Sermon - Mark 14:57-64 - Questioned

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pocomoke Ministerial Association

Ecumenical Good Friday Service

Sermon - Mark 14:57-64 - Questioned

Good Friday, April 18, 2014

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

Jesus was taken to the religious authorities for questioning. They had to decide how charge him. What had he done wrong? What was his crime? And Jesus had to decided how to plead, guilty or not guilty. So, a hearing was held to determine the specific charges. The hearing was conducted by the High Priest and the religious leaders, a council called the Sanhedrin. Let's listen in.

Mark 14:57-64 ⁵⁷ Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ⁵⁸ "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'" ⁵⁹ Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

Because the witnesses cannot agree this charge is baseless. We know that Jesus did say something like this, but he was referring to his own body which would be killed and then resurrected on the third day. But the religious leadership of day cannot understand this. So let's hear Jesus' answer to the charge.

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.

Jesus refused to comment on this accusation. He probably thought that he shouldn't talk about these things during the trail. And anyway the witnesses didn't agree on what happened. So there was no reason for Jesus to make any remarks. The high priest decided to move on. Let's listen as he makes another accusation.

60b Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

Caiaphas, the high priest has accused Jesus of being the messiah, the Christ or anointed one they had been waiting for. And he accused Jesus of being the Son of God. Let's listen to Jesus response.

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."

So Jesus has admitted to the charges. This high priest got it absolutely right. Jesus is the messiah. He is the Son of God. Let's see the high priest's reaction to his admission.

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.

The crime of blasphemy occurs whenever someone claims to have the rights or qualities of God. In doing so the blasphemer demonstrates an irreverent attitude toward God. Jesus is claiming to be God. So he is guilty of blasphemy as charged, unless, of course, he can demonstrate in some way that he truly is God. The trial is not over yet. Amen.