Slices
Prepare
‘To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I shall be like those who go down to the pit’ (Psalm 28:1, NIV).
Bible passage
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.”’ 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’
62 ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’
63 The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked. 64 ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took him and beat him.
Explore
‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ (v 61). Was Jesus really the Son of God or a fraud?
The high priest speaks as though he is expecting a Son of God and a Messiah – after all, hadn’t Isaiah said as much (Isaiah 9:7)? But was Jesus the one? So, he asks him straight out. Note that Jesus had remained silent at the false accusations of his accusers (v 61), but he answers this question (v 62). The high priest’s reaction of tearing his clothes tells us that this was the moment he was waiting for – blasphemous condemnation from the man’s own lips (vs 63,64)! His public display of displeasure is mirrored in Matthew 27:51 when the Temple curtain is torn in two.*
In response to the high priest’s question, Jesus replies, ‘I am’ (v 62). But Jesus knew he was also standing in the presence of his heavenly Father. The Father knew who Jesus was. The question is, do we?
*See Craig S Keener, IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 1993
Respond
‘When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them...’ (Matthew 28:17,18). ‘Lord, if I have trouble with doubt, strengthen my faith. Amen.’
Deeper Bible study
Give thanks that Jesus is God.
When Salman Rushdie published his novel The Satanic Verses, there was uproar throughout much of the Islamic world, where it was considered an attack on the heart of faith in the Qur’an. The report of Jesus’ words about the destruction of the Temple caused the same consternation to contemporary religious leaders. The Temple was a symbol that Israel were the people with whom God dwelt. To denigrate it as ‘made with human hands’ (v 58) puts it on the same level as pagan idols.1 From John 2:21 we know that Jesus saw himself as the replacement for the Temple. He himself is the presence of God on earth.
Throughout the Gospel, Jesus has told people not to publicise his identity as the Messiah,2 but in today’s passage he states it clearly to the high priest. During the whole of his ministry, there has been conflict with the Jewish leaders. Central to that conflict has been the question of his identity. He was accused of the blasphemy of claiming to be God when he forgives sins.3 His last public dialogue set them the conundrum as to how the Messiah can be both the son of David and his Lord.4 Jesus is condemned to death because he clearly identifies himself as the Son of God. This is not just the death of a man: it is God himself who is crucified.
Mark began his Gospel by stating that Jesus is the Son of God. Peter declares him Messiah at the central point of the Gospel. The centurion will affirm it at the cross, but here we have the confession central to them all. Jesus declares himself to be Daniel’s ‘Son of Man’,5 sitting at the right hand of God. This is the one condemned to death for us.
Reflect on the love and humility of Jesus in accepting condemnation by the high priest.
1 Ps 115:4; cf Acts 7:48 2 Eg Mark 1:24,25,44; 8:30 3 Mark 2:7 4 Mark 12:35–37 5 See Dan 7:13,14
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Joshua 8,9; Romans 12
Pray for Scripture Union
This was to be the second year of The Bristol Brickers Basketball club in Bristol, an outreach initiative for 10–15s funded by SU’s Good News Fund. Sadly, it has had to be cancelled. Pray for the leaders to have wisdom to know how to keep in touch with these vulnerable young people.
