THE TRAILS AND OPPOSITION

LESSON THREE

MARK 14:53-65; 5:1-3

KEY VERSE: “And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against JESUS to put HIM to death; and found none” (Mark 14:55).

As we prepare to enter into this reflection, it is interesting to note that in the lesson we experience the culmination of the conspiracy that existed between the Jewish Religious leaders and the Roman political leaders, which started even before HIS betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane (Mark 14:43-50). While we find that it was the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus to be executed, it was under the Roman rulers who would have to issue such a decree to execute; thus, the overt as well as subtle conspiring to bring about the death of JESUS.

It is also necessary that I point out that according to verses 50-53, after HIS betrayal and arrest, “…they all forsook HIM and fled” even “a certain young man followed HIM having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And when the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.”

As a result of the conspiracy mentioned above between the Jewish leaders and the Roman authority, in this lesson we find JESUS facing the Sanhedrin council (Mark 14:53-65) and then having to face Pilate (5:1-3). But the key element throughout the conspiracy is that they tried to find “…witnesses against JESUS to put HIM to death, but FOUND NONE.” This made them have to go out and find “false witnesses” to verify their claims against JESUS in order to justify putting HIM to death. But even this presented a problem for the leaders, “For many bore false witness against HIM, but their testimonies did not agree” (v.59).

The conspiracy of the two groups of leaders does not overshadow the consistency of our LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST throughout this entire ordeal: first, before the Sanhedrin, “…HE held HIS peace (kept silent), and answered nothing” (v.61a). And then before Pilate when “…HE answered nothing” (15:3b). The only time that HE broke HIS silence was to affirm HIS identity when asked, “Art thou the CHRIST, THE SON OF THE BLESSED? And JESUS said, I AM: and ye shall see the SON OF MAN sitting on the right hand of POWER, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (vv.61b-62).

FOLLOW JESUS NO MATTER WHAT…(Mark 14:53-54)

Many scholars and theologians use theses verses as a testimony to the “loyalty” of Peter as opposed to the “disloyalty” of the rest of the disciples who “forsook HIM (JESUS) and fled” (v.50). However, it has to be pointed out that while Peter did follow JESUS to, as Matthew states, “…see the end”(26:58), he did it from “…afar off” (4:54a). In other words, in today’s vernacular, he followed but he kept at a safe enough distance to remain out of sight and thus out of danger.

But I must interject here the fact of JESUS’ declaration to Peter in reference to his denial of HIM and the manifestation of that declaration when Peter, in fact, did indeed deny JESUS three times as foretold. In other words, even though Peter has to be given credit for following JESUS, he was simply fulfilling the prophecy of JESUS.

I do not make this observation to be critical of Peter, for we could learn and appreciate much from his “loyalty.” For there are some of us today who are not under the same threat of persecution from authority, yet we too have made the decision to “follow JESUS from afar off.” However, we find HIM saying that if we deny HIM before man then HE will deny us before HIS FATHER. Furthermore, in the famous Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5, we find JESUS teaching HIS disciple that “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness (MY) sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). Therefore, it behooves us to say with the apostle, “I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, for IT is THE POWER OF GOD unto salvation.”

WHEN FACING FALE WITNESSES, HOLD YOUR PEACE (vv.55-65)

One of the most perplexing concepts that I have been exposed to in my lifetime is that of trying to defend one’s self against false accusations. It is difficult enough defending yourself against something that you have done. As I study this lesson and reflect on some of the “Trials and Opposition” that many people both locally and nationally are facing in the full view of the public (i.e. my classmate Senator Walker in my hometown and Michael Jackson nationally), it is a little easier for me to understand what JESUS had to endure during HIS time.

In those days one had to have at least two witnesses to seek the death penalty in criminal cases, according to Jewish law (Deuteronomy 17:6), who agreed in their testimonies. One was not sufficient. Yet, we see that not only could they not find any witnesses (v.55), the leaders could not even find false witnesses WHO WERE ABLE TO AGREE TOGETHER (v.56). When this did not work then the leaders started to question JESUS themselves directly, “But HE held HIS peace, and answered nothing”(V.61).

I couldn’t at first understand HIS refusal to speak, probably as HE puzzled those who watched HIM stand in silence. Then the HOLY SPIRIT revealed that there is NO DEFENSE against something that is not true, except to allow the inconsistencies of the accusers speak for themselves. In the case of Michael Jackson, he was criticized for not testifying against what he considered false accusations. The only thing that he could do was to vigorously deny the charges over and over again which would not change the accusation. However, thank GOD that we are living in a different time and under better laws and rights where one has to be proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of his peers. These people are able to discern between true and false accusations and thus render a fair verdict to the accused.

While JESUS did not answer when asked about things that were false, HE did not hesitate to answer when asked about the truth of HIS identity. “Art thou the CHRIST, THE SON OF THE BLESSED? And JESUS said, I AM: and ye shall see the SON OF MAN sitting on the right hand of POWER, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (vv.61b-62). Truly this helps us to understand that there is definitely a time to speak and a time to “HOLD YOUR PEACE.”

IN THE END, GOD’S GOT YOUR BACK (15:1-3)

It was one thing to stand firm when standing before religious leaders who have limited authority and recourse for punishment and quite another to stand apparently defiant before public officials who have both the means and authority to hand out swift and catastrophic punishment. Yet, we see JESUS in this situation presenting the same kind of example that HE presented when HE stood before the Sanhedrin. HE spoke freely when asked again about the truth of HIS identity, “Art THOU THE KING OF THE JEWS? And HE answered them, ‘Thou sayest it (It is as you say).’” However, we still find that when they “accused HIM of many things,” there is the exact same response as before with the Sanhedrin “…HE ANSWERED NOTHING!”

While the authorities considered JESUS’ conduct as arrogant and rebellious, I feel confident that the best defense was ‘no’ defense. The hardest thing that I have been able to get over to my children is that you don’t have to answer to every thing you are accused of, especially if it is untrue. They feel, probably as many of you, that if someone accuses you of something that is not true ONE MUST STAND for their rights and beliefs. However, I have discovered in life that some times STANDING UP means SHUTTING UP! This is especially true when dealing with the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! THE WORD SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF; HE does not need us to defend the truth of HIM in the face of false witnesses. HE was able to stand silent before HIS accusers because HE knew that GOD HAD HIS BACK! For HE said, “If I bear witness of MYSELF, MY witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of ME, and I know that the witness which HE witnesses of ME IS TRUE” (John 5:3-32). “But I have a greater witness…THE FATHER HIMSELF, has testified of ME” (John 5:36,37).

As long as we stand up for what is right in this world, we can expect to be opposed and even persecuted to an extent. But THANK GOD we have the same assurance as believers that the MASTER TEACHER and OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST that GOD ‘S GOT YOUR BACK! For JESUS proclaims to us further in HIS SERMON on the MOUNT, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for MY SAKE. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (John 5:11-12).

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Spiritually Yours.

Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD