isaiah 50:6, “I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6, NASB95)[18] Jesus fulfilled this prophecy and understood that this abusive treatment was being used by God the Father to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
CONCLUSION:
Caiaphas and the other members of the Sanhedrin may have judged Jesus that one night, even though that judgment was illegal and unjust. One day, they will stand before the glorious throne of the Lord Jesus Christ to face eternal judgment. Like these men, every sinner who rejects Christ will one day face punishment for their unbelief. Yet for the sake of sinners, like you and me, Jesus endured the affliction and ill treatment, so that all who would put their faith in Him, repenting of their sins, would escape that judgment and receive eternal life. The Apostle Peter learned this and explained in his first epistle, writing, “and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:23–24, NASB95)[19]
For those of us who have put our faith in Him, yet struggle with the daily temptations, we must ask ourselves, how did Jesus remain unmoved by all He was suffering? How did He do this as a man, considering the weakness of human flesh? The answer is Jesus stood rock-like before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, and then later before Pilate, and then the cross because He did not rely on His flesh, but on God the Father. He had surrendered and resolved to go to the cross in the garden, to do the will of the Father. Therefore, Jesus Christ became our perfect example for each of us who seek to live out our faith in this hostile world. The author of Hebrews writes in Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1–3, NASB95)[20]
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[15]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[16]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[17]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[18]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[19]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[20]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.